Newport Folk Festival celebrates 55th anniversary

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — The Newport Folk Festival has kicked off three days of music to a sold-out crowd.

The festival began Friday with a lineup that includes Ryan Adams, Jimmy Cliff and Band of Horses, along with some lesser-known acts including Rhode Island-based Death Vessel.

It continues Saturday and Sunday with Jack White, Mavis Staples and other acts.

This year will be the first since the death in January of folk singer and banjo player Pete Seeger, who helped start the festival 55 years ago. He was involved in it until he died.

Seeger’s legacy will be honored with a special program called For Pete’s Sake, which will feature performances and workshops by a variety of traditional folk acts.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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