Grateful drag team joins forces for “Fire on the Mountain” backstage at the Newport Folk Festival

Image via YouTube

Three months after its exciting 65th annual performance, the Newport Folk Festival has shared a behind-the-scenes look at the unforgettable weekend. In the latest entry in its “Behind The Walls” series, the festival brings together Saturday artists Elle King and Bertha: Grateful Drag for an unplugged performance offstage and on the grounds of Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island. For their team, the cover ensemble and the country rock singer naturally chose the Grateful Dead.

King starts off in the video by putting on a wig, sunglasses and a mustache to become Elle Drag King. Recorded against the backdrop of the Fort Adams Harbor Shuttle and Ferry Terminal, the collaborative combo between the Angelino singer-songwriter and the Nashville, Tennessee-based band decided to cover “Fire on the Mountain,” by The Dead From the Mars Hotel. The stripped down treatment includes acoustic guitars, bass, hand percussion, brushed snare, melodica and stunning vocal harmonies.

Beyond the latest “Behind The Walls” video, Newport Folk Festival recently celebrated its event with an intimate recording of Taj Mahal performing “Catfish Blues” and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings performing “Hashtag” during their headlining set. For more information about the Newport Folk Festival and its 2024 offering, visit newportfolk.org.

Watch “Fire on the Mountain” by Elle King and Bertha below.