Newport Folk Festival

Hands down one of the best music festivals in the United States

Newport has taken its place alongside Coachella and Bonnaroo as one of the very best festivals in the Americas. It was a fantastic festival this year, aside from one act: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes were terrible. Well the band was fine, but Alex Ebert was high. He didn't know where he was. He didn't sing complete songs. I should have read reviews for him for the last 3 years. It seems to be well known that people should be avoiding that act. They were late to stage, and that is the cardinal sin at Newport. They will never be invited again. And Alex Ebert is going to die soon of an overdose. Sad.

The music is always great, no complaints there. The view and atmosphere are like non other. I must say, the vendors get better every year. So many unique gifts. I save my gift shopping for folk fest, and haven't been disappointed. I do wish, in addition to the ferry, there could be a trolly or a school bus to shuttle people. It just seems like an eternity to get on a ferry if you stay until the last performance.

I couldn't believe the high calibre of entertainment that was offered up this year. The opening acts were outstanding and Steve Martin was beyond expectations!

A whole new venue for Steve Martain. Most don't know who good a banjo picker he is. Pair that with his original quick wit in the intersong psycobable and you have a wonderful evening of song and humor. A must see!

Beautifully paced program by a group of talented musicians provided an evening of joyful bluegrass music with memorable contributions by Tim O'Brien and Sarah Jarosz.

so so so so wonderful. I'm not even a huge bluegrass fan, but how could you miss the chance to see Steve Martin? He was funny as always, and he is an amazing musician (who knew??) and his band was great... really an amazing show.

My friends and I spent the weekend in Newport as part of a "mini vacation". We came out from NY and spent the weekend! This location was perfect! Fort Adams was easy to get to and it was well planned. There are THREE stages (all located a good distance from each other, so you don't hear music blending in between the 3 stages) with various artists perfoming on each stage so it made for more entertainment. We received the concert schedule upon entering the gates, so we knew what band or artist was playing, where and at what time. There were many vendors selling clothing, food, handmade crafts, and alcohol was also available with proof of age. There was plenty of police helping to make traffic move smoothly, the event had free shuttle service to and from the parking lot which isn't far...we easily walked both ways and it took less than 10 minutes each way. I really enjoyed the fact that because Fort Adams is located so close to downtown Newport, we had attractions to see and do such as the Newport mansions, the Cliffwalk, and shopping! The downtown area is quaint and also provides great night life! This is my second time going to the Newport Folk Festival and I look forward to many more!!

I cannot fathom a more perfect day. Weather, venue and talent all peaked at once as we watched. I hope to never miss this festival again for the rest of my life.

I went to see the Punch Brothers play here, who are my favorite band. I got to meet then, get autographs, and a photo with them. I saw cory chisel, and became a fan. I saw the preservation hall jazz band and became a fan. I also saw elvis perkins, as well as edward sharp and the magnetic zeroes, who i hear all of the time on WERS 88.9 all the time, and love their songs. Overall a great day and so many great shows.

From the location of the venue (which was beautiful) to the performances, themselves (which were exquisite), it was an amazing two-day experience. I experienced the performances of Blitzen Trapper, O'Death, Horse Feathers, Dawes, Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, the Avett Brothers, and what I could catch of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Performances on the Fort Stage were huge and exciting, though I preferred the more intimate Harbor and Quad (especially) stages. I was amazed by the lack of sound interference between stages and appreciated very much that all I could hear was what I wanted to. I have no complaints (well, other than the fact that the Port-a-Potties ran out of toilet paper pretty frequently) and am looking forward to going again next year!

I love Richie Havens but couldn't understand what he was singing and saying

We go every year for the Newport Folk Festival. It was another great year. And we didn't get rained on or get so hot we felt like we might die. The music was great. We found a few new acts to look up and heard some amazing ledgends as well. I would strongly reccommend getting the 'pre-sale' two day ticket and next year I think that I will buy the parking pass as well. I saved quite a bit of money and that is always nice. We know that we are going pretty much no matter what, so buying it way ahead of time was a great move. Also, a high point was the What Cheer? Brigade. AMAZING. Out of this world. Wild, crazy, makes you want to dance. They were wandering around the grounds all weekend and just popping up to play and then wandering off again. I will check them out for sure. I want to just follow them around because they make me so happy!

