Permit sought for East End music festival

A music festival with "glamping" accommodations, including bellboys and safari tents complete with double beds, asked Suffolk County Wednesday for permission to use 15.6 acres at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton.

Escape to New York, a live music event planned for the Shinnecock Indian Reservation Aug. 5-7, will mirror European festivals with an array of high-end amenities. "Glamping," a portmanteau of "glamour" and "camping," refers to the luxurious outdoor accommodations provided for concertgoers. Acts include Patti Smith, Of Montreal, and Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes.

Promoter Dave Lory laid out details of the new millennium musicale before a committee of the Suffolk Legislature. Festival organizers want permission to park 686 cars and locate nearly 200 tents at the northwest corner of the airport site. A free shuttle will take "glampers" to the reservation for the shows.

Suffolk officials said there will be no alcohol sold on county property and the county will receive $35,000 for the use of the land. A vote is expected at Tuesday's county legislative meeting in Riverhead.

Another 150 "glamping" sites will be on the grounds of the Southampton Elks Lodge, about two miles away.

The Escape To New York website says the accommodations include six-person tepees with waterproof flooring, lanterns and fluffy pillows that start at $2,250 for the festival. Safari tents accommodating up to four people with double beds, full linens and bedside flowers start at $3,350.

Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst said she has had some discussions with the tribal council over the proposed event and that organizers have applied for a special events permit, required by town law for any gathering over 100.

"I support the concept," she said. "But our concern has to be with the public safety aspects."