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Newport Folk And Jazz Festivals
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For more than 50 years, the Newport jazz and folk festivals have brought some of the best live musical performances to the stage.
And sometimes, some of the most controversial. In 1965, Bob Dylan, famously plugged in an electric guitar in Newport, and outraged many folk purists.
The Newport Folk Festival is still going strong. Last weekend it sold out in advance for the first time in its 52-year history — thanks to performances from people likes of Earl Scruggs and The Decemberists.
The Newport Jazz Festival takes place August 5-7, and will feature 48 acts, including veteran jazz man Dave Brubeck, Wynton Marsalis, James Farm--a Joshua Redman led band, and the young bass player and singer, Esperanza Spalding.
But you can't talk about Newport without talking about George Wein -- who's kept the music going for more than fifty years.
Wein is 85 now. He set up a non-profit foundation so that the festivals might live on after he's gone, which is not guaranteed. We chat with him and two critics about Newport's legacy and future.
What's your most memorable Newport moment? Do you have a favorite act? Did the festival allow you to discover a new artist or reconnect with an older one? Share your memories below.
Guests
- George Wein, founder, Newport Folk and Newport Jazz Festivals
- Joshua Jackson, host and producer, Check Out, WBGO; anchor, NPR Music's coverage of the Newport Jazz Festival
- Rita Houston, music director, WFUV; host, The Whole Wide World with Rita Houston
Listen:
This segment aired on August 3, 2011.