GSB 2025: Day 4 Live Blog
By Tyler McCready and Joey Cicchelli
8:45PM
What an action-packed four days we had! It hardly felt like school or work. Students, faculty, and alumni all came together to produce an amazing slate of bands plus dynamic television, radio, and multimedia content. Though the work here is almost done (we are still currently on the air with Gamblers set), come back to the FTC Record this week to see our extended coverage. We have more interviews with bands, vendors, and festival attendees. Peace out Great South Bay Music Festival from the 2025 Mass Comm and Audio crew!
8:30PM
What a fun way to end Five Towns College four days running the stage and producing live television and radio at the Great South Bay Music Festival. FTC Alum Madelyn Llanes ’25 took the reigns from Professors Machado and Doughty to intro the Gamblers as they took stage for the final festival performance on the Five Towns College Stage.
Gamblers told the crowd that they just came out with a new album last year called Pulverizer. The Long Island-based rock group formed in 2014. The group definitely had the right vibe as night is now upon the festival grounds and the crowd is getting ready for headliner Men at Work on the Voodoo Main Stage at 8:50PM.
7:30PM
Azwel just gave so much life to the Five Towns College Stage. There’s a distinct sound to their music that I can’t quite put my finger on why exactly, but it makes their sounds blend together so smoothly and become addicting to listen to. According to their website, “Azwel is a project that involves songwriter Jason Perrillo and the live band. For the past 20 years, Jason has gained online success recording and producing independently released albums in his New York studio.”
The crowd in front of the stage enjoyed the set. “They were fantastic! Great energy, great music,” said festival attendee Donna Muscarella, so I’m definitely not alone in loving their style.
Five Towns students have been listening to a lot of music over the last four days and their music senses are finely tuned. “I love Azwel’s vibes, definitely got me in a dancing mood and I absolutely have to check them out more,” said FTC Senior Isabella Escobar. In case you weren’t here live, here’s a snippet of Azwel’s performance so you can sample their sound. The full performance can be found here.
6:15PM
The Five Towns College Stage is chilling for a bit while Azwel prepares for their 6:40PM performance, so Grace Bonamico and I decided to treat ourselves to some Ralph’s ice cream. My love of anything chocolate drove me to Chocolate Fudge Brownie, which was delicious, and Grace decided to go for Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, and was a bit more descriptive of her desert choice. “Peanut Butter Cookie Dough is a flavor that intrigued me and definitely did not disappoint. It’s creamy and has a nice texture from the cookie dough and chocolate chips,” Grace explains. “10/10 would recommend.”
Grace wrote a full recap for the FTC Record Online of all of the foods the Five Towns crew are tasting at this year’s festival. Read it here.
While I love the intensity of the bands performing and the energetic atmosphere they create, having a small break from performances is a nice rest to check out different things at Great South Bay while we eagerly await Azwel’s performance.
6:00PM
Pam Betti just performed on the Five Towns College Stage, and had an amazing set. She pulled in a big crowd for our stage, and everyone was engaged listening to her soulful and energetic voice. MJT and Stanton Anderson Band provide backup with drums and synthesizers to help keep things grooving, while Pam sang and danced to some originals and an amazing cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”
After her set, Pam stopped by the FTC Sound Stream for a lively chat with the hosts.
5:15PM
4:30PM
Started to get a bit hungry, so I headed over to Knot of This World and bought myself a pretzel braid, which was amazing since their pretzels were really good and were big enough to keep you full for the entire festival day.
I couldn’t have picked a better time too, as when I returned to the Five Towns College Stage, Rob Bruey and his band the Shadow Cats started their performance. Bruey was tearing up the stage with his acoustic guitar, having fun on the stage with his band mates. Justine Haupt–van Popering was a notable stand-out to me, with her being skilled at both violin (fiddle) and drumming, being able to switch around easily for the different songs. I have a soft spot for good country music, and Rob Bruey and the Shadowcats did not disappoint.
Here’s a clip. The full set can be watched on the FTC Record Online.
3:30PM
Each drop of rain puts the production and audio teams on alert. Performances are all going on as well as our live radio and tv broadcasts. However, keeping our equipment safe from the rain requires all hands on deck.
3:00PM
Playin’ English absolutely killed it on the Five Towns College Stage! Their energy was electrifying. People listening in were dancing and jamming out, and their music was so captivating that everyone was huddling underneath the nearest tent to keep enjoying their tunes in the pouring rain. I wasn’t familiar with the English band before the Great South Bay Music Festival, but their smooth vocals and guitar riffs made me an instant fan.
The FTC Sound Stream on-air crew will soon interview Playin’ English to learn more about their group dynamics, and musical inspirations.
If the rain kept you away from Shorefront Park today, here’s a snippet of the final song they performed, a cover of Squeeze’s hit song “Tempted.” Or you can watch the full livestream broadcast on the FTC Record Online.
2:30PM
Despite the rain, Grace Bonamico, Jack Barton, and Adrian Kartalozi went live on the FTC Sound Stream, determined to keep the at-home audience up to date with what’s going on at the festival grounds. Back at FTC Sound Stream HQ in Dix Hills, James Suckle is making sure the radio broadcast is working from a technical standpoint.
You can listen to the FTC Sound Stream Day 4 radio coverage here. We’ll have updates until 8PM.
Meanwhile, FTC alum Jeff Kramer ’25 always makes things fun and reviewed waffle cheesy fries for the FTC Mass Comm Instagram account. Head over there to watch his take on this popular festival food.
2:15PM
The Great South Bay Music Festival has just opened up for its final day. There’s lots of performances to look forward to, with Ambrosia and Men at Work being an exciting combination on the Voodoo Main Stage later on today.
Over here at Five Towns College Stage, the audio team is finishing up soundchecks with the bands. Here is today’s schedule for the Five Towns College Stage:
2:20PM Playin’ English
3:40PM: Rob Bruey
5:05PM: Pam Betti
6:40PM: Azwel
8:15PM Gamblers
Guests are already setting up their chairs in front of the Five Towns College Stage.
“I’m looking forward to everything: The food, the bands, especially Playin’ English,” stated Sheri Huber, a festival attendee. “I love them, I’ve seen them a thousand times, I just hope the weather holds out.”
The threat of rain is a bit of a problem at the moment and may throw things a bit off schedule, but we here at Great South Bay rock on through these uncertain times. Follow us throughout the day.
