NEWPORT, R.I. — Be present. Be kind. Be open. Be together.
Those are the rules for the Folk Family at the Newport Folk Festival, founded in 1959 by music promoter George Wein, who grew up in Lynn. Sage words, indeed … especially after a pandemic year bereft of all live entertainment, including this blessed music event in historic Fort Adams State Park on the harbor.
Newport is magical. It’s unlike any other festival. Attendees don’t stare at their phones. They are fully invested in the music. This is a community that relishes discovering the stars of tomorrow. Brandi Carlisle, Shakey Graves and countless other stars of today found a supportive audience here when they were starting out.
Musicians say it’s their favorite festival. They return year after year and bring their friends, who in turn bring their musician buddies. Unexpected collaborations and surprise guests are common: In the past, James Taylor joined Sheryl Crow, Dolly Parton joined Carlisle, Roger Waters joined John Prine, Kermit the Frog joined Jim James of My Morning Jacket.
That Newport magic was evident this past weekend.
Yes, there were changes: one fewer stage, half the normal capacity (only 6,000 daily), six consecutive days of music instead of three. The name was shortened to Folk On for this year only. Safety protocols were implemented; proof of full vaccinations were required in advance via the CrowdPass app or proof of a negative test 48 hours prior.
Jay Sweet, an Essex resident, is executive producer of both Newport Folk and Newport Jazz festivals. Tickets sell out months before a single artist has been announced. “In Jay We Trust” is the Folk Fam’s mantra; such is their belief that Sweet and his staff will deliver the goods.
They certainly did this year. The weekend’s headliners were Americana firebrands Nathanial Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Jason Isbell and rising star Allison Russell.
Opening day (Friday) started out sunny and hot. Late-afternoon threats of thunderstorms forced an evacuation and shut down sets by Grace Potter, who returned Saturday morning, and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Rateliff and numerous Newport favorites wowed with a fiery Sunday set that ended with a loving tribute to the late John Prine.
Civil rights and gender equality have always been hallmarks of Newport Folk, dating back to its early years when such icons as Odetta came north to sing about respect and racial justice. Two years ago, Carlisle curated an inspiring, all-women closing extravaganza.
“We’re stronger when we sing together,” said Pete Seeger years ago. It’s Newport’s credo.
Female empowerment was an important element this year, too. Russell curated an ambitious, brave, fearless closing set (“Once and Future Sounds”) on Sunday that focused on being strong, being true to yourself, and, yes, being treated with respect years after Odetta and Aretha demanded the same. It concluded with surprise guest Chaka Khan, some two dozen performers, mostly female, and the entire audience singing “I’m Every Woman.” Sadly, Russell’s opening description of this masterwork lost its power because of a poor sound mix; you couldn’t hear her.
The festival started Friday with the Resistance Revival Chorus, a blending of 28 glorious female voices. “We are here to fight for those who believe in justice,” said the group’s leader to a rousing cheer.
The Folk Family embraced and applauded the message of “What the World Needs Now (is Love Sweet Love),” the first song of Newport 2021, a request from Sweet.
Erin Rae’s “Gentle Times” show and Devon Gilfillian’s guest-studded performance of Marvin Gaye’s landmark, 50-year-old “What’s Going On” album were a lot of fun but conveyed a message too. Rae and numerous guests sang classic songs like Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” and The Youngbloods’ (leader Jesse Colin Young has Lynn ties) “Get Together.”
Gilfillian’s Gaye tribute was mind-blowing and a chance to dance. “Fifty years later and we’re finally starting to get it, what Marvin was saying,” he said. “We just got out of an abusive relationship (Trump’s presidency) … remember we’re all on the same team.”
Not every performer brought the heavyocity. Sunday was cloudy, but numerous artists let the sunshine in with fun, terrific sets.
Campp incited a family dance party with the weekend’s rockin’est show. Billy Strings, a 28-year-old who sings like an old man and plays guitar like nobody’s business, fronted an acoustic, lightning-fast bluegrass set that paid tribute to Doc Watson. Boston’s Ballroom Thieves’ sad songs sounded great on the new busking stage.
The fear of missing out is a big worry at Newport. Sets overlap and greatness is around every corner. If you rush to see Rateliff on one stage, you miss seeing Carlisle join Yola on another. That happened to me on Sunday, but along the journey I caught the remarkable David Ramirez.
On Saturday, Grace Potter was wonderful, displaying a playful, quirky personality that might have been enhanced by her glass of “breakfast wine.” Her love songs “Stars” and “I Release You” ignited many crying jags and a raucous run-through of Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit” had folks hooting and hollering.
Randy Newman, 77, a national treasure, was sublime, performing his hits (“Short People,” “You Can Leave Your Hat On, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”). He was sarcastic, hilarious and cantankerous (the constant foghorn from a boat in the harbor had him cursing). “Sail Away,” his satirical classic song about a slave-trade recruiter, was terrific. And his love songs got the tear ducts working overtime.
Jason Isbell is Americana royalty and one of our finest singers and songwriters. Assisted by wife Amanda Shires (fiddle and vocals) and guitarist Sadler Varden, he was brilliant in Saturday’s closing set.
Friday highlights included a lively rocking set by Ida Mae, a husband-wife duo from the UK; the funky, sax-driven Black Joe Lewis band; and the highly personal songs of Lucy Dacus, who declared “I’m so nervous. But I think I’m a little less nervous here than if I was playing somewhere else.”
Shakey Graves’ solo set was Friday’s highlight. Armed with a guitar, kick drum and incredible songs, he demands attention. His heart-tugging cover of Prine’s “Mexican Home” brought many to tears. There was a LOT of crying this year. His own “Built to Roam,” “Dearly Departed” and especially his rendition of The Pixie’s “Where is My Mind” were sensational.
Margo Price, with an assist from the Resistance Revival Choir and hubby Jeremy Ivey, was wonderful. Her modern country songs and covers (Joan Baez, Dylan and Steven Knudson’s “It Ain’t Drunk Driving if You’re Riding a Horse”) were aces.
The festival continues through Wednesday.
