With Grammy Award-winning artists on the steps of the Old Whalers’ Church, a 30-piece percussion band in front of the John A. Ward Memorial Windmill and New Orleans jazz emanating from a Main Street alleyway, the streets of Sag Harbor will be filled with music this weekend.
The third annual Sag Harbor American Music Festival kicks off Friday night and brings free performances to the village from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
“We’ve got something for everybody,” says Kelly Connaughton, president and co-artistic director of the festival. “We’ve got jazz, blues, some Latin fusion going on. We want to represent all aspects of all-American music, the foundations of American music — rock, jazz, blues, American, R&B, country.”
Connaughton and co-artistic director Kerry Farrell have carefully curated a roster of both recognizable faces and up-and-coming local performers. The 23 diverse acts range from cabaret singer Nancy Stearns to The Complete Unknowns, a Bob Dylan tribute band.
“We put together these groups that we find interesting and that we think would be a unique music experience to bring to Sag Harbor,” said Connaughton. “We want to focus on the roots of American music and showcase that for our audience here in Sag Harbor.”
Almost entirely run by volunteers, festival organizers hope to encourage off-season patronage while also entertaining local crowds. Except for the two biggest concerts, BeauSoleil Friday night at the Old Whalers’ Church and Joe Delia and the Thieves at the after party on Saturday at Bay Street Theatre, all performances are free and most are outside. Connaughton attributed the low price to the support of Studio 89, the festival’s founding sponsor.
“We want to keep the music accessible for everyone,” she said.
Each act will play for about an hour and all venues are within walking distance of one another. With the festival now in its third year, new venues have been added and bigger names signed on.
Friday night at 8 p.m., the event begins at the Old Whaler’s Church with BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, a two-time Grammy Award Cajun string band from Louisiana.
Read more: http://sagharboronline.com/sagharborexpress/page-1/sag-harbor-american-music-will-rock-sag-harbor-this-week-25703
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