Jay Sweet, executive producer of the annual festival announced today they've called off the festival, originally scheduled from July 31 to Aug. 2 because of Covid-19 concerns.
This is the letter I was praying I wouldn’t have to write, feeling we need the healing powers of live music more now than ever. It is with the heaviest of hearts we announce the cancellation of the 2020 Newport Folk Festival. As devastating as it is to write those words, it’s balanced with a renewed sense of, well, HOPE. It’s Rhode Island’s motto for good reason and it’s also the feeling you, our festival family, constantly exudes when we come together in good times and perhaps more importantly, in difficult times as well. This community is truly unlike any other in music, and I believe we can emerge from this hardship stronger and more connected than ever before.
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Comments
Too late but missed opportunity
By JohnAKeith
Wed, 04/29/2020 - 11:40pm
You should start rhyming cancellations like you did with the T delays ...
Folk Fest
By perruptor
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 12:32am
Under Arrest
Dylan Famously There Went Electric
By John Costello
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 9:34am
This Year's Fest Got Cancelled By A Pandemic.
And what ever happened to T delays?
By jmeltzer
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 7:13am
Are they still happening, now that ridership is way down?
I still get the alerts on my
By anon
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 9:24am
I still get the alerts on my phone even though I haven't used the T in six weeks. Makes me reminisce.
Blue Line Fail
By anon
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 10:42am
Twice in the past week the Blue Line ceased functioning and had to run shuttle buses. Even with ridership at an all time low they STILL can't keep the darn thing moving.
Makes sense
By Parkwayne
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 9:33am
The average age of a Newport Folk festival attendee has to be around 80, same as covid victims.
Any institution that venerates a creep like Livingston Taylor can fuck off anyways.
Eek
By Scratchie
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 11:22am
That escalated quickly.
Made me look
By perruptor
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 12:24pm
I wondered why you called Livingston Taylor a creep, so I searched on the web. Nothing. So, why is he a creep?
I had to Google it too
By Scratchie
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 12:32pm
He's been accused of sexual harassment at Berklee:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/16/metro/sexua...
I have to wonder if ParkWayne was so concerned about his creepiness prior to March 16th.
As for "veneration"? I wasn't aware that he was particualrly "venerated", as opposed to, say, booked occasionally. Anyone care to dig up a list of how often, and how recently, he's even played the Newport Folk Fest?
It seems pretty moronic to write off an entire festival (that is enjoyed by fans of all ages) because of the behavior of one past-his-prime performer, but what do I know?
So, after 4 years...
By perruptor
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 12:51pm
The Glob won't let me read anything but the headline there. After 4 years, has there been a court case, or any official action, or does this remain an allegation?
The allegations are from this
By Scratchie
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 12:59pm
The allegations are from this year, and Taylor has been placed on leave while the school investigates.
Berklee doesn't have a great record in this regard, obviously, but it just strikes me as a little bizarre that someone's first reaction to a news story about one of the most famous and historic music festivals in the world is "But... Livingston Taylor!"
Unfair
By Parkwayne
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 3:38pm
My first reaction was to make fun of the age of folkies THEN I went after Taylor second.
It's all just a bit of shit talking on the internet honestly. A music festival that brings joy to people who want to be there is a good thing whether it's the Gathering of the Juggalos or the Folk Festival.
(But seriously, folk music .... ooof.)
Cool story, bro.
By Scratchie
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 3:39pm
Cool story, bro.
Obviously...
By Hunter
Fri, 05/01/2020 - 7:48am
...You've never attended the festival. There's a good balance between folk, rock and blues and the artists that play always bring their A Game. It's a fantastic weekend at the waterfront and a very chill atmosphere. Forums like this have devolved into people who know little taking the opportunity to prove it with other people who like to gripe all the time. Congratulations.
Four years?
By Allstonian
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 1:00pm
I know that time is all messed up these days, but the linked article is from March 16, 2020, which is roughly six weeks ago.
Yes
By perruptor
Thu, 04/30/2020 - 3:55pm
I'm clearly having a numbers problem today.
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