Founder pitches to again lead Newport fests

Promoter's financial woes prompt return of George Wein

Newport jazz and folk festivals original producer George Wein says, ''I'm just trying to keep Newport going.'' (Associated Press/File 2008)

Faced with the possibility of the Newport jazz and folk festivals being canceled this year, original producer George Wein said yesterday he's in the process of taking back the reins. Wein, who began the legendary festivals in the 1950s, sold his production company to Festival Network in 2007, which put on last year's fests.

In January, Festival Network still owed money to the state of Rhode Island for last year's events. When the company defaulted and the Department of Environmental Management voided the contract, Wein stepped in.

"I couldn't let the festivals die," the 83-year-old impresario said yesterday from his home in New York. "That's my life, those two festivals."

Wein said Environmental Management, which operates Fort Adams State Park in Newport, granted his request to negotiate a contract to produce the festivals. His production team has said it will be holding the folk festival July 31-Aug. 2 and the jazz festival Aug. 7-9 at Fort Adams State Park.

Wein's return comes after last year's successful folk fest, which generated fresh buzz with indie-rock acts such as Cat Power and the Black Crowes and higher attendance than in previous years.

Chris Shields, Festival Network's cochairman, did not return phone calls but issued a statement to the Globe thanking Wein for "assisting with the groundwork to ensure the legacies of the Newport Folk and Newport Jazz festivals." The company's website still includes the Newport Folk Festival and JVC Newport Jazz Festival on its homepage, noting "new site coming soon!" in the upper corner.

Shields also said Environmental Management and other state agencies have now been paid in full.

Wein said he expects to get approval within 10 days to hold this summer's festivals. It's been a tough year for local festivals, including the cancellation of the Boston Folk Festival, but Wein couldn't confirm that the Newport fests were in danger.

"The indications were that if they didn't have the finances, they might not do the festivals," Wein said. "I couldn't let that happen."

Wein said he hasn't been in touch with anyone at Festival Network re cently but is well aware of the company's financial woes.

"The problems were evident because people were calling us about the money that was owed to them. Everybody in the company knew it," Wein said.

He acknowledged the economic downturn will present unique challenges this year, but he doesn't imagine it will be reflected in higher ticket prices or fewer artists.

"I know the budgets," he said. "I know what we can lose, what we can make. It's a very small margin, but I can adjust to it." Last year Festival Network decided to drop sponsorship, such as Dunkin' Donuts, but Wein isn't opposed to bringing it back.

With just five months to plan the festivals, Wein said he and his team are on schedule.

He doesn't foresee any problems with booking the artists in time, either: "All the artists' bills were paid. [Festival Network] didn't owe any money to the artists, so we're not having a problem with agents."

As for this year's programming, Bob Jones, a longtime Newport producer who last year became a consultant for Festival Network, said it's too early to tell what kind of acts the festivals will present.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the folk festival, Jones said, "I'm sure there will be people involved from way back, and people involved from the future."

Wein confirmed the lineups will look similar to those in previous years.

"I know the jazz festival will retain its traditions," Wein said. "The folk festival changes over the years. When [Bob] Dylan went electric in 1965, the whole concept of folk music changed."

After 55 years of production experience, Wein acknowledged that running the festivals isn't for everyone.

"There's nothing planned or premeditated on my part in any way," Wein said of his unlikely return. "I just reacted to a negative situation that involved my legacy. I'm not trying to go back in business. I'm just trying to keep Newport going."