The Folk Festival was another three days of awesome music and fellow folkie/indie music fans! It was hot as hell all three days, but the venue is so beautiful and the breeze and good vibes helped to keep things cool. Brett Dennen, the Fruit Bats, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Flight of the Conchords (hilarious) were among my favorites on Friday. On Saturday, the line-up was spectacular - Del & Dawg, Father John Misty, Ryan Adams, Amy Helm, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, John Mooreland, Ryan Adams, and Patti Smith. It just kept going on Sunday - Glen Hansard, Elvis Costello and Alabama Shakes were fabulous!

Always an amazing weekend. Great Music, Good food & better people.

First of all...I am a true fan of the Newport Folk Festival. I have been going for years and I will continue to do so. This year was different. There was heightened security...which is great...but there was a HUGE unnecessary concern about tents. The big issue was about placement within the venue. Tents have always ended up in the back of the bigger section, and there is an unspoken understanding between those that place there tent in that area..."respect other's line of sight". I can only imagine after this years "tent fiasco" that there will be more strict rules next year. When I showed up first thing on the last day and was shown the "tent area"...measuring about 10 feet along the very back of the lawn...I was shocked and outraged. How can you limit the size of the tent area? My family started going to the Folk Fest because it was ideal for a family. I cannot and will not be able to go if I cannot have the freedom of using a tent. I have a very young daughter who cannot sit in the sun all day (for 3 days)...I can't do it either. I feel betrayed by what I thought was an amazing organization and event when I was challenged multiple times by security on where my tent should go. Mind you...my tent does not block anyone's view. It is open and anyone that had to sit behind me (they chose to do so, knowing that they can see through, or above my tent). All in all...it was a great weekend, but there was this underlying frustration (of me, my family, and several...SEVERAL other families) around the "on the fly" moving around the tent area. Please...I am begging you (NFF) to let us keep our freedom to gather as we choose and lay our tent and family as we choose. Restrictions are only going to make this great experience more and more frustrating for us all. Folk on...folk on...thank you.

Loved the music and choices provided. I have been going to Newport for several years and have noticed the increase in participants. One thing I did not care for was there was very little shade and places to sit in tents. In the past, patrons were not allowed to "save seats" and this helped people that wanted to sit and watch be able to. Many people were saving seats that were left open for long periods of time and that was wasted space that someone could have sat and enjoyed a song. I don't have a solution, Maybe larger tents? Maybe make it a policy not to save seats? I am not sure i will be purchasing a three day pass next year , but i will attend one or two days.

I cannot recommend this festival highly enough. It's a pure celebration of music and the vibes are all about love and happiness. The acts are consistently amazing. If you're even a LITTLE bit interested in folk music or rock music, you owe it to yourself to give this festival a shot.

I can't say enough good things about NFF. My husband and I attended all three days. It was hotter than anything - but soooo worth it. Music first - THE BEST! I counted 55 bands over the three days and there were many there that you'd never be able to see anywhere else. TONS of variety from new, lesser known artists, to more rock/indie type bands, to older favorites like Graham Nash and Elvis Costello. Definitely something for everyone. It was so well run too. Bands went on on-time over all four stages. The attendees were a great crowd. I never saw one incident or altercation. No one was drunk. People go there to hear great music and have a friendly, peaceful time. It was really a great experience. Can't wait for next year!

This was my 7th year attending with my daughter. It was outstanding once again! We'll certainly be back next year as well.

The Newport Folk Festival is unlike any other musical experience. Every serious music lover should go at least once. You never know exactly going in, what you will experience, trust that it will be special, magical and memorable!!!

