Politics & Government
Country Concert Held at Amphitheater
The largest country music festival ever held on Long Island draws crowd of more than 6,000 fans.
The largest country music festival ever to take place on Long Island was held last week at the Brookhaven Amphitheater.Â
More than 6,000 people who love country music and our veterans came out to experience Vets Rock, a concert sponsored by the Town of Brookhaven and coordinated by My Country 96.1 Radio. Â Proceeds from the show will go to veterans of Long Island, New York and the nation in need of food and shelter.
Between sets, throughout the day, veterans from all wars were selected at random to come up to the stage and be honored. One of those recognized was Raymond Riker, 84, a World War II veteran, and the father of Susan Sineo, Republican, Conservative Candidate for the Suffolk County Legislature's third district.
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"This is excellent. It couldn't be better," Riker said. "This is the best thing happening.It's a good turnout. They should be proud of this. It felt very good to be honored."
Many in blue jeans and cowboy hats could be seen line dancing near the stage.
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Two local bands:Â Roadhouse and Southbound, that are well-known on the Long Island country circuit, were able to get the crowd going early.
Acts that followed included Eric Church, part country and part rock and roll. He's known as the outlaw of country music. His latest album, Chief, which was released in late July, hit number one for all genres in its first week and sold approximately 130,000 copies in one week; Husband and wife duo, Thompson Square; Jane Dear Girls, Frankie Ballard, Eden's Edge, Bradley Gaskin, JT Hodges and Katie Armiger, 19, who was recently voted country music's hottest bachelorette.
Festival-goer, Catherine Ferreira, 50, from Selden was inspired to make a giant Vets Rock sign to hang along the 9/11 Memorial Walk leading to the amphitheatre next to several other homemade signs.
"I sewed it until the machine broke. It took all day ... I wanted to get silhouettes of the veterans. I had this vision. My whole family is veterans," Ferreira said. "That's who it was for, from my heart to them."
The national anthem was sung by local country music star Lisa Matassa from Plainview. She was just signed to a record deal a few months ago in Nashville. My Country 96.1 has taken a strong interest in bolstering her career. Matassa's latest single "Sunrise Highway", about her life growing up on Long Island, has really resonated with fans.
