Dusk & Rubies: Long Island: Summer Festival 2013 Roundup

Great South Bay Festival

You know that long, lean island off of New York that is a hop, skip, and a jump away from NYC? Yeah, the one that sort of looks like a fish…no not Phish; the island in no way, shape, or form resembles Trey’s silhouette. Anyway, the island I’m speaking of is called Long Island, and although it might be best known for its beaches, and towns like Montauk and the Hamptons did you know that there is a music current that has been lapping at our shores and gaining momentum for the past four years? That’s right there is major music and festival appreciation here on the island.

If I could describe the music scene, I would say it’s hungry, massive, and energetic. Many of the festivals are scenic, and hosted on beach fronts, local farms, or near historical landmarks. Here are the top festivals to attend this summer on Long Island. So get ready to listen, jam, vibe, throw some glow sticks, and drink some delicious microbrews!

1. Beer fields Craft Beer & Music Festival
Pennysaver Amphitheater at Bald Hill, Selden, NY
(formally Brookhaven Amphitheater)
June 29th

The Venue:

Let me tell you a little about Bald Hill. It is a completely natural-made landscape, and one of the highest points above sea level on Long Island. So you’ll be able to see for miles, take in breathtaking views of the surrounding sea, all with a beer in one hand…or maybe two. Bald Hill is not only picturesque, but also spacious with its 20 acres made up of fields, and foliage. The venue website boasts its ability to contain approximately 3,000 seats plus a vast lawn for over 6,500. On a clear and sunny day in the summer where else would you want to be?

About:

If you’re looking for a completely low-key and stress-free festival, then this is the one for you. Beerfields can be best described as a blend of unique microbrewery beers and banging bands. The Festival’s website informs us that, “Beerfields focuses on catering to the masses by providing education and exposing the wonders of craft beer while entertaining the people with top notch music festival performances”. This year’s music acts include: DirtyHeads, Mailers, OogeeWawa, NonStop To Cairo, Soundswell, Workout, and The RBC. The breweries that will be setting up shop are some of my favorite on Long Island: Great South Bay Brewery (If you can try their Blood Orange Pale Ale), Blue Point Brewery which is one of the fastest growing microbreweries in the United States, and Spider Bite Brewery (I suggest grabbing a pint of either their white bite wheat ail, or black bite roasted wheat.)

Cost:

General Admission is $53, and you can purchase them from Ticket Master, or choose the tab that states, “Buy Now” on the Beerfields website.

2. Great South Bay Festival
Shorefront Park, Patchogue, NY
July 19, 20, & 21

The Venue:

I may be biased because this Festival is hosted in my home town, but if you ask anyone of the plethora of Dead heads, festy goers, and venders at GSB they’ll tell you the same thing. This is one of the festivals to attend. It is held at the Shorefront Park in Patchogue. I have gone in both rain and shine and had an awesome experience. Large tents are set up next to the bay where you have the: soft breeze from the water keeping you cool, the stunning views of Fire Island, and passing boats, and great vendors, food trucks, cigar, beer, and wine tents. This festival is also an all week-end event. My favorite part about GSB? The late night acts on the main stage are always accompanied by an electric light show, the vibe is so positive and you can look left to right and everyone is completely enthralled and jamming out by the sights, sounds, and feel. It is a full sensory experience.

About:

This festival brings in some major names from the music scene. This year’s lineup consists of: The Doobie Brothers, Electric Hot Tuna, Dark Star Orchestra, Billy Squier, SouLive,Jerry Douglas Band,The Infamous Stringdusters, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Steve Forbert, James Maddock, Amy Helm Band, Antigone Rising, Patent Pending, Kerry Kearney Band,Miles to Dayton,Jack’s Waterfall, Funkin A, The Point,Wig-Jam, Funknasty, Heartless Devils, Rickity, Lo Fi 3,Heavy Duty Super Ego, Katie Pearlman, Cassandra House, Juicy Bruce, Stephen Kellog, Streetlight Circus, Jem Warren, Jamie Bendel, Rebecca Perl, Robert Bruey, Ancient Tongue, East,Butchers Blind, Memphis Crawl, Musaic, Soundswell, Mara Levine with Gathering Time, Red White & Blues Band, Vanilla Ghost House, Chris P. Cauley, Victoria Faiella, Jeff Ting, Alan Semerdjian, Sabretache, Mark Newman, Michael Jazz Trio, Funkt Up, John Sparling, Madame Please, Bx2, Pandafan,Youth Be Told, Fully Charged, Alex Proios, and Jillian Rae.

Cost:

Differs from day to day, depending on the package you purchase.
·         Friday Online Tickets start at $34.00
·         Saturday & Sunday Online Tickets start at $29.99
·         At the venue: General admission for one day is $35.00

You can buy tickets online by visiting the Great South Bay Festival website and click on the tab “Tickets”.

Just some fun friends having a good time.

Getting ready for a show on the main stage.

Some other music festivals to look for on Long Island (upcoming and past events):

· Montauk Music Festival: Held in Montauk is usually a 4 day music festival that collects bands, and up and coming musicians from all different genres.

· Phish At Nikon Jones Beach Theater: Although part of their concert series, the Jones Beach parking lot becomes transformed and takes on a festival air with handmade items being sold, intense hula hooping competitions, and tail gating prior to walking in to the venue.

· Electric Farm Fest: It always better to party for a cause. Electric Farm Fest is a festival on a farm whose proceeds go to a selected worthy cause. There is no Electric Farm Fest this year, but hopefully they will bring it back. If they do, we’ll be ready!