The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum Offers Summer Concert Series for a Second Year

The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum will welcome The HooDoo Loungers and their New Orleans inspired original music as the first performers in a series of five free summer concerts beginning July 21 and continuing every Friday until mid August.

Throughout the summer season, the museum sponsors a number of events that aim to enhance the experience of those visiting the museum and the town. Greg Therriault, the museum’s manager, said the decision to continue the series for a second summer was one made in an effort to be responsive to the community’s enjoyment of local music.

Sag Harbor, he said, is a diverse community, and the choice of musicians this year is reflective of that. Mr. Therriault said the village is multifaceted and offers theater, restaurants and shopping. “I want it to feel like people are coming into the village for a day or an evening. They can park and walk about and come to the museum, stay for a half an hour after, and listen to some great jazz on the front lawn.”

The museum’s front lawn is an ideal place for an evening summer performance. The performers will take to the large porch with concertgoers watching from the spacious grassy area, which is far enough away from the street so children can play and adults can relax in their lawn chairs.

Though the lineup includes local favorites, the museum focused on tapping into other genres of music the community would enjoy. The performances include blues musician Jake Lear who will play on August 11, and jazz band Certain Moves, on August 18.

“We are known as a history museum so we wanted to try and attract a slightly different group of people to the museum, and come to know it as a place to see and do many things,” Mr. Therriault said.

The free concert series is made possible through funding sponsored by Suffolk County legislator Bridget Fleming through the omnibus grant from the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.

“The wonderful thing about county funding is that it enables it to be free,” Mr. Therriault said. He noted that the series offers an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to get to know the museum staff and learn about what they are doing for the season. It is also a way to give back to the town.

Other performers include a returning rock band and local favorite, The Nancy Atlas Project, set to play July 28, and The Steve Shaughnessy Quartet, on August 4.

“They do this for love of the community as well,” Mr. Therriault said of the performers. “I love each one of these groups for different reasons, and I hope our visitors do, too.”

The HooDoo Loungers will play from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Each subsequent performance will have various start and end times but will take place at The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum located at 200 Main Street in Sag Harbor. Check sagharborwhalingmuseum.org for each performance time.