City Parks Foundation announces NYC SUMMERSTAGE 2016 Season Lineup

City Parks Foundation is proud to announce the 2016 season of SummerStage, New York City’s largest free performing arts festival, bringing more than 100 free performances to Central Park and 15 neighborhood parks throughout the five boroughs. With performances ranging from American pop, Yiddish Soul, and Taiwanese music to dance, comedy and theater, SummerStage will feature more than 200 unique artists, filling a vital niche in New York City’s summer arts landscape, ensuring that New Yorkers will have access to exceptional cultural experiences, free of charge. Since its inception 31 years ago, SummerStage has benefited more than six million people from New York City and around the world.

Having highlighted hip-hop music and culture in 2013 and salsa and Latin music in 2014, the festival is thrilled this year to honor another distinctly New York musical form: Jazz. The 2016 season of SummerStage will both showcase exceptional performing artists from around the globe, and will also feature more jazz performances than ever before, with nearly half a dozen planned for Central Park and many more in neighborhood parks across the city. The focus on jazz this season coincides with the upcoming centennial of the musical dawning of the term “jazz,” as well as what would have been the 100th birthdays of late jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Ella Fitzgerald

Living jazz legends McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter, and Roy Haynes will kick off the festival in Central Park on June 4, with the first free show of the season. Other notable performances will include the acclaimed Kamasi Washington, also in Central Park; jazz trumpeterTerence Blanchard in Staten Island’s Clove Lakes Park performing Breathless, a work based on the final words of borough native Eric Garner; pre-eminent soul jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves in Queensbridge Park; and Stefanie Batten Bland presenting an interdisciplinary dance collaboration with jazz ensemble Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber also in Queensbridge Park. The annual, three-day Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, New York City’s annual salute to the late saxophonist, will feature performances from Jason Lindner: Breeding Ground, Randy Weston African Rhythms Sextet, and DeJohnette – Moran – Holland. The final free show of the 2016 season will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the hit Jazz Age Broadway musical, Chicago, with performances from the current cast.

SummerStage is thrilled to welcome Comedy Central back to the festival for a guaranteed laugh-filled evening of stand-up from The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Accompanying a screening of A Ballerina’s Tale, the 2015 documentary on African-American principal ballerina Misty Copeland, award-winning choreographer Jeremy McQueen will present “The Black Iris Project,” a premier ballet collaborative celebrating diversity in art and dance. Roger Guenveur Smith will perform his one-man show, Rodney King, which explores the very timely and sensitive issues of police brutality. Other highlights include reggae sensation Alpha Blondy in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park; Latin soul icon Joe Bataan in St. Mary’s Park in the South Bronx; the return to Central Park of the folk rock duo Indigo Girls, whose last performance at SummerStage took place using generators during the 2003 blackout; hip-hop greats Public Enemy in Brownsville’s Betsy Head Park, and electronic rockers Neon Indian in East River Park.

“At City Parks Foundation, we believe culture should be convenient and affordable for everyone. Our SummerStage festival removes the barriers to culture, bringing world-class artists, topical and popular, to neighborhood parks across all five boroughs, free of charge,” said Heather Lubov, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation. “SummerStage brings together New York’s diverse communities in authentic and meaningful ways, making high quality performing arts — from music to spoken word, circus and contemporary dance — truly accessible. We are thrilled to bring another season, filled with exceptional artistry, to communities across the City.”

“The SummerStage festival celebrates the rich cultural fabric of New York City,” said Erika Elliott, Executive Artistic Director of City Parks Foundation. “This year, we’ll celebrate the 100th anniversary of jazz, with both emerging and master musicians, who will highlight the long legacy jazz has in the city and its continued impact on New Yorkers.”

“Capital One is proud to once again support SummerStage as it celebrates New York’s artistic energy and creativity,” said Michael Slocum, President, Commercial Banking and Northeast Regional President, Capital One. “The arts build communities and enrich lives, and this remarkable festival embodies our commitment to investing for good in the diverse communities where our associates live and work.”

