At Newport Folk Fest's final day, joyful defiance and an all-star jambore
tackled classic songs of unity and perseverance.
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Maren Morris and Lukas Nelson played the parts of Janis Joplin and Kris Kristofferson, respectively, on a rousing cover of 'Me and Bobby McGee.' Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff sang Tracy Chapman's 'Talkin' Bout a Revolution.' Mavis Staples – 'the mother of Newport,' as Reilly called her – joined Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy on the stirring tune 'Friendship.'
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The reunited duo of the Swell Season, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, performed Van Morrison's 'Into the Mystic' with some help from the punchy horns of the Philadelphia funk group SNACKTIME. Newport perennial Nathaniel Rateliff knocked Leonard Cohen's well-traveled 'Hallelujah' out of Fort Adams State Park and over the Narragansett Bay. And the fast-rising folk songwriter Jesse Welles confirmed his status as a new darling of the festival by smashing his guitar to punctuate the Beatles's 'Revolution.'
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Most of these 'seashells' had subtle – or not-so-subtle – messages of resistance, or making 'this land a better land/Than the world in which we live,' as the late New Orleans songwriter Allen Toussaint wrote on 'Yes We Can Can,' presented on Sunday by Trombone Shorty. (In another surprise, the National's Matt Berninger contributed a somber reading of the Flaming Lips's 'Waitin' for a Superman.')
Matt Berninger, of The National, performs a surprise set at the Bike Stage on the third and final day of the Newport Folk Festival.
Heather Diehl/For The Boston Globe
But perhaps the most moving moment of the finale came when Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, the Berklee-trained co-founders of the band Lucius, put a pristine spin on the Beach Boys's 'God Only Knows.'
Reilly, who was full of jokes and good cheer, tried to get the audience to sit down for that song, in a show of gratitude and reverence for the recently departed Brian Wilson. When the packed throng balked, he laughed: 'Hey, it's a free country, for now.'
Throughout the day, showcase acts see-sawed from anguish about the state of the world to joyful defiance. Before noon on the Quad Stage inside the old fort's stone walls, the South African group BCUC fed the early birds with their heavily percussive psychedelic sound. Frontman Nkosi 'Jovi' Zithulele called for a moment of silence 'in the name of your loved ones' and brought the band's exuberant set home by jumping on the back of the cowbell player.
On the Fort Stage overlooking the harbor, the veteran songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter noted that this was the 30th anniversary of her Newport debut. 'It feels emotional,' she said. 'The passage of time. The people who are here, and the people who are not.'
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Midday sets by the Indiana late bloomer Stephen Wilson Jr., the British songwriter Tom Odell, and the Chicago indie band Dehd (whose cockeyed boy-girl vocals gave off a Pixies-ish vibe) were all well-received. Mitch Cutts, leader of the Seattle-area folk-rock band Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners, spoke for several of his peers when he gushed about playing Newport for the first time: 'I could yap about it all day.'
Hansard introduced the Swell Season's Cohen-esque new song 'Great Weight' as a glimpse toward an 'imaginary future date,' when a great weight has lifted.
The most satisfying set of the day may have been Margo Price's. The Nashville singer and her new band, featuring guitarist Sean Thompson, played classic honky tonk with finesse. They opened with Price's own wistful origin story 'Hands of Time' before stomping through 'Tennessee Song,' and then lamenting the failures of the American Dream on 'All American Made.'
Reilly joined Price and her husband, Jeremy Ivey, around an old-fashioned condenser microphone for a roaring take on Bob Dylan's 'Maggie's Farm.' The set wrapped with Price's new single, 'Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down,' inspired by Kristofferson.
Mt. Joy performs at the Fort Stage on Sunday at the Newport Folk Festival.
Heather Diehl/For The Boston Globe
The timeless cosmic Americana of the Grateful Dead provided one of the day's recurring themes. After instantly grabbing the audience with one of their newest songs ('Pink Lady') and their oldest ('Astrovan'), the spirited Philly band Mt. Joy played a rocking version of the Dead's take on the traditional 'I Know You Rider.' Jeff Tweedy prefaced his upcoming solo album, 'Twilight Override,' with a crystalline set on the Quad Stage that owed more than a little debt to the Dead.