Way too many people left! :-( And even worse, people did the noisy exit line during their show! It was rude. Where were the music lovers?

This festival is for music lovers. If you want a loud, drunken, raucous party atmosphere...this isn't the place for you. If you want to dance by the water while listening to amazing music with a large crowd of happy and friendly people, go to Newport. It's my absolute favorite weekend of the year, and I wouldn't miss it!

1st time attendee- and it was even more than I expected tremendous venue, ample space, parking, good organization, reasonable drink prices, friendly and helpful staff, even leaving wasnt that bad (nothing like mansfield or foxboro) was most impressed that waiting was almost non existent- outside of the need to inspect bags all other lines were non existent, or moved crisply and of course 2 things- the views are spectacular, and the music was too almost too much to choose from- with 4 show stages and the jam stage a great venue- a tremendous festival, great music and real good folks will be back for sure

Great show under hot sunny skies. So much talent at the show, highlighted for me by Nathaniel Ratcliff and the Night Sweats, Rayland Baxter, the quirky Ryan Adams, and the Banditos. There was also a woman in a small tent playing with 3/4's of the band Deer Tick, who was excellent.

If you plan to bring kids don't even bother. Even without kids, this event was terrible. Music was great, but the beer and parking situations were ridiculous. There were two areas to buy beer, each with a 30-40min line to get in. You have to be 21 to get in, and YOU CANT LEAVE WITH A BEER. You have to be inside the beer area to drink your beer. By rule, if you have a kid with you, you can't get a beer. Ridiculous. My wife and I were there with our two kids for 6 hours and never had a beer. For this kind of money they should be giving you freebee's. Parking: we left the festival right around closing time at 7:30pm. We sat in our car for 1:45 before we moved an inch. All told, it took two full hours to get out of the venue. No thanks, never again. Go to Fresh Grass instead.

Had a fantastic time at Newport Folk Fest on Friday, with excellent performances by the Violent Femmes, Basia Bulat, Fruit Bats & others. Show was really well run, and so different than my last time there 11 years ago, when I think there were only 2 stages. This time around you could go inside the fort for the Quad stage, which was under cover. Having a couple of stages under tents made a huge difference in balancing the sun v shade aspect of the day. Did feel like too many people were there, but wasnt horrible (last time I was there I recall getting up much closer to most bands, and even this time, there was a section for standing/dancing at main stage where you could get up close). Food options were good, water stations were excellent and plentiful (much better than at other recent festivals I've attended). Security was good but not overbearing. Crowd was chill. Sound systems were good. Didnt go into the beer pen, which looked kinda sad, everyone boxed into a little section. Only other complaint is that Newport sells out before they announce the acts, so you basically have to take your chances that you go on a day there are bands you like.

Great venue, wonderful weather, fabulous service attendees keeping restrooms clean & stocked and the whole park clean! Well organized parking going in and out (for so many!) Controlling the influx of cars and people such that it never seemed unruly. The line up of artists was amazing!!!

Probably three of the most fun days I've had. The music acts are all incredible - you literally can not go wrong no matter which of the three stages you're at. You can plunk down at any of the three stages and just stay the whole time, or you can wander from stage to stage, and you literally cannot see a bad show.

Both times that I have gone to Newport Folk Festival I have been impressed with the quality of the music, stage presence, crowds, and organization. This festival is worth every second.

Highly recommended. The tickets are a little expensive but the lineup always is worth it!

This was an unforgettable experience . Every act brought their best game to the stage. There were many great moments but especially enjoyed the marriage proposal on Sunday morning.

As usual the Festival is incredibly well run and for the most part, the audiences are nice. That being said, the rest of the festival this year was very disappointing for a major event. Friday's line-up was weak and included some "artists" who couldn't hold my attention for more than one song. Roger Waters...folk?!?!?! This has turned into an Indie-Rock Festival. which is fine, but please don't bill this as a folk festival. There is a tremendous amount of talent that is roots based, or that is totally committed to the true sense of folk. With the exception of Dom Flemmons and the Music Maker Foundation, folk really wasn't represented. Spirit Family Reunion doesn't cut it...and the Bob Dylan tribute at the closing was lame. Until the line-up changes, I won't be returning...sorry to see what this festival has become.

