The Newport Folk Festival is a landmark and 1988 featured a classic line-up including Richard Thompson, Doc Watson, Taj Majal, Shawn Colvin and many others! It began in 1959 as counterpoint to the legendary Newport Jazz Festival. Newport was one of the first modern music festivals in America and remains a focal point in the expanding genre of folk music. Founded by George Weir, Pete Seeger and Albert Grossman, Newport became known for delivering legendary and often surprise artists and collaborations. Some of these classic performance are delivered on Ben & Jerry's Newport Folk Festival, an album that truly captures the spirit of this great American tradition.