Summer Arts Preview 2017: Suffolk Theater

Suffolk Theater in Riverhead has planned its most ambitious summer yet with quite literally too many great acts to name in this space. Daniel Binderman, Suffolk’s General and Artistic Director says, “We’re proud to be representing a very diverse summer with the types of acts that our audiences have requested.” So when the sun sets on the beaches and shopping, go check out some of these great events at the historic Suffolk Theater.

Looking for legendary rock bands? Long Island natives The Lovin’ Spoonful hit the stage on July 7. Billy Joel’s original band, The Lords of 52nd Street, is back at Suffolk on July 28 for a summer infusion of Billy Joel music the way it was originally recorded. They are, after all, the band that originally recorded them. Speaking of original bands, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Janis Joplin’s first band, will make a rare Long Island appearance with original band members and the sound that fed the Haight-Ashbury scene. Legendary Three Dog Night, who from 1969 through 1974 recorded more top 10 hits and moved more records than any other band, rocks out on August 18.

More of a singer-songwriter fan? Suffolk Theater has you covered. Multi-platinum Grammy Award Winning legend Judy Collins takes the stage May 21. Best-known for the catchy American Pie, another legend, Don McLean comes to town July 22. Not too long after that, on August 5, Rickie Lee Jones returns to the East End with an intimate solo acoustic appearance. The very next night, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary will be joined onstage by folk music legend Melanie, Long Island’s own Patricia Shih and other guests.

On July 21, Boomer Comedy Unlimited presents four comedy headliners in one show on one night. Not to be outdone, the 12th annual Long Island Comedy Festival returns to Suffolk Theater on Thursday, August 17 for another night of non-stop laughter and hilarious fun.

Get yourself a drink or two because the dance floor will be open when The Trammps, one of the greatest disco bands of all time, best known for the song Disco Inferno, brings their show on July 13. Platinum-selling hip-hop legend Rob Base will get you out on the dance floor on August 24.

We’re almost out of space and haven’t listed half the events! The kings and queens of ’50s doo-wop and soul, The Drifters featuring Rick Sheppard and The Marvelettes featuring Rhonda Franklin, bring a night of legendary songs on June 30. Even more doo-wop comes to stage on July 15 when The Belmonts—known for hits with and without Dion—take the stage with fellow New Yorkers The Capris. Lee Rocker, formerly of the Massapequa-born Stray Cats, will perform a revue of the hits that made that band a household name on July 8. Named One of Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Voices of All Time and the voice that helped launch a hundred hits, Darlene Love returns on August 25.

There will also be tribute bands aplenty, including Zac Brown Tribute Band on July 1, Almost Queen on August 4, Long Live the Beatles on August 10 and The B Street Band on September 2.

For  more information on these events and more visit suffolktheater.com or call 631-727-4343. 118 East Main Street, Riverhead.