Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. in Peconic is expanding its annual Reggae Fest, set for Saturday, May 3, with a larger lineup, a new music venue and craft brews on tap. The event, which began as a small collaboration with a local band, has grown into a seasonal tradition expected to draw crowds from across the region.
Doors open at 2 p.m., with the show beginning at 3 p.m. Advance tickets are $25, compared with $32 at the door, according to the brewery’s website.
The first festival, organized by New York reggae band Aqua Cherry, “surprisingly got a great reception. A lot of people turned out. We had a blast,” said Richard Vandenburgh, a former attorney and founder of the brewery, in an interview with South Shore Press.
As the event grew to include four notable acts, Vandenburgh said, “We came up with the idea of doing it in May as a kickoff of summer.”
Headlining the event will be Mighty Mystic, described as a dynamic and contemporary leader in the East Coast reggae movement. Also performing is Aqua Cherry, known for a reggae fusion of island vibes and rebel rock. The Scofflaws, a New York ska band prominent in the 1990s, will also take the stage, along with Fubar, a Pittsburgh-based group blending rock, punk and reggae.
This year’s event will be held in the brewery’s new music venue.
“We’ve actually taken a part of the brewery, and we’ve converted it,” Vandenburgh said. “So, we’ve added a space where we’re going to be able to really present, beyond the reggae festival, other musical acts and artists in a really nice setting.”
Housed in a former 1920s car dealership, the venue retains what Vandenburgh described as a “very cool industrial vibe.”
In addition to the music, the brewery will offer a selection of its beers. Vandenburgh’s current favorite is a West Coast-style IPA called Other Side, which features citrus notes and a piney, resiny flavor.
Vandenburgh said his move from law to brewing began as a “fun passion project” with college friend John Liegey and their wives, Ann and Betsy.
“We were beer lovers in college and always talked about doing something together when we got out of school,” he recalled.
He found an old firehouse with 12-foot ceilings in Greenport and suggested converting it into a brewery.
“At the time it was 2009, and it just took off. The next thing you know we were getting courted by beer distributors from New York City and people were coming out and discovering us.”
That initial success led to the Peconic location, where Reggae Fest is now inviting new visitors to explore both the music and the brewery.
“Like any small business owner, I’m very blessed to be working with a great team,” Vandenburgh said. “It definitely can be tricky but I thank God that John and I have two amazing spouses and really supportive families, so you know the days are more good than bad.”