Roger Waters, Jim James, Justin Vernon & Others Join John Prine At Newport Folk Festival

Renowned singer-songwriter John Prine was the final performer at yesterday’s third day of the 2017 Newport Folk Festival. The event-closing set saw Prine welcome a series of special guests, culminating with Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters sitting-in.

Prine and his band opened with “Love Love Love” and few songs later, following a rendition of “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore,” Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon took the stage at Fort Adams State Park. Vernon had led a tribute to Prine at the former’s Eaux Claires festival last month, and yesterday he again shared the stage with his musical hero, this time covering “Bruised Orange (Chain Of Sorrow).” A couple of songs later Prine welcomed My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James to duet on “All The Best.” Both MMJ and Vernon covered the same songs respectively on the Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows tribute album.

Another duet came from the next guest, country singer-songwriter Margo Price, who sang on “In Spite Of Ourselves.” Prine played “That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round” before bringing out Nathaniel Rateliff to help out on “Sam Stone.” The biggest surprise guest was saved for last as Waters, accompanied by vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius, came onstage for a performance of “Hello In There.” Waters had debuted a cover of the Prine classic at his Newport Folk Fest appearance in 2015 while backed by MMJ and Wolfe and Laessig.

The set ended with Prine leading on “Lake Marie” and everyone joining in on his beloved “Paradise.” Watch audience-shot video highlights of yesterday’s guest-filled set at The Fort:

Setlist