Newport Folk Festival was founded in 1959 by George Wein, producer of the already-successful Newport Jazz Fest. Taking place annually on the shores of Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, the quintessential American festival has been going strong for over 60 years. It’s where Bob Dylan went electric in 1965, and where Nina Simone took no prisoners the following year. In the last few years the event has greatly expanded on its history with tribute sets to female and Black folk singers, setting the bar high with legendary surprise sets from the likes of Paul Simon, Dolly Parton, and, last year Joni Mitchell, who returned to the stage for the first time in decades after her iconic 1969 performance.
While nothing quite topped that high water mark from last year (a last-minute addition of James Taylor wasn’t a bad touch, though), you can dive into our recap of this year’s event below, as shot by FLOOD photographer Joshua Mellin.
Remi Wolf
Remi Wolf
Maggie Rogers
Maggie Rogers and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket with Margo Price
Animal from the Muppets with My Morning Jacket at Newport Folk Festival in Newport, RI. July 28, 2023. Photo by Joshua Mellin
Animal from the Muppets with My Morning Jacket
James Taylor
Indigo De Souza
Bartees Strange
Bartees Strange
Angel Olsen
Angel Olsen
Angel Olsen with guest Margo Price
Backseat Lovers
Jon Batiste
Jason Isbell
Valerie June with Floyd Pepper of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem
Nickel Creek
Madison Cunningham
Los Lobos with Neko Case
Billy Strings
Bike powered stage
Sir Woman on Bike Stage
