NEWPORT, R.I. — The Newport Folk Festival has a rich history of supporting civil rights and standing up for working men and women.
Ever since Lynn-born jazz promoter George Wein, musician/activist Pete Seeger, and others founded the music fest in 1959, human rights has coexisted with performances by musicians new and old.
“We Shall Overcome,” the gospel song that helped usher in the civil-rights movement of the 1960s, became a rallying cry at this year’s fest, held Friday through Sunday at Fort Adams State Park in this beautiful seaside city.
Joan Baez was at that initial festival in ‘59 and in 1963 she, Bob Dylan, and other musicians stood hand-in-hand with singers Black and white in the singing of this anthem. Baez was back this year, and at the end of Hozier’s headlining set on Friday, Baez and the legendary Mavis Staples were among those joining the Irish singer and his band on stage performing the song.
Given the incendiary political climate in America this election year, it was a given that some artists would share their opinions on the state of our country and its place in the world. On Saturday, British folk singer Billy Bragg and Georgia rapper Killer Mike were especially blunt and delivered two of the weekend’s best sets.
Bragg holds nothing back. His songs are overtly political. “Never trust a man who would be king” is but one line from one of his songs.
Killer Mike seemed to be an out-of-left-field addition to the festival’s lineup. What does hip-hop have to do with folk music? Everything! Accompanied by five exceptional gospel singers, Killer Mike’s hour-long church-like service on Saturday afternoon was masterful, continuing Newport’s rich tradition of protesting injustice.
Also on Saturday, Bertha: Grateful Drag, a collective of queer Nashville musicians who formed to protest Tennessee’s banning of “adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors,” drew an overflow crowd that supported the musicians and sang along to such positive-thinking Dead classics as “I Will Get By (I Will Survive).”
Music free of politics was still at the forefront of most performances, which occurred on five stages throughout the historic fort. It was a magical weekend.
The Friday afternoon schedule included an “artist to be announced” right up to the 3 p.m. showtime. Speculation ran wild. Who would it be? Noah Kahan, who recently played two sold-out shows at Fenway Park, was a popular choice. After all, throat issues forced the cancellation of his Newport appearance in 2023 (James Taylor was a last-minute sub) and somebody posted online that he was seen at a nearby Walmart that morning.
It turned out to be Beck! “These are the songs that the Newport Folk Festival was built on,” said Beck, before he and his band paid tribute to such ‘60s folk revival trailblazers as Dylan (“Maggie’s Farm”), Fred Neil (“The Other Side of Life”), and Jimmie Rodgers (the yodel-filled “Waiting For a Train”). Beck finished with one of his best tunes, “Loser.”
Friday also featured an invasion by dragonflies. No, that’s not a band. Thousands of the flying insects appeared out of nowhere, many coming to rest on the hats, shirts, and fingertips of festival attendees.
Saturday’s lineup was especially strong, led by headliners Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The War on Drugs, gay cowboy Orville Peck, and Hermanos Gutierrez.
The headliner Sunday was former TV talk show host/guitar player Conan O’Brien, who brought along some “real musicians.” His joke-filled monologue led to some seriously good music, anchored by the band Dawes, his longtime TV bandleader Jimmy Vivino, and unannounced special guests including Jack White and the legendary Nick Lowe, who flew in from England to perform just two songs (“So it Goes” and “Cruel To Be Kind”).
Another Sunday winner featured more really talented musicians, led by guitarist Cory Wong and heavy hitters including bassist Victor Wooten, drummer Nate Smith, mandolinist/vocalist Sierra Hull, and guitarist/singer Theo Katzman. It was a wondrous set of funky jazz, jazzy funk, and a spectacular Hull-led version of “People Get Ready.”
Other Friday highlights:
Allison Russell, a vocal powerhouse, whose heart-tugging songs of empowerment and overcoming struggle connected with the audience. The Choir School of Newport County joined her on one song.
Boston hitmakers Guster, whose heavenly pop song “Satellite” evolved into a loud singalong. The UMass Marching Band lent a hand.
Canada’s William Prince, this year’s John Prine Songwriter Fellowship recipient. The 2023 Prine Fellowship recipient Jobi Riccio joined him for a hysterical version of Prine’s “In Spite of Ourselves.” (Riccio also was wonderful during her Sunday showcase.)
Glitterfox, a fun rock band from Oregon, with a brilliant frontwoman and catchy, well-written songs.
Other Saturday highlights:
Rihannon Giddens and an all-star band playing zydeco and up-tempo tunes had toes tapping and people dancing… including Joan Baez.
Josiah and the Bonnevilles! A mid-set solo acoustic performance by frontman Josiah Leming was a triumph. A remarkable cover of Justin Bieber’s “Ghost,” which he dedicated to his mom who died, had some audience members sobbing.
Elle King’s uptempo 60-minute romp was a delight. “Ex’s & Oh’s” is one hell of a catchy single and her Nashville band really rocks.
Chaparelle, an excellent new country-ish band from Texas, is led by vocal powerhouse Zella Day and guitarist Jesse Woods.
Other Sunday highlights:
La Lom, a Los Angeles-based instrumental trio led by amazing guitarist Zac Sokolow, played uptempo Latin America-flavored tunes.
The Oh Hellos, led by siblings Maggie and Tyler Heath, brought along seven manic musician friends who jumped and danced and had attendees smiling and dancing.
A remove-all-the-seats “experiment” that featured terrific sets by De La Soul and Boston heroes Dropkick Murphys, who likely incited the first mosh pit in Newport Folk history.
Bill Brotherton is the former features editor of The Daily Item. He can be reached at bbrotherton@itemlive.com.
