TVD Live: Newport Folk Festival, 7/26

NEWPORT, RI | Next to sunscreen, kindness tops the list of what to bring to Fort Adams. And that is the palpable pulse within the Newport Folk Festival. For the past 65 years, the iconic Rhode Island festival has drawn crowds from all over the world—now up to 10,000 people daily—eager to see brilliant artists and surprise performers in a gathering unlike any other. This festival has a divine element that is hard to describe without setting foot at the Fort, but it’s the skilled artistry, the deeply passionate fans, and a common love of music and community that keeps people repeating, “It’s the best weekend of the year.”

Some wise words from a veteran folk fest attendee: Don’t sleep on the Bike Stage. Adjacent to the much larger Quad Stage, is a small, informal space for artists to perform—with some vital audience participation. Fans hop on bikes and pedal enough energy to power the performances, creating an incredibly memorable—and sustainable—experience. Hey! Next time Dylan goes electric at Newport, maybe it will be purely on pedal power.

And the talent that unfolded here Friday was definitely electrifying. Standouts Glitterfox drew “the largest crowd we’ve seen at the bike stage,” said Illiterate Light guitarist Jeff Gorman, whose band also performed that day, as well as MC’d the stage.

Glitterfox channeled a magnetism in their melodies. It was infectious in the best way. The Portland based band has released five singles in just six months under their new record label Kill Rock Stars which leads me to think they will soon outgrow the Bike Stage.

Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway brought their spellbinding strings and songwriting to the Fort Stage and the band smiled the whole way through. Tuttle shared that this is her third time performing at Newport over the years and reflected on the honor of gracing the historic stages.

“The first time I was here I was just out of college with an all-girl old time string band playing early in the day in one of the tents and I was just like ‘I feel like I’m home.’ This is my dream come true to get to come here to Newport Folk Festival.”

So humbly and beautifully, Grammy-winning artist Allison Russell, took to the main stage and thought of all those who inspired her musically and expressed her gratitude for being welcomed at Newport. “Every single one of us standing here today, it’s an improbable miracle, one in billions and billions…This means something to us,” she said.

A powerful and poetic performer, Russell weaves together music and stories with hope and joy. Russell and her band left listeners mesmerized.

Speculation about an open slot at the Quad left folks wondering who might take the stage. It wasn’t long before they heard a booming, excited welcome from Folk Fest Executive Director Jay Sweet exclaim, “Ladies and gentlemen: Beck!”

Beck paid homage to the influential legends of folk music, kicking off his surprise set with Bob Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm,” followed by “The Other Side of This Life” by Fred Neil. “Some of the great history of the music I love happened here all throughout the ’50s and ’60s and we’re going to tip our hat to that and see what happens,” said Beck.

After Beck’s surprise performance, the next unexpected guests were swarms of dragonflies. With outstretched arms, folks were eager for a winged friend to land on them. For only a few moments—they were just Passing Through [nod to Pete Seeger]—the dragonflies were maybe a magical and unusual sign of good things to come.

In the much-anticipated final performance of the evening, Hozier delivered both heart and humor. His stunning vocals rang out through a crowd of thousands as the stage glowed golden from the setting sun. Between singing fan favorites and welcoming fellow artists on stage, he spoke to the crowd on this historic 65th anniversary of Newport about the global impact of this festival.

“I come from Ireland and the civil rights movement that happened here in the 1960s—that these incredible artists were central to—directly inspired the movement that happened in Northern Ireland. These things make international waves. I’m singing a song that I wrote and recorded with Mavis Staples in solidarity who would put their feet on the street in the name of peace.”

The evening concluded with a singalong performance of The Band’s “The Weight” with special guests Mavis Staples, Joan Baez, Nathaniel Rateliff, Allison Russell, and Madison Cunningham.

“Thank you sincerely artists like Mavis Staples, Joan Baez who show that you can bear honest witness to the world that you live in your work and you can put your heart and human compassion into song,” said Hozier. “It is an invaluable statement and document that will live on for generations.”

ADRIANNE LENKER