Which American city hosted the first Newport Folk Festival in 1959?

Newport, Rhode Island, hosted the first Newport Folk Festival in 1959.

The inaugural festival was held from July 11 to 12, 1959, at Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island. It was created by George Wein, Pete Seeger, Theodore Bikel, and Oscar Brand. The event was conceived as a major gathering for folk music and its performers.

The first lineup included established artists such as Joan Baez, Odetta, and Pete Seeger. The festival became especially important because it connected traditional folk performers with a growing commercial and cultural audience in the United States.

Newport is also associated with the Newport Jazz Festival, which George Wein founded in 1954. The two events are separate festivals, although both became influential parts of American music history. The Newport Folk Festival later became famous for Bob Dylan’s electric performance in 1965, an episode that remains one of its most discussed moments.