Dan Koontz Headlining Final 2017 Songwriters Share Concert Series

After six captivating performances by local favorites, the third annual Songwriters Share Concert Series – a series that gives back to the community – is about to come to a close.

On Friday, June 2nd, the series will wrap up with a show featuring Dan Koontz, who will be playing for the Center for Therapeutic Riding of the East End (CTREE), a Sagaponack-based not-for-profit organization that provides therapeutic riding lessons and equine assisted activities to children and young adults with disabilities. Koontz will be joined onstage by guitarist Brett King and drummer Bruce Beyer for the riveting set, which will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse of the South Fork in Bridgehampton at 8 p.m.

“We are honored and grateful to Dan for choosing CTREE as beneficiary for the Songwriters Share Concert,” shared Karen T. Bocksel, Managing Director, CTREE. “We are looking forward to a wonderful evening of great music and meeting new friends!”

The imitate setting not only provides for great acoustics, but also serves as a chance for the East End community to get to know their local musicians better. “Songwriters share the proceeds of each concert with a local charity of their choice – they also share what has inspired them to write their songs,” noted Nancy Remkus, who organizes the performances.

Koontz regularly shares the stage with several local bands, including the HooDoo Loungers, the Lynn Blue Band, Sarah Conway and the Playful Souls, and the Complete Unknowns, playing keyboards and singing. He also founded a family band, Edna’s Kin, alongside his father and brother. Edna’s Kin’s concerts at Christ Church in Sag Harbor have become a yearly East End tradition. This fall Edna’s Kin will present the band’s highly anticipated 10th annual show, which will feature a full roster of special guest performers.

The musician also lends his talents to the Christ Church, where he has served as organist, choir director, and composer since 2004. His instrumental music has been showcased at venues worldwide, earning Koontz several accolades for his compositional work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a commission from the Fromm Foundation at Harvard University. He is a founding member of the Rum Hill Rockers, which is based around his Hammond organ playing, and his music has been released on the Rivello and Luminescence labels.

Koontz’s songwriter is a diverse compilation ranging from funk and blues to country to straight-up pop. “His catalog includes everything from tongue-in-cheek parodies – his bluegrass-tinged Mount Misery Breakdown will have special relevance to Sag Harborites — to heartfelt ballads, like his countrified Same Old Line, the title track of Edna’s Kin’s debut CD,” shared Remkus.

The Songwriters Share Concert Series has no doubt the series will culminate on a high note. “The final concert of the third annual Songwriters Share Concert Series is sure to be a hit,” shared Remkus. “An amazing night of music with the talented Dan Koontz along with local favorites Brett King and Bruce Beyer will surely fill the air with wonderful music!”

Admission to the Songwriters Share Concert Series concert is $15.

“It will be a night to remember as we close another successful season of the concert series that gives back to the community!” added Remkus.

In addition to Koontz, other Songwriters Share Concert Series headliners included India Eaton who played for Project Most, Remkus who played for Long Pond Greenbelt, Caroline Doctorow who played for Bridgehampton Child Care, Fred Raimondo who played for The Retreat, and Gene Casey who played for East End Hospice.

Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse of the South Fork is located at 977 Sag Harbor/Bridgehampton Turnpike in Bridgehampton.