in 1969 as a summer season of the Metropolitan Opera. The outdoor venue was not conducive to classical music performance, and instead the grand rooms of the stately Newport mansions were put to use for chamber music concerts. The early concerts utilized many members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Mark P. Malkovich, III has been the general director for 31 of the 37 seasons. It has become known for giving young international artists, such as Inessa Galante, a venue for their American debut. Sunset Music Festival The Sunset Music Festival began in 1997 in Newport and has included performances by acts as varied as Saves the Day, Jason Mraz, Paula Cole, moe., Little Feat, Jack's Mannequin, Peter Frampton, Bo Bice, Bruce Hornsby, Guster, Something Corporate, Ben Folds (who has played at several festivals), Better Than Ezra, Cheap Trick, Gin Blossoms and Anna Nalick and also local artists like Becky Chace, Zox and Monty Are I. List of popular musicians/bands from Rhode Island Amazing Royal Crowns Angry Salad AraabMuzik Arab on Radar Arc Iris Atwater-Donnelly Jon B. Badfish The Body Dicky Barrett Belly Black Dice (re-located to New York City) Blu Cantrell The Brother Kite David Byrne Wendy Carlos George M. Cohan Combustible Edison Bill Conti The Cowsills Daughters The Dear Hunter Deer Tick Downtown Boys Dropdead Ronnie Earl The Empire Shall Fall Face Dancer Fang Island Foxtrot Zulu Sage Francis Paul Geremia Billy Gilman Bobby Hackett Scott Hamilton Kristin Hersh Honeybunch John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band Les Savy Fav (re-located to New York City) Lightning Bolt The Low Anthem Kilgore M-80 Neutral Nation Jeffrey Osborne Duke Robillard Roomful of Blues Rubber Rodeo The Schemers Six Finger Satellite Carol Sloane Someday Providence Small Factory Space Needle Tavares Throwing Muses Velvet Crush Verse Vital Remains What Cheer? Brigade The White Mice The Young Adults ZOX Notes References External links Roots Music in Rhode Island, Eastern Connecticut, and Southeastern Massachusetts Rhode Island Philharmonic The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame Rhode Island Rhode Island culture Rhode Island