The 2019 Newport Folk Festival in Photos

The Newport Folk Festival has become a Paste favorite over the years, ever since we took over part of the ruins of Fort Adams to record a series of Paste Sessions in 2012 and 2013 with everyone from Amanda Palmer and Beth Orton to Of Monsters and Men and First Aid Kit. This year we sent Paste Studio’s Brad Wagner and Juan M Soria to photograph the festival and share some highlights.

Juan and I reached the Newport Folk Fest on Saturday and were instantly bowled over by Jade Bird’s stage presence. We saw SUSTO rip the Harbor Stage before heading back to the main stage for Gregory Alan Isakov. We walked into the Museum Stage just in time to catch Ramblin’ Jack Elliot telling a tale about how Bob Dylan released the song “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” into Elliot’s capable custody.

Jade Bird

Ramblin’ Jack Elliot

Gregory Alan Isakov

MC Taylor from Hiss Golden Messenger, Erin Rae, Jerry Bernhardt, Doug Hall & Brian Schwartz gamely posed for a group photo with me and Juan in front of the fort.

MC Taylor, Erin Rae and friends

One of the most interesting discoveries of the weekend was Walker Lukens’ Song Confessional. These guys travel the country trailing a church-style confessional booth on wheels. Participants tell a story in front of a mic. The Confessional crew chooses their favorites, then assigns the stories to various songwriters who have six hours to write and record a song inspired by the story. The whole thing is turned into a fascinating podcast.

Walker Lukens’ Song Confessional

The Collaboration at the end of Saturday’s program was hosted by Brandi Carlile and featured Judy Collins, Sheryl Crow, Linda Perry, Yola, The Highwomen, Lucy Dacus and more. The crowd absolutely erupted when Dolly Parton took the stage to close out the show. Carlile and Parton did a goosebump-y rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” then everybody joined on the most estrogen-fueled “9 to 5” of all-time.

Dolly Parton Leads the collaboration