Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Celebrates the Holidays

Now in its 13th season, The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Main Street in Westhampton Beach has been providing top quality, year-round entertainment in the Hamptons. But it is especially fun to bring in the holidays with legendary performances by top musicians who set the mood for this magical season.

And the performing arts center has managed to create a venue of many diverse talents and music styles, for both adults and children, from now through New Year's Eve.

This year, starting with Thanksgiving Weekend, on November 26, at 8:00 p.m., Robben Ford, Michael Landau, Gary Novak, and Jimmy Haslip will spice up the holiday with their blues-rock band, "Renegade Creation." The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center has billed this as a "guitar-driven, blues-rock supergroup," taking blues-rock to a whole new level of sophistication.

On November 27, at 8:00 p.m., the fans of solo pianist George Winston will get to hear him in person, after listening to his soul-inspiring music of nature throughout the 1980's. Growing up in Montana, Florida and Mississippi, Winston was inspired to write about the changing seasons, in his albums, "Autumn," "December," "Winter Into Spring," and "Summer," from which he will play some of his songs, as well as some new pieces. He will play his noted instrumental songs on solo piano, guitar and harmonica. In a phone interview from his ongoing tour, Winston said that New York City has been such a big influence on him, that he also wrote memorial benefit records after 9/11. He is now working on new albums following the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and also the recent oil spill disaster. A self-taught musician, Winston said he learned his craft by studying the greats, like the Doors, Fats Waller, Ray Charles, Sam Cook, James Booker, and along the way he incorporated New Orleans R & B.

He now spends about 80 percent of his time touring, including Korea and Japan, but says he "loves Long Island, and is glad to get back." He has performed at Stony Brook University and at the Imax Theater in Huntington.

At his November 27 concert at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, Winston is asking that people bring cans of food for the Community Emergency Food Banks.  He said the proceeds from his CD's will also go toward this good cause.

On December 11, the Vienna Boys Choir will perform at 8:00 p.m., before heading to Carnegie Hall. This internationally celebrated group presents timeless music with universal appeal. This boys choir will perform classical masterpieces, pop songs, medieval chants, and holiday favorites.

On December 12, at 3:00 p.m., Leo Lionni's Swimmy, Frederick and Inch By Inch Mermaid Theater of Nova Scotia will perform with their innovative puppets, imaginative lighting techniques, and original music score.

On December 17, at 7:00 p.m. everyone's favorite, "The Nutcracker Sweet" ballet, will be performed by local young ballerinas and professionals, set to the score of Tchaikovsky's iconic music. This great, one-hour performance can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Wrapping up the holiday season with a blowout New Year's Eve concert, will be Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Gregg Allman, on December 31. He will perform his legendary Southern Rock music with his Allman Brothers Band. Buy your tickets early, as this one should sell out.

For more information, call (631) 288-2350, or visit www.whbpac.org.