Brian Wilson at Newport Folk Festival

Brian Wilson, a founding member of The Beach Boys, will headline the opening night of the Newport Folk Festival at The International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino on August 1 in Newport, RI. Wilson is considered one of the most gifted and influential pop music composers of the last 50 years. The three-day festival will be held at the historic Fort Adams State Park, August 1-3.

In addition, spirited senior chorus from the critically acclaimed documentary “Young @ Heart” and the singing/songwriting country couple Steve Earle and Allison Moorer have been added to the line-up on August 2. The Young @ Heart Chorus search for the fountain of youth through song.

Ticketing information for Wilson’s August 1 show can be found on the festival’s website.

The Newport Folk Festival is a multi-stage music festival and is renowned for presenting nationally known performers as well as new and traditional folk and roots artists from a wide variety of genres including folk/rock, indie rock, bluegrass, country, alt-country, blues, grassroots and world music. The 2008 lineup features dozens of acts, including: Brian Wilson, August 1; The Black Crowes, Trey Anastasio, Cat Power, Richie Havens, Cowboy Junkies, Jakob Dylan and Young @ Heart Chorus, August 2; and Jimmy Buffett, Levon Helm, Gillian Welch, Brandi Carlile and Son Volt, August 3.