The famed Newport Folk Festival, which originated in Newport, R.I., brings its music to the Polaris Amphitheater Thursday as part of its first ever American tour.”It`s a big 40th anniversary celebration,” said Deirdre Carraher, promotions assistant for the festival.The festival, which started in 1959, features traditional and trend setting music from the country`s well-known and unknown artists. The theme for the 1998 tour is the best of American songwriters.The Violent Femmes, probably best known for their hit “Blister in the Sun,” is one of the tour`s trendsetters. “We are not imitators, we`re originators and that`s the thing that keeps us apart from the other people,” said Brian Ritchie, bass guitarist.Artists Joan Baez and John Hiatt root the festival in tradition. Both have been around for more than 20 years, claiming Bob Dylan as a mentor. Baez`s album, “Play Me Backwards,” was nominated for a “Best Contemporary Folk Recording” Grammy in 1992.Other artists appearing in the Columbus leg of the festival are Nanci Griffith, Alison Krauss, Wilco, Marc Cohn, BeauSoleil, Rodney Crowell and Loudon Wainwright III.The tour makes it`s only Ohio stop at Polaris on Thursday. Tickets are $15 for lawn seats and up to $40 for pavilion seats. The festival starts at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m.