Blues Fest Permit Gets Green Light
Dependent upon insurance coverage, town board approves special events permit for Riverhead Blues Festival, set for June 16 and 17.
After three board members said last week that they would vote in favor of granting a special permit to Vail-Leavitt Music Festival for the Riverhead Blues Festival, despite a current lack of insurance, the town board gave the permit the green light on Tuesday.
At Tuesday's Town Board meeting, the board voted 4-0 of approving the permit, with Councilwoman Jodi Giglio abstaining from the measure. Giglio has not favored granting previous special permits on the grounds that no insurance was set up, and cited consistency for her reasoning last week.
Whatever anybody's reasons for or against, Vince Tria, Vail-Leavitt's treasurer, said that he was "one happy camper" on Tuesday.
"We're not fooling around this year," he said. "We want to put on a great show."
Tria said he's planning on getting Johnny Winter, who produced several records with one of the greatest blues legends in the history of the musical genre, Muddy Waters.
Winter was ranked the 74th best guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone critic DavidFricke, ahead of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and AC-DC guitarist Angus Young, and right after Eddie Van Halen and Phish's Trey Anastasio.
With a permit for the date - June 16 and 17 - in hand, Tria said he doesn't believe getting insurance should be a problem. Tuesday's resolution requires Vail-Leavitt obtainint insurance coverage b May 1.
Now Tria said he's just praying for nice weather.
"I gotta talk to the Big Guy upstairs and see if we can get some good weather," he said.
Debbie Peters
6:41 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
So glad to see the Riverhead Blues Festival is a go! The music is always fantastic and it's such a wonderful experience! Thank you to all that make this event possible!
Carolyn Miles
1:39 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Great the festival is the best! and dont forget to bring back WESTERN SOUL nthey have the best Oils for the Mind,body and Soul!
john montoro
7:19 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2012
johnny winter will put on a great show he is the best