New York City’s City Parks Foundation announced its annual SummerStage Concert Series schedule for this summer, which will feature New York artists The Wailers, Japanese Breakfast, Parquet Courts, Slick Rick, Big Freedia, and Young M.A.
The women-led concert series is the city’s largest, free festival. Shows will kick-off on June 1 in Central Park with a performance from R&B’s Emily King and should group Durand Jones & The Indications. Throughout the summer, the series will host nearly 200 events throughout 17 different neighborhoods.
This year, the flagship SummerStage venue in Central Park will reveal its new $5.5 million renovations, which features a new sound system, enhanced lighting, and raised seating areas. This year’s lineup will include a 50:50 gender balanced lineup, making sure to feature notable women acts like the female-fronted Canadian pop bands Alvvays and The Courtneys, along with the Latin Grammy winner soul-pop artist Buika.
City Parks Foundation Executive Director Heather Luboy explained in a press release that this is a “big year” for SummerStage.
“Not only are we reopening our storied Central Park venue, modernizing it for its next 30 years, but we are also partnering with our new title sponsor and looking to the future by launching the season with young musicians representing the next generation,” she said. “Of course, throughout the summer, we will present a line-up that is reflective of our city’s population, focusing not only on gender equality, but also on the huge diversity of cultures and backgrounds that make New York so special and exciting.”
This year’s lineup is meant to celebrate New York artists and celebrate their personal history, City Parks Foundation Executive Artist Erika Elliot said in the release, noting that the festival acts as a “platform for global talent to perform for New Yorkers and a place to see some of the most diverse and exciting talent around.”
In addition to the local artists, benefit shows produced by The Bowery Presents will also be held within Central Park to support the City Park Foundation’s free shows. Artists set to appear throughout the summer include George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Marina, Kurt Viles and the Violators, and the B-52s.
Check out the full list of upcoming shows here.
