Nile Rodgers, Avicii and a Secret About AFTEE’s Dance Party East End

Nile Rodgers got in a little warm-up for his big upcoming night on the North Fork—AFTEE’s Nile Rodgers Dance Party East End on August 19—by getting the crowd on their feet in San Francisco at Outside Lands 2013 on Friday night, where Amagansett’s Paul McCartney also took the stage to close out the festival’s opening evening. Rodgers, who wowed critics and readers alike with his acclaimed 2011 autobiography Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny, was also looking forward to East Hampton Library Authors Night the next day, but some big musical news was at the forefront of a recent interview.

Rodgers just may have let a little secret slip about AFTEE’s Nile Rodgers Dance Party, which has announced that such special guests as Adam Lambert, Chromeo, Russell Peters, Mystery Skulls and Prince Paul will be joining him and his legendary band, Chic, and, could it be… “Avicii, who we can’t announce, which is a drag…,” Rodgers said to cbslocal.com, talking about the world-renowned DJ and producer and reinforcing his message that the AFTEE event will be the “greatest dance party the East End of Long Island has ever seen. Dance music unites, dance music is happy and the Nile Rodgers Dance Party will bring all ages to the dance floor.”

Producer of acts from Diana Ross to Madonna to David Bowie to Duran Duran, and key collaborator on this summer’s biggest song—Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” which has topped the charts in more than 90 countries at this point—Rodgers has been working for months with the AFTEE board to curate this event as a one-of-a-kind dance-driven celebration. “Dance is in, and it is all about optimism and hope and it brings out the best in people,” says AFTEE Founder and President Myron Levine.

As impressive as the collection of performers is, the night isn’t only about great music. This is the East End, after all, and no evening would be complete without a showcase of fabulous food and drink.

John Kowalenko of Hampton Event Management is creating a VIP tent that will offer fare from such restaurants as The Riverhead Project, Nick & Toni’s, B. Smith, Noah’s, Smokin’ Wolf BBQ and others, plus beverages from Martha Clara Vineyards, Wölffer Estates, Montauk Brewing Company and Pure Cool. General admission guests can enjoy the bounty of local food trucks including Foody’s, Montaco, Silver Spoon Specialties, Blondie’s Bake Shop and Hampton Coffee Company. Given the spirit of nonstop revelry, the fun will continue at the AFTEE After-Party at Suffolk Theater in Riverhead. Indeed, this is a collaboration of East End effort on every front.

“AFTEE is a brand new organization. The last year has been spent putting in place a structure and plan for both the organization and the fundraising concert,” says Kevin O’Connor, Chair and CEOP, Bridgehampton National Bank, the event’s founding sponsor. “It takes time, energy and the help and resources of many people.”

Even those who, um, Nile Rodgers can’t announce.

For tickets to AFTEE’s Nile Rodgers Dance Party East End on Monday, August 19, visit aftee.org.