3 Long Island music festivals not to miss this summer

If you missed the Great South Bay Music Festival this past weekend, don’t fret. There are  other music festivals coming our way this summer.

For the past 10 years, Grateful Dead tribute band Half Step has taken part in  Jerry Jam at Cathedral Pines County Park in Middle Island.

"There’s a great sense of pride and community among the strong Long Island Dead scene," says lead guitarist/vocalist Tom San Filippo, 58, of Lynbrook. "It’s an annual tradition that everyone looks forward to."

Here's what to know about Jerry Jam, and two other music events to look out for.

JERRY JAM

• WHEN | WHERE 6-10:30 p.m. Aug. 2, noon-10:30 p.m. Aug. 3, noon-9:45 p.m. Aug. 4; Cathedral Pines County Park, Yaphank-Middle Island Road (South of Rt. 25), Middle Island
• COST Aug. 2: $35, Aug. 3: $50, Aug. 4: $50, Aug. 2 plus (add a day Aug. 3 or 4): $75, Aug. 3 and 4 combo: $90, three-day pass: $120.

WHAT TO EXPECT 

In celebration of the late Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia’s birthday (Aug. 1), Deadheads annually congregate at Jerry Jam, a three-day festival in Middle Island focused on his music. The event typically draws 1,300 people, several hundred who actually camp out on site for the entire weekend.

"People enjoy the communality of it," says founder/organizer John Cino, of Patchogue. "The Grateful Dead had the spirit of the '60s and we remember those days as a very special time in American history."

THE MUSIC 

Seventeen acts will perform this year including Jellyband, the Electrix, the Brother Pluckers, Tiger Rose, Dead Ringers, Half Step and more.

"Everybody loves Jerry and everybody at the Jam loves each other," says Cino, 67. "We are all there with the singular purpose of honoring his music."

THE FOOD

Many people picnic but there are also food trucks available as well as Shakedown Street — a Grateful Dead vendor’s market with tie-dye clothing and head shop paraphernalia.

MORE INFO jerryjamli.com

FINN FEST

• WHEN | WHERE 12:30-11 p.m. July 27, Masone Beach, 1 Waterford Rd., Island Park
• COST $30 online, $37 at the gate

WHAT TO EXPECT 

For over a decade, Norah Kelleher, 62, of Island Park, has paid tribute to her late mother, Dorothy Finn, a beloved local dance teacher, with Finn Fest. The day-into-night beach festival features more than a dozen live bands across two stages plus a comedy tent featuring seven stand-up comics.

"One stage is on the grass and another is in the sand facing west with the Manhattan skyline in the background," says Kelleher, who serves as the event organizer and president of the Dorothy Finn Foundation, which raises money for animal rescue groups and arts opportunities for underprivileged kids. "People come in with their beach chairs and blankets to camp out all day."

THE MUSIC

This year will feature a slew of tribute bands including The Chain (Fleetwood Mac), Shattered (The Rolling Stones), Sons of Skynyrd (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Echoes of the Eagles (Eagles) plus local acts the Katie Mitchell Band and Diamond Groove.

"There is such a laid back island escapism kind of vibe at the festival and the crowd is extremely into the entertainment, which makes it so much fun for us," says comic Mike Keegan, 40, of East Meadow, who serves as the emcee.

THE FOOD

A food court offers Filthy Pig Barbecue, Gary’s Extreme Empanadas and Docks’ lobster rolls for sale along with a beer and wine tent for those 21 and over (with valid ID). Don’t forget to check out the vendors selling jewelry, pocketbooks and handmade art as well as Zion’s Mission Animal Rescue tent where attendees can adopt a pet.

MORE INFO 516-984-7320, finnfestlb.com

JOHN MONTELEONE: THE ART OF GUITAR FESTIVAL

• WHEN | WHERE 6 p.m. Aug. 1, 5 and 7 p.m. Aug. 2, noon, 4 and 7 p.m. Aug. 3; The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Avenue, Stony Brook

• COST $40 per performance, $10 for the workshop

WHAT TO EXPECT 

Long Island has always been a big guitar community spawning such greats as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Brian Setzer, Leslie West, John Nolan, Chieli Minucci, Buck Dharma as well as guitar luthier John Monteleone, who will host "The Art of Guitar Festival" at The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook.

"The guitar is an instrument that goes back to the history of time in all cultures," says Thomas Manuel, president and founder of The Jazz Loft. "It’s an emotional instrument you hold right against your heart, which makes it personal."

The three-day event will feature performances by Laurence Juber (5 p.m.) and Anthony Wilson Organ Trio (7 p.m.) on Aug. 2, plus Frank Vignola and Pasquale Grasso (4 p.m.) and Martin Taylor and Alison Burns (7 p.m.) on Aug. 3.

THE GUITARS

There will also be a series of famous guitars on display.

"George Benson’s 1958 Blonde D’Angelico New Yorker will be on hand in immaculate condition as well as Charlie Christian’s Gibson ES-250," says festival co-producer Chris Paradysz.

Monteleone will conduct a special guitar workshop on Aug. 3 at noon with guitarist Steve Salerno and some special guests.

"There’s a collection of guitars that we will talk about representing the various periods of music going back to the 1920s up to present day," says Monteleone, 77, of Islip, who has hand built guitars for Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and Ben Harper. "These instruments get paired with music that belongs to those periods. We will also give some history behind each guitar such as where they are from and how they were developed."

MORE INFO 631-751-1895, thejazzloft.org/monteleone

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.