It’s hard to imagine now, but back in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on live music.
Bands couldn’t perform, fans couldn’t gather, and stages everywhere went dark.
But out of that silence came SteinyFest, a grassroots music festival in Mamaroneck that has since grown into a high-energy celebration of both local and national talent.
It all began with a simple Instagram exchange.
“I saw this artist I really admired post about struggling to find ways to earn income,” said Greg Steinberg, affectionately known as Steiny for as long as he can remember. “Half-jokingly, I replied, ‘Want to come play a show in my backyard?’ To my surprise, he said yes — it was Vilray, who performs with Rachael Price from Lake Street Dive.”
A small crowd gathered in Steinberg’s sister’s backyard in Larchmont. He rounded up a few friends and local musicians, painted socially distanced circles on the grass, and enforced COVID protocols: BYO drinks, masks, and mingling only with your partner. “It turned out to be something really special,” he said.
The response was so positive that Steinberg organized another event the following year, this time featuring local favorites like Rebecca Haviland and Milton, drawing about 150 people. By year three, the lineup expanded to include acts from Boston and Nashville, with around 350 attendees. Steinberg then moved Steinyfest to the parking lot of a local Mamaroneck brewery, where 550 fans turned out for a headlining performance by Juice. And last year, with Toyota City joining as a sponsor, the crowd swelled to more than 650.
“It was just an incredible afternoon of live music,” said Steinberg, who was a founder of Something Digital, an IT consulting firm. “We had food trucks, a VIP area, more sponsors, and we kept tickets affordable. It really felt like a community coming together.”
SteinyFest returns to Toyota City in Mamaroneck on Saturday, Oct. 4, with its biggest lineup yet and an expected crowd of nearly 1,000. The daylong event begins at 1 p.m. with local acts The Wild Life, a band of Larchmont and Mamaroneck friends with several albums under their belt. Eli Maxwell, a Mamaroneck High School graduate and Northwestern alumus, returns with his full band and a set of original songs. The jam band Summerfeet brings a mix of covers and originals, while Stink Floyd, a classic rock cover band from New Rochelle, will close the afternoon with crowd favorites and sing-along spirit.
“We’ll ease into the music with the local bands,” Steinberg said. “That part of the day will be great for families. We’re welcoming strollers, kids get in free, and there’ll be plenty of food and fun for everyone.”
As the sun sets, the stage lights up with national talent. Headlining this year is Theo Katzman — a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer celebrated for his soulful performances and his work with the internationally acclaimed band Vulfpeck. A jazz-trained musician from the University of Michigan, Katzman has built a career blending pop, jazz, funk, and indie rock into his unique sound.
Also joining the lineup: Brooklyn-based rocker Sid Simons, who spent part of his teenage years at Rye Neck High School before launching a career that has taken him from his 2024 debut album “Beneath the Brightest Smiles” to a North American headline tour and a yearlong reign atop NYC’s rock ’n’ roll scene; Nashville-based singer-songwriter Amelia Day, whose performances weave together indie pop, folk, rock, and soul; and Blue Light Bandits, a Boston four-piece known for their smooth, infectious grooves rooted in ’70s soul and R&B.
Beyond the stage, the festival grounds will feature food trucks, craft beverages, and a bustling vendor village. All attendees receive wristbands, allowing them to come and go throughout the day — perfect for locals who want to dip in and out and return for the headliners.
For Steinberg, it’s about more than music. It’s about community. Originally from Ohio, he has lived in Larchmont for 24 years with his wife, Jill. Together, they’ve raised two daughters, Mia and Josie, who now help run the festival; from promotion to logistics, it’s a true family affair. After stepping away from his 25-year career as founder of his IT consulting firm, Steinberg has made SteinyFest his full-time focus.
“I’m trying to … create an opportunity for people who might not normally head into the city to experience amazing live music… (to experience it) right here in their backyard,” Steinberg said. “People love that — discovering new artists, supporting them early in their careers, and then seeing them return once they’ve made it to bigger national stages.”
A large tent is available in case of rain, Steinberg said, so the show will go on no matter the weather. “But I’m crossing my fingers for an October day that’s crisp and dry.”
Tickets to Steinyfest are $45 and available now at steinyfest.com, with discounts offered via the festival’s social media pages and for volunteers. A VIP package with premium viewing is also available.
