It’s time to gear up to head to Fort Adams State Park for Newport Folk Fest 2016! The storied festival returns for three days of music, sun and plenty of Lagunitas beer on deck.
For newcomers to the fort, it’s hard to sum up what makes the festival worthy of a trip — and, inevitably, fanaticism. Sure, Newport is a beautiful setting for a music festival. It’s also not a daunting, sprawling festival — capacity is limited to just 10,000 attendees per day. A string of mind blowing bookings — Jack White, Roger Waters and more — in recent years also play a role in making it a huge attraction. It sounds ridiculous and cultish to say, but there’s something intangible about Newport. A simple list won’t do it justice: You just need to go.
This year’s lineup is no slouch either: Patti Smith and Alabama Shakes anchor the weekend, along with a Flight of the Conchords set that seems likely to be full of surprises. Couple the headliners with an undercard full of tried-and-true folk faves, as well as artists waiting to be discovered.
Newport Folk Fest has a schedule released [pdf link] for the weekend. As with any multi-stage festival, there are bound to be heartbreaking choices to be made. I’ve decided to step in and try to sort out the schedule conflicts for you, in one handy guide.
(Note: I use the Newport Folk Fest app to help me navigate the schedule, but once inside the festival grounds, I tend to abandon all planning and intent. Is there really any point to this guide? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
Julien Baker
When/Where?: Sunday, 1:30 p.m. – Quad Stage
Who’s Julien Baker up against?: Son Little, Glen Hansard
Whoa, really?: Nevermind the fact that Glen Hansard hasn’t played the Boston area in almost a decade: Getting a chance to see Julien Baker at this point in her meteoric rise trumps just about anything else. Her debut solo album, Sprained Ankle, is something to behold. Besides, Glen Hansard finally has a tour date in Boston in October.
Still not sure, dude. What song do you recommend?: “Something” is a beautiful song.
Frightened Rabbit
When/Where?: Saturday, 2:55 p.m. – Quad Stage
Who’s Frightened Rabbit up against?: Lady Lamb, Ryan Adams with the Infamous Stringdusters featuring Nicki Bluhm
Are you kidding me?: It is a cruel twist of fate that I’ve literally campaigned (ok, tweeted) for both Lady Lamb and Frightened Rabbit to play Newport for years, and even I have to make a choice. Frightened Rabbit has turned in passionate, gripping festival sets over the years. They also happen to be playing in the same time slot and on the same stage as Courtney Barnett played last year, and her set was one of the undeniable highlights of the fest. It’s a perfect middle-of-the-day set time.
You seem like a diehard fan, idk if I trust your word alone: Say no more. Give Midnight Organ Fight track “Old Old Fashioned” a spin.
Ruby Amanfu
When/Where?: Saturday, 12:05 p.m. – Harbor Stage
Who’s Ruby Amanfu up against?: Amy Helm, Texas Gentlemen & Friends
You’re messing with me.: Ruby Amanfu is a truly wonderful singer, and her latest album Standing Still is a gem. It was recorded in just six days and includes a reinterpretation of Kanye West’s “Street Lights.”(I maintain that Kanye West is on Newport Folk Festival’s aspirational booking list.) Amanfu has also worked with the likes of Jack White and Hozier, both Newport Folk Fest alums.
Hmmmm. Still not sure: Seriously — check out “Street Lights.”
Raury
When/Where?: Friday, 1:35 p.m. – Quad Stage
Who’s Raury up against?: St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Fruit Bats
You are insane: Raury is by all accounts the first hip hop artist to be booked by the festival. But that alone should not get you to the tent, of course. Raury makes protest songs that are fiery. It should be the perfect thing to get the Friday crowd going.
I’m not convinced: Raury made his debut performance on Colbert. It also happened to be the night a presidential candidate appeared on the show. Here’s that performance, of “Devil’s Whisper.” Talk about an apropos song for the guest.
Basia Bulat
When/Where?: Friday, 12:25 p.m. – Quad Stage
Who’s Bulat up against? Please don’t say The Staves: The Staves, Freakwater
What gives you the right?: Basia Bulat’s latest record Good Advice sparkles with electropop flourishes. It’s the kind of music that fans of Lucius might find themselves enjoying.
Lucius? Why’d ya have to say Lucius?: Yeah. Give “Fool” a listen.
Newport Folk Festival gets underway Friday, July 22. Tickets are still available if you can travel back in time to December 2015. Then again, you wouldn’t need this list to begin with if you could time travel.