JamFest

Lou Rawls’ 1991 Newport Jazz Festival Set Still Shines—and JamFest Celebrates It With a Night of Live Music Across Generations

Tonight on JamFest, we step into the world where legendary performances live forever and new voices rise on the wings of the same raw, unfiltered energy. Alongside our featured archival gem—Lou Rawls’ unforgettable 1991 concert from the Newport Jazz Festival—we bring you a fresh edition of All Things Considered Live, showcasing electrifying sets from the Newport Folk Festival, SXSW, 9:30 Club, and more. Every moment you’ll hear tonight is performed live, recorded live, and felt live—the JamFest way.

A Night at Fort Adams Park: Lou Rawls in His Element
It was August 18, 1991, when Lou Rawls took the stage at Fort Adams State Park, closing out the Newport Jazz Festival’s final day with a performance that blended jazz, blues, R&B, and unmistakable charisma. That year’s lineup emphasized artists rooted in blues and soul, and Rawls fit the vision flawlessly, performing alongside giants like Ray Charles and Dave Brubeck. But Rawls’ set—smooth, effortless, powerful—became one of the festival’s standout moments.

Professionally recorded and preserved, the concert has since become one of those “must-hear” performances—one that captures not only a great vocalist but a great moment in American live music.

A Setlist Packed With Soul and Smoke
Lou Rawls delivered a 13-song set that showcased his range and magnetic storytelling. His performance moved from swaggering blues to deep-cut soul to the iconic tracks that helped define his legacy.

His set included:
• “It’s a Tough Job (But Somebody’s Got to Do It)”
• “A Natural Man”
• “Tobacco Road”
• “Lady Love”
• “I Wish You Belonged to Me”
• “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing”
• “At Last”
• “Fine Brown Frame”
• “After the Lights Go Down Low”
• “All Around the World”
• “The Way You Look Tonight”
• “I’ve Got a Room with a View of the Blues”
• “Hoochie Coochie Man”
• “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine”

From the smoldering delivery of “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” to the crowd-pleasing finale “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” Rawls showed why he remains one of the most revered voices in American music. His take on “Tobacco Road,” one of the most shared clips from the show today, reveals a performer who could turn any classic into his own.

A Crowd Wrapped in Rhythm and Resonance
Audience response that day was electric. Fans soaked in every moment of his blues-infused soul, a sound perfectly aligned with the festival’s mission that year. And while detailed contemporary reviews are scarce, the fact that this performance continues to circulate online decades later says everything: it was a moment worth preserving. Clear sound, sharp bandwork, and Rawls’ commanding presence made it a standout even among a legendary lineup.

JamFest Honors the Past—but Keeps You in the Present
While we revisit Rawls’ timeless performance, tonight’s broadcast also amplifies the future of live music. All Things Considered Live brings you exclusive sets from the places where tomorrow’s legends are forged:
• Newport Folk Festival – where stripped-down sincerity meets bold, modern storytelling
• SXSW – the crossroads of discovery and innovation, where boundary-pushing artists take their first big leap
• 9:30 Club – a Washington, D.C. institution known for some of the most intimate and explosive live recordings in modern music
• And more, all curated for listeners who crave authenticity

Every track tonight is the live version—raw vocals, crowd noise, the unexpected moments, the improvisations—everything that makes live music a world of its own.

Celebrating the Artists Who Built the Stage—and Those Who Are Just Stepping Onto It
Lou Rawls’ 1991 Newport performance represents the enduring power of live artistry: a seasoned voice, a timeless repertoire, and an audience ready for every note. JamFest honors that legacy by pairing moments like his with the most compelling live sets emerging today.

So settle in, turn up the volume, and let tonight’s broadcast move you from 1991 to right now. At JamFest, every performance lives—and every listener gets a front-row seat.