Sag Harbor American Music Festival Brings the Bands to You This Weekend

Music lovers rejoice! This weekend, the Sag Harbor American Music Festival (SHAMF) returns for its 11th season, and from September 22 to 25, will be offering dozens of free musical performances at public parks and storefront locations throughout the village.

Kelly Dodds, SHAMF’s president and co-artistic director, explains that while in past years the festival traditionally offered indoor ticketed concerts on Thursday and Friday evenings at Bay Street Theater and the Old Whalers’ Church to supplement the free outdoor music, last year, with the uncertainties of COVID-19, the decision was made to keep the music all free and all outdoors.

“We had a grant from the federal government last year to cover the ticket costs,” Dodds explained. “When the board met to find out how last year had gone, we got feedback that everyone loved the format and the new Steinbeck Park Stage. Part of our mission is to be accessible to everyone, to be an entirely free festival and being outdoors is ideal for us. We tried to get grant money to make up the entire amount raised through the paid concerts, but didn’t get it, so we ramped up fundraising.”

With fundraising a success, this weekend, the music is all free and all outdoors, with the larger acts performing under a tent at Marine Park on Bay Street and on the Steinbeck Park Stage near the bridge, while smaller ensemble groups and solo acts will play in front of various retail establishments and cultural institutions throughout the village.

“What’s made the festival successful is we evolve with the community,” said Dodds. “How the community experiences it is important to us. We want to make sure we’re connecting with people the best way we can. We might go back to indoor concerts again, there are lots of venues — Bay Street Theater, the Sag Harbor Cinema and the Whalers’ Church — but maybe we’ll do something in early spring before things get crazy.”

One of the new highlights this year that music fans won’t want to miss is the SHAMF kickoff parade that will take place on Thursday evening and proceed down Main Street.

“For years, people familiar with us always know we kick off with Samba Boom, a 30-piece percussion ensemble known from the drumming sessions on the beach. For anyone who hasn’t seen them, they’re a great reason to turn out. They usually played on Saturday morning and I feel like they needed a wider audience. As the festival has grown to adding Sunday and now Thursday, we felt we needed more of a kickoff on Thursday night — a call to action and to draw in community members who might be going away for the weekend that they can participate in.”

So on Thursday evening at 6 p.m., parade participants will gather at Main and Madison streets where Samba Boom will play for 20 minutes or so, and then the group will dance down the street. At 7 p.m., Soul Inscribed will take the stage at Marine Park.

“All our events are family friendly — kids in strollers are fine, and if kids act up, parents can walk away,” said Dodds. “We present live music for the younger generation, particularly teenagers and kids who get their first taste of music digitally. We have such a variety, the energy of a live performance where they can take that in is really an opportunity for them to grow and expand their emotional depth.

“Live music hits you emotionally, in a different way than on YouTube. When you’re surrounded by people spontaneously dancing and singing, it has potential for expanding horizons,” she said.

Expect this year’s festival to feature a wide range of talented musical acts from across the East End and the larger New York and New England region, but one of the acts that Dodds is particularly excited about is Brooklyn-based Red Baraat.

“I think Red Baraat will be the most sensational act this year — audibly, visibly, the level of energy and performance is nothing like anyone I’ve seen on the East End,” she said. “They’ve been together for 20 years — they’re from Brooklyn, but they’ve played at the World Expo in Dubai and the San Francisco Jazz Festival. They’re well known globally, but happen to be pretty close.

“I’m intrigued and blown away by their talent and sound,” added Dodds, noting that the Red Baraat concert will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday in Marine Park in partnership with WLIW 88.3, and the music will be broadcast live with the station’s Ed German as guest host.

“The festival has expanded so much, and it’s organic growth, but it’s growing,” said Dodds. “There are 35 to 40 acts, that’s an insane number of acts. The production has gotten more involved, but it’s a labor of love. If the businesses were not so supportive, we wouldn’t be able to do this. We had a big uptick of individual supporters after last season, and those things allow us to do what we do.”

The Sag Harbor American Music Festival (SHAMF) is back for its 11th season, and from September 22-25, presents music throughout Sag Harbor. From the giant sailcloth tent at Marine Park to the new all-weather stage at Steinbeck Park, dozens of acts will be featured. Additional venues include cultural district icons like the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, along with storefronts and restaurants. These performances are free and open to the public, with costs covered by sponsorships and donations.

