Newport Folk Festival was back at Fort Adams State Park this weekend jammed full of rising stars and music legends alike, but this year seemed to have a special focus on uplifting emerging artists. From Hunter Hawkins debuting a song off her upcoming record on stage with Kenny Loggins to Diana Silvers performing her first ever live show at the Bike Stage, Newport really had its eye on the future of folk this year.

Sheila Kay Adams & Donna Ray Norton at Newport Folk’s Foundation Stage, Photo by Mae Krell

As a first-time attendee, I had certain expectations given what I'd heard about the festival. Newport Folk is legendary. Fort Adams acting as the sacred ground where Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Johny Cash, Pete Seeger (I could go on) have played. Even today, it’s always known to have a special sort of magic permeating the air. It's a magic I could feel as strongly as the Rhode Island sun beaming down my shoulders on that hot Friday afternoon.

I started off the weekend at Newport's smallest stage, the Foundation Stage, with an act you'd be hard to find at any other major music festival in the U.S., and that's not due to a lack of quality. Sheila Kay Adams is a seventh-generation ballad singer and musical storyteller from "the little hollers in the mountains" of Madison County, North Carolina. Her community of Sodom Laurel is known for its continuous tradition of ballad singing that dates back to their 17th century Scottish, Scots/Irish, and English settlers. The ballads, or love songs as she likes to call them, have been passed down in her family for generations, and she is continuing that tradition. Sitting alongside Sheila Kay at the Foundation Stage was her niece, Donna Ray Norton.

Sheila Kay and Donna Ray took turns singing old family ballads, all performed "acappoca" as Sheila's granny always said. Songs like "The Witch Wife's Pig," were sung in 72 year-old Sheila Kay's slight raspy, deeply Southern voice while tendrils of her long gray hair flew around her head in the New England harbor breeze, eyes closed, looking like one of characters from her ancient stories.

Sheila Kay explained how she learned these songs that have been passed down through the centuries knee-to-knee: an elder would sit down with you, sing one verse, and you would repeat it back to them. Donna Ray is a clear example of this teaching, as she learned much of what she knows from Sheila Kay Adams herself. It was clear that Sheila Kay taught her well as soon as Donna Ray opened her mouth and let out that twangy belt she called hollerin'. I felt goosebumps spread across my thighs on a 90-degree Summer day as she sang the last song of the set, "Young Hunting."

Sheila Kay Adams closed her set by thanking us for listening, and letting us know that it took her 50 years to get to Newport Folk Festival. I for one sure am glad she made it.

After that phenomenal first set of the day, we took the time to explore some of the vendors Newport hosted this year. Near the Quad Stage, there were a string of gorgeous vintage vendors that made my pockets start aching as soon as I walked into the first tent. If there's anything I can't resist, it's a good true vintage piece. But I maintained self-control until I spied Pinto Piper's Dynamite Duds For Cowgirls 'N' Studs, a booth of handmade clothing crafted entirely from vintage fabrics. So of course, I snagged myself a two-piece set made from blue gingham and a raspberry bush design---I loved it so much I wore it for Newport Day Two!

Big Freedia at Newport Folk’s Fort Stage, Photo by Mae Krell

Our next set of the day definitely turned up the tempo. Having grown up most of my life on the Gulf Coast just a couple hours from New Orleans, I was intrigued to see the city's self-proclaimed "Queen Diva." Big Freedia is known for being the Queen of New Orleans Bounce Music and has participated in numerous Hip-Hop/Rap projects, most notably Beyonce's Formation. You could feel the sense of joy and pride in her hometown the minute she stepped on stage with, "There's no place like New Orleans, baby!" echoing through the speakers.

As soon as the music started to play people began flocking to the stage, quickly filling the standing section with folk of all ages dancing to the beat. There was the cutest moment of a dad laughing and dancing with his young daughter before lifting her onto his shoulders so she could see Big Freedia and her flock of backups dancers donned in pink.

The set included some of Big Freedia's classic bounce hits, such as "Rock Around Tha Clock," which samples the well-known "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" by Billy Haley & The Comets, as well as some songs from her upcoming gospel album, Pressing Onward that’s set to release on August 8th.

Throughout the set there was an abundance of high energy, but I'd say the fun peaked when Big Freedia called for volunteers to storm the stage for a twerking session to the sound of "Throw It Back." There were a lot of things I was expecting from my first time at Newport but watching a bunch of sunburned white women shake their ass on the Fort Stage was not one of them!

S.G. Goodman at Newport Folk’s Harbor Stage, Photo by Mae Krell

We regrettably snuck away from Big Freedia a bit early in order to slow things down and catch the beginning of S.G. Goodman's set at the Harbor Stage. We waited for the Newport-returnee to take the stage where she emerged effortlessly cool in a simple white tee and sunglasses.

There wasn't much stage banter from Goodman as she let her lyrics do all the talking, and they sure had a lot to say about death, love, and small rural hometowns. "I'm a Southerner," she confessed to the audience, "I tell stories. That's what I do."

Goodman played through a handful of songs from her new album Planting by the Signs, which was released this June. Her first album release in three years, the Kentucky-native's lyricism is deeply beautiful, with shining moments of hope within a project largely about grief. I was especially moved by "Snapping Turtle," which highlights the survivor's guilt of being the one to get out of a small town while leaving others behind in the same situation you were born into.

