Nathaniel Rateliff, photo by Danny Clinch

No tradition is closer to Newport Folk Festival’s legacy of fostering community on stage and off than its Sunday headline sets. At the end of every year’s presentation, the festival bands together an all-star cast of artists for unprecedented collaboration, guided by one uniquely esteemed innovator. For the historic festival’s 67th annual presentation, that honor will go to longtime Newport Folk fixture Nathaniel Rateliff.

“Nathaniel Rateliff & Friends will be a special celebration of Nathaniel’s tenure as the inaugural Newport Folk Steward,” the festival detailed in an announcement post. “We’re deeply grateful for the generosity, collaboration, and hope he has shared with this community.”

Newport Folk Festival introduced its Newport Folk Stewardship Program in 2024 to formally recognize artists committed to ensuring its enduring legacy as one of the world’s most revered music festivals. Rateliff, who has performed at the event five times since 2015, was appointed as the first to hold the role since Pete Seeger shaped its foundation for his record of innovative artistry and championing emergent talents. This year’s event will be the singer-songwriter and bandleader’s last of actively serving in the festival’s artistic guidance, as the third and final year of his term will be dedicated to advising the next appointee through the transitional period.

“I have always held the Newport Folk Festival in high regard historically, but once I finally attended as a performer, it felt life-changing,” Rateliff said upon receipt of the honor in 2024. “I was immediately drawn into the community of musicians and fans. There is a general feeling of family among everyone present, and I consider it an honor to help curate, cultivate, and expand the spirit of Newport and the community that exists there. I view this as a valuable opportunity to learn from the talented performers who return each year, as well as from the dedicated fans and individuals who help shape the festival into what it has become today.”

Rateliff’s “& Friends” performance will join an already stacked program, including Tedeschi Trucks Band, Brandi Carlile, This Is Lorelei, CMAT, Lauryn Hill, Hayley Williams & Friends, Wednesday, Dawes, Punch Brothers, Courtney Barnett, Cat Power, Lizzy McAlpine, Yasmin Williams & William Tyler, Searows, Dove Ellis, Fruit Bats, Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, Hudson Freeman, Tim Bernardes, Brittany Davis & Black Thunder, Infinity Song, The Barr Brothers, Haley Heynderickx and Max Garcia Conover, Medium Build, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings’ Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning and an all-star bluegrass collective of Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project, Sierra Hull and Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams.

Find more information on Newport Folk Festival at newportfolk.org.