originally published: 02/22/2024
(PATCHOGUE, NY) -- The Great South Bay Music Festival is thrilled to announce that they are back and bigger than ever, as the four-day music and arts festival presented by Voodoo Ranger will return to the newly revamped and picturesque waterfront at Shorefront Park in Patchogue Village from Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21, 2024. The iconic festival is known for presenting a diverse variety of musical acts over the course of four days, with an eclectic lineup of headline artists performing alongside cutting-edge rising stars that you do not want to miss. This year, the festival will go back to its roots with a bit more "roots and classic rock."
To celebrate the momentous occasion of their 16th anniversary, the festival will feature over 60 performers on four stages, in classic and contemporary rock, jam, blues, jazz, Americana, ska, reggae, alternative and funk genres. The festival is sponsored by Voodoo Ranger and boasts multiple craft beer, wine and adult beverage tents, an artisan and craft market and a food court offering a diverse gourmet menu of funky and healthy fare.
Kicking off the festival Thursday, July 18, is “blues-rock-superstar” and three-time Grammy Nominee: Joe Bonamassa. Poco, Loggins & Messina and Buffalo Springfield legend, Jim Messina will support. Also appearing is phenom guitarist Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, who performed at Great South Bay when he was just 12 years old and has since shared the stage with Gregg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Gary Clarke Jr., Warren Haynes, Lady Gaga, and so many more. Local guitar wizard Kerry Kearney will start the ball rolling. (10 performers on two stages).
Friday’s annual rock-reggae-ska party on the water continues with Hawaiian “Kona-Dub-Rockers” Pepper, plus New Jersey’s own: Streetlight Manifesto, Sublime Tribute: Badfish, Ohio’s Tropidelic and emerging LI hometown reggae-rockers: Oogee Wawa (15 performers on 3 stages).
Saturday is Jam Day and continuing the Grateful Dead Live Concert Experience as no one else can, is Dark Star Orchestra. Rock Pioneers The Disco Biscuits support with their Brand of “Trancefusion”, bridging the gap between electronic music and jam bands. Also appearing: Asbury Park New Jersey’s eclectic quintet: Dogs In A Pile, plus Dopapod, psychedelic indie-rocker Karina Rykman …and more. (18 performers on 4 stages).
Great South Bay will close out Sunday’s Main Stage with the legendary YES, featuring Jon Anderson performing YES “Epics & Classics”. Justin Hayward, legendary guitarist, songwriter and the “Voice of the Moody Blues” will support. Also taking the Main Stage is Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre, Talking Heads Tribute: Start Making Sense, and more.
For the kids: Great South Bay will again present a full schedule of fun educational performers, all day Saturday & Sunday.
Emerging Local Artists: Supporting and presenting original emerging artists has always been part of our mission at GSB. For 2024 the festival is pleased to present over 30 talented original artists that we are excited to give stage time and lay on our music loving attendees. Some talented original artists to keep on your radar this year include Karina Rykman, Robinson Treacher, Enrose, Circus Mind, Miles to Dayton, Aqua Cherry and more.
Philanthropy: Great South Bay is a proud part of our LI Community and is committed to doing all we can to support our less fortunate Long Island brothers and sisters.
Great South Bay will continue to donate a percentage from every ticket sold, to the GSB-Stony Brook Cancer Center Fund. To date, the fest has raised well over a quarter of a million dollars for the cancer center. We will again donate booth spaces in our “Storyville Tent” to local organizations looking to raise awareness and funds for their cause.
Festival Times: Thursday, July 18: Doors are at 3:00pm, fest goes till 10:00pm. Friday, July 19: Doors are at 3:00pm, music till 11:00pm. Saturday July 20: Doors are at 1:00pm, music till 11:00pm. Sunday July 21: Doors are at 2:00pm with performances till 10:00pm.
Ticket price includes all concerts and entertainment. Food & beverages not included. Tickets are available to purchase now at www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com. Children under 10 are free.
Shorefront Park is located just a few miles south of LIE, exit 63S, …straight to the magnificent Great South Bay.
COLUMNS
Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites...7/10/25
"Well, I certainly hope so, it seems like it is," laughed Blues Traveler bassist Ben Wilson as he discussed what the band has been up to and their preparations before they hit the road once again for a Summer tour. "The band has been quite active over the years through touring and we managed to continue to record some records. We've done two kinds of covers records, the first one was a blues record which actually got nominated for a Grammy which was pretty cool and the next one, we did some soul covers. That one wasn't quite as well received but it was sure fun to make. So, it's been really cool; you have this massive success for a decade or so and then you kind of dip below that cultural Gestalt line where you're just kind of bubbling below the surface and you can do just fine there even though you're not on the cover of "The Rolling Stone" and that's kind of what we've been doing. We've had a good run, it has been fantastic and these summer tours where we get together with these other kind of bands of similar eras with similar kinds of hits; we're very fortunate as kind of a neo-hippie jam band from that era that kind of bucked some of the trends that were going on at the time but we were lucky enough to have a couple of hits and that has allowed us to have kind of a different career than just the straight jam bands do; not that that wouldn't be awesome as well because obviously many of them are doing just fine but it's just a slightly different road but it has been wonderful. We didn't rehearse a whole lot because we've been playing together for 38 years but things are good and we're stoked for this upcoming tour."
MORE NEWS
Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 7:30pm. Griffin is an American singer-songwriter and storyteller. Touring and making records for over 20 years, House has a discography that includes over 13 albums.
A Chat with Jasper Smith of Straight No Chaser Which Brings its "Summer: The '90s Part 2" Tour to STNJ on July 16
Centenary Stage Company presents Yacht Rock Gold Experience
WXPN Takes Us Back to Live Aid this Sunday to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Legendary Concert
Tickets for Bruce Springsteen Archives' Born to Run 50th Anniversary Celebration to Go On Sale July 16th
UPCOMING SHOWS
Sounds of a Summer Night: Music, Nature, and Community in Concert at Reeves-Reed Arboretum
(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets to Reeves-Reed Arboretum and celebrate summer with their 2025 concert series, Sounds of a Summer Night! All performances will be held on select Wednesday evenings on the grounds of this non-profit public garden located in Summit.
2025 Horizon Sounds of the City at NJPAC
South Orange Summer Nights to Offer Free Concerts Every Wednesday Night In July
Middlesex County's Free Concert Series Returns for 2025
Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info
The Penguin Rocks
© 2025 by Wine Time Media, LLC
PO Box 811, Belmar, NJ 07719
info@newjerseystage.com
Presented by New Jersey Stage
