Laid Back Festival (A Gallery)

September 2, 2015

Gregg Allman hosted his inaugural Laid Back music, food and wine festival at Wantagh, NY’s Jones Beach Theater on Saturday night. The evening event boasted an Allman-curated lineup and spotlighted a mix of Long Island restaurants and wineries. In addition to Allman and his solo band, the festival featured performances by The Doobie Brothers, baseball star turned jazz guitarist (and frequent Allman Brothers Band collaborator) Bernie Williams, Bruce Hornsby, American Idol contestant Lara Johnston, City of The Sun, Ruthie Collins and Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, the current project of founding Allman Brothers Band drummer Jaimoe. In certain ways, Laid Back filled a void left by the Allman Brothers Band, who played Jones Beach most summers from their late-career comeback through 2013.

A number of collaborations took place throughout the event. During Laid Back, Gregg Allman’s guitarist and musical director Scott Sharrard sat in with The Doobie Brothers during their support spot while Allman brought out Doobie Brothers guitarists Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, and Little Feat keyboardist Billy Payne, who is currently on the road with The Doobie Brothers, at the end of his set for the classic “One Way Out.” Earlier in the night, Payne also joined Allman for “Stormy Monday” and Jaimoe sat in with for “It’s Not My Cross to Bear.”

The festival took place in the midst of Allman’s summer tour with The Doobie Brothers. Allman has collaborated with the Doobies numerous times during the run. For instance, at Holmdel, NJ’s PNCBank Arts Center on Friday, Payne, Simmons and Johnston emerged for “Southbound” and at Meadowbrook, Gilford NH’s Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion on August 22, the members of the ABBappeared on “One Way Out.” Dino Perrucci shared some photos from the festival.