More Music For Newport

Miles Davis, Billie Holiday and Led Zeppelin thrilled audiences at the jazz fest, while Bob Dylan went electric at the folk festival. The folk fest, which ran July 22-24, sold out long before the announcement of the acts that included Patti Smith, Alabama Shakes, Elvis Costello, and Flight of the Conchords. The following weekend, Chick Corea, Norah Jones, and Angélique Kidjo headline the jazz fest.

The Newport Festivals Foundation, which runs both, aims to capitalize on the interest by acquiring Bridgefest, a smaller local music festival that spans the weekdays between the two major festivals.

The idea is to eventually add more local music and some bigger names into the mix and give people reasons to stay for a few extra days or even the whole week, said Jay Sweet, executive producer of the foundation.

“Why come for … a weekend when you can stay for 10 days? Enjoy the beaches, enjoy the restaurants and take the nightlife up a few notches,” Sweet said.

Bridgefest, founded by a local group seven years ago, features 18 events at more than a dozen venues, including settings at some of the city’s famous seaside mansions, bars and vineyards.

“This is kind of the beginning of growing this to the next level,” said Jill Davidson, festival director for the folk and jazz festivals.