Jon Batiste, Lana Del Rey, Nickel Creek and More Help Fuel the 2023 Newport Folk Festival’s Power of Music and Community

Newport Folk Festival Executive Producer Jay Sweet unveiled a new mission statement for the organization at this weekend’s musical celebration in Newport, Rhode Island: “To create moments of hope through the power of music and community.” If the seismic magnitude of good vibrations generated by this year’s event was any indication, then the finely tuned mission is off to a great start. Not a surprising outcome for one of the country’s most legendary and beloved festivals.

An eclectic, diverse and dynamic roster of ASCAP music creators delivered stunning performances across the festival’s many stages on July 28-30, from musical superstars to gifted upstarts, and even a performance by the legendary James Taylor, who fulfilled the role of surprise guest – a trademark of the festival in recent years.

Nickel Creek kicked up a bluegrass storm on the Quad Stage on the Festival’s opening day. Chris Thile, Sara and Sean Watkins and cohorts, who recently reunited and put out a fantastic new album, Celebrants, were right at home at the festival. Their modern twist on traditional roots music is as exciting today as it was when they debuted in 1989.

The jubilant musical juggernaut of funk, jazz, soul and R&B that is Jon Batiste dazzled the Fort Stage audience with a headlining set on Saturday, July 29. The Oscar and Grammy Award winner (and ASCAP Board member) showcased his virtuoso abilities on guitar, saxophone, piano and melodica, and shared the stage with musical guests such as Native Soul and contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle.

Pop music icon Lana Del Rey performed songs from her acclaimed new album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, and her lush, orchestral sound emanated beautifully across Newport’s Harbor, brimming with fans on sailboats, paddleboards, kayaks and all manner of floating vessels.

Making her debut at the festival was the breakout artist Danielle Ponder. A former public defender from Rochester, New York, Ponder’s powerhouse vocals and soulful songwriting resonated perfectly at Newport. Her closing cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” was an especially savvy choice, winning over legions of new fans.

The Brooklyn-by-way-of-Minneapolis rock band The Hold Steady celebrated its 20^th anniversary with an explosive set that featured songs from across the group’s storied canon. Frontman Craig Finn jumped across the stage, fist pumping the air, and rejoiced in the freedom to let loose on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The band was also commemorating the release of their ninth studio album, The Price of Progress. A new book, The Gospel of The Hold Steady features essays about “America’s greatest bar band” by Michael Hann, Rob Sheffield, Laura Barton and Isaac Fitzgerald and also features thoughts and recollections by fans who have helped shape the band’s identity over the years.

Returning to Newport this year were two ASCAP artists whose stars continue to rise. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Madison Cunningham, who just a few years ago performed on the small Museum Stage, reveled in the opportunity to show her stuff on the Quad Stage. Cunningham, who in 2019 received The ASCAP Foundation Abe Olman Scholarship, won a Grammy this year for Best Folk Album for her album Revealer. Also making a victorious return was  , the musical collective from Norwalk, Connecticut, who continue to sell out the biggest venues around the country and have become the band to follow (a la the Grateful Dead) for a whole new generation of jam band fans. Goose went from playing the Quad Stage last year to the Fort Stage, where their extended musical explorations felt more epic than ever.

Other highlights from this year’s fest included Peter One, an African artist originally from Côte d’Ivoire who currently lives and makes music in Nashville; Australian pop-punk powerhouse The Beths; the silky sounds of Thee Sacred Souls; the intense musical soundscapes of The Huntress and Holder of Hands (aka MorganEve Swain); the masterful guitarist M. Ward; the Grammy Award-nominated horticulturist/musician from Colorado Gregory Alan Isakov and Dawn Landes and Friends performing songs from The Liberated Woman’s Songbook.

Among the many wonderful moments experienced at the festival are the performances by artists who express how meaningful it is to play Newport. From established artists like Aimee Mann, who brought with her an incredible career’s worth of emotionally resonant and thought-provoking pop songs to emerging artist Abraham Alexander, who was born in Greece but moved to Texas at a young age, and cultivated a gift for songwriting and performing that he has honed on the road with such artists as Leon Bridges, Mavis Staples and Ani DiFranco.

Another trademark of the festival is its unexpected collaborations. Among those highlights were Neko Case and Nels Cline joining Los Lobos onstage for their celebration of their 40^th Anniversary, and Animal from The Muppets' Electric Mayhem band joining Goose onstage during their set.

The folk festival, which was founded in 1959 by George Wein, along with the Newport Jazz Festival, which originated in 1954, continues to pay tribute to and present roots music from around the globe while also evolving and opening its fabled doors to music that pushes and defies boundaries. Both festivals help fulfill the work of the Newport Festivals Foundation, which is to foster the impact and legacy of both events by supporting artists and music education through year-round programs across the country.