Newport Folk Festival

Newport Folk Festival

The Newport Folk Festival is an annual American folk-oriented music festival in Newport, Rhode Island, which began in 1959 as a counterpart to the Newport Jazz Festival. The festival was founded by music promoter and Jazz Festival founder George Wein, music manager Albert Grossman, and folk singers Pete Seeger, Theodore Bikel, and Oscar Brand. It was one of the first modern music festivals in America and remains a focal point in folk music. The festival was held in 1959 and 1960, then annually from 1963 to 1969, first at Freebody Park and then at Festival Field. In 1985, Wein revived the festival; it has since been staged annually at Fort Adams State Park.