The annual Newport Folk Festival returns to Fort Adams State Park from July 24–26. The event, which began as a counterpart to the Newport Jazz Festival by founder George Wein in 1959, has hosted iconic performances by a slew of artists including Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, and boasts a diverse lineup this year. In the past, the festival has featured performances by esteemed Black artists like the Staples Singers and Odetta, whose contributions to folk music have been historically overlooked in favor of their white counterparts. This year’s lineup is a testament to the breadth and diversity of folk music. Here are some highlight artists to check out this year.:
Online credit: (Adriangregori, Tom-morello, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Lauryn Hill is a trailblazer in the world of hip hop. Releasing groundbreaking records with the Fugees before her debut solo masterpiece “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” the NJ native singer/rapper/songwriter has consistently used her voice to uplift the community. She will be performing at the Quad Stage on Friday, July 24, at 5:55 p.m.
Tom Morello is best known as the guitarist from Rage Against the Machine, and his work has always been at the intersection of art and activism, often a central theme of folk music. Morello recently joined Bruce Springsteen for a politically charged tour, and he can frequently be seen at protests combatting injustices by ICE and beyond. He is performing at the Quad Stage on Sunday, July 26, at 4:25 p.m.
The Fearless Flyers are a funk supergroup that features drummer Nate Smith, who was recently named creative director of the Newport Jazz Fest. The group will bring groove and rhythm to the festival at the Quad Stage on Sunday, July 26, at 3:05 p.m.
Brother Wallace is an emerging artist with a killer voice. The Georgia-native singer, who recently signed with ATO Records, will bring retro-soul vibes to the Quad Stage on Friday, July 24, at 11:05 a.m
Kirby, who recently released the single “Miss Black America,” is fusing hip hop and soul for the modern age. You can catch her at the Quad Stage on Saturday, July 25, at 11:05 a.m.
William Tyler + Yasmin Williams
The only “traditional” folk artists on this list, Yasmin Williams is a unique and emerging voice in guitar and William Tyler was recently featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series and uses finger-tapping and percussion techniques to add a different dimension to the style. You can catch the duo at the Harbor Stage on Saturday, July 25, at 1:20 p.m.
Brittany Davis & Black Thunder
Singer/pianist Brittany Davis is bringing avant-garde soul and jazz to the fest, foreshadowing the festival to come. You can catch Davis and her group Black Thunder at the Harbor Stage on Sunday, July 26, at 11:00 a.m.
For the full lineup, waitlist tickets, and more info, visit newportfolk.org.
