The city that never sleeps is set to groove once more with the return of SummerStage, the annual free concert series sprawling across New York City's lush parks. Launching today, fans can head to Central Park to catch Grammy award-winning jazz bassist Marcus Miller take the stage at 6 p.m., with doors swinging open at 5 p.m. at Rumsey Playfield. But that's just the jumping-off point, folks.
With over 70 shows earmarked on this summer's agenda, a smorgasbord of salsa, jazz, hip-hop, and indie-rock among other genres await the happy listeners of the Big Apple's boroughs. According to a statement obtained by NY1, Erika Elliott, the executive artistic director of SummerStage summed it up as an "eclectic lineup for a diverse city to enjoy." And talking about diversity, the series will be dishing out its sonic delights across 13 different parks in all five boroughs.
CBS News New York reports that these concerts will feature big names like The Roots rocking Queens, Big Freedia bringing it in Brooklyn, and Rakim ruling Staten Island. But SummerStage isn't just about the chart-toppers; it's a boon for budding artists too. Heather Lubov, City Parks Foundation Executive Director, told CBS News New York, "We're doing a number of showcases, particularly in Central Park. We have Aussie Day, which features a lot of up and coming singer-songwriters from Australia."
On the docket for August 10th at Central Park, is a set that promises to get feet moving. The Originals, a team of storied New York City DJs, will spin everything from hip hop to reggae, according to DJ Tony Touch in a discussion with NY1. "We get all walks of life, especially here at our events, what people can expect, high energy super great vibes. An eclectic mix of music from hip hop to funk, soul, reggae, house music, R&B. It’s the block party of all block parties," he said.
For more info on the lineup, check out the online brochure and plan your summer of sensational sounds.
