Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy’s R.E.M. Tribute Joins Newport Folk Festival Lineup
Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy, photo by Christy Bush
Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy have signed on to perform at the 67th annual Newport Folk Festival. On Friday, July 24, the duo of the revered actor and indie veteran will take the stage at Newport, R.I.’s Fort Adams State Park in the company of some friends to continue their traveling tribute to R.E.M.
Shannon and Narducy’s Newport Folk appearance will follow their recent spring series that celebrated the 40th anniversary of Lifes Rich Pageant, R.E.M.’s fourth album, with 22 stops across the country backed by a stellar band of drummer Jon Wurster, bassist John Stirratt, guitarist Dag Juhlin and keyboardist Vijay Tellis-Nayak. Their third-annual tribute outing built on last year’s anniversary celebration for Fables of the Reconstruction and a 2024 series honoring the same landmark for Murmur. As in those prior runs, the outfit’s 2026 tour courted several guest spots, including an appearance from Michael Stipe in New York for two tracks he hadn’t performed in 18 years. Given Newport Folk’s famously frequent impromptu collaboration, there’s no telling who could turn up for the standalone show.
Shannon and Narducy’s entry into this year’s Newport Folk Festival continues the rolling lineup that’s expanded with roughly three artists per week since early February. Today, the festival added Tom Morello, who’s currently on the road with Bruce Springsteen’s Land of Hope and Dreams Tour. The other acts confirmed for the 2026 festival include Brandi Carlile, This Is Lorelei, CMAT, Lauryn Hill, Hayley Williams & Friends, Wednesday, 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 and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings’ Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning.
Find more information on Newport Folk Festival at newportfolk.org.
