By Gus Saltonstall
The popular Central Park SummerStage concert series will return this week for its 38th season.
This summer’s rendition of the months-long series will bring 85 free and benefit shows to Central Park and other parks across the five boroughs from May 17 to October 3.
The concert series will kick off this weekend with a James Arthur benefit concert on Friday in Central Park, and then the official opening night on June 1st, which will feature a free performance by Grammy-winning singer Andra Day.
The Central Park SummerStage performances all take place at the Rumsey Playfield within the park near 71st Street and East Drive.
“We are thrilled to once again celebrate the vibrant diversity of New York City’s cultures and communities across all five boroughs,” said Erika Elliott, executive artistic director of SummerStage, in a news release. “Our lineup will shine a bright spotlight on some of music’s most iconic female artists who have made an impact in their genres, from rock and New Orleans soul scions to Dominican merengue and Brazilian samba legends.”
Here are some of the performers slated for both the free and ticketed shows this summer.
- T-Pain
- Counting Crows
- David Cross, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Silverman, Fred Armisen
- The Roots
- Kim Gordon and Sun Ra Arkestra
- Corinne Bailey Rae and Dixson
“This year’s festival will continue to champion diversity, uplift women, and bring artists and performers to New York City from around the world,” organizers of SummerStage wrote in a news release. “Returning for its 38th year, the festival will once again showcase established and emerging artists from across the globe, highlighting forward-thinking women pushing boundaries, and will feature a multitude of genres including jazz, hip-hop, indie rock, salsa, reggae, Afrobeats, soul, pop, global, and contemporary dance, to name just a few.”
Capital One is SummerStage’s primary sponsor.
You can check out all the artists and performance dates — HERE.
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Opening night with Andra Day is June 1, not this coming Saturday.