Tom Morello, Lauryn Hill, Mavis Staples, and more remind us that Black music is folk music

‘We are redefining what folk music is’

by JOHNNY KNOLLWOOD

Folk music is largely undefined; it may mean different things to different people. For some, folk music lies in a specific set of stylistic parameters or instrumentation — acoustic guitars, banjos, and stomp claps — but for many, folk music is much broader.

Folk music is cultural; it is traditional and innovative, and often carries an important message. The breadth and diversity of what we call “folk music” was on full display July 24–26 in Rhode Island at the annual Newport Folk Festival, which has drawn thousands of visitors to the scenic island since the festival was founded by George Wein, Albert Grossman, and Pete Seeger in 1959 as a sister event to Wein’s Newport Jazz Fest. As of 2026, both festivals run back-to-back each summer, bringing together legends, emerging voices, and families for two incredible weekends jam-packed with art and community.

“We are redefining folk music,” said Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who performed on Sunday. Artists including Morello, hip hop revolutionary Lauryn Hill, and soul legend Mavis Staples led the charge of Black artists at Newport over the weekend. All have used their platform to challenge social issues and uplift the community throughout their careers, a central tenet of folk music throughout history. Hill, who headlined the Quad Stage on Friday evening, performed a rare acoustic set before being joined by Philadelphia-based collective Snacktime for some of Hill’s biggest hits, including the Fugees’ covers “Ready or Not” and “Killing Me Softly.” A strong sense of unity prevailed throughout the festival as concertgoers sang along to their favorite songs.

Other standout performances included Brittany Davis and Black Thunder, who brought soulful, jazz-tinged improvisation to the Harbor Stage on Sunday; funkers Vulfpeck, who featured special guest Louis Cato on drums; and Yasmin Williams, whose individualistic and unique approach to playing lap steel guitar was on full display on Saturday. Nate Smith, who is serving in his first year as artistic director of Newport Jazz Fest, performed an acoustic funk set with the Fearless Flyers before multiple appearances at Jazz Fest this weekend. Soul queen Mavis Staples, who recently experienced a set cancellation at Capital One City Parks Summerstage due to air quality issues, joined Newport Folk steward Nathaniel Rateliff, surprise artist Dave Matthews, and a slew of special guests including John C. Reilly and Newport alum Joan Baez for a grand finale that left attendees feeling warm and connected.

The appearances of Staples and Baez were a nod to the festival’s storied history, and some of their most legendary performances by two artists who redefined folk music during their most prominent years.

Harlem-born guitarist Morello, whose set was potentially the loudest of the weekend, continued in the tradition of innovation prevalent in folk. His set was dynamic as he performed songs from his repertoire with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, a cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mr. Crowley” (probably the first time this has ever happened at the festival), and a string of acoustic renditions of tunes like Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” which was covered by Rage Against the Machine and performed by Morello along with Springsteen on his recent Land of Hope and Dreams Tour.

Some of Morello’s most iconic riffs from songs like “Testify” and “Bulls on Parade” stood in contrast with classics like Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” in which Morello reinstated Guthrie’s original verses — “Is this land made for you and me?” In the context of Morello’s set, though, none of the tunes felt out of place or unrelated. “Is there anyone who likes rock and roll and hates fascism?” Morello asked the crowd before inciting a “fuck fascism” chant.

Morello took time to remember his mother, Mary Morello, who recently died at the age of 102. He credited her with igniting his activist mindset and incited the audience in a call to action. “She was a lifetime fighter for justice, whether she was feeding hobos in the street and working with the Salvation Army, or advocating for free speech at the dinner table or the concert stage,” Morello remembered, as he discussed the new Mary Morello Project, which supports organizations that were important to the late activist.

“If you can donate, that’s great, but sometime before October 1 — her birthday — we’re asking you to do some kind of service,” Morello told the audience. At the end of his set, the band performed Rage Against the Machine’s hit “Killing in the Name Of …” Nobody on stage sang, but the words rang loud and clear from the audience: “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.” All the central tenets of a good folk song were present; the message was clear, and the weekend was perfectly encapsulated.

You can stay up to date with the festival at newportfolk.org and learn more about the Mary Morello Project at tommorello.com.