The Lumineers Set the Folk World Ablaze at Newport 2013
There are live shows... and then there are moments. The kind of moments that feel suspended in time, where every note carries weight, and every lyric echoes in the heart long after the stage lights fade. That’s exactly what The Lumineers delivered during their unforgettable performance at the 2013 Newport Folk Festival, recorded live on a sun-soaked Sunday, July 28, in Newport, Rhode Island.
And tonight on All Things Considered Live, we revisit that magic.
Inspired by NPR’s original All Things Considered, this ongoing live music series invites listeners to experience music as it’s meant to be: raw, real, and unfiltered. Each episode, like tonight’s with The Lumineers, captures the pulse of live performance — from intimate clubs to sprawling festival fields — and serves as a testament to the power of music to move, unite, and ignite imaginations.
🎤 A Rise from Obscurity to Folk-Rock Fame
Before they were packing amphitheaters and racking up millions of streams, The Lumineers were grinding it out on the margins. Based out of Denver, Colorado, the band — led by the deeply emotive vocals of Wesley Schultz and the percussive brilliance of Jeremiah Fraites — spent years quietly carving their sound in living rooms, dive bars, and late-night jam sessions.
Then came their 2012 self-titled debut — a record that struck a universal chord with songs like “Ho Hey,” “Stubborn Love,” and “Dead Sea.” It wasn’t just a breakout. It was a full-blown folk-rock revival. The Lumineers didn’t chase trends; they created something honest — warm, nostalgic, and unafraid to get a little dusty in the corners.
By the time they arrived at Newport in 2013, they weren’t just a rising act — they were leading a movement.
🎶 The Setlist: A Journey Through Stories and Strings
From the first strum of “Submarines” to the last lingering notes of “Morning Song,” The Lumineers’ Newport set played like a handwritten letter — intimate, reflective, and bursting with emotional texture. The crowd didn’t just listen. They felt it. Every stomp, every shout, every harmony-laced chorus turned Fort Adams into one big, beating heart.
Here’s what they brought to the stage:
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“Submarines”
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“Ain’t Nobody’s Problem” (Sawmill Joe cover)
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“Flowers In Your Hair”
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“Ho Hey” (The sing-along anthem that lit up the world)
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“Classy Girls”
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“Subterranean Homesick Blues” (Bob Dylan cover — a perfect nod to Newport’s roots)
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“Dead Sea”
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“Slow It Down”
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“Duet”
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“Charlie Boy”
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“Darlene”
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“Elouise”
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“Stubborn Love”
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“Flapper Girl”
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“Morning Song”
Each song was a thread in a larger tapestry — folk storytelling for a modern era, woven together with raw acoustic instrumentation, sing-along hooks, and lyrics that speak to heartbreak, hope, and the messy beauty in between.
🌍 More Than Just a Show
What makes a Lumineers live performance so unforgettable isn’t just the music. It’s the feeling. The vulnerability. The sense of community that forms among strangers when the right song hits at the right moment.
It’s that same spirit that All Things Considered Live captures and celebrates every night — and tonight’s episode is no exception. Whether you were in the crowd at Newport in 2013 or are tuning in for the first time, this recording invites you into the circle. Into the story. Into the song.
✨ Don’t Miss Tonight’s Broadcast
Tonight, All Things Considered Live brings you The Lumineers — live at the Newport Folk Festival. A performance that marked a milestone in their journey and remains one of the most heartfelt sets to grace the historic Rhode Island stage.
🎧 Tune in. Sing along. And remember why we gather around music in the first place.
Want more Newport magic? Stick around JamFest all summer long as we continue to unearth timeless performances, fresh voices, and the best of what live music has to offer. Because at the end of the day, we don’t just cover shows. We live them.
