Newport Folk Festival came to a star-studded close on Sunday with Songs For The People, a superjam organized by musical director Josh Kaufman of Bonny Light Horseman. The covers showcase brought together a wide-ranging set of talent from New Orleans brass icon Trombone Shorty to jam guitarist Rick Mitarotonda (Goose) to actor-turned-musician-turned-emcee John C. Reilly.

The setlist of 15 protest songs highlighted the spirit of social change that has been an indelible part of the Newport Folk Festival since its founding in 1959. The dazzling array of stars drifted on and off the no-frills stage setup at Fort Adams State Park, with top acts Jeff Tweedy, Maren Morris, Lukas Nelson, Nathaniel Rateliff, Margo Price, Mavis Staples, and The National’s Matt Berninger sharing the limelight in the festival’s final waning moments alongside rising acts Jesse Welles, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sarah Jarosz, The Swell Season, and more.

Highlights included Margo Price pairing with up-and-comer Logan Ledger for Woody Guthrie‘s “Deportee” before Staples sang her dad, Pops Staples‘ “Friendship”. Mitarotonda and Joe Russo linked up for a familiar jam band pairing on the Grateful Dead‘s “Eyes of the World”, with some added NOLA flavor from Trombone Shorty. Lukas Nelson got the reverent folk festival “Rockin’ in the Free World” before all hands came out for The Who‘s “My Generation” and finally the traditional Newport Folk closer, “Goodnight, Irene”.

Check out some fan-shot videos from the all-star Songs For The People superjam at Newport Folk Festival 2025, courtesy of Chad unless otherwise noted.

Songs For The People (ft. Rick Mitarotonda, Trombone Shorty, Joe Russo, Eric D. Johnson) — “Eyes Of The World” (Grateful Dead) — 7/27/25

[Video: themeboudin]

Songs For The People (ft. Nathaniel Rateliff, Joe Russo) — “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen) — 7/27/25

Songs For The People (ft. Trombone Shorty, Amy Helm, Joe Russo, Lukas Nelson) — “Yes We Can” (Allen Toussaint) — 7/27/25

Songs For The People (ft. Matt Berninger) — “Waitin’ For A Superman” (The Flaming Lips) — 7/27/25