Amazing location, weather, vendors, food, and most importantly MUSIC! Newport did it again - an absolutely fantastic weekend. Couldn't have been better!

I flew all the way from California! Worth it! Great people, great crowd. May be back next year!

the entire day is fun except for when it's time to leave. Depending where you park you can sit there for an hour or so before you can get out of the park. then you have to crawl thru Newport in bumper to bumper traffic because there's only one way out to the highway.

Even if you've never heard of a single band playing you will get there and discover some of your new fave music. Well organized and just the best weekend of the summer in Rhode Island. Highly recommend.

The NFF is one of a kind and shouldn't be missed! The music was great and the setting is unbelievable. Great views of the bay and awesome sunsets.

It is with a little trepidation that I share this review because I don't want you to come next year...shhh. This was my 5th in a row and magically it gets better every year. This was a new high. The artists collaborations, audience reverie and earnestness of everyone performing happens no where else to the degree that it does here. Can't wait to see how they top next year.

As a regular attendee of some thirty years, I have watched the show evolve to a sold-out, four + stage festival. The location is right on the water, and the crowd is generally mellow even when dancing in front of the stage. There are food trucks and food stands, beer & water stations, and crafts sellers so no one just sits. Between sets folks wander, go to different stages, and chat with others.

The whole set up was impeccable, the location Stunning; the music perfection, and the food to die for!!!! Doesn't hurt to have amazing Newport weather as well. I am still so impressed with how flawless The set up was and easy it was to maneuver From one area to another and enjoy every aspect Of the festival! Well done

WOW!!!!! I consider my self VERY PRIVLEDGED to have seen Roger Waters play with My Morning Jacket. Sooooo awesome. Roger isnt known for doing covers....to see him cover John Prine, The Band (with Levon Helms daughter) and Bob Dylan......such an honor to be present for. Was truly a wonderful evening to celebrate excellent music at a great place of musical history. A huge thank you to Roger Waters and My Morning Jacket for tickling my brain!!!!!! My 10 year old son got to witness all this which made my night even better!!!! EPIC NIGHT AT THE NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL

Last year was the first time my best friend and I had gone to the Folk Fest. We loved it so much that we decided to go again this year. Again, we had an awesome time and will now be coming every year with a goal of attending all three days at some point. The people working the event are friendly and the way the fort is set up is very nice with good flow. The only two negative remarks I can say about this year is that we weren't thrilled with the band choices as much as we were last year. Lone Bellow was our only favorite this year, were as last year we had several faves. And many of the port-o-potty's had no toilet paper in them by mid day.

Great music as always. This year seemed more like blues and jazz than folk. The festival could use more shade, maybe sell ponchos for when it rains...I just hate how there are too many great artists, I have a hard time choosing which band to see when they are on at the same time.

The Newport Folk Festival truly has outdone itself yet again. Not only are the acts artfully chosen, but attendees remain highly respectful of one another maintaining a true sense of a festival community. Love how the artists collaborate with one another to give festival-goers surprise sets. Truly unique and unforgettable! See you next year, NFF!

Best musical event I've ever attended - will go back yearly.

Death Vessel was awesome.... Love The music..Such Talent

Great variety of music!, wonderful scenery at Fort Adams, including the Newport Bridge, Jamestown with Clingstone, and the Newport Harbor with its slew of boats. The weather happened to be gorgeous weather. All types of people to meet, food to eat, and small shops to peruse for different items (musical instruments, jewelry, pictures, etc.)

