The 2018 installment of the Newport Folk Festival was brought to a close with a set that was hosted by Jon Batiste and anchored by The Dap-Kings called “A Change Is Gonna Come.” The all-star finale featured a rotating cast of artists that who had performed throughout the weekend singing protest anthems, capped by a surprise appearance by Mavis Staples. NPR Music has shared an official recording of powerful set.
Over the course of the hour-plus program Batiste, who served as the musical director, performed alongside the likes of Leon Bridges, Valerie June, Chris Thile, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Brandi Carlile and Gary Clark Jr. Highlights included a funky version of “This Land Is Your Land” from Dap-Kings. Bridges and Clark Jr. delivering a poignant and emotionally-charged take on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio.” Carlile and Rogers offering up Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” Staples brought things home emerging for the final two songs of the set with the traditional tune “Jesus On The Mainline” and The Staples Singers’ 1965 iconic protest anthem “Freedom Highway.”
Stream “A Change Is Gonna Come” from the 2018 installment of the Newport Folk Festival via NPR Music below:
Setlist
Dap-Kings and Jon Batiste “Cornbread Cake,” Jon Batiste “Star Spangled Banner,” Dap-Kings and Jon Batiste, “This Land Is Your Land,” Dap-Kings and Jon Batiste, “Tell The Truth,” Valerie June, Dap-Kings and Jon Batiste “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free,” Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr. and Jon Batiste “Ohio,” Valerie June, Ben Jaffe, Dap-Kings and Jon Batiste “Let Nobody Turn Me Around,” Preservation Hall, Leon Bridges, Chris Thile, Dap-Kings and Jon Batiste “I’ll Fly Away,” Chris Thile and Jon Batiste “My Oh My,” Brandi Carlile, Maggie Rogers and Jon Batiste “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” Rachael Price, Dap-Kings and Jon Batiste “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Bermuda Triangle, Mavis Staples, Dap-Kings and Jon Batiste “Jesus On The Mainline,” Mavis Staples, Dap-Kings and ensemble “Freedom Highway”
