On Saturday August 27th, musicians and music supporters a like partied at the Hamptons home of Julie and Billy Macklowe in support of VH1 Save The Music Foundation.
It was a typical Saturday night for The Knockturnal: Chilling in the backyard of the most gorgeous estate we’ve ever seen with our crew Fifth Harmony, Jessica White, DJ Cassidy and friends over at VH1 Save the Music. Ok. It was anything but typical. It was an amazing night of good food, great cocktails, and even better music.
But we’re too cool to gush.
Upon entrance into the Hamptons estate, guests were driven around to the tented backyard in golf carts, because heels in grass is a very real problem.
Inside the tent, DJ Cassidy spun a mix of 90’s R&B and top 40 while guests mingled and danced. Outside the tent, guests could experience multiple food and drink stations courtesy of NY caterer Peter Callahan and before you judge, yes we tried them all. We started at the Mexican station where grilled corn, fried green tomatoes and gazpacho kept our attention. We took a break and headed to the bar to sample one of the many cocktails on the menu. The Guava Jalapeno Margarita made with Bai Bubbles Guatemala Guava, Don Julio Tequila, house-infused simple syrup lime and dried jalapeno gave us a kick. We then had the best sandwiches of our lives – our favorite was the roasted eggplant panini, which we washed down with Bai’s latest Narino Peach Tea flavor. A Smirnoff lemonade popsicle made for a great dessert.
We headed back inside the tent upon hearing DJ Cassidy say that certain 5 sexy ladies were getting ready to come on stage. After a short speech by VH1 Save the Music Executive Director Henry Donahue who thanked the performers by saying, “Their generous efforts and support are critical for our work to ensure that every student in America has access to a quality music education” – it was time for Fifth Harmony.
Dressed in killer red leather-ish bodysuits, the girls gave quite the high energy concert performing their hit songs like “Work From Home,” “All In My Head,” “Sledgehammer,” and “Worth It.” Guests danced and sang along creating a fun and inspiring atmosphere.
We caught up with the talented ladies, who were making their Hamptons debut.
The Knockturnal: Do you guys remember a music teacher or program that you still think of? What has music meant to you?
Fifth Harmony’s Dinah Jane: I went to a performing arts school so I was surrounded by arts every day but yeah what was really cool is that you were surrounded by people that just express themselves and you accepted everyone’s differences and so wearing a costume was natural.
Fifth Harmony’s Camila Cabella: We’re hear supporting the Vh1 Save the Music foundation which is something so important to us because were all obviously music lovers. Save the Music is doing incredible things bringing music education to schools everywhere and they work district to district to make sure its part of every kid’s curriculum and we fully support that. I speak for all of us when I say if it weren’t for music I really don’t know who I would be. I wouldn’t have found myself and I think that’s really important for all kids to have.
We also caught up with Orange Is the New Black’s Selenis Levya who wore a stunning Nicole Miller dress to the event.
The Knockturnal: What brings you out tonight?
SL: I wanted to come and support. We can’t forget that music is a huge part of why kids succeed and stay in school and at times they need an outlet. Like for me, if it wasn’t because of the drama, if it wasn’t because of music I don’t think I would have found a real place in school. We’ve never heard of that being something that doesn’t work.
The Knockturnal: What song was playing during your first kiss or first dance?
SL: I remember being at a high school dance and Dirty Dancing came on like “She’s Like the Wind” and my little boyfriend dedicated it to me and to this day I’m like aww “I’m Like the Wind.”
The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America’s public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child’s complete education. Saturday night’s Hamptons event raised over 1 Million dollars which will directly benefit the Foundation’s work of restoring music education in public schools across the country.
For more information, head to https://www.facebook.com/vh1savethemusic/?fref=ts