This festival is small compared to others around the country, but big when it comes to heart. The layout of well planned and feels intimate within Fort Adams State Park, with actual fort walls hosting music. The 4 stages are accessible and welcoming- not a mad rush of college students to the front. Quad Tent allowed us to sit in folding chairs for two complete shows, shielding us from heat and sun. We were also able to set up chairs and blankets outside the tented areas, and feel respected by neighbors. Beer tents and vendors provided a nice break in between sets. There's not a bad view from Fort Stage, the biggest stage. It's set apart from other festivals by the views into Newport Bay. Newport feels like a place to go back in time, where people slowed down, helped each other out, and enjoyed good music. I will definitely be back next year!

What a fabulous day of music... Favorites for me were Michael Kiwanuka, The Lumineers (so cool that they came out and played in the middle of the audience) and Beck. Fort Adams State Park is a picturesque venue for a festival surrounded by the water and boats. Seriously awesome day!

I only knew of 3-4 bands going into this festival... but that didn't matter at all as I had a truly amazing time! Hands down the best venue I've ever been to, great atmosphere, great people, great vendors, great food, and of course - great music! Highly recommend to music fans of ALL ages!

We had so much fun at the Newport Folk Festival even in the rain! Wish I could have stayed for the whole weekend!

Newport can't help but be the single most beautiful outdoor setting for a music festival in North America, but the NFF management continues to innovate and provide continuous improvements. The Sennheiser "Studio in the ruins of Fort Adams" with dozens of wireless headphones to listen in to and watch live recordings of 15 min sets in the archway (if you can get a spot or on HD-TV in the adjacent arched room furnished with livingroom furniture) from the bands of the day was a real trreat! The many vendors displayed interesting and quality goods and clothing [almost making me wish I was a girl]. This is my 3rd consecutive year and I will be back

Best festival I've ever been to by far. Great mix of bands from Arlo Guthrie and his family to My Morning Jacket. Alabama Shakes, Deer Tick and Tallest Man on Earth get my votes for best bands of the weekend. Tom Morello definitely most fun. Connor Oberst and Jim James seemed to show up on every stage.

Festival was as good as always, except fot the downpour on Saturday night. There is almost too many artists as we missed some that we heard were really great.

Newport Folk Festival never disappoints. They always have amazing acts with incredible set lists. Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Tom Morello, Deer Tick, Robert Ellis, New Multitudes, Jackson Browne, any many many more all in one weekend. It was truly an amazing time.

Hot sun, great food, the nicest people I've ever encountered! And that's not even mentioning the music. Some of the NFF shows this year were among the best I have ever attended. Bands like Middle Brother, Typhoon, and Dawes actually gave legends like Emmylou Harris and local favorites like Mountain Man a run for their money. And the idea of having an extra afterparty (open to the public if you paid an additional $105) was incredible. I had the chance to meet my favorite musician as well as enjoy intimate performances from many others, from Colin Meloy to Sallie Ford to Pete Seeger and Jack Elliott. This is the chillest form of music festival in America. More people should be like the ones who attended, and more people should listen to the music that was played. Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith said it best during his set: "It isn't about what's trendy. It's about what's good."

All the music we heard at the festival was excellent!! Elvis Costello and Amos Lee, amazing! Some of the other bands and acts were very good, given that I hadn't ever heard of them before, and others I had only caught one or two songs on the radio. It's a great venue for music with the different stages...and the water around!! Great people watching also between bands!!

Fort Adams is the Best outdoor venue in the country! The line-up this year contributed to the first-ever completely sold out festival. The Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three set was a highlight and conjured up a rousing Standing Ovation from the enthusiastic beyond-capacity crowd. The Saturday evening Backstage Benefit BBQ was an inspired idea, and gave an experience (if you got one of the $120 tickets before they sold out too) like being at a Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame class induction concert with an open bar and great food to boot!

My first Folk Festival and it won't be my last. This is a great place to hear live music. Beautiful setting, love and music in the air, plenty of food vendors around, easy to get to the front of the stage if you are so inclined to stand through a set.

I am a huge Civil Wars fan and was not let down. They sounded even better live than recorded; spectacular singing and writing. Mountain Man's harmony was the most surprising treat. I am a new fan and just buying a record. Chris Thile and Michael Daves were so good and traditional. Some of the best bluegrass music I've ever heard.

