Dan's Papers - June 20, 2008 - Backbeat: Celebrating the Music of Springs

After the success of last year's event, the second annual Springs Day in East Hampton will take place Sunday, July 22. The main purpose of the day is to celebrate the culture of the area and to get both residents and visitors to visit Springs shops and galleries.

Music, however, is the major focus of the festival. Three locations will feature performances by local bands to bring awareness to the thriving - but mostly unknown - local music scene. "We're really trying to promote an understanding and discovering of Springs," said Michael Clark, the owner of Crossroads Music in East Hampton who organized the music for the event. "This isn't a fisherman's fair or anything. It's more of an understanding of the art, music and culture. It's really a great thing."

He added, "We're trying to promote the music scene out here. We keep hearing from bands that there's a lack of places to play. These guys aren't getting paid [for playing at Springs Day]. But any time there's an opportunity to play, they jump at it."

"It's a good excuse to walk around outside, hear some great music and look at art," said Michael Weiskopf, whose group The Lost Keys will be performing that day. "It's about celebrating the different arts. People don't know this stuff is happening here."

Between noon and 5 p.m., 12 bands from the East Hampton area will perform for free. And the groups involved run the musical gamut, from metal to surf rock to jazz and from young newcomers to seasoned performers. At the Springs General Store, you'll be able to catch a teen-oriented line-up of Rite of Way (a group of seventh-graders), King Arthur's Court, Tequila Mockingbird and local metal favorites, The Consent of Kings. Ashawagh Hall will feature more experienced, rock-oriented acts: The Lost Keys, After the Carnival and The Surf Dogs. The Surface Library Gallery has the most eclectic line-up, with the acoustic cover band, Under the Covers, the jazzy duo of Peter Weiss and Jane Hastay, The Doug Rielman Band and singer-songwriter Inda Eaton. The variety of genres represented was chosen purposefully, says Clark. "We're trying to show that it's all music and that it's all good," he said.

"We play classic rock, but there are a lot of different bands playing," Weiskopf said. "A lot of the kid bands are alternative music that I don't always get, but I enjoy watching."

As well as introducing the community to talented local bands, the event also helps to develop the camaraderie between local acts, says Clark. Longtime local reggae stalwart Winston Irie will be joining area teens, King Arthur's Court, who often play at The Stephen Talkhouse, on stage for a couple of songs. Likewise, Eaton will have a few special guests join her on stage. And who knows what other combinations might pop up throughout the day. "There will be a lot of that kind of interaction," Clark said. "We try to promote that, especially with the teen bands. They tend to be competitive sometimes. We try to show them that it's all music. You don't necessarily have to like it, but you have to be respectful. We're starting to see that back and forth with them, like, 'Hey, why don't you come up and do a song with our band.'"

For more information about Springs Day or any of the bands performing, go to crossroadsmusicstore.com or call 631-907-4838.

If you're a band or musician interested in being featured in our new music column, email tiffany@danspapers.com.