NPR Music, part of National Public Radio, announced Wednesday that it would stream select performances from both festivals online, as well as archive the free webcasts and make them available on-demand for future use. NPR Music also will produce two-hour radio specials at the two festivals for member stations.
The venerable folk festival -- best know as the place where Bob Dylan went electric in 1965 -- runs Friday through Sunday. The jazz festival, headlined by Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock and Sonny Rollins, is set for the following weekend.
Bob Boilen, host of the NPR Music program All Songs Considered, said the initiative was a way to reach far more fans than can attend the concerts.
He also said it was a reflection of the excitement surrounding this year's folk festival, which boasts an eclectic lineup of artists that transcend the confines of traditional folk, such as Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Trey Anastasio, the Black Crowes, Jimmy Buffett and reggae performers Stephen and Damian Marley.
“Newport's trying something different this year," Boilen said. “It's a good start, and I think it's a good idea for us to be on the ground floor."
For more information contact All About Jazz.
