The 51st Annual George Wein’s Newport Folk Festival | July 30th – Aug. 1st, 2010

Tickets go on sale
worldwide on Friday, March 26, at 10 am at www.newportfolkfest.net.

George
Wein’s New Festival Productions continues to build on the festival’s
historic past by featuring emerging young artists alongside some of folk
music’s most venerable names. This year’s festival features Levon
Helm’s Ramble on the Road, John Prine, Steve Martin & the Steep
Canyon Rangers, Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, The Swell Season, Andrew
Bird, The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, Doc Watson & David Holt,
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band,
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Calexico, Blitzen Trapper, Richie
Havens, Sam Bush, The Low Anthem, Tim O’Brien, The Felice Brothers,
Justin Townes Earle, Tao Seeger Band, A.A. Bondy, The Punch Brothers
with Chris Thile, Dawes, Nneka, Horse Feathers, Pokey LaFarge & the
South City Three, Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore, Sarah Jarosz,
Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, O’Death and Liz Longley. More
artists will be announced at a later date.

Many of these
musicians have performed and recorded together or crossed paths along
the musical highway and they see this storied festival as being so
steeped in cultural and historic importance that they liken it to
“coming home” to the very roots of the folk-music tradition.

Wein
has, since 1959, found Newport a scenic and hospitable venue for
presenting the very best of this country’s blues, roots, gospel,
country, bluegrass, Cajun and traditional folk music. Last year’s 50th
anniversary edition paid tribute to the great performers who wrote the
proud history of this festival, notably co-founder Pete Seeger, Joan
Baez, Judy Collins, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Arlo Guthrie and Mavis
Staples.

“Newport is like a second home to me and I always look
forward to the next visit, ” said Wein. “After celebrating the 50th
anniversary with Pete and 17, 000 fans, I can’t wait to see the magic
unfold over the three days.”

“There is something so perfect
about being in Newport near the water and that old stone fort – all
gathered in to sing with family and friends – that keeps me wanting to
come back year after year, ” said Yim Yames. “It’s like the walls of the
fort are arms, and I feel secure when I am near them, protected by the
spirits there – past, present, and future. And, I like to hear our
voices bouncing off those old stone walls as my eye drifts to the
sailboats on the seashore and the people just smiling and taking it all
in.”

The 2010 edition builds upon the energy of the half-century
celebration to include such legends as Doc Watson, whose infectious
“picking” on the flattop guitar expanded the expressive possibilities
for traditional country-and-bluegrass and John Prine, whose
idiosyncratic, yet soulful compositions have been recorded by the likes
of Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash and George Strait. Writer-actor-comedian
Steve Martin also shows his commitment to serious banjo picking at this
year’s festival where he’ll appear with his Steep Canyon Rangers.

Andrew
Bird, who’s been engaging audiences throughout the country with his
resourceful deployment of fiddling, picking and whistling makes his only
2010 U. S. festival appearance on the weekend bill. Another band, The
Swell Season, puts forth a simmering, enrapturing spin on traditional
Irish music with streaks of rock. It’s led by Glen Hansard and Marketa
Irglova, who won the hearts of moviegoers – and a 2007 Academy Award for
Original Song – for their acting and singing in the movie, “Once.”

FRIDAY, JULY 30 ~ 8:00 pm
International Tennis
Hall of Fame, 194 Bellevue Avenue