Sag Harbor concert raises nearly $20,000 for hurricane relief

Hundreds of East End residents raised nearly $20,000 for hurricane relief efforts Sunday while grooving and clapping during a benefit concert in Sag Harbor.

The Hurricane Relief Benefit at Bay Street Theater used the draw of five mostly-local musical acts to help fund the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Team Rubicon, organizations that are aiding victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria.

“It’s really, really very dire and anything we can do to help goes a long way,” said Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, who co-emceed the event and played percussion for multiple musical acts. “This is one way we can help. We can raise as much money as possible and give them to great organizations.”

With about $19,000 in donations, Sunday’s concert broke previous records for the nonprofit theater’s benefit concerts, which have been held since about 2009, executive director Tracy Mitchell said, noting the total was still being counted.

“Like everyone else here tonight, we would not be able to do this without artists always stepping forward first and donating their time,” said Mitchell, the other co-emcee.

The concert was initially organized to help Harvey victims in Texas, but expanded to include victims in Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbuda and other Caribbean islands, Schneiderman said, noting the nonprofit East End Cares helped host the event.

More than half of the money raised was from matching $5,000 donations by both Amagansett resident Andy Sabin and Southampton couple Bill White and Bryan Eure.

Attendees were welcomed into the event by members of the Sagaponack-based percussion group Escola de Samba Boom, lining the entrance and playing samba music that could be heard throughout Sag Harbor’s downtown.

Inside the intimate theater, musicians played a range of styles and jammed with other groups during their performances as about 260 attendees either bopped in their seats or did the twist on a makeshift dance floor.

East Hampton Town’s Alfredo Merat and a bandmate opened with Latin American-style music as images of hurricane-ravaged areas were projected on a screen behind them. Gene Casey and The Lone Sharks, based in Greenport, played before Reneé Dominque, of the Philippines, strummed an acoustic guitar and sang.

The concert concluded with Sag Harbor’s own The Hoodoo Loungers performing New Orleans-style music as attendees got out of their seats to dance.

Pamela Camhe, who owns homes in Wainscott and Aguada, Puerto Rico, said the event was “heartwarming.”

“Even in the worst crisis, it’s important to celebrate each other and dance,” said Camhe, an administrative director for a wellness institute in Rincon. “I’m really happy to be able to dance at this very difficult time for me.”

By Rachelle Blidner

rachelle.blidner@newsday.com@rachelleblidner

Rachelle Blidner covers Suffolk County government, politics and breaking news.