Scenes and stories from the 56th annual Newport Folk Festival

An all-star tribute to Bob Dylan going electric featuring Dawes, Robyn Hitchcock, Gillian Welch, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and more | Photo by Kate McCann | flickr.com/photos/126156760@N07

There is a certain energy in Newport, Rhode Island the day before the folk festival begins. Maybe it’s because venues and movie theaters hold pre-fest shows to welcome everyone into town, or because you’ll see Deer Tick wandering the streets after midnight in pirate costumes. But this year it was the anticipation surrounding the newly added “unannounced” guests of the weekend.

“I saw Bono earlier!” “It’s definitely CSNY.” “Man, I don’t know, I think I heard Dawes was playing XPNFest this year instead.” The rumors began Friday morning, and didn’t cease until the minute the show ended Sunday night when over 40 people were all on stage singing “Rainy Day Woman,” paying homage to Dylan’s 1965 infamous set at the NFF.

The Newport Folk Festival has always been known for surprises though; whether guests are popping up at the Late July Family Tent for a quick set in front of the arts and crafts table, or when Mavis Staples showed up at seemingly every set in 2014. And that’s part of what makes the festival so special, so filled with community and love for folk music.

Friday on the Fort (Fort Adams, that is) brought a gorgeous New England breeze and dozens of party boats out on the Narragansett Bay. The horns of the New Breed Brass Band began from a distance as the early birds anticipated the gates opening. The only time you’ll see folk fans get hostile is during the mad rush to claim blanket space on the Fort Stage.

Bahamas, Angel Olsen and The Lone Bellow started out the afternoon with energy, passion and surprise guests, respectively. But as soon as the Tallest Man on Earth began “Slow Dance”, full of brightness, people were pushing towards the foot of the stage in anticipation of that evening’s unannounced slot.

It was with great excitement that Jay Sweet, the festival’s beloved producer, announced My Morning Jacket to the stage. Everyone knew this meant Jim James’ hair whipping and the rest of the band would be backing Roger Waters after their 8-song set. Seeing MMJ assist Roger Waters in playing “Eclipse” after a misty downpour was something matchless, poetic. And so with the setting sun over the now rowdy party boats, festivalgoers marched back to their cars filled with an unforgettable day of music.

Saturday morning opened when the Suffers claimed the main stage with their 10-piece soul band out of Houston, TX. On the other side of the Fort, Langhorne Slim and the Law showed what the Quad Stage is really meant for: audience participation and lots of stomping. Front man Sean Scolnick, had security tailing him with his microphone cord as he glided atop the folding chairs and the crowd. The big announcement of the day was brought about since the 1969 moon landing disturbed this artists’ set during the festival. Sweet came back out to announce that James Taylor would be now completing that set on the Fort Stage. Singing only six songs, Taylor played five favorites, including “Sweet Baby James” and “You’ve Got a Friend,” with one off his new record.

The Decemberists closed out Saturday night, with a typically fun, and slightly predictable set. Though they took advice from one fan’s sign and played “Red Right Ankle,” a melancholy favorite that is rarely played by Colin Meloy and crew. Finishing out their official set with ten-minute “The Mariner’s Revenge Song,” they then called out Lucius and Blea Fleck to sing, “This Land is Your Land”, in true Newport Folk sing-a-long fashion.

After two huge guests appearances, everyone spent Sunday creating rumors about the ’65 Revisited set. The set was explained as an interpretation of Bob Dylan going electric at Newport Folk Fest for the 50th anniversary. Even Hozier’s incredible sounding (and looking) show seemed distracted by the talk of who was taking stage after. So as 6:15 rolled around on Sunday, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings began with a simply gorgeous version “Mr. Tambourine Man.” What followed was 11 more Dylan covers with guests including Dawes, Deer Tick, Hozier and even Al Kooper, who played the organ on Dylan’s 1965 set.

Welch and Rawlings seemed to be hosting the show, announcing each new act to the stage. Though no show stopping names rolled through as whispered, the energy displayed by Rawlings and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) in particular was just magnetic. How could Goldsmith not be smitten when playing the actual guitar Dylan played with 50 years before? The pride in each musician was so endearing, as they knew this experience was like no other. And to finale, dozens of musicians ran onstage to sing together, “Rainy Day Woman,” chanting, “everybody must get stoned!” for choruses and choruses. Sweet ended the evening thanking the NFF community for being such an incredibly trusting and accepting one, excited by all of the surprises big and small each year.