Every single act was amazing....I only wish I could have seen them all! Gorgeous venue, very well organized and run, awesome talent. If you've never been....do yourself a favor and go next year@@

Liked: The festival was very relaxed. You could actually see the artists enter the festival. It is great to see some of the artists you idolize up so close! With the division of stages, there is not a bad seat in the house! Room for improvement: With the festival being so hot this year, it would have been nice if they had water stations. Recommendations to festival goers: Bring a chair!

I was very skeptical about a folk festival but i enjoyed it so much that I highly recommend it =)

I couldn't believe how many incredible bands were packed into this lineup!! The weather was perfect and the venue was breathtaking. It was a moving experience lining up on the grass with 7,000 other fans to sway to voices like Brandi Carlile, The Swell Season, and the Avett Brothers. This is a must-see event!! Sitting front row at the Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore concert was incredible. It was an intimate show that really highlighted their talent. I learned more about meanings behind their songs and their stance on mountain top clearing (ilovemountains.org) Ben stuck around after the show and I shook his hand and grabbed a set list. Don't miss this duo if they are ever touring in your area!!!

The entire weekend was spectacular. Once getting to the festival, which was a scenic trip through Newport, the process of entering the grounds was easy and very fast. Once inside, the What Cheer? Brigade played one of their many "surprise shows," which proved to be one of the most memorable parts of the festival. The stages were set up well and, although the main acts were good, I enjoyed the intimate setting of the smaller stages more. The performers really connected with the audience and almost everyone in attendance was friendly. Andrew Bird, Avett Brothers and Edward Sharpe exceed my expectations with strong sets and slightly lesser-known acts like Horse Feathers, The Felice Brothers, Sam Bush and Blitzen Trapper provided an interesting mix of new and old talent that combined to create a perfect day of folk music. The only problem was having to choose one place to go amongst such a consistently solid group of performers.

As a child growing up in the sixties with music and playing in bands and solo since high school, the NFF confirmed for me that great new music IS being made today; not just the forgettable flavor of the month over-produced teen idols we hear on MSR (main stream radio). From seasoned vets like John Price, Richie Havens and Levon Helm, to original new artists like Pokey LaFarge, Nneka, Punch Bros. and The Low Anthem... the 3 stages provided continuous opportunities to see and hear great old & new music. The festival site of Fort Adams is perfect, and the event staff and organization were impeccable from the transportation options to stage venues and sound, to the vendors and the "beer pier". Thanks Newport! Thanks NPR!!

I loved it! Can't wait until next year. The whole event was perfect!

The venue is great and there are always some good acts. My favorites this year were Hozier and Brandi Carlisle. However fans pay good money for multi day passes on faith since you don't know who will be playing until you've already committed. Usually not a problem. This year was a different story. There was huge hype over 65 revisited and 50 years since Dylan went electric. While it was communicated in the media that Dylan would not be making an appearance; there were also several statements about all the surprises. Well I was indeed surprised that James Taylor showed up Saturday and sang three songs; and the Sunday "65 revisited finale" was nothing but artists playing Dylan covers. I was not surprised in a good way and will not return in the foreseeable future. Bummer.

Beautiful location, organized production, crowd of all-aged polite music lovers, amazing lineup, there is a reason this festival sells out before artist announcements. Bring a blanket and/or chair and claim a spot at your most frequented stage, no one will touch your stuff if you leave it to catch another set elsewhere. Only downfalls are beer gardens (you can't bring it back to your spot with you) and not enough standing room in front of the main stage. Eat too many Late July chips. If you can't get a ticket, get a boat and float outside. Cannot be missed.

This was our 11th year in a row and the line up didn't disappoint. We had a great time - especially love the recycling, etc. and the app - so easy to figure out what to go see! For the first time though, we found the volume at the Fort (main) stage to be unbearably loud. Even in the kids tent it was too loud to carry on a conversation. People we spoke to said it wasn't that loud on Saturday and others agreed that it was the loudest it had ever been.

