Tunes will fill the streets and restaurants of Sag Harbor starting Thursday, when the Sag Harbor American Music Festival returns for four more days of songs and celebrations.
The lineup — much of it free to attend — features musicians both familiar and new to the South Fork, playing indoor and outdoor venues including restaurants and shops, Steinbeck Park, Bay Street Theater, Carruthers Alley (next to the American Hotel), and Marine Park.
Thursday's action kicks off at 5 p.m. with Roy Wilson and the Buzzards, a rockabilly group that promises "riotous mayhem and general debauchery," at eLTacobar. Several popular local acts follow, including Annie Trezza performing at Sen, the Lynn Blue Band at Sag Pizza, Hopefully Forgiven and REEB! (Real East End Brass) at the Kidd Squid Brewing Company, and, at K Pasa, Rorie Kelly, an UpIsland songstress who has been featured on LTV's "East End Underground" show.
The headliner on Friday is Amythyst Kiah at the Old Whalers Church, for which general admission is $40. Her style mixes "iconoclastic alt-rock" and "roots/old-time music." Rolling Stone has called her "one of Americana's great up-and-coming secrets."
Saturday's lineup is packed with too many performers to fit in these pages. Escola de Samba Boom opens the festivities at 10 at Steinbeck Park, and the village rocks straight through the morning, afternoon, and evening. Nancy Atlas takes the Marine Park stage at 4, and Inda Eaton plays in the alley at 5:30. The day ends with a double treat from two hometown acts, Sara Hartman featuring Joe Delia and Friends, at Bay Street Theater at 8. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door.
Among Sunday's highlights are "brilliantly poetic misfit Americana" music by Julia King at 11:30 in the alley, the Laurelys, a folk duo from Kentucky, at 1 in Steinbeck Park, and a country-rock mix from Raquel and the Wildflowers at 2:30 in Marine Park. The Scofflaws, one of the epic ska bands of 1990s notoriety, wrap up the festival at 6 in Marine Park.
The full performance schedule, as well as a link for ticket sales to Friday and Saturday night shows, can be found online at sagharbormusic.org.
