Newport Music Festival kicks off with Fourth of July Extravaganza

NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE) – This July 4th isn’t just America’s birthday, it’s also the start of the Newport Music Festival. 

The festival is kicking off with a Fourth of July Extravaganza at King Park. 

The band Alliance Brass will be playing a free concert at the park and the theme of the night is America. All of the songs the band will play are composed or written by Americans. 

“What’s more American than a brass band on the 4th of July?” said Pamela Pantos, the executive director of the festival. 

As a special tribute, the band will play an Armed Forces Salute. 

“We always ask people in the audience who have served to stand when their branch’s song is played,” said Alliance Brass member Chris O’hara. “It’s really moving to see how many people have served.”

This is only the second time the festival has intertwined the 4th of July into its program. Last year was a trial run, and it was deemed a success.

“It seemed like the most natural thing to do,” said Pantos. “We have so many visitors from out of town and so many community members who would love to have something for the 4th of July.”

Tonight’s free show begins at 7:30 p.m. and will go until around 9:15 p.m.

If you can’t make tonight’s concert, there will be two more on July 9th and 16th. Those shows will be on the Newport Art Museum lawn.

For information on other performances happening during the Newport Music Festival, click here.