Michael DelGuidice and Big Shot: Billy Joel Tribute Band will be returning to Steppingstone Park on Saturday, July 16. Michael DelGuidice, who leads the Big Shot band, recently began performing alongside Billy Joel himself, playing acoustic guitar and vocals. For DelGuidice, who continues to alternate shows between his tribute band and Joel’s band, this is the ultimate validation of a career spent paying homage to Billy Joel music. What separates this tribute band from others around the world is that this tribute band features actual members of Joel’s band, who are some of the most dynamic and seasoned musicians in the industry. Together they are right on the money with their musical interpretation and accurate reproduction of Joel’s music. The show is packed with top hits in a high-energy, interactive stage performance.
The Jim Messina Band will be performing on Sunday, July 17. In the late 1960s, Jim Messina, who was later half the soft rock duo Loggins & Messina, became an influential figure in Southern California’s budding country rock community. A skilled recording, mixing and mastering engineer as well as musician and producer, he worked with The Doors, Lee Michaels and Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass; later on, he also worked with Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Kenny Loggins. Loggins & Messina went on to release nine albums in seven years.
“Poco had been some real good-time music,” said Messina. “Loggins & Messina just took that a step further and made it more sophisticated and attainable, because it was so musically diverse—from folk to country/rock, to jazz or classical. Through the years, the Loggins & Messina period yielded the stuff I’m most proud of.”
Both concerts begin at 8 p.m. and are for Great Neck Park District residents only. Admission is free with a valid park card, which will be checked when parking and at the gate. Each park card holder is allowed to bring two guests into the park, who must be signed in. Limited park chairs are available, but show attendees should bring along a blanket or a chair to sit on. In case of rain, Great Neck North High School will be the rain location. Check www.cancellations.com or call Great Neck House at 516-482-0355 for the location of the performance.
Free bus service will be available to Steppingstone and return buses start 10 minutes after the show ends. The bus schedule can be obtained at Great Neck House at 14 Arrandale Ave., at Steppingstone Park’s gate or at www.greatneckparks.org. The bus service is subject to cancellation or change according to public usage. Street parking in the Village of Kings Point is permitted as posted and parking rules will be strictly enforced by the Kings Point Police.
Read Steppingstone Park Summer 2016 Concert Series to find out more about the upcoming performances.
View outstanding photos from the concerts here and here.
