Several years later, a handcrafted stage was built by the land owner from local oak at the base of Keister’s Hill. Nestled in beautiful southwestern Virginia, the Newport Fest site is a natural amphitheater providing perfect acoustics. Newport is a small town bordering the Jefferson National Forest and minutes away from the majestic New River.

Founder and resident Eric Langston has had help growing Newport Fest each year from several close friends and sponsors: Jon Benfield, Tony Airaghi, and Paul Ely.

Ten years later after the initial party, Newport Fest has grown into a small festival occurring every Labor Day weekend hosting several hundred patrons, a dozen local and regional bands, and an unsurpassed grassroots effort dedicated to music and community.