Sweet Baby's Back
He helped draw thousands to Montauk's Deep Hollow Ranch, and now Southampton College is hoping the legendary James Taylor will do the same for this year's All for the Sea concert. The college this week announced Mr. Taylor as the headliner for the sixth annual outdoor benefit, scheduled for July 28.
Mr. Taylor was the featured act at the Back at the Ranch concert in Montauk in 1995. His return to the area will catch him on his 35-city, Summer '97 Hourglass Tour. The singer's new album, "Hourglass," is set to be released on Tuesday.
Over and above his 25 years' worth of soft-spoken folk-rock classics like "Carolina on My Mind," "You've Got a Friend," and "Fire and Rain," the All for the Sea organizers said they were attracted to Mr. Taylor's record of environmental involvement; the popular concert raises money for the college's scholarship program in marine sciences.
Environmental Credentials
Mr. Taylor serves on the National Resources Defense Council and has supported and appeared in the Rain Forest Foundation's annual fund-raising concerts. The song "Gaia" on "Hourglass" is a plea for environmental awareness.
"We're thrilled," said the college's chancellor, Robert F.X. Sillerman, predicting "another blockbuster evening" on a par with last year's sold-out appearance by Jimmy Buffet.
"[Mr. Taylor] is a spectacular talent, but he's also a humanitarian and a supporter of environmental causes," Mr. Sillerman added. "When those two come together, you have an ideal situation."
On Sale Today
Tickets for All for the Sea are $35 for general admission. They can be purchased, starting today, through Ticketmaster, at the college bursar's office, and at Long Island Sound branches. The Westhampton Beach Music Experience will also carry tickets.
A limited number of V.I.P. tickets will be sold as well, entitling their holders to preferred seating and parking and admission to a pre-concert party. Those wishing to reserve V.I.P. tickets or to advertise in the concert program can call the college's development office.
All tickets must be purchased in advance; none will be available at the gate.
The All for the Sea concert has attracted big crowds in its six years. Last year's appearances by The Allman Brothers and Jimmy Buffet drew roughly 6,000 and 8,000 concertgoers respectively. Past headliners have included Tina Turner, Foreigner, and Tony Bennett.
Guild Hall Series
In other concert news, another name was added this week to the Absolut/Seagram's concert series at Guild Hall: Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassidy will bring their blues unit Hot Tuna in for a show on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m.
Tickets for the entire Guild Hall series went on sale May 3 through Ticketmaster and the Guild Hall box office. More acts are expected to be announced.
As for this year's Back at the Ranch concert, its chief organizer, Gardner (Rusty) Leaver of Deep Hollow Ranch, said the lineup would be announced possibly in the next week or two. "We're not ready to release anything yet," said Mr. Leaver. "We're still planning and waiting to hear back on a couple of offers we put out."
The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett has pretty much solidified its summer lineup. Some noteworthy shows include The Band (Friday, May 23), The Commitments (May 29), Freddy Johnston (June 12), The Average White Band (June 21), Peter Wolf (of The J. Geils Band - June 29), The Bogmen (July 3 and 4), Beausoleil (July 19), and The Fabulous Thunderbirds (Aug. 14).