In June of 1986 Sun Ra and the Omniverse Jet Set Arkestra
performed a free concert in the Naumberg Bandshell in Central Park, and the
summer music landscape in New York City changed forever. Today, nearly 30 years
later, SummerStage is New York City’s largest free performing arts festival,
presenting work in all performing arts disciplines, with a focus on New York’s
unique neighborhoods. SummerStage has
touched the lives of more than six million fans from around the world.
In
celebration of this milestone, City Parks Foundation, the independent nonprofit
organization that produces the festival, plans to deepen the impact the
festival has in neighborhoods throughout New York City. The 2015 season will feature more shows in
Central Park and 15% growth in the number of performances offered in neighborhood
parks around the city, creating 6-day "mini-festivals" in 8 parks,
featuring music, dance, theater, film, circus and family days. In total this
new model will add over 20 performances to the fourteen parks SummerStage
presents in, bringing more than 140 unique artists to these stages around the
city.
“As an
organization we are dedicated to working in traditionally underserved
neighborhoods across the city,” said Heather Lubov, Executive Director of City
Parks Foundation. “By presenting artists and genres that reflect the cultures
and communities in these parks, introducing disciplines such as dance or
theater alongside musical performances, and providing all of this fantastic art
free of charge, we are building new audiences and fostering a broader interest
in the arts here in New York City.”
SummerStage’s
artistic mission is to celebrate the cultural legacy and diversity of New York
City. In our 30 years, we have presented such legendary performers as Youssou
N’Dour, Curtis Mayfield, David Byrne, Max Roach, Patti Smith, Gil Scott Heron,
Lou Reed, James Brown, Pete Seeger, Celia Cruz, Miriam Makeba, Jimmy Cliff, and
Hugh Masekela, as well as once lesser-known artists, influenced by these icons,
who have gone on to become famous in their own right. Vampire Weekend, Alabama
Shakes, The Black Keys, The xx, Sarah McLachlan, Thievery Corporation, Jack
Johnson, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, and Florence & the Machine are just some of those now-famous performers.
“SummerStage
is the festival that truly celebrates New York City,” said Director of Arts
& Cultural Programs for City Parks Foundation, Ian Noble. “From the iconic
to the avant garde, from opera to hip-hop, film to circus, there is no other
festival like it. Not only do we select our artists to reflect the nature of
each neighborhood, but each park and audience
becomes part of the adventure and charm of each and every show.”
“Capital
One Bank is proud to support SummerStage as it showcases the diversity and
artistic vitality of New York,” said Michael Slocum, President, Commercial Banking
and Northeast Regional President, Capital One. “The arts play an important role
in building strong, healthy communities, and we are pleased to help the
festival reach new audiences across the city.”
The 2015
30th Anniversary Season will open with a free concert in Central Park featuring
the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Other notable talents include: Angelique Kidjo, the
iconic African singer-songwriter; London’s soul-funk collective Jungle;
Canadian folktronica artist, Caribou; Franco-Norwegian circus duo, Magmanus;
and a special celebration of dance and music from the legendary Broadway
musical The Wiz. Additionally, Brazil's pioneering mangue-beat superstars,
Nação Zumbi, will return to SummerStage 20 years after their historic and epic
U.S. debut. A number of parks will welcome neighborhood heroes to their stages,
like Staten Islander Mack Wilds, and a screening of Time is Illmatic, the
documentary that follows Queensbridge
prodigal son Nas, as his life leads up to his critically-acclaimed, seminal
album, Illmatic. The Oliver Lake Big
Band will premier a commissioned piece during the expanded Charlie Parker Jazz
Festival weekend, and a 30th Anniversary DJ commission with Quantic, Gilles
Peterson, and Afrika Bambaataa, will take audiences through the decades of
SummerStage.
For the most up-to-date scheduling and line-up for all
SummerStageprogramming, follow SummerStage via the below links and visit
www.SummerStage.org for festival information.
Twitter:@SummerStage
Instagram:@SummerStageNYC
Facebook:SummerStage NYC
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