Here are 7 free summer concert series in New York City
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — Calling all music enthusiasts! This summer marks the return of free concerts across New York City.
City parks and other cultural institutions are offering New Yorkers the chance to see their favorite artists in the great outdoors. Many of these concert series stand as longtime summer traditions and attractions.
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From Bryant Park to Hudson Yards, here are seven free summer concert series coming to New York City:
SummerStage in Central Park
SummerStage boasts an expansive lineup that begins on Friday with a ticketed benefit concert. However, opening night on June 1 will be free, and the remaining performances will be a mix of free and benefit performances in Central Park and other city venues.
Attendees can expect to hear a variety of genres, including hip-hop, Americana, rock, Latin, pop and more. The concert series ends on Oct. 20.
Here’s a selected list of performances at the SumerStage series:
James Arthur
Central Park, May 17, 6 p.m.
Benefit Concert, Tickets: $62-$246
Andra Day
Central Park, June 1, 7 p.m.
Free
Kim Gordon
Central Park, June 13, 5 p.m.
Free
Also featuring: Sun Ra Arkestra and Slauson Malone 1
Earl Sweatshirt
Herbert Von King Park, July 13, 4 p.m.
Free
Part of Mike’s Young World IV, also featuring: MYAAP, Sideshow, staHHr, Stacy Epps
Golden Oldies on the Boardwalk
Coney Island Amphitheater, July 14, 5 p.m.
Free
Featuring: Frank Pizarro (the Platters’ former lead singer), Charlie Thomas’ Drifters with Jeff Hall, The Marvelettes, Bill Haley Jr’s Comets and more
Pride Disco with Trixie Mattel
Central Park, June 29, 5 p.m.
Benefit Concert, Tickets: $74-$86
T-Pain’s Mansion in Wisconsin Tour
Central Park, June 23, 6:30 p.m.
Benefit Concert, Tickets: $138-$208
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival
Marcus Garvey Park, August 23, 3 p.m.; Tompkins Square Park, August 25, 3 p.m.
Free
Featuring: Louis Hayes, Superblue: Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter Ft. Huntertones, Ekep Nkwelle, and more
Slick Rick
Central Park, August 18, 7 p.m.
Free
Featuring: Dana Dane, Doug E Fresh, DJ Maseo, and more
See the full lineup here.
Citi Concert Series
The 2024 Citi Concert Series will kick off on May 24 at Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan. The outdoor performances will go on rain or shine, and once attendees exit the plaza, they will not be re-admitted.
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The concerts are early morning performances, with each show concluding around 9:30 a.m., according to Today.
Here is the Citi Concert Series lineup:
May 24 – Wallows
May 31 – Anitta
June 7 – Meghan Trainor
June 21 – Kehlani
June 25 – Lainey Wilson
June 28 – Gracie Abrams
July 4 – Bleachers
July 12 – Rauw Alejandro
Aug. 9 – Maggie Rogers
Aug. 12 – Little Big Town and Sugarland
Aug. 16 – Chance the Rapper
Aug. 23– Chris Stapleton
TBD – LL Cool J
Bryant Park Picnic Performances
Bryant Park Picnic Performances is a free outdoor festival that begins in late May and welcomes “New Yorkers to experience the city’s vibrant arts and culture.” All the performances are free and will occur on The Lawn.
The 16 performances will also be livestreamed on Bryant Park’s website and @bryantparknyc on YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram.