This is the weekend I look forward to most every year. Wonderful atmosphere, considerate crowds, stunningly crafted lineups filled with surprises and intimate experiences. Good vendors and reasonably priced. You can see the care with which the coordinators plan the weekend. The bands always feel so much at home and you see once in a lifetime collaborations. Trust the planners. They have never steered me wrong as far as booking. There were two things that did disappoint a little this year though. It seemed abnormally crowded. Perhaps they thought the fort could hold more people, but this year seemed to be the most it could hold. I saw people sitting in places I never have before. The growth concerns me a little. The other thing was that the surprise nature of the final headlining show led everyone to speculate about big big names, and though it was a great set, a fun time, and a wonderful tribute, it didn't live up to the largeness that many of us had imagined. And that's unfair to how great the set actually was. If they had given a few names and then said "and friends", names like Springsteen and Neil Young wouldn't have been thrown out. But seriously, an amazing weekend.

this was my third year at Newport Folk. once again, great music and great people! this is by far the best festival ever.

Newport is ALWAYS amazing. This year we had pretty good weather, which helps. Love the venue, the food is good, water taxi is great. Not so great: The Dylan tribute was a little disappointing. Everyone who did the tribute was great, but wanted someone like Jackson Browne to be the closer. I do not like going over to the Quad stage-too much traffic and it gets very clogged. But I love the bands they had there-seems like it used to be easier to go between stages for some reason. Thank you to Alex an Ani for hosting and see you next year!! Bring Rufus Wainwright in!!!

NFF 2015 was awesome. Extremely well organized. Terrific lineup. Great food. And beverages. Cross-generational appeal. Staff was superb. Music that reaches the heart and soul and transcends the "folk" label.

What a terrific scene! We just love this festival!

I attended the festival on Sunday and enjoyed everything, except that at the Main Stage I found the the music to be a bit too loud to fully enjoy the experience. One additional suggestion: stagger the times of the performers at each stage or little more so folks have more time to check out each act.

Great festival and great people...ferry boat to the festival was added bonus. Only thing that I would complain about was the beer gardens not having a good selection of beers and that you could not walk around with your beer on festival grounds

Lots of surprises at this monumental 50 year anniversary of Dylan going electric.

This was our 3rd year going to NFF. Each year is memorable and each year takes it up another notch. We so appreciate the artists, the organizers and the crowd. I have been going to music related events on/off for 30+ years. Newport never lets us down and always makes us really, really happy. Great show - savoring this year and looking forward to next. Folk Yeah!

Great to be at the Newport Folk festival for 2 days. Many artists to hear. Tasty food choices. Different venues. Stellar view. Worth Going !!! If you are going and you wait until the last stop on the music schedule be prepared to wait a very, very long time to get out of the parking lot. We stayed in one spot for over 1 1/2 hours. I believe the people who were directing traffic in the upper parking lots were very disorganized.

The only bad thing about the Newport Folk Festival is that you can't do and see everything........and the pot-a-potties.

This is the fourth year I have attended the folk festival, and ti will definitely remain a tradition. However, for the first time ever, we found getting out of the festival at the end of the day to be a total mess. Not sure if anything changed since years past, but we were stuck in standstill traffic for 2+ hours two days in a row.

The Newport Folk Festival has been a family tradition for the past 5 years now. We will continue going back so long as the festival continues to surprise and inspire us. What a wonderful culture, lineup and location. I've found some of my all-time favorite bands at Newport and look forward to it as a highlight of my summer every year. Highly recommended to anyone who loves music even if you don't think you're a folk music fan.

Amazing! Worth every cent. Best festival by far. Can't wait until tickets go on sale for next year.

Another amazing year at Newport Folk Festival! They always select great artists and the festival could not be in a better location! There is a reason why this event sells out before any artists are announced. My only regret is not buying the 3 day pass!!

