In June of 1986 Sun Ra and the Omniverse Jet Set Arkestra performed a free concert in the Naumberg Bandshell in Central Park, and the summer music landscape in New York City changed forever. Today, nearly 30 years later, SummerStage is New York City's largest free performing arts festival, presenting work in all performing arts disciplines, with a focus on New York's unique neighborhoods. SummerStage has touched the lives of more than six million fans from around the world.
In celebration of this milestone, City Parks Foundation, the independent nonprofit organization that produces the festival, plans to deepen the impact the festival has in neighborhoods throughout New York City. The 2015 season will feature more shows in Central Park and 15% growth in the number of performances offered in neighborhood parks around the city, creating 6-day "mini-festivals" in 8 parks, featuring music, dance, theater, film, circus and family days. In total this new model will add over 20 performances to the fourteen parks SummerStage presents in, bringing more than 140 unique artists to these stages around the city.
"As an organization we are dedicated to working in traditionally underserved neighborhoods across the city," said Heather Lubov, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation. "By presenting artists and genres that reflect the cultures and communities in these parks, introducing disciplines such as dance or theater alongside musical performances, and providing all of this fantastic art free of charge, we are building new audiences and fostering a broader interest in the arts here in New York City."
SummerStage's artistic mission is to celebrate the cultural legacy and diversity of New York City. In our 30 years, we have presented such legendary performers as Youssou N'Dour, Curtis Mayfield, David Byrne, Max Roach, Patti Smith, Gil Scott-Heron, Lou Reed, James Brown, Pete Seeger, Celia Cruz, Miriam Makeba, Jimmy Cliff, and Hugh Masekela, as well as once lesser-known artists, influenced by these icons, who have gone on to become famous in their own right. Vampire Weekend, Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys, The xx, Sarah McLachlan, Thievery Corporation, Jack Johnson, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, and Florence & The Machine are just some of those now-famous performers.
"SummerStage is the festival that truly celebrates New York City," said Director of Arts & Cultural Programs for City Parks Foundation, Ian Noble. "From the iconic to the avant garde, from opera to hip-hop, film to circus, there is no other festival like it. Not only do we select our artists to reflect the nature of each neighborhood, but each park and audience becomes part of the adventure and charm of each and every show."
"Capital One Bank is proud to support SummerStage as it showcases the diversity and artistic vitality of New York," said Michael Slocum, President, Commercial Banking and Northeast Regional President, Capital One. "The arts play an important role in building strong, healthy communities, and we are pleased to help the festival reach new audiences across the city."
The 2015 30th Anniversary Season will open with a free concert in Central Park featuring the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Other notable talents include: Angelique Kidjo, the iconic African singer-songwriter; London's soul-funk collective Jungle; Canadian folktronica artist, Caribou; Franco-Norwegian circus duo, Magmanus; and a special celebration of dance and music from the legendary Broadway musical The Wiz. Additionally, Brazil's pioneering mangue-beat superstars, Nação Zumbi, will return to SummerStage 20 years after their historic and epic U.S. debut. A number of parks will welcome neighborhood heroes to their stages, like Staten Islander Mack Wilds, and a screening of Time is Illmatic, the documentary that follows Queensbridge prodigal son Nas, as his life leads up to his critically-acclaimed, seminal album, Illmatic. Oliver Lake Big Band will premier a commissioned piece during the expanded Charlie Parker Jazz Festival weekend, and a 30th Anniversary DJ commission with Quantic, Gilles Peterson, and Afrika Bambaataa, will take audiences through the decades of SummerStage.
The complete SummerStage schedule follows. For the most up-to-date scheduling and line-up for all SummerStage programming, follow SummerStage via the below links and visit SummerStage.org for festival information.
