Relive the 1963 Newport Folk Festival — Tonight on NPR’s All Things Considered Live

Tonight, All Things Considered Live, NPR’s weekly celebration of live music, brings listeners a captivating journey into one of the most influential moments in American folk history: the 1963 Newport Folk Festival. This iconic program delivers exclusive live recordings, festival highlights, and rare performances captured by NPR Music at venues across the country. For fans of folk, roots, and historic live shows, it’s a front-row experience like no other.

Featured tonight is the legendary album The Newport Folk Festival 1963: The Evening Concerts, Vol. 2, originally released by Vanguard Records in 1964. This live compilation showcases some of the era’s most important voices in the folk revival, offering a window into a time when music and social change were inseparably intertwined. The album preserves a vibrant snapshot of a festival that shaped the direction of American music and inspired generations of artists and audiences alike.

The recordings feature a diverse array of performers, each bringing their own distinct style and storytelling to the Newport stage. Folk icons like Pete Seeger, Dave Van Ronk, and Judy Collins demonstrate their virtuosity and stage presence, while other notable artists such as Theodore Bikel, Jean Redpath, and Jean Carignan enrich the lineup with their mastery of traditional and contemporary folk. The album also highlights unique contributions from Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island Singers and Jackie Washington, offering a broader view of the folk landscape and its cultural roots.

Listeners are treated to an evening of remarkable performances, from intricate guitar work and haunting vocals to spirited ensemble pieces. Each track reflects the raw energy, passion, and social consciousness of the folk revival, capturing the essence of a festival that celebrated both music and cultural dialogue. The album culminates with a stirring rendition of “This Land”, serving as the festival’s finale and a symbolic anthem of inclusion, hope, and unity.

What makes The Newport Folk Festival 1963: The Evening Concerts, Vol. 2 so timeless is the way it immortalizes the spontaneity and authenticity of live performance. Unlike studio recordings, these performances are vibrant and immediate, showcasing the emotional power of folk music and its ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level. For historians, music lovers, and new listeners alike, this album is a gateway to understanding the roots of the American folk revival and the artists who defined it.

The All Things Considered Live Radio Show amplifies this experience by contextualizing these historic performances within the larger tapestry of live music across decades. Tonight’s broadcast invites JamFest readers to step back in time and witness the magic of the 1963 Newport Folk Festival as if they were sitting among the crowd, absorbing every note, harmony, and lyric in real time.

Whether you’re revisiting this milestone in folk history or discovering it for the first time, tonight’s NPR broadcast promises an unforgettable celebration of artistry, heritage, and the enduring power of live music. Tune in to experience the voices, stories, and spirit of Newport 1963—an evening that continues to resonate more than sixty years later.