The Newport Jazz Festival's headliners will be eclectic and electric this year.  Dr. John and the Lower 911 on  8/3, Pat Metheny's Unity Band on 8/4 and the Tedeschi Trucks Band on 8/5. Based on the music line-up planned, we may as well camp at the Newport Yachting Center this month (jk)!  The Sunset Music Series hosts Lyle Lovett on 8/3, The Cowboy Junkies & The Pousette-Dart Band on 8/4, and k.d.lang on 8/17. On 8/10, it's Classic Rock Rewind** with Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Leslie West (Mountain), Rick Derringer and Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown).  

**warning, these amps will be set to eleven!

Then the full-day festivals begin... with two Tajs... The Newport Waterfront Reggae Festival on 8/11, will feature Barrington Levy, Junior Marvin, Bushman, Taj Weekes & Adowa, Mighty Mystic & The Thunder Band. Local favs, the Ravers, open at 10:30am.  

The first Newport Blues & BBQ Festival will be held on 8/18 starring Marcia Ball, Taj Mahal, Shemekia Copeland, Joanne Shaw Taylor and John Lee Hooker, Jr. This event also features a pig roast, gates open at 12N-- wahoo!

Finally, on 8/25 it's the Celtic Rock Festival with Gaelic Storm, Eileen Ivers, The Town Pants, The Screaming Orphans and Tartan Terrors-- be afraid, very afraid ;-) Finally, as mentioned last month, The Newport Bridge Festival continues through 8/2.

p.s. Here's a link I stumbled upon and enjoyed recently... the Wall of Guitarists, a gallery of  97 guitar greats. Just click on any photo and you'll hear a solo- fun!  

p.p.s. Early Head's Up:  Bob Dylan @ Mohegan Sun, 9/8!!!

Movies on the Rocks, a free outdoor series at Ballard Park returns this year with family films starting at dusk. Featured movies are The Lion King on 8/8, E.T. on 8/15 and Back To The Future on 8/22, bring a blanket and bug spray. If you enjoy seeing Newport on the big screen you can take part the Great Gatsby Experience on 8/5 or 8/19, which includes a screening at the Jane Pickens Theater and a tour of Rose Cliff, where the film was shot. 

The Newport Art Museum's Wet Paint Weekend is 8/18-8/19.  Spring Bull Gallery features Watercolors by Renowned Artists from 8/4-8/29 and Redwood Library's To Arrive Where We Started is a must see exhibit.