The complete SummerStage schedule follows. For the most up-to-date scheduling and line-up for all SummerStageprogramming, follow SummerStage via the below links and visit cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage for festival information.

SummerStage 2016 Schedule

Day	Date	Time	Artist	Park	Boro	Genre
Saturday	Jun 4	6:00 PM	The Legends Honor McCoy: McCoy Tyner Quartet / Ron Carter / Roy Haynes, in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival	Central Park	MN	Music
Saturday	Jun 11	3:00 PM	Cymande / KING / Deva Mahal / DJ Parler, in association with Okayplayer	Central Park	MN	Music
Monday	Jun 13	7:00 PM	DJ Hard Hittin’ Harry / Screening:Afripedia,in association with African Film Festival, Inc.	Saratoga Park	BK	Music & Film
Tuesday	Jun 14	7:00 PM	Chairlift	Red Hook Park	BK	Music
Wednesday	Jun 15	7:00 PM	Just Blaze and Friends, in association with MeanRed	Red Hook Park	BK	Music
Wednesday	Jun 15	7:00 PM	Yiddish Soul: A Concert of Cantorial and Chassidic Superstars	Central Park	MN	Music
Thursday	Jun 16	7:00 PM	Blonde Redhead	Red Hook Park	BK	Music
Friday	Jun 17	7:00 PM	Liza Jessie Peterson / LuQuantumleap	Red Hook Park	BK	Theater
Saturday	Jun 18	7:00 PM	Dance on the Lawn / Master Class: Calvin Wiley	Red Hook Park	BK	Dance
Saturday	Jun 18	6:00 PM	Kamasi Washington, in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival / Pre-Show Panel	Central Park	MN	Music
Sunday	Jun 19	4:00 PM	DJ Rich Medina / RAAA / Urban Word & Hi-Arts: Journal to Journey / Ziearre	Red Hook Park	BK	Family
Monday	Jun 20	7:00 PM	Screening: In My Father’s House with Q&A with Rhymefest, in association with ImageNation	Saratoga Park	BK	Film
Tuesday	Jun 21	6:00 PM	Fête de la Musique: CharlElie Couture / Yael Naim / General Elektriks / La Femme	Central Park	MN	Music
Tuesday	Jun 21	7:00 PM	Public Enemy / DJ Tedsmooth	Betsy Head Park	BK	Music
Wednesday	Jun 22	7:00 PM	Angie Stone / DJ Chuck Chillout	Betsy Head Park	BK	Music
Wednesday	Jun 22	8:00 PM	Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series featuring Angel Blue, Ben Bliss, Alexey Lavrov, and Dan Saunders	Central Park	MN	Music
Thursday	Jun 23	7:00 PM	Duck Down BBQ	Betsy Head Park	BK	Music
Friday	Jun 24	7:00 PM	Nuyorican Poets Cafe featuring Mahogany Browne’s Redbone and reg e gaines’ The Last Celebrity	Betsy Head Park	BK	Theater
Friday	Jun 24	7:00 PM	Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series featuring Angel Blue, Ben Bliss, Alexey Lavrov, and Dan Saunders	Brooklyn Bridge Park	BK	Music
Saturday	Jun 25	7:00 PM	Brooklyn Dance Festival / Master Class: Mr. Kid	Betsy Head Park	BK	Dance
Saturday	Jun 25	3:00 PM	Butler, Bernstein, and the Hot 9 / The Hot Sardines / Bria Skonberg and the New York Hot Jazz Festival All-Stars featuring Anat Cohen, Vince Giordano, Wycliffe Gordon, Joe Saylor and Dalton Ridenhour, in association with the New York Hot Jazz Festival	Central Park	MN	Music
