Newport Resident Brings Concert Series to Rose Island

Elements of a perfect summer day in Newport — live music, untouched nature and unobstructed views of Narraganset Bay. If that sounds too good to be true, a Newport resident has a surprise for you. 

After a year of planning, Brad Rogers has planned a folk and bluegrass concert series at Rose Island Lighthouse this Wednesday, July 3. The event is free and open to the public, with an optional donation.

Headliner Jim Lauderdale, a musician out of Nashville, has won two Grammy Awards — first in 2002 with Dr. Ralph Stanley for Lost in the Lonesome Pines and in 2007 for The Bluegrass Diaries. According to his website, Lauderdale collaborates with music legends like Ralph Stanley and Elvis Costello and has well as has released dozens of solo releases.

With the exception of a 1.5 acre lot that is owned by the City of Newport, the rest of the 18.5 acre island was acquired by the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation in 1999 in order to prevent it from development. Rose Island serves as a wildlife refuge and is a nesting habitat for migratory birds.

Annual surveys by RI DEM Fish and Wildlife demonstrate it is critically important wading bird nesting rookery in Narragansett Bay, according to their website.  

It is the largest primary nesting site for Canada Geese and, overall, has the third largest colony of nesting birds in Narragansett Bay and is growing each year. Herring and Black-backed Gulls, American Oystercatchers, and a variety of songbirds also nest on Rose Island each year.

Music Lineup

12:30 Honky Tonk Knights from Newport

1:15 Milton from Brooklyn

2:30 Damn Tall Buildings from Cambridge

4pm Lisa Mills

6pm Jim Lauderdale

How to Get There

The Jamestown Ferry will run free trips to Rose Island every 30 minutes from 11:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Bring your own beverages and food. RSVP on Facebook here.