Just shortly after all the Memorial Day festivities are over, SummerStage will kick off the summer season with their opening night on Saturday, June 10 with the acclaimed eight-piece soul band St. Paul and The Broken Bones. The free show will take place at their City Park’s Foundation stage Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.
The stage had undergone a $5.5 million transformation back in 2019 that included a brand new stage along with a new sound system, better lighting, and new raised seating areas.
That said, this makes it all the more exciting to check out a few of their concerts between June and October (and they’re free anyway, so why not?).
The 2023 season is an especially significant one as this year’s festivities will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop: from its history and significance to NYC to the massive impact it has had on culture worldwide.
“SummerStage is back for another exceptional year of free programming,” said Heather Lubov, City Parks Foundation’s Executive Director. “It’s an honor to bring to parks artists that are reflective of each neighborhood’s rich cultural fabric, whether these performers are familiar or completely new discoveries. Feeling the joy and wonder of live music with other New Yorkers is an experience that is unmatched and should not be underestimated.”
The lineup for the season has finally been announced with notable performances by renowned and local artists from around the world in a variety of genres spanning salsa, jazz, hip-hop, indie, reggae, Afrobeat, soul, and contemporary dance among others.
Festival highlights will include Juanes, Tanya Tucker, Jason Moran, Marisa Monte, DJ Rekha, Horsegirl, Julia Jacklin, Kool & The Gang, Skip Marley, The Comet is Coming, Dorrance Dance, and more.
“We are thrilled to present another vibrant season filled with captivating artists from around the world and introduce music fans to their diverse sounds,” said Erika Elliott, Executive Artistic Director of SummerStage. “As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop this year, we are excited to highlight the global impact that the genre has had on music and culture with an outstanding lineup of international artists and hometown heroes.”
The parks set to host these free performances will include Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Von King Park and The Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, Crotona Park in the Bronx, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Jackie Robinson Park, Williamsbridge Oval, Socrates Sculpture Garden, Cloves Lakes Park, Stapleton Waterfront Park, and Tompkins Square Park, along with the SummerStage flagship venue at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.
Therefore, no matter where you’re at in NYC, there’s sure to be a concert near you.
Beyond free and benefit concerts throughout the five month event, SummerStage will also welcome dance performances, outdoor screenings, and special tributes to cultural icons.
You can see the current scheduled lineup for the 2023 season here.
For more information about the SummerStage events, check out their site at summerstage.org.
Also published on Medium.