East Hampton Town denies big-concert rumors

Fears that a planned rock concert in Amagansett will drop a Woodstock-like calamity into the tiny East Hampton community at the height of summer have set off a chain of rumors and whispers and e-mails swirling around Town Hall like a snowstorm.

Town officials and concert promoters say the two-day event at the Ocean View Farm will sell a maximum of 9,500 tickets. The permit allows the concert to run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Aug. 13 and 14, with a provision for a smaller gathering from 4 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 12.

There are no acts booked yet, but one promoter, Chris Jones, said he is looking for "progressive" or "boutique" rock bands. Jones said ticket prices have not been set, but indicated they could be around $125 to $150.

But reassurances from elected officials and the concert promoters have not stanched the local rumor mill, which says the concert will draw 30,000 people, most of whom will sleep on a farm or on the beach. As if that weren't bad enough, more rumors say that afterward there could be thousands of unruly teenagers running wild down Amagansett's main street.

August is the height of the East End summer season, and nearly all local hotels will be booked.

Supervisor Bill Wilkinson toured the farm with the town's police chief, looking at things such as how cars would get into and out of the site, where they would park, and where concessions would be set up. Parking, security and other on-site events are to be handled privately by firms experienced in staging concerts, similar to last year's NOFO rock concert in Cutchogue. Wilkinson said the chief was "pretty satisfied."

Not everyone is convinced things will go smoothly. "I'm a registered Republican and a resident of Amagansett. I can't believe the damage you are doing to our town and the town Republican Party," Helen Kuzmier recently told the town board.

All three Republicans on the five-member town board, along with one Democrat, voted to approve the permit.

The concert organizers, operating as MTK - Music to Know, Llc. - promise to donate $100,000 to five local charities, and pledge to bond that amount before the concert takes place.