Thursday, October 1, 2026
Freeport’s Nautical Mile will become a harbor of smooth sounds on Friday, when New Yacht City anchors at Sparkle on Stage for a night celebrating the golden era of 1970s and ’80s soft rock.
The eight-piece tribute band, known for its faithful renditions of classics by Steely Dan, Toto, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Christopher Cross, will bring what it calls “the ultimate throwback party for everyone in the tristate area.” The show begins at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7.
“Long Island has always understood great music, and there’s no better place than the Nautical Mile to enjoy the sound of the ocean and the sound of smooth grooves,” Manish Nag, the band’s leader, said. “We’re bringing the entire band and a horn section … Our singer, guitarist and trumpeter all have roots in Long Island, so we are really excited about this show.”
Nag, 50, who sings and plays keyboards, helped found New Yacht City in September 2022, after years of performing in a variety of genres.
“Over Covid, I learned all these tunes on piano, and I really wanted to see kind of how far we could take it,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of luck playing in the city and everywhere else.”
The ensemble features guitar, bass, drums, horns and vocals. “We play high-energy yacht rock starting from the ’70s and ’80s that everyone can dance to,” Nag said. “It’s been a blast.”
The project began as a creative outlet for musicians Nag met through his work in media and tech. “I used to work at Spotify, and our guitar player and our singer, you know, still work at Spotify,” he said. “We used to play open mics there once a month for, like, 300 employees. And it’s a lot of fun. So we started playing together there.”
Now based in New Jersey and working in data analytics for Hearst, Nag said his life in music stretches back to his childhood. “I’ve been playing music probably since, like, the second, third grade, when my parents got me piano lessons,” he said.
The group has strong Long Island connections. Three members hail from Nassau County — guitarist Ed Cipriano is from New Hyde Park, trumpet player Kenny Feldman is from Syosset and vocalist Alex Ranieri is from East Meadow. Nag added that his own roots aren’t far away, either: He was born in Jamaica, Queens.
For Nag, the smooth sound of Yacht Rock resonates across generations. “We really think it’s timeless music,” he said.
And band members aren’t afraid to make the classics their own. They often mix in creative touches, such as blending Michael McDonald’s “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” with elements of Warren G’s “Regulate,” which sampled the original. With several skilled jazz musicians in the lineup, Nag said, they like to give one another room to solo and improvise, bringing fresh energy to familiar songs.
“I love to have diverse things here,” Robyn Workman, owner of the Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center, said. “I love yacht rock. Who doesn’t? It’s mellow, but yet it’s not ballad. You know, it’s leisurely, it’s timely. I think everybody’s gonna have a really good time Friday night. So I hope a lot of people will come down and support.”
Tickets are available online, at sparkleonstage.org, and at the door, for $25.
“Most people come at the door,” Workman said. “So don’t be shy. Come on down.”
Hot coffee and cocoa will be available for purchase, and the venue, at 195 Woodcleft Ave., continues to expand its concert lineup, with acts scheduled through December.
