The beautiful seacoast of Rhode Island is home to some of the most prestigious musical festivals in the United States. Made famous by great performers and excellent venues, people flock to its summer festivals to enjoy a day or more of superb entertainment. Getting to know what is available will help you to participate in events that have brought this state into international attention.
Most everyone has at least heard of the Newport Jazz Festival. This is a must attend for anyone interested in music in Newport RI. It has the reputation for presenting jazz greats from around the world. It usually has a three day run, and one hundred musical acts are almost certainly guaranteed to perform. It started out the summer of 1954. Top jazz artists came to sing their hearts and play their instruments. Billie Holiday, Gene Krupa, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing and Ella Fitzgerald were among the group of established and new musicians. All tickets to the Newport Casino were sold. The event made news around the globe.
Fort Adams State Park is the current venue for the contemporary festival. There are generally over a hundred performers lined up for the concert. The city harbor is the location, with its cool breezes and equally cool jazz floating through the groups of listeners. There are plenty of great seats, but the tickets sell fast. With wonderful things to eat and drink, plus other souvenir vendors, there is something for everyone who comes. Extra options include attending a cocktail party and annual opening evening concert, which have very limited tickets available, but are held in the International Tennis Hall of Fame located at the now famous Newport Casino.
The annual benefit gala which supports the festival activities holds an intimate affair on an evening when jazz greats are performing for the guests. For information about the non profit organization, questions are directed to the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.
Also held at Fort Adams, and of keen interest to folk music fans is the Newport Folk Festival. It all began in the year 1959. This event has included a history book of famous performers throughout the decades since its founding. Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger are just two of the notable musicians who have all made indelible marks on the flavor of this musical and social gathering. The list of popular favorites increased annually, adding worthy new trends along the way.
For classicists and chamber music enthusiasts, there is nothing quite like the Newport Music Festival held in the Preservation Society Mansions. Additional intimate venues and stages in surrounding neighborhoods have become the debut spots for more than one thousand classical performers presenting an American debut. Rhode Island has played a distinctive role in supporting the introduction of greats such as baritone Robert Merrill and pianist Claudio Arrau. There has been a classical music presence in the area since 1920, or so.
Bridgefest is the name given to the four day event dedicated to artistic accessibility for everyone. The Arts and Cultural Alliance sponsors this celebration of local musicianship. Families with children are welcomed to hear lively music at local beaches, parks, restaurants and much, much, more. It is a popular showcase of emerging musicians.
A summer trip to musical Rhode Island is a given for many in New England. But plenty of the international musical world come along for the fun, too.
Most everyone has at least heard of the Newport Jazz Festival. This is a must attend for anyone interested in music in Newport RI. It has the reputation for presenting jazz greats from around the world. It usually has a three day run, and one hundred musical acts are almost certainly guaranteed to perform. It started out the summer of 1954. Top jazz artists came to sing their hearts and play their instruments. Billie Holiday, Gene Krupa, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing and Ella Fitzgerald were among the group of established and new musicians. All tickets to the Newport Casino were sold. The event made news around the globe.
Fort Adams State Park is the current venue for the contemporary festival. There are generally over a hundred performers lined up for the concert. The city harbor is the location, with its cool breezes and equally cool jazz floating through the groups of listeners. There are plenty of great seats, but the tickets sell fast. With wonderful things to eat and drink, plus other souvenir vendors, there is something for everyone who comes. Extra options include attending a cocktail party and annual opening evening concert, which have very limited tickets available, but are held in the International Tennis Hall of Fame located at the now famous Newport Casino.
The annual benefit gala which supports the festival activities holds an intimate affair on an evening when jazz greats are performing for the guests. For information about the non profit organization, questions are directed to the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.
Also held at Fort Adams, and of keen interest to folk music fans is the Newport Folk Festival. It all began in the year 1959. This event has included a history book of famous performers throughout the decades since its founding. Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger are just two of the notable musicians who have all made indelible marks on the flavor of this musical and social gathering. The list of popular favorites increased annually, adding worthy new trends along the way.
For classicists and chamber music enthusiasts, there is nothing quite like the Newport Music Festival held in the Preservation Society Mansions. Additional intimate venues and stages in surrounding neighborhoods have become the debut spots for more than one thousand classical performers presenting an American debut. Rhode Island has played a distinctive role in supporting the introduction of greats such as baritone Robert Merrill and pianist Claudio Arrau. There has been a classical music presence in the area since 1920, or so.
Bridgefest is the name given to the four day event dedicated to artistic accessibility for everyone. The Arts and Cultural Alliance sponsors this celebration of local musicianship. Families with children are welcomed to hear lively music at local beaches, parks, restaurants and much, much, more. It is a popular showcase of emerging musicians.
A summer trip to musical Rhode Island is a given for many in New England. But plenty of the international musical world come along for the fun, too.
