Newport Folk Festival 2012: The Best Photos

Founded in Rhode Island (in the city of Newport, to be exact) back in 1959 as a response to the celebrated Newport Jazz Festival, the folk/blues/country/bluegrass festival soon established a rep as one of the country's top musical gatherings. Muddy Waters recorded a landmark live album there in 1960 and Bob Dylan pissed off a lot of folk purists in 1965 when he plugged in and delivered his first electric set. At this point in its history, Newport is as much indie, rock and blues as it is folk, which is reflected in its eclectic 2012 lineup. Here, Kristian Matsson a.k.a. "The Tallest Man on Earth" performs at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Jim James (pictured above), Jay Farrar, Will Johnson and Anders Parker played Newport Folk Festival as New Multitudes, a musical project interpreting unused Woody Guthrie lyrics.

Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Charity Rose Thielen of the Head and the Heart performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Gary Clark, Jr. performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Conor Oberst performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Nanna Hilmarsdottir from Of Monsters and Men performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Tom Morello performs as his politically-minded alter ego "The Nightwatchman" at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Matthew Vasquez (far left) of Delta Spirit performs with Deer Tick during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Patty Griffin performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island. (Photo

Charles Bradley performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Sarah Lee Guthrie performs with the Guthrie Family Reunion during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Josiah Johnson of the Head and the Heart performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

JIm James of My Morning Jacket performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Jonathan Wilson performs during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 29, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Festival producer Jay Sweet talks to Jim James of My Morning Jacket during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Arlo Guthrie performs with the Guthrie Family Reunion during the 2012 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2012 in Newport, Rhode Island.