The Newport Folk Festival celebrates its 52nd year with big name country-friendly acts like Justin Townes EarleWanda Jackson, Emmylou Harris, the Civil Wars, Amos Lee, the Secret Sisters and many more.

This year's fest runs July 30-31 at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, R.I., and the Saturday/Sunday split of music is sure to keep the weekend packed full. There has even been talk of adding Friday night into the mix, but as of right now, it's a two-day event.

Festival co-producer Jay Sweet, shares what he thinks sets the Rhode Island folk fest apart: "In an age when it's increasingly common to see tour buses roll on to the next gig as soon as sets end, artists linger at this festival, sometimes for the whole weekend, just to hang out or sit in, creating an annual defacto folk summit by the sea," Sweet says. "The goal is to serve the Festival's musical heritage, which means paying respect to older groundbreakers while championing young chance takers."

He adds, "This is Newport's blueprint." Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 31, at 10AM ET.

Full Newport Folk Festival 2011 Lineup:

The Decemberists
Gillian Welch
Gogol Bordello
Earl Scruggs
Ramblin Jack Elliott
Tegan and Sara
Mavis Staples
The Felice Brothers
Delta Spirit
Freelance Whales
Devil Makes Three
Song Circle With Dar Williams, Ellis Paul, John Gorka, Liz Queler
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three
Typhoon
River City Extension
PS22 Chorus
The Wailin' Jennys
The Ebony Hillbillies
What Cheer? Brigade
Emmylou Harris
Elvis Costello
Amos Lee
M.Ward
Wanda Jackson
Middle Brother
Justin Townes Earle
Carolina Chocolate Drops
The Civil Wars
Trampled By Turtles
The Cave Singers
The Head and the Heart
The Secret Sisters
David Wax Museum
Mountain Man
Brown Bird
The Seeger Clogging All-Stars

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