Back in the cool ’90s when we were awkwardly growing up out in the suburbs, Newport Nights meant smoking a pack of menthols we nicked from our slutty older sister’s boyfriend while they were busy making out in his car.
Dan Nicklin, however, has a new brand of Newport Nights in mind, one that caters to the scores of music fans that are headed to Rhode Island’s Fort Adams State Park for the Newport Folk Festival later this month.
His second annual Newport Nights party goes down July 26 at Jimmy’s Saloon in Newport, and features Nicklin’s OldJack soul brigade, one-band-party Tigerman WOAH, Rhode Island power trio the Silks, alt-rock crew the Rationales, guitarist Nate Leavitt, and DJ Ryan Brown.
Much like the South By Northeast party in Austin and Boston Clawing event earlier this year, which Nicklin helped organize, Newport Nights adds to an already bustling weekend of activity. And much like how you didn’t need a SXSW badge or wristband to attend SXNE and didn’t need a Boston Calling ticket to attend the Claw-fest, you don’t need a Newport Folk pass or ticket to hit up Newport Nights.
“Just trying to continue to bring an amazing group of talented artists to places where music fans have congregated,” Nicklin tells Vanyaland.
“The folk fest closes the fort when the sun sets and we take over for those who want more music. Last year was so much fun we booked a repeat the next day — besides where better to drink a ‘Gansett than in Rhode Island?”
Check out a preview of the performing bands below, as well as the poster, designed by Nicole Anguish of Daykamp Creative.
