Huntington Lighthouse Music Festival held on the water

The Pamela Betti Band is accustomed to playing for crowds at Long Island bars and restaurants, such as its home base Rudi's, a bar and grill in Patchogue. So it's a real eye-opener when the five-member band performs its annual gig on the rooftop of the Huntington Lighthouse in Huntington Harbor, surrounded by a fleet of floating fans.

'It's pretty amazing to look out and see 400 or 500 boats in the harbor listening to us,' says Pamela Betti of Commack, the lead singer of the band making its fourth appearance at the Huntington Lighthouse Music Festival Saturday, Aug. 30.

As the sun sets, Betti expects to close her set once again with the 4 Non Blondes' hit 'What's Up,' which she says has become a festival tradition. 'It's just me and my guitar,' she says, 'and it's pretty powerful when the sun's going down and I'm singing that song.'

MUSICIANS MAKE A SPLASH

Long Island music fans are used to seeing musicians perform against an ocean backdrop, with the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater regularly packing in crowds. But this event, which benefits the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society, is the only music festival held on a working lighthouse in the middle of the water, say organizers.

More than a thousand watercraft and thousands of music lovers are expected to arrive from as far as New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island, and as nearby as the Town of Huntington's Gold Star Battalion Beach. In a scene reminiscent of a floating tailgate party, cabin cruisers and yachts will be rafting up alongside each other for the day. While the bands play, fans hop into the water for a swim and float around listening to the music from the comfort of inner tubes. They also listen from Jet Skis and kayaks.

KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON

This year's festival will be 15 minutes longer and end after dark for the first time, says Donald Davidson of Merrick, the producer and a festival founder who will perform with his classic rock band FreeRide. New energy-efficient LED lighting atop the lighthouse will allow Slightly Damaged Goods, the last band of the day, to play when the sun goes down.

Also on the bill are King Wellington, a Medford-based reggae, calypso and soca band; Dr. K's Motown Revue led by bassist Paul Korman of Hicksville; Chic n' Martini, an acoustic rock duo; Playback, a cover band that specializes in music from the British Invasion; local rockers Joe Rock and the Allstars; and the Ed Travers Band, which covers Jimmy Buffett songs.

'It's a great vibe,' says Travers of Blue Point, whose rendition of 'Margaritaville,' replete with steel drums and conga, is often heard at Flynn's in Ocean Bay Park. Making his second appearance at the festival, Travers looks forward to hearing fans sing along.

'After each song, they beep their air horns.'

Huntington Lighthouse Music Festival

WHEN | WHERE 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, Huntington Harbor Lighthouse

INFO Free; 631-421-1985, lighthousemusicfest.com

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