Over three days, 34 artists, untroubled by genre strictures, performed for some of the biggest crowds in recent fest history - 8,000 on Saturday and 7,500 yesterday. Those audiences appeared to be a mix of the fresh faces the new bosses hoped to attract and repeat visitors who didn't allow themselves to be alienated by the unfamiliar. It was heartening to see folks of all ages, hippies and hipsters, breaking bread over the musical ties that bind and, on Saturday, singing in the rain.
The fest got off to an auspiciously celebratory start Friday night at the International Tennis Hall of Fame with Brian Wilson, mad genius of the Beach Boys, giving a jubilant performance that included pristine renditions of tunes like "Good Vibrations" and "I Get Around."
Of the weekend days at Fort Adams State Park, yesterday boasted superior weather but Saturday was the real musical throwdown, forcing breathless dashes between all three stages, and plenty of raindrops.
Those parked for the duration in front of the main stage were treated to the cool of the Cowboy Junkies, folk legend Richie Havens - who favored the crowd with his version of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" - and Phish frontman Trey Anastasio, performing a jovial, laid-back mix of band and solo tunes performed acoustically.
Employing a generator, Stephen and Damian Marley were delayed but undeterred by the downpour - which knocked out power in parts of Newport - playing a mix of their own spirited reggae and a few of their famous dad's tunes.
Chris and Rich Robinson began their set as an acoustic duo but the rest of the Black Crowes brought Saturday to a thunderous close with generous workouts on songs like "Wiser Time" and the acid-rocking "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution."
