Ten Things I Loved at Newport Folk

Another memorable Newport Folk Festival is in the books! Across three sold-out days at Fort Adams State Park, thousands of fans enjoyed a continually evolving event that supports acoustic traditions, indie rock, modern pop, R&B, funk, and, of course, protest music. With too many highlights to mention, here are a few moments that stood out.

1. A Rhody Gem. Newport Folk – and sister festival Newport Jazz – are recognized worldwide as signature events for the state that puts Newport on the international musical map every summer. Musicians consider the three-day festival a career milestone, while fans wait all year for tickets, with the event selling out within seconds of going on sale.  

2. What is Folk Music? I’m not even going to attempt to answer that, except to say that the “music of the people” has come a long way from a “guy and a guitar.” The diverse Newport lineup continues a long tradition of challenging audiences, including performances from R&B/Hip Hop legend Ms. Lauren Hill, pop star Hayley Williams, and guitar thrasher Tom Morello among others, pushing the boundaries of the genre.

3. Local Greats. What a thrill to see Mark Cutler, Princess June, and Honest Charlie, all artists with local connections, opening the Fort Stage each day. Meanwhile, RI-based indie-rock greats Deer Tick led a certified party with their set on Friday, and showed up later to support a bunch of their friends throughout the weekend.

4. Rising Stars. Again, too many to mention, but several to keep your eye on. I was impressed with the outrageous country-pop energy of Irish singer-songwriter CMAT, Atlanta-based soul-rock singer Brother Wallace, the elegant harmonies of Infinity Song, and the alt-country vibe of Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band.

5. Sea to Shining Sea. This special set, an oral history project organized by the festival, connected folk music to America’s 250th anniversary. Devon Gilfillian and several collaborators translated the festival’s coast-to-coast endeavor into a live performance centered on what folk music means to Americans. 

6. Surprise Guests. It’s become a year-long guessing game as to who the unannounced special guest(s) will be, and this year, it was a biggie. Dave Matthews, who admitted he was a little nervous, played several songs solo acoustic and then joined Nathaniel Rateliff’s triumphant closing set. 

7. REM Gets Covered. Actor Michael Shannon, yeah, that Michael Shannon, and Jason Narducy celebrated the music of R.E.M., a tribute that brought a slightly unexpected, but highly compatible dose of high-energy 80’s college rock to the festival. Shannon owned it!

8. The Bike Stage. With daily open mic sessions and a few surprises, including an epic six-song set from The Lumineers, the Bike Stage is the place to be between performances on the Quad. Powered by people pedaling stationary bicycles, it’s another reminder: Don’t overlook the small stages!

9. Past meets Present. Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, and Peter Rowan played the festival in the 1960’s (Baez famously sang at the first one in 1959), and Hot Tuna – Jack Cassidy and Jorma Kaukonen – paid a long overdue visit to the fort. The legends ruled!

10. Fort Adams State Park. This is how you turn swords into plowshares. The historic military installation has become an extraordinary gathering place for music, community and creativity. What a sometimes-overlooked Rhody gem – visit it when you get the chance!