Since its inception nearly two decades ago, the Great South Bay Music Festival has grown from a modest two-day gathering into Long Island’s longest-running music festival. Founder Jim Faith always envisioned something rooted in community and eclectic music.
❝I always wanted to create an American music festival.❞
A Festival Inspired by City Roots
“Growing up in the city… it was just all families on lawn chairs and all kinds of music and free, and it was just great,” Faith told NYS Music.
Initially planned for Riverhead, the festival ultimately found its permanent home in Patchogue, thanks to a pivotal meeting that happened during a historic Long Island blizzard. “Everybody showed up in Jeeps and four-wheel drives… I said, you know what, these are the kind of people that we really want to be with,” Faith recalled.
Curating Music by Genre
What sets Great South Bay apart is its genre-specific format. “You couldn’t have just a blues festival over three days… it wouldn’t sustain it on Long Island,” said Faith.
❝That’s why we separated the days into different genres.❞
Rather than cramming multiple styles into one day, each night has its own identity—whether it’s jam bands, reggae, punk, or classic rock. “That model works better for us,” Faith said. “It helps fans know exactly what to expect and makes for a better experience for everyone.”
Faith noted that the Thursday and Sunday lineups have recently been skewing younger. “We’re bringing back Taking Back Sunday and mixing in more 90s acts—it’s a way to reach that in-between crowd that still wants to go out and see live music,” he explained.. “You couldn’t have just a blues festival over three days… it wouldn’t sustain it on Long Island,” said Faith.
Growth, Resistance, and Resilience
From a beer truck nearly rolling into the bay to last-minute soundboard issues, the festival has had its share of chaos. “It almost rolled into the bay,” Faith recalled, laughing. “But the dock stopped it just in time. If it didn’t, I don’t know what we would have done.” Another year, when a technical glitch delayed a set, Michelle from the Patchogue Theatre stepped in with the right equipment just in time. “She saved our lives that night,” Faith said.
Despite these challenges, the festival has endured. Now in its 17th official year (excluding the pandemic and early cancellations), Faith has weathered rising costs, changing demographics, and even artists passing away. “We had Levon Helm… and four weeks before the festival, he passed away,” he said.
❝When I look at the video and I see everybody smiling… then I know it’s worth it.❞
Building a Roster Through Experience
Booking artists is made easier by Faith’s decades of experience as a talent buyer. “I’ve been a booking agent for a long time… we also booked the Iridium in Manhattan,” he shared. His connections have allowed him to maintain a healthy mix of legacy acts and rising talent.
Faith emphasized that many of the artists he’s brought in were already part of his booking network, which helped him build trust on both sides of the stage. “We knew what we could afford and how many people we could fit in the early days,” he said. “I was already booking most of them before the festival even started.”
He also noted how the booking landscape has changed dramatically over the years. “Back then, we were spending about $40,000 on all of the acts for two days. Now it’s a whole different ball game. But relationships matter—they remember how you treat them.”
Supporting Local Talent
The festival also plays a critical role in elevating Long Island’s local music scene.
❝Nurturing the young bands on Long Island is important to me.❞
“People don’t realize how great they are… Long Island is creating these amazing musicians.”
Faith’s commitment to showcasing emerging talent goes back to his role as a founding member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
He also partnered with Berklee College of Music for a scholarship event years ago. “They told me, ‘We don’t know why, but the best musicians we get come from Long Island,'” he recalled. “It’s the basements, the garages, the proximity to Manhattan—this place breeds talent.”
This year’s lineup will again feature a strong slate of local acts, some of whom Faith believes should already be on bigger stages. “Robinson Treacher is one of them—just a powerhouse performer,” he said. “We’re lucky to have him back.”
Honoring a Radio Pioneer
This year’s festival includes a special moment: the induction of WLIR into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
❝Without LIR, there wouldn’t have been a U2 or The Police… they were the ones that brought those bands over.❞
WLIR’s impact went beyond just airplay—it was a tastemaker. “Dennis McNamara made a choice that changed everything,” Faith explained. “Instead of playing Stairway to Heaven on repeat like everyone else, he brought in acetates from England and played bands like The Clash and Adam and the Ants before they were known in the U.S.”
Bono himself acknowledged it from the stage. “At Madison Square Garden, he told the crowd: ‘If it wasn’t for Dennis McNamara and WLIR, we wouldn’t be here.’ That says it all.”
Faith added, “They were the soundtrack of a generation and the first to bring so many of these acts to American ears. It’s time they get the recognition they deserve.”
Looking to the Future
Faith also spoke about passing the torch: “Watching my daughter run the show and my grandkids grow up in the office—there’s nothing better than that,” he said.
Faith also commented on how the music business itself has changed: “It used to be about music and art. Now it’s about survival,” he said. “Touring is all they have now. Record sales are gone, and Spotify pays pennies.”
As for the future, Faith remains hopeful but realistic. “I hope that’s what they want to do,” he said about his children continuing the festival. “But the world is changing… young people aren’t into music as much, and the pandemic really hurt a lot of people.”
Still, the mission holds.
❝I always wanted the festival to be like a church of live music.❞
“People getting a chance to see somebody before they passed away.”
For Faith, it’s not just a festival—it’s a living tribute to the transformative power of music.
Great South Bay Music Festival returns to Shorefront Park in Patchogue this July. For tickets and lineup, visit greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com.
Comments are closed.