NEWPORT FOLK FEST DAY 1
Newport Folk Fest Day 1, Newport, RI. 7/24/26
Day 1: Friday
Covering the Newport Folk Festival has always been a dream of mine, so I was ecstatic when I was approved. I left Philadelphia early Friday morning, and from the moment I walked into Fort Adams State Park, the excitement was palpable. Passing sailboats in the harbor and fans eagerly making their way into the festival created the perfect atmosphere to kick off an unforgettable weekend.
The first set I caught featured Haley Heynderickx and Max García Conover. The duo's chemistry was undeniable, delivering a warm, intimate performance that perfectly captured the spirit of Newport Folk Fest.
Next up was Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy performing the music of R.E.M. Michael Shannon made a dramatic entrance, running onto the stage to a thunderous ovation. His energy was impossible to ignore as he swung and lifted the microphone stand while fully embracing the music and the crowd.
From there, I headed to the Fort Stage, where Wednesday impressed with heavy guitar riffs and an intense performance that contrasted nicely with the festival's folk roots. Shortly afterward, Irish folk band Amble had the audience dancing with their infectious melodies and tight musicianship, making for one of the day's most joyful sets.
One of the festival's most talked-about moments came when The Lumineers surprised fans with a pop-up performance on the Bike Stage. As word spread, fans quickly swarmed the area. Their performance echoed through the festival grounds, and hearing the crowd sing along to "Walls" created one of those unforgettable Newport moments.
The Fruit Bats followed on the Quad Stage, with Eric D. Johnson's soaring vocals captivating the audience. They even played one of my personal favorites, "Humbug Mountain Song," which made an already excellent set even more memorable.
One of the artists I was most excited to see was Australian indie rock icon Courtney Barnett, and she certainly didn't disappoint. Barnett commanded the stage with effortless confidence, delivering blistering guitar solos before climbing onto the drum riser, wildly shaking her hair as the crowd cheered her on.
Lucy Dacus took over the Fort Stage next, opening with plenty of fan favorites, including "Hot & Heavy." Midway through her set, she brought out a blue two-seat couch before welcoming headliner Hayley Williams to the stage for a beautiful duet.
Over on the Harbor Stage, Philadelphia's own Matt Quinn treated fans to several Mt. Joy songs, including "Highway Queen," which he shared was written for his wife.
As the evening continued, Newport welcomed the legendary Ms. Lauryn Hill. While fans eagerly awaited her arrival, the DJ kept the energy high, encouraging the crowd to throw their hands in the air. When Lauryn Hill stepped onstage, the audience erupted. Hearing her perform the Fugees classic "Killing Me Softly" was easily one of the biggest highlights of the day.
Closing out the night on the Fort Stage was Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams, who turned her headlining set into a celebration of collaboration. She welcomed several special guests throughout the performance, including Joy Oladokun, who told the audience the moment was one of the highlights of her life. Williams also brought out Bleachers' Jack Antonoff and the always electrifying Remi Wolf, sending the crowd home on an incredible high.
Day one of Newport Folk Festival exceeded every expectation I had. Between surprise performances, unforgettable collaborations, and outstanding musicianship, it was the perfect start to the weekend and there were still two more days of music left to experience.
Shot and Written by Jonah van Bemmelen.
