New York City’s beloved free music program, Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage, is coming back with a bang as the festival celebrates a milestone anniversary.
In June 1986, the first-ever SummerStage kicked off with Afrofuturists Sun Ra Arkestra taking the stage at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. This year, SummerStage will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a huge lineup of more than 60 free and benefit shows spanning Central Park and 12 neighborhood parks across the five boroughs.
“Forty years ago, I had a simple idea: that world-class music and performing arts belonged to everyone, not just those who could afford a ticket. Four decades later, I’m genuinely moved by what SummerStage has meant to our city and what we helped build together with our fans,” said Joe Killian, SummerStage Founder & Executive Producer (1986-1993) and City Parks Foundation Board Member. “SummerStage has been the cultural backbone of NYC since 1986, bringing artists from across the globe to share their sounds and stories with our neighbors in their local parks. We’ve curated bold commissions, unexpected collaborations, and showcased rising stars, and New York has shown up every single time. The tremendous loyalty and support from SummerStage’s fans is the fuel that keeps us going. As we step into this 40th season, I’m not just proud of where we’ve been, but I’m also excited for the moments still to come.”
“We’re proud to support SummerStage by presenting two free shows this season. This is what New York does best, world-class music in our parks, open to everyone,” said Commissioner Rafael Espinal of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “At a time when affordability is a real challenge, live music shouldn’t be a luxury, it’s essential. It supports audiences, and it supports the artists and crews who keep this city’s music scene alive.”
The season will officially kick off on June 10 with a free show in Central Park, in association with the Blue Note Jazz Festival. The show will be headlined by GRAMMY-winning jazz/R&B powerhouse vocalist Ledisi, as well as performances by the charismatic Brooklyn-based modern jazz vocalist Spilata as well as DJ Kultured Child.
This summer’s lineup is stacked with performances, including Laurie Anderson, De La Soul, Mavis Staples, Angélique Kidjo, Spoon, and more. Other artists playing this summer include Mereba, Luedji Luna, Liniker, Susana Baca, Boot Camp Clik, Heltah Skeltah, Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Grand Puba, Sadat X, Christian McBride, Mei Semones, MIKE’s Young World, Max B, Bilal, GENA, DJ Rekha, Jaz Dhami, Mitika Kanwar, Andy Dosty, Charlie Aponte and so much more.
For its 34th year, the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival will return to SummerStage From Aug. 28-30 with a three-day celebration of live jazz in New York City neighborhoods where Parker worked and lived, including Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park in the East Village. The lineup includes Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, esteemed jazz saxophonist/composer Joshua Redman, distinguished jazz saxophonist and composer Ravi Coltrane, and many more.
In addition to the free shows, there will be a lineup of benefit shows to help fund the free performances. This summer, the benefit show lineup includes The Martinez Brothers (June 13), Anjunadeep’s Open Air New York City showcase (July 18), Blues Traveler with Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors (Aug. 15), Simple Plan with 3OH!3 and Bowling for Soup (Aug. 19), The Marcus King Band (Sept. 12), and Charley Crockett (Oct. 1), with others to be announced.
Participating parks this season include Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, Crotona Park in the Bronx, and Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, among others. Performances will also take place in Staten Island, with park details to be announced.
All events will be free and open to the public, with the exception of the ticketed benefit concerts held in Central Park. For more information and to see the full lineup, visit www.SummerStage.org.
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