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Time |
Artist |
////////////////Park////////// |
Mon 5/18 |
6pm |
Tedeschi Trucks Band |
Central Park, MN |
Tues 6/2 |
7pm |
Lyricist Lounge featuring Scarface |
Red Hook Park, BK |
Wed 6/3 |
7pm |
Troy Ave Phony Ppl Hosted by Hot 97s Ebro, Laura + Rosenberg Presented with MeanRed |
Red Hook Park, BK |
Thur 6/4 |
7pm |
The Felice Brothers The Barr Brothers |
Red Hook Park, BK |
Fri 6/5 |
7pm |
Lemon Andersen #LoveHustle featuring DJ Reborn & J. Keys Presented with 651 Arts |
Red Hook Park, BK |
Sat 6/6 |
7pm |
KanKouran West African Dance Company Pre-Show Master Class: Assane Konte |
Red Hook Park, BK |
Sat 6/6 |
3pm |
Blue Note Jazz Festival featuring Meshell Ndegeocello Roy Hargrove Gabriel Garzón-Montano |
Central Park, MN |
Sun 6/7 |
4pm |
Brooklyn Family Day featuring Unlocking the Truth Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls Black Girls Rock DJ Diamond Kuts |
Red Hook Park, BK |
Sun 6/7 |
7pm |
BattleFest League Dancers Screening: Flex is Kings (2013) Presented with ImageNation |
Red Hook Park, BK |
Sun 6/7 |
3pm |
Angelique Kidjo Emmanuel Jal Rich Medina |
Central Park, MN |
Sun 6/7 |
4pm |
World's Fair Anniversary Festival featuring Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires Hollis Brown Damien Escobar |
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, QU |
Thur 6/11 |
7pm |
Duck Down 20-Year Anniversary BBQ featuring Boot Camp Clik & Friends Kirk Knight & CJ Fly of Pro Era Chelsea Reject Statik Selektah |
Betsy Head Park, BK |
Fri 6/12 |
7pm |
Horace Brown Jeff Redd DJ Chuck Chillout DJ Mell Starr Presented with Zulu Nation |
Betsy Head Park, BK |
Sat 6/13 |
7pm |
Nuyorican Poets Café featuring Elaine Del Valle's Brownsville Bred |
Betsy Head Park, BK |
Sat 6/13 |
3pm |
Lettuce The Soul Rebels |
Central Park, MN |
Sun 6/14 |
4pm |
Brooklyn Family Day with Martha Redbone Ebony Hillbillies |
Betsy Head Park, BK |
Sun 6/14 |
7pm |
DJ Fulano Screening: Annie (2014) Presented with ImageNation |
Betsy Head Park, BK |
Mon 6/15 |
8pm |
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series |
Central Park, MN |
Tues 6/16 |
7pm |
Yiddish Soul featuring Cantorial and Chassidic Music virtuosos: Avraham Fried, Netanel Hershtik, Yanky Lemmer, Joseph Malovany, Lipa Schmeltzer, Zusha Music Director: Avremi Gourarie Music Supervisor: Zalmen Mlotek Part of KulturfestNYC |
Central Park, MN |
Wed 6/17 |
7pm |
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series |
Brooklyn Bridge Park, BK |
Wed 6/17 |
7pm |
Lyricist Lounge featuring Biz Markie Masta Ace |
Herbert Von King Park, BK |
Thur 6/18 |
7pm |
Taana Gardner Johnny Kemp DJ Yoda Hosted by TC Izlam Presented with Zulu Nation |
Herbert Von King Park, BK |
Fri 6/19 |
7pm |
Laurie M. Taylor/Soul Movement Pre-Show Master Class: Karisma Jay |
Herbert Von King Park, BK |
Sat 6/20 |
7pm |
Hearts of Men Pre-Show Master Class: Members of Hearts of Men |
Herbert Von King Park, BK |
Sat 6/20 |
7pm |
Jungle Ibeyi Presented with Okayplayer |
Central Park, MN |
Sun 6/21 |
4pm |
Brooklyn Family Day with Laurie Berkner Something Positive Brooklyn United Marching Band |
Herbert Von King Park, BK |
Sun 6/21 |
7pm |
The Bullitts + DJ Spinna Film Screening: They Die By Dawn (2013) Presented with ImageNation |
Herbert Von King Park, BK |
Wed 6/24 |
7pm |
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series |
Queensbridge Park, QU |
Wed 6/24 |
7pm |
Judy Torres Tony Touch |
Crotona Park, BX |
Thur 6/25 |
7pm |
Lyricist Lounge presents The LOX |
Crotona Park, BX |
Fri 6/26 |
7pm |
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series |
Jackie Robinson Park, MN |
Fri 6/26 |
7pm |
Hybrid Movement Company The Incredible Incredible IMPACT Repertory Theatre |
Crotona Park, BX |
Sat 6/27 |
3pm |
VP Records 35th Anniversary featuring Maxi Priest Gyptian Bunji Garlin & Fay Ann Lyons Massive B:Bobby Konders + Jabba |
Central Park, MN |
Sat 6/27 |
7pm |
Nuyorican Poets Café featuring Jive Poetic, Jamaal St. John and Pamela Sneed |
Crotona Park, BX |
Sat & Sun 6/27-6/28 |
4pm & 7pm |
Magmanus |
Brooklyn Bridge Park, BK |
Sun 6/28 |
3pm |
Catalan Sounds On Tour featuring Oques Grasses La Iaia Sílvia Pérez Cruz DJ Guillamino |
Central Park, MN |
Sun 6/28 |
7pm |
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series |
Crotona Park, BX |