By Devin Gannon, Thu, July 28, 2022 RISE UP Summer Concert Series at Wingate Park in Brooklyn. Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr
A new concert series that will take place in every borough throughout the summer officially kicked off on Wednesday. The “Rise Up NYC’ series involves 10 free community concerts in parks and outdoor spaces across the city. According to Mayor Eric Adams, the series is meant to “encourage New Yorkers to explore all of the city and reconnect with one another as the city emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.” The “Rise Up” series was announced with less fanfare than last year’s “Homecoming” concert in Central Park, which was headlined by Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson, and Bruce Springsteen and meant to celebrate NYC’s recovery from Covid but later called off in the middle of it because of severe weather.
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By Aaron Ginsburg, Wed, May 4, 2022 Photo of Bryant Park’s Picnic Performances by Ryan Muir
New York City once again will be full of exciting opportunities to see live music for free. From old standbys like SummerStage in Central Park and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! fest in Prospect Park to the newly announced Summer for the City festival at Lincoln Center, music lovers can enjoy a wide variety of performances spanning all genres, in all five boroughs, all for free.
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By Devin Gannon, Thu, July 29, 2021 Orchard Beach concert in 2017; Photo by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr on Flickr
Four free concerts featuring both legendary and up-and-coming hip hop musicians are coming to a borough near you. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday revealed the lineup of the shows, which are taking place as part of the city’s “Homecoming Week,” a weeklong celebration of New York City’s comeback following the pandemic. Produced by the Universal Hip Hop Museum, the concerts will feature stars like KRS-One, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Big Daddy Kane, George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars, and nearly 40 more performers.
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By Devin Gannon, Wed, July 28, 2021 Pigpen Theatre Co. performs in “The Amph”; Photo courtesy of Little Island
A month-long arts festival featuring more than 160 events and 460 artists will take place in New York City’s newest public park next month. Called NYC FREE, the celebration will bring a variety of music, dance, and comedy performances to Little Island, the offshore park in Hudson River Park that opened this spring, over four weeks starting in August. The festival is the culmination of the state’s “NY PopsUp” initiative, which launched earlier this year to revive New York’s art and culture scene.
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By Devin Gannon, Tue, July 27, 2021 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 23, 2017.Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr
More than a dozen iconic musicians will take the stage in Central Park next month as part of a mega-concert celebrating the city’s recovery from the coronavirus. Announced on Tuesday, the lineup for the concert, dubbed “WE LOVE NYC: The Homecoming Concert,” includes major stars like Andrea Bocelli, Wyclef Jean, Barry Manilow, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jennifer Hudson, The Killers, LL COOL J, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Rob Thomas, and more.
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By Devin Gannon, Thu, July 22, 2021 Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 23, 2017. Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr
New York City will host five huge free concerts in every borough next month to mark the city’s recovery from the pandemic. Earlier this summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans for a “mega-concert” on Central Park’s Great Lawn in August and later revealed the show’s three major headliners: Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, and Jennifer Hudson. On Thursday, the mayor said there will be four additional free concerts, one in each borough, as part of a weeklong celebration dubbed “Homecoming Week.”
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By Devin Gannon, Thu, July 22, 2021 Photo of the Rooftop at Pier 17 by Ryan Muir on behalf of The Howard Hughes Corporation
After a year without live music, it’s finally time to move and groove again. As part of the recovery of New York City’s arts and culture scene, outdoor concerts are back. From rooftops and islands to city parks across the five boroughs, there are lots of places hosting outdoor shows this summer. Take in the sounds of summer, whether it be DJ sets on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library, jazz and classical tunes under the Manhattan Bridge, or silent discos at Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza.
Full list ahead
By Devin Gannon, Thu, July 1, 2021 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on September 23, 2017.Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr
Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, and Jennifer Hudson will headline the massive concert happening this August in Central Park, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Thursday. Last month, the mayor said he asked music producer and Brooklyn native Clive Davis to put together the concert, marketed as a celebration of New York’s comeback following the pandemic. The full lineup of performers will be announced in the coming weeks, but de Blasio said the event will be “one of the greatest Central Park concerts in history.”
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By Devin Gannon, Tue, June 8, 2021 Photo by Ralph_PH on Flickr
June is turning out to be a good month in New York City for rock ‘n’ roll. In the coming days, Bruce Springsteen will return to Broadway, the Foo Fighters will perform at Madison Square Garden, and The Strokes are taking on Irving Plaza. All performances will be at 100 percent capacity and for fully vaccinated fans only.
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By Devin Gannon, Wed, September 9, 2020 SummerStage 2019; Photo © 6sqft
A free concert benefiting New York City parks programs will be live-streamed next week, with a number of renowned artists participating. Hosted by the City Parks Foundation, the SummerStage Jubilee takes place virtually on September 17 with performances from Sting, Norah Jones, Trey Anastasio, Rufus Wainwright, Leslie Odom Jr., Rosanne Cash, Emily King, PJ Morton, and more. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the foundation put its annual free outdoor concert series in Central Park, online for all to enjoy, dubbing it SummerStage Anywhere.
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