Dates Set for Mick Hargreaves Benefits

Two benefits, stretching from one end of Suffolk County to the other, are planned to aid Southampton musician Mick Hargreaves, who is recovering following after a show in Bayport.

More than a dozen bands and solo artists are slated to perform at the "West Benefit" in Huntington and the "East Benefit" in Amagansett.
The East Benefit, billed as “Benefit Concert for Mick East: A Night of Song, Support and Celebration,” is planned Sept. 16 at from 7 to 10 p.m. The West Benefit will be Sept. 18 at the Huntington Moose Hall from 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door for each event.

“In addition to raising money to cover medical expenses and loss of income, Mick has requested that the evening include a message of peace and be a celebration of community due to the violent nature of his attack in late July and the subsequent overwhelming outpour of support he has received from all across Long Island,” organizers said.

Hargreaves is expected to fully recover from the injuries he sustained in the attack, but he does not have health insurance, according to organizers.

He wrote on his blog Monday morning that he is healing and taking it easy at home. "Dying to get back to being a productive member of society, but there's no way to put a timetable on that, and assumptions must be kept low when you're dealing with a fractured skull," he wrote. "Can't tax the fractured skull: I'd like to show up in good shape for scheduled cat-scan & neurosurgeon visits later this week."

Radio personality and Grammy-award winner Cynthia Daniels will host the East Benefit. Musician Randolph Hudson will coordinate the musical talent.

Acts confirmed for the East Benefit so far include Caroline Doctorow & Steamrollers, Randolph Hudson, Inda Eaton, Gene Casey of the Lone Sharks, Los Blaggards, Joe Delia of the Thieves, Telly, Alfredo Merat, Dalton Portella, Dan Bailey, Sarah Conway and Tali "Icepack" Jackson.

Hargreaves regularly plays with Los Blaggards, Caroline Doctorow & Streamrollers, Libby Johnson and Matty Liot & The Big Up, and also leads his own band as well. He teaches music at in Bridgehampton and is a founding member of New York Roots Music Association.

Radio personality Joe Rock will host the West Benefit, which will feature Los Blaggards, L.I. Hornets, Butchers Blind, Big Daddy Deluxe, Buddy Woodward/Dixie Bee Liners, NYRMA “All-Stars” featuring Annie Mark, Chris James, Anna Coronna, Claudia Jacobs, Eric Crugnale, and Bobby Barca, among others.