By Melissa Arnold
As summer begins to wind down, September ushers in what could be considered the best of the season: Mellower weather, cooler nights, and still plenty of time for outdoor fun.
Benner’s Farm in East Setauket is an ideal spot for celebrating all things Americana when the Fiddle and Folk Festival returns on Sunday, Sept. 8.
Historical records show that the 15-acre property has functioned as a working family farm as far back as 1751, if not earlier. Seven families have called it home since then, with schoolteachers Bob and Jean Benner purchasing the property in 1974.
Today, Benner’s Farm provides a much-needed respite from the frenetic pace of life on the North Shore. Visitors can enjoy the grounds and say hello to the sheep and goats, chickens and ducks, and Tippy the cow.
The Fiddle and Folk Festival was held for many years at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. When those festivals were discontinued, Bob Benner found that he really missed attending.
“We’ve always had a love for music on the farm, whether that’s contra dancing or welcoming musicians to come and play,” Benner said.
At the Long Island Museum, a William Sidney Mount painting of a fiddler at a barn dance (“Dance of the Haymakers”) captured Benner’s imagination. And with a little encouragement from the late Gerry Riemer of WUSB Radio in Stony Brook, Benner made plans to reboot the festival on the farm.
In the years since then, the Long Island Traditional Music Association, Homestead Arts and the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council have helped Benner connect with a wide variety of folk, bluegrass, blues and roots musicians.
“The folk community might be smaller than others, but they are global and well-connected to each other,” said Amy Tuttle, the arts council’s program director. “I’ve gotten to know many performers simply through word of mouth from other musicians. They are all creative spirits that are excited to get to know new people, including their audiences.”
This year’s festival has four performance spaces situated around the farm, each with its own unique vibe. The heart of the action is on the Back Porch, a gorgeous hillside where headliners and larger groups will perform.
Headlining this year’s festival are Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, a married duo best known for their expressive roots tunes. Ungar’s Grammy Award-winning song “Ashokan Farewell” gained notoriety as the theme for the acclaimed Ken Burns documentary The Civil War.
The Sugar Maple Barn will host fiddle and banjo duo Brian Chabza and Bill Ayasse, plus the anticipated “Pick of the Crop” competition, where hopeful performers can step up to the mic. Impress the judges and you could be invited to play on the Back Porch. Keep your ears open for last year’s contest winners, Toby Tobias and Suzanne Ernst, as they make their Big Porch debuts.
If you have musical talent but don’t want to compete, the open mic “stage”— actually a 100-year-old Model T truck — awaits. And if you’re looking to jam with a group or sing along in the audience, head to the Shady Grove, an acoustic spot featuring the Eastern Long Island Old Time Jam. Beginners and seasoned performers alike are encouraged to pull up a chair and play.
Emceed by Bob Westcott, the lineup will also include The Roger Street Friedman Band, Claudia Jacob’s Say Hey Crew, and Eastbound Freight, among others.
Hot dogs, hamburgers and other picnic fare will be available for purchase. Kids can explore activities just for them, or take the whole family on a nature walk.
The festival is a fun opportunity to get some fresh air and explore new types of music you might not hear all the time, Tuttle said.
“The Fiddle and Folk Festival celebrates Americana in a number of forms, from very traditional old time sounds to contemporary songwriters putting their own spin on traditional instruments, or even Americana interpreted by people from other parts of the world. It’s all different, depending on how the artist approaches the music. You’re not going to be listening to six hours of the same thing,” she explained. “The performers care so deeply about the community and come out to intermingle and talk to people. There’s no ‘wall’ between the audience and the performers.”
As the day draws to a close and the sun begins to set, Benner said there’s nothing like listening to the music play on as the sun filters through the trees, filling the Back Porch area with amber light.
“It’s such a treat for me to do this every year, right here in my own backyard,” he said.
The 12th Annual Fiddle & Folk Festival will be held at Benner’s Farm, 56 Gnarled Hollow Road, East Setauket on Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets in advance are $22 adults, $18 seniors and $10 for children; tickets at the door are $25 adults, $22 seniors and $12 for children. Bring seating. For more information or to purchase advance tickets, visit fiddleandfolk.com or call 631 689-8172.
