Newport Folk Festival 2023
The Newport Folk Festival is one of the first modern music festivals. The festival’s history is deep and storied. Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Earl Scruggs, Odetta, and the Kingston Trio played the inaugural festival. Since then a who’s who of modern music has graced the stage. Mississippi John Hurt, John Lee Hooker, James Taylor, Willie Dixon, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Judy Collins, along with John Prine, Allsison Krauss, Mavis Staples, Indigo Girls, Taj Mahal, The Band, Little Feat, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Ani DiFranco have graced the stage. The list also includes Doc Watson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Buddy Miller, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, Justin Townes Earle, and The Felice Brothers along with hundreds of others.
It was going to be difficult to top last year’s special surprise performance of Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. Of course, throughout the weekend various rumors of special guests floated throughout the grounds. Was Bono in attendance and who would he perform with? Of course Taylor Swift was rumored. Last but not least, who would perform during the festival’s finale hosted by Billy Strings. In the end, an earth shattering seminal event never materialized.
But that doesn’t mean the festival was short on mind blowing guest appearances. James Taylor did fill in for Noah Kahan who was ordered by doctors to rest his vocal cords. Jack Antonoff made a guest appearance during Lana Del Ray’s set and played piano to Joni Mitchell’s “For Free.” Tyler Childers stepped in for a couple songs with the Turnpike Troubadours. Erin Rae seemed to be everywhere throughout the weekend lending her vocals to whoever needed them. SG Goodman stepped in for a tune with Senora May. Valerie June sang “Midnight Train to Georgia,” with Floyd Pepper of the Muppets. Floyd Pepper’s bandmate Animal turned up during Goose’s set. My Morning Jacket also hosted Animal, along with Margo Price, John Oates, and my favorite, Maggie Rogers, who performed Fleetwood Mac’s “Say You Love Me” with the band. Perhaps the most cameos occurred during Folk Family Revue featuring Robert Ellis, Beau Bedford, and Phil Cook. “Crocodile Rock” led by Ellis on keys and Deer Tick’s John McCauley singalong to “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” were highlights of the entire weekend.
The lack of otherworldly surprise guests allowed a diverse group of artists to shine who would have been overshadowed by megastars. A number of my favorite acts of the weekend were relatively unknown and others were up and coming artists, one break away from making it big. One favorite, Jupiter and Okwess blasted the crowd with the dance rhythms of the Congo, combining African rhythms with rock, funk, and jazz. Jupiter Bokondji’s animated singing accompanied by dancing guitarists and a drummer in a wrestling mask had the crowd in a frenzy. There was not a person left sitting down by the end of their fifty minute set. Another favorite, Danielle Ponder, in 2018 left her career as a public defender in Rochester, New York, to pursue her musical passion. Three years later she performed at the Newport Jazz Festival and was invited to this year’s Folk Festival. Ponder wasted no time making her talents known. By the end of the first song she had won the crowd over. Ponder’s arranged vocals often begin in powerful yet hushed tones that grow in intensity. The power of her cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” left the audience picking up their jaws from the ground. Fans will be waiting for her next appearance at the festival. One of my favorite performances came from the Eastern Medicine Singers. This set made the audience question the definition of folk music. The Rhode Island-based Algonquin group is dedicated to keeping the eastern woodlands’ American Indian culture alive. Dressed in ceremonial outfits, the musicians chanted and pounded rhythms in a ceremonial drum circle. What made this performance unique was the accompaniment by avant garde improvisational guitarist Yonatan Gat, Lee Ranaldo former guitarist of Sonic Youth, and Swans bassist Christopher Pravdica. These noise rock superstars blended seamlessly into the tribal rhythms. Each group of musicians took turns leading the ensemble. By the end of their performance, the assortment of musicians had developed into a collaborative powerhouse.
A proper review of this year’s festival has to include mentioning the commanding sets by Ron Gallo, My Morning Jacket, Caamp, Hold Steady, Remi Wolf, and the Backseat Lovers. Of course the more traditional folk and americana genres were well represented by Nickel Creek, Willi Carlisle, Jamie Wyatt, Alice Phoebe Snow, Turnpike Troubadours, Jason Isbell, Black Opry Review, Los Lobos, and of course Billy Strings.
The dates for next year’s festival have not been announced. Keep in mind this festival sells out within minutes without a single performer being announced. Go to the Newport Folk Festival website to be updated on next year’s dates and ticket information.
Find last year’s review here: Show Review: Newport Folk Festival 2022
Newport Folk Festival 2023