Be-in, a.k.a. Happening, is an outdoor
counter-culture extravaganza. The first happenings or be-ins were
held frequently in the late 1960’s, but our semi-annual event is held
once during the summer, almost every summer. Our first Happening
was held at Wildwood State Park in Wading River in 1988, and was
organized by Scott Petersen and Larry Sabatino, who, although no longer
organizers, we would love to have attend this year, as we celebrate our
15th Anniversary! (In other words, we missed a few years back in the
day) Our version of a Be-In combines a free acoustic and electric
amplified concert with a b.y.o. picnic and barbecue, guest speakers,
poetry readings, creative arts, face and body painting, etc.
There will also be an After-party.
The 1st band to play the Be-In
(unplugged acoustic only) was Larry and Scott’s band Tempest Rising
back in ’88. In 1991, Scott and Larry passed the torch to Tim Restivo
and Jessica Fernow, and they remain active at the Festival as
organizers, and even performers some years. The 1st time we had
scheduled performers was in 1997 when George Mann played, and George
& Julius have been on our schedule every year since! The 1st real
After-party was the infamous 2000 After-Party at the Wildwood
Campsites, while the 1st amplified performance came in 2001 when Harlem
political rock band Ricanstruction opened up a can of whoop-ass, with
sounds that varied from Hardcore to Hendrix and Marley at that year’s
After-party. Also in 2001, we had our 1st political speaker: Mitchel
Cohen. In 2004, Joe Porcaro introduced amplified acoustic through the
use of a battery-powered mic that was used by he and phenomenal L.I.
guitarist Brandon Burdon. That same year, we had our 1st political
panel (Mitchel’s idea!) featuring Bill McNulty, among others. 2005
marked our 1st fully amplified daytime event, and the 1st time we made
the big switch from Wildwood to the Yaphank Presbyterian Church, with
the help of church members and Happening volunteers (Big) Dave Moreland
and Brian Aksamit.
We’ve featured a stellar line-up
of performers in recent years including such names as Stradlatter, The
Blue Scene, Jones Crusher, Ricanstruction, George & Julius, The
Others, Jay Mankita, Delicious Trees, David Brown, Mikey and the Merry
Pranksters, Mikey and The Angels and Try Me Live! Poets and MCs in the
past have included Lisa Cowley, Steve Kramer and Kevin Rice. This year
is no exception, as our daytime schedule features returning headliners
Jay Mankita and Delicious Trees, plus, for the 1st time, Halfstep,
while our night-time line-up stars The Blue Scene, 1973 and Purple
Operator! Also this year, we have DJs theDEXorphan and Bill McNulty,
political speakers Mitchel Cohen and Susan Blake, poets Steve Kramer
and William Rafti, and more! And this time the church is letting us use
their larger stage and huge courtyard area that can easily accommodate
hundreds of people till 10 pm! Lets make a weekend of it, shall we (or
maybe 2…)?!?
