Newport Jazz Festival Newport Jazz Festival The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island. Elaine Lorillard established the festival in 1954, and she and husband Louis Lorillard financed it for many years. They hired George Wein to organize the first festival and bring jazz to Rhode Island. Most of the early festivals were broadcast on Voice of America radio, and many performances were recorded and released as albums. In 1972, the Newport Jazz Festival was moved to New York City. In 1981, it became a two-site festival when it was returned to Newport while continuing in
Love Supreme Jazz Festival broader styles of R&B, Funk, Soul and Blues; The Big Top, which plays host to the biggest names in Jazz and its neighbouring styles; The Arena, which hosts contemporary and progressive acts in the jazz sphere and The Bandstand, which hosts up and coming acts as well as local performers. The latest addition is Bands & Voices, which showcases a range of spoken word, dance and cabaret. Since its launch in 2013, the festival has hosted artists such as South African visionary, the late Hugh Masekela, Herbie Hancock, Earth, Wind and Fire, Grace Jones, Van Morrison, Laura Mvula, Jamie Cullum,