The Great South Bay Music Festival returns for its 16th year in Patchogue, beginning Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21, at Shorefront Park.
The feel-good festival draws thousands to this outdoor music happening. Jim Faith is its co-founder and the dynamic producer of many successful music festivals, this one being the longest running.
A former bass player who toured, he’s an original founding member of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Faith is the owner of J Faith Presents, a concert and events production company. He also owns Island Artists Agency, a boutique performing artist booking agency in Port Jefferson.
Faith spoke recently by phone with the Fire Island & Great South Bay News (FIN) about how the festival started, sharing interesting stories.
FIN: There is always an epiphany that stirs something great. What made you put the wheels in motion for the Great South Bay Music Festival?
Jim Faith (JF): The vision came [from] growing up in the city, in Brooklyn, and going to concerts in places like Central Park. It wasn’t just blues or one particular type of music, it was festivals for all types of people, music lovers as well as a family scene, and that’s what we strive for now.
FIN: Why Patchogue?
JF: There was the shorefront and Patchogue was great to deal with. We were looking at Riverhead initially and then Paul (Mayor Paul Pontieri) called me. We met in a blizzard, and right at that point, Riverhead said they were giving us a permit. Paul said, “We’re meeting, that’s it.” Since then, with Patchogue, it’s been a good relationship.
FIN: How many acts were in your first concert there and was it just one day?
JF: The very first concert, it was maybe 17 acts. I think it was two days. We’d gotten Richie Havens and Foghat as the initial headliners and it was $8 to get in. We kind of grew organically – the more people came, the bigger the acts. We didn’t force anything.
FIN: Anyone you’ve been trying to get as an act you’re excited about this year?
JF: We’re excited about (guitarist/singer/songwriter) Joe Bonamassa, he’s the biggest blues star. We’re also excited about Jon Anderson of Yes, and Justin Hayward [of the Moody Blues]. Bands I wanted? We did have Graham Nash but Crosby, Stills & Nash broke up when we might have had them. There are a lot I’d love to have.
FIN: How much money do you invest? I know Larry Weinberger is a partner. I read that the festival benefits the local economy by more than $5 million.
JF: We’re well over $1 million and a half that we pay. That $5 million figure that’s infused in the local economy comes from a study about how much money is generated when a music festival comes in. There are all the vendors selling things, then the electricians, carpenters, agents, managers, local transportation. It’s over $60,000 for tents. There is a lot of security we pay for. They are there 24/7. The 10-to-20,000 people coming into Patchogue are going to bars and restaurants after the shows are over. Sen. Chuck Schumer’s office helped us during the pandemic. The festival was closed for two years; I refused to let anyone get sick.
FIN: You are the creator of the nonprofit Great South Bay Stony Brook Cancer Center music fest fund which fights children’s cancer. What prompted you to dive into charities?
JF: The interesting thing about Stony Brook is that I and two guys from WBAB (Jason Steinberg and Fingers) since Day 1 gave a portion of the tickets to Stony Brook. We’d walk around the hospital and see kids sitting there getting infusions and then in 2016 I found myself in that chair, so we have a history.
FIN: Will you give money to a charity from the festival as you have in the past?
JF: We have a Stony Brook Great South Bay Cancer Fund and have a Storybook Tent allowing organizations to set up and get donations, like veterans, the homeless, battered women.
As for sponsors, among them are Manhattan Beer, Five Towns College, Port Jefferson Ferry, [and] Monster, and Patchogue Village is probably the biggest.
FIN: Do you still have your dogs Louis and Kevin, and what music do they like?
JF: [Laughs] Yes. We just got Kevin six months ago. He’s a terrier mix. Louis likes anything. I play bass and he just lays there.
Read more about the festival at greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com.
