Long Island Summer Events Guide 2011

Sunday, Aug 21

Identity Fest @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Consider this the electronic music answer to the VANS Warped Tour and Ozzfest. The Identity Fest is billed as the first-ever touring electronic-ONLY music festival that will feature three stages—Skullcandy, Dim Mak and Beatport. Among the artists featured are Holy Ghost!, The Crystal Method, DJ Shadow, Steve Aoki, Kaskade and White Shadow.

Storytime Under the Stars @ Vanderbilt Planetarium

Chicago @ Beacon Theatre

Belmont Classic Car Show & Swap Meet
View a wide range of custom and collectible show cars from vintage to exotic, visit auto-related vendors as well as individuals selling their collectible automobiles in the Car Corral. The event includes street rods, antiques, muscle cars, SUVs, imports and cars of the fifties, sixties and seventies plus one of a kind custom cars rarely seen. SUN 8.21 & SUN 8.28, Belmont Race Track

Tuesday, Aug 23

Jesse Harris @ Stephen Talkhouse

Lynyrd Skynyrd/The Doobie Brothers @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

American Idol Live
Casey Abrams and his growl, Naima Adedapo and her FIRE!, Lauren Alaina, James Durbin and his tail, Stefano Langone, Jacob Lusk and his diva moves, Scotty McCreery and his Baby lock them doors…, Paul McDonald and his tight pants, Thia Megia, Haley Reinhart and her growl and Pia Toscano take the stage together for the annual summer AI class reunion. TUE 8.23, Nassau Coliseum

Wednesday, Aug 24

Sweeney Todd Opens @ Gateway Playhouse

Whitesnake/Tesla/Sebastian Bach/Lita Ford/FireHouse @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
In what’s a nod to heavy metal’s glory days and the enduring appeal the genre enjoys on Long Island, this bill features headliners Whitesnake, they of the recently released eleventh album, Forevermore. Rounding out the bill are criminally underrated California hard rockers Tesla, insanely talented vocalist Sebastian Bach, ex-Runaway Lita Ford and pop-metal lightweights Firehouse.

Friday, Aug 26

Dave Matthews Band @ Governor’s Island
In what is the twentieth anniversary of the Dave Matthews Band, the Virginia-based outfit reversed an earlier decision to take the year off from touring. Instead, the DMB has chosen to play four multi-day, multi-artist events as a way of celebrating. For this string of New York dates, the bill will be rounded out by Dispatch, The Roots and Gogol Bordello. Through 8.28

Rich Vos @ Governor’s Comedy Club

Saturday, Aug 27

Seafood Festival @ LI Maritime Museum (Also 8.28)

B.B. King, Buddy Guy & J. Geils @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

Rail Fest 2011: Celebrating Toy Trains @ Railroad Museum of LI (Also 8.28)

Ronnie Spector @ The Stephen Talkhouse

The J. Geils Band/B.B. King/Buddy Guy @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers/Paul Revere & the Raiders @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury

Rich Vos @ Governor’s Comedy Club

All Night ‘Pay To Get Out’ Horror Marathon @ Cinema Arts Centre

Pilobolus
This magical modern-dance company is named after a sun-loving fungus that grows in barnyards, and is renowned for its startling mix of humor and invention. This troupe of superhuman artist/athletes performs with the imaginative use of costumes and props, as well as precarious aerial work. SAT 8.27, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center

Scottish Festival
Keeping Scottish traditions alive and well on Long Island, the festival returns with games like Tossing the Caber, Putting the Stone, plus Irish step dancing exhibitions, bagpipes, antique British automobiles, Scottish foods and refreshments, music and vendors. New this year are dancers from Broadway’s Riverdance and every kid in the ’80s favorite Shopper’s Village memory—The Pickle People. SAT 8.27, Old Westbury Gardens

Sunday, Aug 28

Arm Wrestling Champtionships @ Jubilee Festival, Brooklyn

Rhett Miller @ Stephen Talkhouse

Port Chuck Band Summer 2011 Tour @ Governor’s Comedy Club

Monday, Aug 29

Grucci Fireworks Extravaganza @ Ducks Bethpage Ballpark

Thursday, Sept 1

Quiksilver Surf Competition @ Long Beach
Whether surfing makes you smile or think of that time you nose dived and almost drowned, head over to Long Beach and see how the pros do it from the comfort of your beach towel.

Violation of the Square @ B.J. Spoke Gallery

7 Walkers (featuring Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead) @ Stephen Talkhouse

Bowie in the Lobby @ Patchogue Theatre

Friday, Sept 2

Lenny Kravitz @ Rockefeller Plaza

Mary J. Blige @ Central Park SummerStage

Stephen Page (ex-Barenaked Ladies) @ Stephen Talkhouse
For diehard Barenaked Ladies fans, it’s been quite an adjustment since frontman Stephen Page and the band parted ways. In the meantime, Page is hitting the road behind last year’s Page One, his third solo project and first post-BNL collection of songs. Helping out with some of the songwriting is Duran Duran founding member Stephen “Tin Tin” Duffy.

Saturday, Sept 3

Delbert McClinton @ Stephen Talkhouse

Darius Rucker @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury

Huntington Lighthouse Music Fest @ Huntington Lighthouse (Also 9.4)

LI Dahlia Society Show @ Bayard Cutting Arboretum

Old Time Music Weekend @ Old Bethpage Restoration Village (Also 9.4)

Jane Krakowski
This Tony Award winning, two-time Emmy nominated 30 ROCK star is returning to her stage roots in this enchanting cabaret-style show. Performing the Great American Songbook and classic Broadway favorites, Krakowski plays to her strengths—vamp, vulnerability, self-deprecating charm. SAT 9.3 Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center