While we were sweating it out in Grant Park for Lollapalooza this past weekend, friend of the ‘Gum and occasional photo contributor Jon Bahr was toughing it out up in Newport, Rhode Island for this year’s installment of the annual folk festival. Well, maybe not toughing it out, exactly. Jon describes the scene:

The setting of the Newport Folk Fest couldn’t be more picturesque and nearly every artist who played couldn’t help but mention the scenery. The 8,000 attendees take over the Fort Adams State Park, whose centerpiece is the Fort was built in 1799 and is the largest coastal fortification in the United States. Surrounding that is the stunning view of the massive Newport Bridge (picture the Verrazano bridge) and hundreds upon hundreds of boats filling the coast, anchored watching the stage/screens, and listening to the music perfectly with a “Boat Drink” in hand.

Anchoring the waterfront scene, of course, was a broad sampling of “folk” with everyone from Steve Earle to Gillian Welch, Trey Anastasio to She & Him. Looks like NPR’s archiving the fest, so if you’re in the mood for streaming, head here for full sets from She & Him, Gillian Welch, and Jim James with more to come — and while you listen, enjoy the spread courtesy of Mr. Bahr.

STEVE EARLE

SHE & HIM

BOATS!

TREY ANASTASIO

JIM JAMES

CAT POWER

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Comments (9)
  1. Andrew  |   Posted on Aug 5th, 2008

    Zooey!

  2. jimmy james.

  3. Cat Power.

  4. microphone!

  5. Trey!

  6. Jules  |   Posted on Aug 6th, 2008

    No Brandi Carlile? Hate to say this, but I think you missed the best performance!

    • No stage shots from Sunday because I was on a boat all day (listening to Brandi Carlile->Calexico (w Jim James for a song)->Levon Helm->Jimmy Buffett (w Levon, Gillian and Jake Shimabukuro). Perfect view of the video screens, great sound. The ultimate festival experience…

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