All photography by Jill “The Bean” Griggs
Ska is such a cool genre. It incorporates all. Ska takes in everything, rises it around and produces something beautiful. I love that The Great South Bay Music Festival incorporated a ska night! Patchogue’s signature music event just turned 13 years old.
Friday night they picked up their horns and braced The Long Island heat to play. As always GSB Music Festival dotted $1 from every ticket sold to the GSB-Stony Brook Children’s Cancer Center. They also installed a “Storyville Tent” where 6 Long Island based organizations set up a booth to spread the word and fund raise for their organizations.
We were incredibly impressed with Soja. They have a funky smooth sound and Jacob Hemphill’s voice pairs beautifully with the music. It’s like they were meant for each other… and we are the ones that benefit from it. It was a marriage that started 20 years ago, in the D.C. area. I understand that when it comes to music the audible is important, but the visuals are great too. They are full off energy and just a fun band to watch. They are the definition of summer music. Pop them on at a backyard BBQ and grill away.
Common Kings were fantastic , so was our friends Oogee Wawa but, in our opinion Soja stole the show! I hope to see you guys at GSB next year!!