Thank you to everyone who came out to support the 10th anniversary edition of the Sag Harbor American Music Festival. It was one of the most beautiful weekends of the year in many ways.
Thank you to all of the musicians. The Randy Brecker & Ada Rovatti Quintet allowed an opportunity to partner with the inaugural Hamptons Jazz Fest. Randy is both a local and international treasure and we cannot thank him enough for finding time for us. The young women of Michelle were like sirens with those silky close harmonies. Audawind brought the down-home country, and Dante Mazzetti, a New York City firefighter, delivered his gravelly alt-roots signature sound to round out our first free outdoor evening concerts at the Marine Park tent on Thursday and Friday.
Saturday debuted the main stage at Steinbeck Park — thanks to Southampton Town, Sag Harbor Village and Jay Bialsky for preserving that land for the public. We brought outdoor acts up and down Main Street at Windmill Beach, KPASA, Matriark, the Whaling Museum, LT Burger, Sag Pizza, Sen Garden, Provisions, and on West Water Street at Sag Harbor Inn and Baron’s Cove.
Special shout out to the golden-voiced Sara Hartman, a graduate of Pierson, who surprised us from Berlin with her international hits and soulful delivery. We also had the pleasure of debuting Greg Bucking’s first solo outing after his success with the Vine Brothers.
We had a full Sunday of diverse and interesting music on the park stages highlighting the return of The Thunderbird Sisters of the Shinnecock Nation. The Unsung Heroes, Winston Irie and the Selective Security Band, The Scofflaws, Underground Horns, Inda Eaton (with Mama Lee and Rose) and the Nancy Atlas Project filled us to the brim. Then Pete Mancini delivered a short set to open for The Resilient, an incredible group of musicians.
Thank you to Police Chief A.J. McGuire, Superintendent Dee Yardley and Assistant Superintendent Michael Cohen, Mayor Jim Larocca, the trustees and village office staff (we will miss you, Beth!). Our chief sound engineer, Jamie Schott, and his crews delivered phenomenal sound on Saturday and Sunday; and thanks to Michael Mazzaraco and his assistant, Antonio, for running the sound on Thursday and Friday.
Extra-special thanks to board members Gavin Menu and John Landes for leading the program book layout/sales and Maryann Lucas for overseeing merchandise.
It is impossible to produce the festival without all the local business sponsors: Jackson Dodds & Co., The GMS Group, Provisions, The Sag Harbor Inn and The Sag Harbor Express. Please make a point of thanking these people yourself whenever possible. For a complete list of sponsors, see our program book or website (sagharbormusic.org).
Kelly Connaughton Dodd
Kerry Farrell
Sag Harbor American Music Festival
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