Jack White Coming to Folk Fest

If you've been crying over not getting Newport Folk Festival tickets before they sold out and happen to be a Jack White fan, prepare to start sobbing.

Festival organizers announced today that Jack White is coming to the festival and will perform on Saturday, July 26.

Jay Sweet, producer of the festival, said as soon as he joined the team that puts on the show ever year, he compiled a list of performers "that for some reason or another has not played Newport Folk but should."

Sweet sat down with legendary Newport Folk co-founder and Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein and during that meeting, Wein asked what could be done to bring blues back to Newport in an "meaningful and explosive way."

Something that would tie Newport's history with names like John Hurt, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Skip James and Son House.

"I circled a name atop the list and answered, 'Jack White,'" Sweet said.

It took six years to finally get White booked for a show.

In the office, Sweet said the handful of names who haven't performed but should is referred to as the list of "White Whales."

"It’s only taken six years, but it is my distinct pleasure to cross another “White Whale” off our list," Sweet said. "In 1967 at Newport, Son House brought his version of the B-L-U-S-E; now 47 years later, we can’t wait to bring some explosive blues back to the festival. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Jack White."

White joins a astounding lineup slated for the festival, which brings thousands to historic Fort Adams each summer. Among the highlights: Trampled by Turtles, Deer Tick, Ryan Adams, Mavis Staples, Nickel Creek, Jimmy Cliff, and on and on.

Check out the whole lineup: 

http://www.newportfolk.org/lineup