Thursday, July 10, 2025
The Seaford Public Library is bringing the music back to the community this summer with its eagerly anticipated annual concert series.
For more than 20 years, the library has hosted “Entertainment for a Summer Evening,” a popular lineup of free outdoor concerts featuring classic rock, country, doo-wop and more. According to library officials, the concerts typically attract hundreds of attendees from Seaford and neighboring communities.
Two Seaford librarians are leading the planning efforts, dedicating their time to preparing for the upcoming concert dates.
“Librarians Eric Wasserman and Kristen Jording have once again worked very diligently to coordinate the scheduling, logistics and publicizing of this year’s ‘Entertainment for a Summer Evening’ events,” Frank McKenna, the library’s director, said in a news release. “Their efforts are always deeply appreciated.”
All concerts will start at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in the Town of Hempstead parking lot, behind the library, 2234 Jackson Ave., Seaford. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Kicking off the concert series on June 28 will be The Daytrippers, a Long Island-based Beatles’ cover band. Formed in 2021, the band has quickly built a following across Long Island and New York City with its polished take on the Beatles' iconic catalog.
Michael Borkan, the band’s lead and rhythm guitarist, brings years of experience performing in several Long Island bands. He’s known for his commitment to recreating the Beatles’ sound as closely as possible, using a guitar synthesizer to replicate everything from orchestral swells in “Eleanor Rigby” to the brass in “Penny Lane.”
“It is such a feeling when you look into the audience and they’re responding and resonating with the Beatles’ songs of their childhood,” Borkan said. “You can see the emotion and excitement in their face — it’s the most moving thing.”
He said the band has performed at several libraries throughout Long Island, including Plainview and Elmont. Seaford library performances are exciting, he noted, because they play outdoors on the Town of Hempstead Showmobile, a portable stage for performing musicians.
Additional band members include lead singer and keyboardist Carolyn Cafiero, whose versatile background spans musical theater, big band, classic rock and yacht rock. On synthesizer, she recreates the Beatles’ signature piano, string and horn parts. Bassist Gary Pirro, who discovered the Beatles as a child watching “The Ed Sullivan Show,” said performing the iconic band’s music today brings him great joy. Drummer Gary Bruno, a lifelong Ringo Starr fan, brings decades of experience and vintage style to the drum kit.
“We love Long Island,” Borkan said. “We’ve done some trips into Manhattan and Connecticut, but Long Island is our base, and it’s great to see the same people that come out to see us each time.”
Taking the stage on July 19 will be The Tribunes, a five-man, Long Island-based a cappella doo-wop group featuring music of the 50s and 60s. The group’s lead vocalist, Mike Cuomo, 78, began singing at age 15 and recorded his first a cappella album in 1965 as a tenor. After returning to music in 1998, he transitioned to lead vocals and helped form the current version of The Tribunes.
He said the group has performed at Seaford library for the past 20 years, and is looking forward to playing during the summer concert series.
“I always like singing at the Seaford library,” Cuomo said.
The Tribunes’ lineup also features first tenor Ken Scheidecker, a veteran of the a cappella scene; George “Tito” Santiago, a falsetto powerhouse from groups like The Eternals and The Dubs; Pete “Bolo” De Benedetto, a baritone with roots in ’60s R&B; and Carlos Rampolla, a longtime doo-wop performer who recently rejoined the group.
Performing on Aug. 23 will be PlayBack, a group of seasoned musicians who grew up in Seaford and perform pop and classic rock favorites. Rounding out the concert series on Sept. 6 will be Just Sixties — billed as the nation’s longest-running 1960s’ tribute band — playing hits from The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, and more.
For more information on the concert series and other programs, visit seafordlibrary.org.
