The City of New York will host a starry concert in Central Park on The Great Lawn, on August 21 at 5 PM. Billed a “homecoming concert,” to celebrate its comeback from the pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the event, The We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert, is a concert for the people, “a concert that helps us keep moving forward. Our recovery… It’s all about recovery.” All attendees will have to present proof of vaccination.
The lineup features artists and music icons from a number of eras, genres and styles. Among those performing are LL Cool J, Elvis Costello, Andrea Bocelli, Carlos Santana, the New York Philharmonic Earth, Wind & Fire, Wyclef Jean, Barry Manilow, Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson, Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen among other artists. The We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert will be aired live, worldwide by CNN.
Eighty percent of the tickets will be free. These and tickets for purchase will be released in batches at nyc.gov/HomecomingWeek beginning Monday, August 2 at 10 AM.
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On the newly opened Little Island, a largely free month-long arts festival will start on Wednesday, August 11, through Sunday, September 5, featuring more than 450 artists in more than 160 performances. The festival is another effort by New York’s performing arts community to help revive the arts, a cultural sector severely damaged by the COVID pandemic. The festival’s objective is to reach out to both arts patrons with people who might not usually buy tickets to see live music or dance.
The performances in Little Island’s 687-seat amphitheater will be ticketed, but many shows located elsewhere on the island’s 2.4-acre space are free.
Dance will include works curated by Misty Copeland, Robert Garland and Georgina Pazcoguin. Music performances will include the pianists Jenny Lin and Adam Tendler, the composer Tyshawn Sorey and the saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin and her band. Additionally, there will be live comedy and Broadway will be represented by Ali Stroker, the Tony-winning Oklahoma! performer, who will sing and tell stories onstage.
For more information, visit https://littleisland.org
Michael Kirk Lane contributes so much the the music industry!