How did the Newport Folk Festival end? A message of unity, togetherness and great covers

NEWPORT – The Newport Folk Festival closed not with a big surprise as it has in the past, but with a message of unity and togetherness.

The announced closing act, "Songs for the People," wasn't intended to be a specific band, leaving many festival-goers to wonder who could appear on the main Fort Stage as the three-day festival came to a close. After a cold open from Bonny Light Horseman, fortunately, actor John C. Reilly was on hand to serve as master of ceremonies to help the crowd with the answer.

Behind the theme of "Songs for the People" is "the spirit of collective resilience, the passing of the torch when needed and finding strength in our shared humanity." One by one, Folk Festival favorites took to the stage, figuratively taking the torch that's been passed on to them from past performers as they performed covers that the crowd could join in on singing.

The Newport Folk Festival filled the air at Fort Adams with music from July 25-27.

Nathaniel Rateliff – making his second consecutive close-out performance after joining Conan O'Brien in 2024 – led the crowd in a chorus of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

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Margo Price later took the stage to offer some unkind words about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement before being joined by others to sing Woodie Guthrie's "Deportee."

And certainly there was one song the entire crowd could get behind as they joined in a chorus of "Happy Birthday" to surprise guest and festival legend, Mavis Staple. Of course, Staple had to get into the act, performing "Friendship" with Jeff Tweedy, who had performed his own set earlier in the day.

The concept of passing the torch certainly came into play as Lucius played "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys, whose lead singer Brian Wilson died in June. Lukas Nelson, the son of famed country artist Willie Nelson, followed with a rendition of Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" and was aided by a group of performers, including Maren Morris leading the chorus.

Nelson was then joined by Jesse Welles and Stephen Wilson Jr. to perform The Beatles' "Revolution." Nelson followed with a rendition of "Rockin' in the Free World." Both performances sent the audience into an uproar of excitement.

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To put an exclamation mark on the show, Reilly announced The Who's "My Generation," leading to performers from throughout the day returning to the stage, who then stayed for the final song "Goodnight Irene."

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Folk Festival 2025: Nelson Lukas, Mavis Staples help close show