Jim Religion, cofounder of the Nice South Bay Music Pageant.
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The Nice South Bay Music Pageant returns for its sixteenth 12 months in Patchogue, starting Thursday, July 18 by means of Sunday, July 21, at Shorefront Park.
The texture-good competition attracts hundreds to this outside music occurring. Jim Religion is its co-founder and the dynamic producer of many profitable music festivals, this one being the longest operating.
A former bass participant who toured, he’s an authentic founding member of the Lengthy Island Music and Leisure Corridor of Fame. Religion is the proprietor of J Religion Presents, a live performance and occasions manufacturing firm. He additionally owns Island Artists Company, a boutique performing artist reserving company in Port Jefferson.
Religion spoke not too long ago by telephone with the Fireplace Island & Nice South Bay Information (FIN) about how the competition began, sharing fascinating tales.
FIN: There may be all the time an epiphany that stirs one thing nice. What made you place the wheels in movement for the Nice South Bay Music Pageant?
Jim Religion (JF): The imaginative and prescient got here [from] rising up within the metropolis, in Brooklyn, and going to concert events in locations like Central Park. It wasn’t simply blues or one explicit sort of music, it was festivals for every type of individuals, music lovers in addition to a household scene, and that’s what we attempt for now.
FIN: Why Patchogue?
JF: There was the shorefront and Patchogue was nice to take care of. We have been Riverhead initially after which Paul (Mayor Paul Pontieri) referred to as me. We met in a blizzard, and proper at that time, Riverhead mentioned they have been giving us a allow. Paul mentioned, “We’re assembly, that’s it.” Since then, with Patchogue, it’s been an excellent relationship.
FIN: What number of acts have been in your first live performance there and was it simply sooner or later?
JF: The very first live performance, it was perhaps 17 acts. I believe it was two days. We’d gotten Richie Havens and Foghat because the preliminary headliners and it was $8 to get in. We form of grew organically – the extra folks got here, the larger the acts. We didn’t pressure something.
FIN: Anybody you’ve been attempting to get as an act you’re enthusiastic about this 12 months?
JF: We’re enthusiastic about (guitarist/singer/songwriter) Joe Bonamassa, he’s the most important blues star. We’re additionally enthusiastic about Jon Anderson of Sure, and Justin Hayward [of the Moody Blues]. Bands I needed? We did have Graham Nash however Crosby, Stills & Nash broke up once we might need had them. There are lots I’d like to have.
FIN: How a lot cash do you make investments? I do know Larry Weinberger is a companion. I learn that the competition advantages the native economic system by greater than $5 million.
JF: We’re properly over $1 million and a half that we pay. That $5 million determine that’s infused within the native economic system comes from a examine about how a lot cash is generated when a music competition is available in. There are all of the distributors promoting issues, then the electricians, carpenters, brokers, managers, native transportation. It’s over $60,000 for tents. There may be plenty of safety we pay for. They’re there 24/7. The ten-to-20,000 folks coming into Patchogue are going to bars and eating places after the exhibits are over. Sen. Chuck Schumer’s workplace helped us in the course of the pandemic. The competition was closed for 2 years; I refused to let anybody get sick.
FIN: You’re the creator of the nonprofit Nice South Bay Stony Brook Most cancers Heart music fest fund which fights youngsters’s most cancers. What prompted you to dive into charities?
JF: The fascinating factor 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 stroll across the hospital and see children sitting there getting infusions after which in 2016 I discovered myself in that chair, so we have now a historical past.
FIN: Will you give cash to a charity from the competition as you’ve got prior to now?
JF: We have now a Stony Brook Nice South Bay Most cancers Fund and have a Storybook Tent permitting organizations to arrange and get donations, like veterans, the homeless, battered girls.
As for sponsors, amongst them are Manhattan Beer, 5 Cities Faculty, Port Jefferson Ferry, [and] Monster, and Patchogue Village might be the most important.
FIN: Do you continue to have your canines Louis and Kevin, and what music do they like?
JF: [Laughs] Sure. We simply acquired Kevin six months in the past. He’s a terrier combine. Louis likes something. I play bass and he simply lays there.
Learn extra in regards to the competition at greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com.
The lineup for this 12 months’s competition.
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