Here is the Bryant Park Picnic Performances lineup:
May 31 – New York City Opera: Puccini Celebration
June 1 – New York City Opera: Puccini Celebration
June 6 – Contemporary Dance: Sidra Bell, Ballet Tech, and TBA
June 7 – Contemporary Dance: David Dorfman, Soles of Duende, and Joffrey Concert Group
June 14 – Contemporary Dance: Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, Robin Dunn, and Kevin Wynn Tribute
June 21 – Jazzmobile: Sarah Vaughan Centennial
June 28 – Emerging Music Festival Day One
June 29 – Emerging Music Festival Day Two
July 5 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Tania León and The Harlem Chamber Players
July 12 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Thandiswa Mazwai
July 19 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Louis Cato
July 26 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: Michael Olatuja & Lagos Pepper Soup Aug. 2 – Carnegie Hall Citywide: La Excelencia
Aug. 9 – Joe’s Pub: Broadway en Spanglish: Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca
Aug. 10 – New Victory Theater: Ephrat Asherie + Barkin/Selissen Project
Aug. 16 – World Music Institute: Gyedu-Blay Ambolley
Aug. 23 – New York City Opera: Tosca
Aug. 24 – New York City Opera: Tosca
Aug. 30 – Asian American Arts Alliance: Vijay Iyer Trio
Aug. 31 – Contemporary Dance: Mark Morris Dance Group, Blacks in Ballet, and Reed Luplau
Sept. 5 – Accordions Around the World
Sept. 6 – American Symphony Orchestra: Beyond the Hall
Sept. 12 – Harlem Stage: Uptown Nights
Sept. 13 – The Town Hall and Belongó: The Man with a Golden Horn
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn returns for its 46th year with a jam-packed lineup of artists. The concert series begins on June 7 at Prospect Park’s Lena Horne Bandshell. There is a ticketed benefit concert on June 15. However, most of the performances in the series are free.
The three-month-long festival also features film screenings, a pop-up event at Highland Park, and celebrations marking Juneteenth.
Here is the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn lineup:
June 8 – Family Day: The Halluci Nation, Xiuhtezcatl, Asase Yaa Youth Ensemble
June 19 – 2024 Juneteenth UNITYFEST
June 21 – Ana Tijoux, Ambar Lucid
June 22 – BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! meets NPR Tiny Desk Contest On The Road – Thee Sacred Souls & Adi Oasis
June 29 – Fishbone, Son Rompe Pera
July 6 – Film Night: Do The Right Thing
July 12 – Travels Over Feeling: Celebrating Arthur Russell
July 13 – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Lollise, Rich Medina, IAM LOVE
July 19 – Richie Ray, Meridian Brothers, Madame Vacile
July 20 – Habibi Festival
July 26 – Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE
July 27 – Watchhouse, Black Belt Eagle Scout
Aug. 2 – Meshell Ndegeocello – No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin, Talibah Safiya
Aug. 9 – Jesse Royal, Anant Pradhan & Larry McDonald, Ayanna Heaven
Aug. 10 – Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, Sinkane, Ushka
Backyard at Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards’ free summer concert series begins on June 19. The concerts will occur every Wednesday at 6 p.m. through Aug. 7. Country artist Chayce Beckham is set to kick things off at the Public Square and Gardens in Manhattan.
Here is the Backyard at Hudson Yards lineup:
June 19 – Chayce Beckham
June 26 – David Archuleta
July 10 – Brynn Cartelli
July 17 – Ray Bull
Aug. 7 – Keke Palmer
Sounds at Sunset
Sounds at Sunset concert series at Brooklyn Bridge Park promises performances from local and international talent. The free music concerts will begin on June 21 at Pier 3 Plaza.
Organized by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, attendees are encouraged to register for the concert series.
Here is the Sounds at Sunset lineup:
June 21 – Steely Dan Happy Hour
June 28 – Igmar Thomas & Musical Guests
July 12 – Yacouba Sissoko
July 26 – Brooklyn Americana Music
August 2 – PAAK Appreciation
September 20 – Igmar Thomas & Musical Guests
River & Blues Festival
The River & Blues Concert Series is returning this summer to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The festival is a cornerstone of New York City summer traditions and features global and American folk, roots, and blues music, organizers said.
Rockefeller Park in The Battery offers gorgeous views of Hudson River sunsets and refreshing waterfront breezes.
Here is the River & Blues Concert Series lineup:
July 11 – Los Lobos
July 18 – Hooray for the Riff Raff
July 25 – Leela James
August 1 – Abraham Alexander
Charline Charles is a digital journalist from Brooklyn who has covered local news along with culture and arts in the New York City area since 2019. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.
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