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This year’s longstanding Newport Folk and Jazz festivals have been canceled due to ongoing health and safety concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I believe we can emerge from this adversity stronger and more connected than ever before,” said the festival’s executive producer Jay Sweet.
The Newport Folk and Jazz festivals are two of the most historic and long-running music festivals in the country. The Jazz festival began in 1954, and the Folk festival followed five years later, in 1959.
This year’s Newport Folk Festival would have featured the National, Randy Newman, Mandy Moore, Waxahatchee and more, while the Jazz Festival featured top names like Wynton Marsalis, Norah Jones, Diana Krall and Jimmy Cliff.
“Although we won’t be able to gather at the Fort this summer, rest assured we have invited ALL the announced artists to join us next year,” said Sweet, who made the decision to cancel the festivals in accordance with Rhode Island’s ongoing restrictions on mass gatherings. “In the meantime, we promise we will all commune one way or another on our festival weekend. As always, we have some secret surprises in store as well, so stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. Until then, be present, be kind, be open, be together and stay strong.”
Ticket holders have the option of receiving a full refund, having their tickets count for 2021, or donating their tickets to the Newport Festivals foundation, which has kickstarted a COVID-19 Musician Relief Fund to provide aid for musicians who’ve played either festival in the past.
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