Artists Shine with Samson Concert XD2 Wireless at Great South Bay Music Festival 2025

Samson was proud to be featured at the Great South Bay Music Festival 2025 in Patchogue, NY. Our Concert XD2 Handheld Two-Channel Digital Wireless System took the spotlight at the Five Towns College Stage, powering performances from a diverse lineup of talented artists.

A unique highlight of the festival is the Five Towns College Stage, run entirely by the college’s talented students. Five Towns College—a Dix Hills, NY based local performing arts college known for its hands-on programs in theatre, music, film, and audio—has long been a staple of the community. Students from the Mass Communication and Audio departments managed every aspect of the stage production, from audio engineering and live sound mixing, to filming and event coordination.

Professor John Machado, Chair of the Audio Recording Technology Program, elaborated on the production. “Great South Bay is a real festival with real bands and real-life scenarios. Five Towns College supplies these students with all the equipment needed to run a stage at a festival of this size, but bands bring in some of their own equipment that must be quickly wired into our system. This could be a challenge to a seasoned professional. These students used their education to persevere… The Samson Concert XD2 Handheld Digital Wireless System is very user-friendly, and it was quickly incorporated into the FOH system. The sound quality spoke for itself. The class was presented with durable, high-quality wireless mics and a real-life live sound scenario, learning the superiority of the Samson name in the world of audio. We look forward to teaching them more about the Samson product line.”

^{Photo by Greg McManus}

ASH, lead vocalist of genre-bending band Nonstop to Cairo, showcased our system throughout several sets. Fronted by both ASH and guitarist Nick Diamond, the band fuses ska, funk, and hip-hop, with their 2023 release KAI highlighting their deep music chemistry and lifelong friendship with standout tracks like “Not Today” and “Million Dollar Space.”

ASH also appeared alongside other artists during the festival, demonstrating the versatility and reliability of our wireless system. He shared his thoughts on the experience, saying, “The Great South Bay Music Festival transforms Patchogue into a different place; all new terrain; all new people; a whole other universe. With that, Samson’s Concert XD2 wireless mics followed [suit]. You almost feel the confidence to walk off stage and roam free on the landscape with no fear of interruptions, static, or feedback.”

^{Photo by Meghan Tinelli}

Emerging pop artists Nikki Silva and Katt Rardi also relied on Samson microphones for their performances. Nikki Silva, a New York City-based artist and activist, is known for blending raw emotion with genre-defying sound. Standout tracks from her performance included “Maintenance Man” (featuring ASH) and “Voices” (featuring Katt Rardi) from her album ty, places.

Katt Rardi, an indie-pop singer-songwriter with roots in musical theatre, studied at Berklee College of Music. She brought her cinematic, emotionally raw style to the stage with powerful storytelling and strong vocal performances. Her latest single, “Lucky to Look at Me” is streaming everywhere now.

^{Photo by Greg McManus}

Closing out the Five Towns College Stage was indie rock band Gamblers. Tracks from their critically acclaimed 2024 album Pulverizer, such as “Agita” and “King of the Idiots” came alive in powerful live performances. Their Spotify hit “Another Dose” featured ASH covering Mick Jenkins’ verse, was brought to life with the help of Samson’s Concert XD2 System. Fronted by Michael McManus, Gamblers pushes creative boundaries while simultaneously blending Long Island’s diverse musical heritage.

Samson congratulates all the artists who brought their passion, creativity, and energy to the Great South Bay Music Festival. We’re honored to support their performances with our Concert XD2 System, delivering clear, reliable sound that empowers artists to connect with their audiences for years to come.

Learn more about Five Towns College.

Follow these artists on Instagram:

@nonstoptocairo
@nikkiannsilva
@planetkatt
@gamblersbaby