Special guest Dan Reeder joined Goodman on the stage, harmonizing on the simplistic beauty of "I'm in Love." Later in the set, she sang a countrified cover of Butthole Surfers' "Pepper" as a nod to the 90s.

After S.G. Goodman's set, we took a much-needed break in the shade under the large green tent in front of the Quad stage. On a scorcher like this, there's nothing better than listening to Alex G accompanied by live violin in the distance while sipping on a Del's frozen lemonade.

Evangeline at Newport Folk’s Bike Stage, Photo by Mae Krell

We then found our way to the Bike Stage, which is celebrating its fourth year in a row as part of Newport Folk. Pitched to the festival by Virginia’s favorite alt-rock band Illiterate Light and sponsored by Newport’s own 11th Hour Racing, the Bike Stage is a fully off grid stage, with all equipment powered by solar and bike power.

Up next was Evangeline, whose melodic voice was accompanied by the sporadic sound of bicycle bells' ringing from the six bikers who power the stage by pedaling. Highlights of her performance were "What Are You Doing Later?" and "Rooting For You," both of which came out just this year. The former was featured in a film released this past April. In addition to her music filling the soundtrack of Winter Spring Summer Fall, Evangeline played herself as an indie musician in the film, acting alongside stars such as Jenna Ortega. After her set, I can see why her music was chosen for the film. Evangeline's heartfelt lyricism and romantic sound is the stuff of rom-com dreams!

Kenny Loggins with Hunter Hawkins at Newport Folk’s Fort Stage, Photo by Mae Krell

Around 3:30, major thunderstorm alerts came flooding in, causing the festival to halt. Thankfully, Newport staff were well-prepared with locations for attendees to shelter in place while waiting for the storms to pass. We took refuge under a covered stone pathway with dozens of other festival goers, and I made use of the handy poncho I had stashed in my bag. About an hour later, we reemerged a little damp and ready for more live music.

The rest of the day was ruled by post-rainstorm chaos as the set-list schedule was thrown off by the break. Thinking we were going to see Goose at the Fort Stage, we ended up catching the iconic Kenny Loggins (not an unhappy surprise).

It seemed everyone was full of excitement and renewed energy after the rain as they danced along to Loggins' classics like "Danny's Song" and “Footloose”.

Next to Loggins on stage was a special guest whose electric pink hair was almost as striking as her voice. Hunter Hawkins is an emerging artist whose new record is being produced by Kenny Loggins. Loggins, who joked that he is retiring in the way of The Eagles, seems to have truly taken Hawkins under his wing. While there's no release date for Hawkins' new record publicly available yet, with a legend like Kenny Loggins as the producer, I'll definitely be on the lookout.

Fourteen-year-old me would have found a way to jump through time and slap me if I managed to miss Yeah Yeah Yeahs set at the Quad Stage. The crowd was massive, but we managed to find a decent standing spot, and with a set as high energy as theirs, I knew I would be dancing the whole time. Karen O looked like the epitome of a star in her bright red and gold jumpsuit and gold headpiece as she yelled to the crowd, "We weathered the fuckin' storm!"

Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Newport Folk’s Quad Stage, Photo by Mae Krell

Yeah Yeah Yeahs are playing Newport as part of their Hidden In Pieces tour, celebrating the band’s 25th year anniversary, which focuses on more intimate performances with acoustic arrangements and a deep dive into their catalog to showcase rarely played favorites. On the stage with them for their Newport performance was a set of string musicians, which truly added something special to the set. There's nothing like hearing "Maps" with a string solo.

In addition to fan favorites such as "Maps," and "Spitting Off The Edge Of The World," they covered Bjork's "Hyperballad" and Peter Ivers & David Lynch's "In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song)."

From jumping around the stage to releasing giant eyeball beach balls into the crowd to wiggling her single glove in front of her face a la Michael Jackson (if he owned a bedazzler), Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs was dynamite on the Quad. She even had the elderly volunteer on my side of the stage dancing her heart out in the walkway.

Friday’s headliner was Bleachers, who brought their iconic Ally Coalition Talent Show (TAC) to Newport’s Fort stage this year. The TAC works to promote LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in support of LGBTQ+ youth, and holds an annual Talent Show in NYC.

Jack Antonoff of Bleachers at Newport Folk’s Fort Stage, Photo by Mae Krell

The set started off with a few Bleachers songs before introducing the many guests Jack Antonoff invited. We were running a little late to the Fort after staying for the full Yeah Yeah Yeahs set and were lured to the stage by the siren-like sound of Weyes Blood covering "Dream A Little Dream."

After Weyes Blood came a string of guests: Waxahatchee, Dan Reeder, Maren Morris, Rufus Wainwright, and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. The biggest surprise of the set was when Hayley Williams came out on stage near the very end of the set. In addition to a cover of Modern English's "I Melt With You," Williams performed her new, unreleased song "Mirtazapine." "Mirtazapine" along with 16 other new releases are set to be available for streaming on August 1st as her first solo project since 2021.

Amidst the star-studded cast of Antonoff's Talent Show was an unexpected highlight, a stripped-down version of "I Wanna Get Better", The song every slightly depressed teenager loved taken down to its bones. Antonoff revealed that when he first recorded the song, he made it loud and showy to hide from the pain he was feeling. Its taken him some time, but Antonoff feels he's brought it back to its original meaning by playing it as a folk song.

And that's a wrap on Newport Folk day one!

Festival Recap: Newport Folk Day One

Angelina’s Corner: Roundup