The SHAMF Schedule

Thursday, September 22

Escola de Samba Boom Parade — 6 p.m. Civil War Monument, Main and Madison. Celebrate the festival opening with this 30-piece percussion ensemble while dancing down Main Street. Special guests to be announced. A true delight for people of all ages.

Soul Inscribed — 7 p.m. at Marine Park Tent, Bay Street. Free. Hip hop soul collective from New York City offers an eclectic new vision of jazz, dub, and funk. Composed of Baba Israel (emcee/production), Grace Galu (vocals), Duv (vocals), Sean Nowell (saxophone, flute, FX), Osei (bass), Robert Knowles (keys) and Juan Carlos Polo (drums). The group has toured the world as cultural ambassadors with the U.S. State Department. They are the resident band for “Cannabis: A Viper Vaudeville,” which opened to critical acclaim off-Broadway. The collective is now working on a national tour.

Post-concert Bands – 9 p.m. Black & Sparrow performs at Sen (23 Main Street) and Jettykoon performs at K Pasa (2 Main Street).

Friday, September 23

Drum Class With Dan Bailey — 5:30 p.m. at Marine Park, Bay Street. A Hamptons native, Bailey’s South African roots and his command of the West African djembe channel a vibration of celebration. Certified by Chris Berry as a Bana Kuma Drum & Dance teacher, he hosts classes teaching rhythms representing the sacred elements of air, fire, water and earth. BYO hand-drum.

Red Baraat — 7 p.m. at Marine Park Tent. Live broadcast on WLIW-FM. Red Baraat is a pioneering band from Brooklyn. Conceived by dhol player Sunny Jain, the group has drawn worldwide praise for its singular sound, a merging of hard driving North Indian bhangra with elements of hip-hop, jazz and raw punk energy. Created with no less a purposeful agenda than manifesting joy and unity in all people, Red Baraat’s spirit is worn brightly on its sweaty and hard-worked sleeve. Special guest host Ed German (WLIW) will open live with his “Friday Night Soul” broadcast before the main event.

Saturday, September 24

10 a.m. — Goat on a Boat Musical Puppet Show at Marine Park Tent

11 a.m. — Hopefully Forgiven at Steinbeck Park Stage

11:30 a.m. — Born & Raised at Long Wharf Shops

Noon — Mambo Loco at Marine Park Tent

12:30 p.m. — Angie Pastor at Matriark

12:30 p.m. — The Realm at Sag Harbor Inn

1:30 p.m. — Nancy Atlas at Steinbeck Park Stage

2 p.m. — Cold Chocolate at Baron’s Cove

2 p.m. — Points East at Ryland’s Green (Main and Madison streets)

3 p.m. — Pete Mancini at Sag Harbor Whaling Museum

3 p.m. — Evan Francis Quintet at Marine Park Tent

3 p.m. — Dante Mazzetti at LT Burger

3 p.m. — Lynn Blue Band at Sag Pizza

4 p.m. — Chloe Halpin at Provisions

4 p.m. — The Resilient at Steinbeck Park Stage

4 p.m. — The Sheriff of Good Times at Sag Harbor Whaling Museum

5 p.m. — Inda Eaton at Marine Park Tent

5 p.m. — Sara Hartman at Baron’s Cove

6:30 p.m. — Winston Irie at Steinbeck Park Stage

8 p.m. — Jake Lear at Kidd Squid Brewing Co

Sunday, September 25

11 a.m. — Caroline Doctorow at Marine Park Tent

Noon — Hoodoo Loungers at Steinbeck Park Stage

1 p.m. — Rachel & Keve at Marine Park Tent

2 p.m. — The Montauk Project at Steinbeck Park Stage

3 p.m. — Dan Bailey Tribe at Marine Park Tent

4 p.m. — Gene Casey & The Lonesharks at Steinbeck Park Stage

5 p.m. — Alfredo Merat at K Pasa

5 p.m. — Foster Europe Band at Marine Park Tent

6 p.m. — Joe Delia & Thieves at Steinbeck Park Stage

For the latest updates visit sagharbormusic.org. SHAMF is rain or shine.