This was our first visit to NPFF. We chose the first day Fri. and were pleased with the light traffic and well organized parking. The event planning was well done - ample and clean toilets, good quality and variety of food, many water stations and ample room to set up chairs. The crowd was pleasant and respectful. The outdoor sound systems were very good. The variety of music was awsome! Really good that one stage was indoor as a shelter from the heat and rain.

Great variety of music, not all what I call folk, but terrific nonetheless. Great opportunity to see established stars and new comers. Unannounced guest adds special excitement. The event was really well organized and well staffed. Good food and facilities. Big crowd but didn't feel crowded; great atmosphere.

I love Newport...from the anticipation of the bike ride to Fort Adams, to hearing the first strains of music from the bike lot and gate...to getting in front of my first stage of the day. This years lineups did not disappoint. I saw some old favorites like Calexico and My Morning Jacket and discovered some new favorites like Leon Bridges and the Heartless B@$stards. But this years festival felt a little sardine-ish....did they sell more tickets this year? Was it that the long lines for water and narrow moving corridors were arranged differently? Was it all the golf carts constantly moving people and things from place to place? I'm not sure, but I hope it was just a perception thing. With seemingly more room taken up by vendors and golf carts, there was little space near the main stage to actually stake out a spot and sit. Not a huge deal, but definitely a knock on the overall experience.

So happy to have been at Newport Folk on Friday to witness such incredible talent, both older acts and new stars! Haven't been for a few years and will definitely come back again!

Good variety of eclectic groups/Indy favs/big name acts Beer garden situation a bit awkward. It does seem to limit the public drunkenness Not over crowded like Lollapalooza

Took my 9 yr old daughter and had a blast with her. Super family friendly atmosphere and plan on making it a yearly event with her. Will be getting tickets for the whole weekend next yr.

Music festivals are a fun way to see a multitude of bands for cheap [or cheaper] but have several downsides. Newport Folk Festival has no downside that I see and is everything a multi-stage music festival should be. Incredible acts, minimal sound bleed, SOME schedule conflicts, great crafts, superb food trucks/vendors, views of the Harbor, well-organized, clean...the list goes on. 2015 was my 3rd time in attendance and I have never been disappointed.

The Newport Folk Festival was unforgettable with Roger Waters as the headliner. The atmosphere was very enjoyable despite the rain. It was worth getting wet to see one of the best old time rockers.

This was our first time at the Newport Music Festival and despite some of my reservations, it was a fantastic experience. The crowd was great - I had no problem leaving my chairs, blanket, cooler and phone without worrying about someone messing with my things. The lineup was incredible and the views from Fort Adams make it such a unique experience for a music festival. We had no issues with parking whatsoever - we entered and left the venue within a matter of minutes (arrived at 10am and left around 6pm). The only issue I could see was the line to the beer gardens. They do not make it easy to enjoy a cold brew. With that said, it was a hot and sunny summer day so water was my beverage of choice. Highly recommend going at least once. We will definitely return.

I would highly recommend this show to anyone considering. Great atmosphere!

This is a very well-planned and low key music festival - great for families with small children as well as 20-somethings looking to enjoy a beer while they listen to music. The app makes it easy to see what's going on and keep track of artists you loved. Logistical tip for those parking at the festival: at the end of the day, avoid taking the shuttle bus to the parking lots if you can. It is not too far to walk back (just follow the crowds!), and you will save time that you can use to make your way through traffic out of the venue.

Needless to say the Newport Folk Festival was a huge success as always. Roger Waters was definitely the highlight of the 3 day festival. I highly recommend all future events to everyone!

Overall a great, well organized event. Better and larger signage directing people to all of the stages would be a small improvement. People are considerate; food trucks are diverse and address any dietary limits. I do question how some of these groups identify as folk versus rock. But enjoyable anyway. Views are amazing!!

The venue is awesome. Just an amazing atmosphere. I wish some of the sets were longer, particularly the headlining acts. Roger Waters' set, though awesome, was way too short.