Have you been to the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, yet? The space features a large exhibition area, theater, performance area, and an official “Hall of Fame Museum.” The museum “features displays of original musical instruments, famous awards, apparel, and other memorabilia from many of Long Island’s favorite artists. The wide variety of talent represented by the 120 inductees includes names like Billy Joel, Blue Oyster Cult, KISS, LL Cool J, Debbie Gibson, Louis Armstrong, the Stray Cats, and Run-DMC, among many others.” There are some upcoming musical shows you will not want to miss.
Reserve your tickets for the upcoming shows at https://www.limusichalloffame.org/
MAY EVENTS:
May 19th: Gene Casey
About Gene Casey
In the latter part of the last century, GENE CASEY departed New York City and its Punk rock/New wave scene for Long Island’s East End. There, he formed the Lone Sharks, “the house band of the Hamptons,” where bars were plentiful and audiences – both the local and the celebrated – were robust and loyal. Over the course of the next few decades Gene and the evolving line-up of Sharks “played – and tore up – every roadhouse, bar, and honky tonk from Manhattan to Montauk” (Bop Magazine), sharing the bill and backing legendary roots rock & roll acts as Wanda Jackson, the Band, Bo Diddley, Sleepy LaBeef, NRBQ, and the Ventures.
Gene’s original music met with great acclaim with local and international indie radio play. Several of his roots-drenched songs have been used in “A Prairie Home Companion” and on the soundtracks to television and feature films, including “Justified” and “Sons of Anarchy” ; the 2012 thriller “The Tall Man” starring Jessica Biel, the 2013 release “The Killing Season” starring Robert DeNiro, and Rob Reiner’s “Being Charlie.”
In 2014 Gene and the Lone Sharks were inducted into the Dan’s Papers “Best of the Best” Hall of Fame, having been honored over 20 times. A year later Gene, “the premier barroom troubadour of Eastern Long Island” (author Josh Alan Friedman) received the Long Island Sound Award by the L.I. Music Hall of Fame, “for contributions to the Island’s musical landscape.” Northforker.com (the on-line arm of the Suffolk Times) named Gene and the group “People of the Year” for 2016.
2017 saw the release of “Guitar In The Rain” an album celebrating the roots of contemporary Americana with original songs that evoke the romantic sweep of 60s pop, classic C&W and the raw untamed spirit of early rock & roll.
2020 brings “Free Country: Essential Recordings” a compilation of some of the best songs culled from 20 years of work, as well as a unique arrangement of the public domain standard, “Home on the Range” where all of Gene’s influences and obsessions seem to converge.
May 26th Glenn Strange
About Glenn Strange
Long Island’s most sensational teen band Glenn Strange have been attracting large crowds with their high energy sets at some of the hottest music venues from New York City to Montauk. From Bowery Electric in Manhattan to Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh to the 13th Annual Montauk Music Festival, Glenn Strange is racking up quite the resume at a very young age. You certainly will not want to miss these tremendously talented four local youngsters on the rise, as they perform their classic and grunge-inspired rock!!
If you like Classic Rock and 90’s Grunge then you’ll love Glenn Strange! Over the past several years, Glenn Strange has become a recognized name in the live music scene on Long Island and in New York City, playing regular gigs at well-known music venues, restaurants, private parties and festivals, drawing large crowds with their mix of covers and originals. Glenn Strange is Giancarlo Bellistri on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Jack Chambers on lead guitar and backing vocals, Dylan Taganas on bass and backing vocals, and Luke Rinaldi on drums.
Singer/guitarist Giancarlo Bellistri (15 years old) first formed Glenn Strange in 2019 while a student at the School of Rock in Roslyn. The band began performing under the Glenn Strange name, doing open mics and gigs at local venues such as Memories in Williston Park and Still Partners in Sea Cliff. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the band used the extra time to expand their set list and perform outdoors at the Blue Iguana in Tappen Beach. In September of 2020, lead guitarist Jack Chambers (15), who had previously played in bands at Bach 2 Rock in Port Washington, joined the band. Super talented musician Dylan Taganas (19) first joined the band onstage at the Jones Beach Bandshell in the summer of 2023, also playing with the band at the Cedar Beach Blues Festival, and recently becoming Glenn Strange’s full time bassist and backing vocalist. Drummer Luke Rinaldi (23) rounds out the band on drums, bringing cohesiveness and youthful exuberance to each song.
With influences ranging from The Beatles, Elvis, The Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin to Nirvana and Foo Fighters, the foursome delivers high-energy performances with acoustic quality and smooth transitions. The band’s originals show off their musicality with rock-vibed guitar riffs and lyrical hooks, staying in the same lane as their cover repertoire. Glenn Strange recently wrapped recording at Westfall Recording Studios in Farmingdale, and plans on releasing their original music on all streaming platforms over the next several months. Glenn Strange is a crowd pleaser, having played legendary venues including The Bitter End, Mr. Beery’s, Garden Social and The Clubhouse in East Hampton, as well as various festivals such as RockStock and Barrels, the Atlantic Antic, and the Rockaway Beach Fall Fest. In October 2023, Glenn Strange placed in the top four in Audacy’s National Opening Act Contest, and performed at the Prudential Center in New Jersey as a run up to Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson and One Republic at the We Can Survive Benefit Concert.
JUNE EVENTS:
June 2nd at 2pm-
Special Screening: “New Wave: Dare To Be Different” followed by an in-person Q&A with the film’s director Ellen Goldfarb, and stars from the documentary, WLIR’s own Denis McNamara and Larry “The Duck” Dunn. Free to members, and for non-members included with your single admission to the Billy Joel exhibit ($39), or, for a reduced price to the Hall of Fame that is not inclusive of the Billy Joel exhibit ($26).
June 9th at 3pm-
Ray Lambiase
Ray Lambiase has recently released his fifth full length CD, The Road Ahead, featuring eleven new songs that celebrate a range of Americana musical genres, and stories that will introduce listeners to a number of new memorable characters.He began writing and performing his own songs as a teenager on Long Island.
June 23rd at 3pm-
Josie Bello’s music is pure Americana— blending folk, country & blues to tell stories with lyrics and melodies that have resonated with listeners across the U.S. and in Europe. Telling stories with themes that are both timely and timeless. Josie Bello sings from the heart and reveals so much of herself through her music. Her vocals and songwriting style have been compared to Mary Chapin Carpenter and Lucinda Williams.
Josie lives in Huntington. She is active on the Long Island music scene, running open mics and gigging as both a solo artist and with The Josie Bello Band. She also plays accordion with Mike Meehan and The Lucky Ones.
Josie’s three studio albums have received extensive radio play— appearing on multiple domestic and international radio charts as well as being featured in various music magazines. She is currently in the studio working on a new album with her producer Mike Nugent (formerly of Cadillac Moon).
Josie co-produces (with Linda Sussman) the SongBreak Series at the Walt Whitman Birthplace that features Singer-Songwriters of local and national prominence.
You can read more about Josie and her upcoming gigs at JosieBello.com Her music is available on Spotify, YouTube and all the streaming platforms.