Words & Photos by Jeremy Gordon

Over the weekend, Patchogue, New York hosted the 16th Anniversary of the Great South Bay Music Festival. The four-day event featured renowned artists such as Joe Bonamassa, Jon Anderson from Yes, Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, and Martin Barre from Jethro Tull.

Saturday’s main stage kicked off with Karina Rykman and her band, who arrived fresh from opening for My Morning Jacket in West Virginia, jumping straight from their van onto the stage. They thrilled the crowd with hits like “City Kids.” Following them was Dopapod, who delivered a seven-song set featuring six originals and closing with a cover of AC/DC’s “TNT.”

Later on, rising jamband Dogs in a Pile welcomed saxophonist Ben Pinnola to join them for Billy Joel’s “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” and “Let U Go.” The Disco Biscuits concluded their tour at the festival, highlighting vocalist Erin Boyd’s performance of their latest track, “Why We Dance.”

The evening’s headliner was the Grateful Dead tribute act, Dark Star Orchestra, who began with a dynamic rendition of “China Cat Sunflower” leading into “I Know You Rider.” Their set included Jerry Garcia Band favorites like “Mission in the Rain” and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up in Blue,” culminating with an unexpected rendition of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” to close out the night.


Gallery +



TheWaster.com | Patchogue
7.22.24