Newport Folk Festival 2025 Delivers Iconic Moments and Surprise Collaborations
NEWPORT, R.I. — The 2025 Newport Folk Festival brought a wave of unforgettable moments, heartfelt tributes, and genre-defying collaborations to Fort Adams State Park this weekend. As one of the most anticipated music festivals in the country, this year’s edition lived up to its legacy — and then some.
boygenius Reunites for Surprise Set
Fans were treated to an unexpected reunion when Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker reunited as boygenius on Saturday. The supergroup played an emotional and electric set that included “Not Strong Enough,” “Me & My Dog,” and “Ketchum, ID,” leaving the crowd in tears and awe.
This marks one of the few performances since their hiatus, and festivalgoers called it “the moment of the weekend.”
Brandi Carlile and Friends Bring the House Down
Brandi Carlile returned to Newport with a high-energy collaborative set that included appearances by Allison Russell, Celisse, and Sierra Ferrell. Together, they performed classics like “The Joke” and new material celebrating female empowerment and queer joy.
Carlile also paid tribute to Joni Mitchell, referencing last year’s surprise Newport set by the icon herself.
Rhiannon Giddens Delivers Powerful Tribute
Folk powerhouse Rhiannon Giddens curated a special segment honoring the roots of Black American folk music. The set featured songs like “Julie” and “At the Purchaser’s Option,” with moving narratives about cultural resilience. Giddens also brought out surprise guest Leyla McCalla for a stirring duet.
Billy Strings Crosses Genres
Bluegrass phenom Billy Strings brought the crowd to their feet with fast-picking jams and psychedelic flourishes. His 90-minute set included covers of Grateful Dead’s “China Doll” and Bill Monroe’s “Uncle Pen,” proving why he’s one of the most versatile live performers today.
He also surprised fans with a mashup performance alongside Tank and the Bangas — an unlikely but electric fusion of jamgrass and New Orleans funk.
Mitski Returns With New Material
Mitski premiered several new songs during her intimate sunset set on Sunday, marking her first live performance since her 2024 tour. She captivated the crowd with emotional renditions of “Your Best American Girl” and teased a new track rumored to be from her upcoming album.
Her performance was described by fans as “hauntingly beautiful” and “the perfect closer.”
Festival Maintains Its Legacy of Surprises
True to form, Newport delivered more than just great music:
- A secret late-night dockside jam included impromptu appearances from Marcus Mumford and Hozier.
- Environmental activist Greta Thunberg made a brief cameo during a climate-focused segment hosted by The Weather Station.
- The merchandise tent included exclusive artist collabs, with proceeds benefiting local Rhode Island nonprofits.
Want More From the Fest?
Follow @newportfolkfest and stream select sets on NPR Music.
What Did You Think of This Year’s Lineup?
Drop your favorite moment from Newport Folk Festival 2025 in the comments below at ChicagoMusicGuide.com and let us know who you want to see next year!