Bridgefest Begins Today, Bringing Music Across Aquidneck Island

Newport’s festival season officially begins each year in July with the chamber music and mansion extravaganza that is the Traditionally, the music festival has been followed by the legendary and a week later, by the granddaddy of them all, the full of its own history and rich music.

For the past three years, though, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County has extended the season with , a series of concerts, performances, and lectures about music of all types around town. Best of all, most BridgeFest events are free!

This year’s fest, which runs from August 1 to 4, starts with some hard choices.The first performances are both from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, August 1, on opposite sides of town.  There’s a Folk Gospel concert at the Seamen’s Church Institute on Market Square, and the NIMFEST Folk Songwriters showcase out at King’s Park.

More highlights this week include:

Monday night

• Navy Band at Easton's Beach
• David Amran and friends jazz jam at the Sandford-Covell Villa

Tuesday night

• Abbey Rhode at Sweet Berry Farm
• Dick Lupino Jazz Fundraiser Performance at Greenvale Vineyards.

Thursday night

• Jazz and Wine Summer Clambake at Newport Vineyards
• Guster at the Newport Yachting Center

Dozens more events include Aaron Cote’s World Percussion Workshop, a lecture at the Redwood Library on how to compose jazz, a jazz chat with the famous George Wein, a documentary and live performance by David Amram at the Pickens, the Toe Jam Puppet Band on Easton’s beach for the kids, and a Bridgefest Art Gallery Walk with music at the galleries fill the four festive days.

It can all be a bit dizzying, but, as the BrigeFest motto puts it, "Don't skip a beat!"

For more information and schedules, visit: http://www.newportbridgefest.com/