Friday’s Edition of the annual eclectic Great South Bay Music Festival was a very solid lineup. If you’re a fan of more eclectic and reggae/rock music, then Friday, July 19th would’ve been the stop for you. The billing featured Slightly Stoopid with Sublime w/Rome headlining and also had Soja, Common Kings, The Scottflaws, and Nonstop to Cairo on the billing.
The festival featured something that a whole family can go out and enjoy. There was areas for people to indulge into arts and crafts as well as an area for people to sample wines and craft beers for those that have discerning tastes in wines and beers. There was also an educational kids zone in order to keep the children occupied while the adults can indulge into an amazing day of music and check out the abundant supply of wine and craft beer tents.
Long Island’s Nonstop To Cairo was outstanding to listen to. It is plain to see why Nonstop To Cairo is becoming one of the premiere bands in the state of New York. They have an innate ability to blend ska, hip-hop, and funk, with small elements of punk music into their sound. Their music is meant to make the listener feel good, and Nonstop To Cairo did just that with their fun-filled set. Their musicianship was tight and it makes me wonder why they haven’t quite broke out onto the national stage just yet. In due time, Nonstop To Cairo will do that. As Paul Heyman of WWE would say, “it’s not a prediction, it’s a spoiler alert”.
Ska pioneers The Scofflaws also took the stage at The Great South Bay Music Festival. It was great hearing frontman Richard “Sammy” Brooks along with his band in tow. The Scofflaws were widely considered to be the pioneers of third-wave ska, and helped pave the way for underground favorites The Toasters. They have strange and quirky lyrics, but their tremendous ability to mix ska and jazz music definitely made New York’s The Scofflaws crowd favorites!
Before Slightly Stoopid and Sublime w/Rome were about to take the stage, SOJA played a tremendous set in front of the festival crowd. Their reggae music had the crowd dancing and having a good time. Usually reggae isn’t my thing, but SOJA definitely makes an exception to the rule with their catchy songs and infectious arrangements in their music. It was a beautiful Friday evening and SOJA’s music definitely played a nice backdrop to the music. “Sorry” and “I Believe” were the main cuts that the crowd vibed to.