Later, during the 'Songs for the People' closing set, Goose's Nick Mitarotonda stepped into Jerry Garcia's boots on the Dead's 'Eyes of the World.'
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'Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world,' as those lyrics, sung by a chorus that featured Sarah Jarosz and Bonny Light Horseman's Eric D. Johnson, went.
'Kindness is not a luxury,' Reilly said by way of introduction to that song. For those who return every year to Newport – and there are many – the festival creates a vibe, he said, 'that you have to bring to the world.
'Be the world you want to see,' he added.
NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL
At Fort Adams State Park, Newport, R.I., Sunday
The crowd is energetic for Mt. Joy's set at the Fort Stage.
Heather Diehl/For The Boston Globe
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According to Dr. Craig Malkin, a psychologist and author of "Rethinking Narcissism," this constant need to outshine others stems from deep-seated insecurity and a desire for validation. So the next time you're sharing something exciting, notice if your friend listens or just waits for their turn to speak. These interactions can leave you feeling unsatisfied and unheard, and you might not even notice how often it's happening. It might even make you second-guess whether your achievements are impressive. Over time, their need to one-up can erode your confidence and make you feel like nothing you do is ever good enough. If you start feeling like your life is a perpetual game of catch-up, it might be time to reassess the dynamic. Friendships should feel supportive and mutual, not like a constant competition. 2. Undermining Your Achievements Narcissists have a way of making your accomplishments feel smaller than they are. You might share exciting news about a project you completed, only to have them shrug it off as "no big deal" or suggest that it was easy. This undermining isn't always obvious; it can be wrapped in a compliment that feels more like a backhanded jab. This kind of behavior chips away at your self-esteem over time, making you doubt your own worth. It's a way for narcissists to keep themselves as the center of attention and maintain control over the social dynamic. You might be tempted to brush it off as casual banter, but when every achievement is met with a dismissive attitude, it adds up. Eventually, you might find yourself downplaying your own successes to avoid their reactions. This strategy serves the narcissist well, keeping them in the spotlight and making you feel less than. A true friend should celebrate your accomplishments, not belittle them. Recognizing these patterns can help you avoid falling into the trap and reclaim your self-confidence. 3. Shifting Blame Whenever something goes wrong, a narcissistic friend is quick to point fingers—usually at you. They have an uncanny ability to twist situations so that they seem innocent while you're left holding the bag. According to Dr. Jean Twenge, co-author of "The Narcissism Epidemic," narcissists often lack accountability, which makes it easy for them to deflect responsibility. You might find yourself apologizing for things that weren't even your fault, simply because they're so adept at shifting blame. It's a tactic that not only protects their ego but also puts you in a perpetual state of feeling guilty or inadequate. The cycle of shifting blame is exhausting, and you may not even realize how deep you're in until you step back. It's frustrating to deal with someone who never seems to own up to their part in anything. Over time, this can take a toll on your mental well-being and leave you questioning your own judgment. 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Gaslighting Gaslighting is a powerful tool in the narcissist's arsenal, used to make you doubt your perceptions and reality. They might insist something didn't happen the way you remember, or that you're being "too sensitive" about an issue. This subtle manipulation aims to keep you off-balance, ensuring you rely on them for the "truth" of what's happening. Over time, this can erode your self-trust, leaving you feeling confused and dependent. Gaslighting creates a dynamic where you're constantly second-guessing yourself. It's a difficult behavior to catch because it's often subtle and insidious. You might start questioning your memory or emotional responses, wondering if you're overreacting. This is exactly what the narcissist wants: to maintain control and keep you tethered to their version of reality. Recognizing the signs of gaslighting can empower you to reclaim your confidence and trust in yourself. True friendships are built on honesty and trust, not manipulation and deceit. 10. 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