Sunday	Jun 26	4:00 PM	Christian Cultural Center C3 Choir / Mr. Reed / Boots Step Team / DJ Styff, in association with ARTs East New York Inc.	Betsy Head Park	BK	Family
Sunday	Jun 26	7:00 PM	DJ Gringo / Screening: Queen Nanny: Legendary Maroon Chieftainess, in association with African Film Festival, Inc.	Betsy Head Park	BK	Music & Film
Sunday	Jun 26	5:00 PM	Only in Queens Summer Festival featuring Ginuwine / Mack Wilds / Kid ‘n Play	Flushing Meadows Corona Park	QN	Music
Sunday	Jun 26	8:00 PM	Comedy Central Presents: The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Stand-Up in the Park	Central Park	MN	Comedy
Monday	Jun 27	7:00 PM	Felix Hernandez’s Rhythm Revue / Screening: 20 Feet From Stardom,in association with ImageNation	Saratoga Park	BK	Music & Film
Monday	Jun 27	7:00 PM	Indigo Girls	Central Park	MN	Music
Tuesday	Jun 28	7:00 PM	Lisa Simone / Screening: What Happened Miss Simone?, in association with ImageNation	Herbert Von King Park	BK	Music & Film
Wednesday	Jun 29	8:00 PM	Screening: A Ballerina’s Tale / Jeremy McQueen’s Black Iris Project / Pre-Show Panel	Central Park	MN	Dance & Film
Wednesday	Jun 29	7:00 PM	Soul in the Horn featuring Theo Croker, Maurice Mobetta Brown, Marcus Machado / Kendra Foster / DJ Natasha Diggs. Hosted by DProsper.	Herbert Von King Park	BK	Music
Thursday	Jun 30	7:00 PM	Vivian Green / GrandWizzard Theodore	Herbert Von King Park	BK	Music
Friday	Jul 1	7:00 PM	Maimouna Keita Dance Company / Master Class	Herbert Von King Park	BK	Dance
Saturday	Jul 2	7:00 PM	Freedom Party® 13th Anniversary	Central Park	MN	Music
Saturday	Jul 2	7:00 PM	Everyday People	Herbert Von King Park	BK	Music
Sunday	Jul 3	3:00 PM	King Sunny Adé / Orlando Julius and the Afro Soundz / DJ Rich Medina, in association with World Music Institute	Central Park	MN	Music
Sunday	Jul 3	7:00 PM	Trouble Funk / Operator Emz	Herbert Von King Park	BK	Music
Tuesday	Jul 5	7:00 PM	George Lamond / DJ Lucho	Crotona Park	BX	Music
Wednesday	Jul 6	6:00 PM	Mexrrissey / Los Cafres / La Dame Blanche, in association with Latin Alternative Music Conference	Central Park	MN	Music
Wednesday	Jul 6	7:00 PM	Fat Joe / Tony Touch hosted by Lyricist Lounge	Crotona Park	BX	Music
Thursday	Jul 7	7:00 PM	Tribute to Latin Jazz Great Dave Valentin	Crotona Park	BX	Music
Thursday	Jul 7	7:00 PM	Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series featuring Michelle Bradley, Kang Wang, Yunpeng Wang, and Dan Saunders	Clove Lakes Park	SI	Music
Friday	Jul 8	6:00 PM	Leon Larregui / Rodrigo Amarante / Grenda, in association with Latin Alternative Music Conference	Central Park	MN	Music
Friday	Jul 8	7:00 PM	Nuyorican Poets Cafe: Craig ‘muMs’ Grant’s “A Sucker Emcee”	Crotona Park	BX	Theater
Varies	Jul 8 – Jul 31	8:00 PM	Classical Theatre of Harlem Presents Macbeth	Marcus Garvey Park	MN	Theater
Saturday	Jul 9	7:00 PM	Acrobuffos / Rob & Miss Jane / Sxip’s Hour of Charm / It’s Showtime NYC	Crotona Park	BX	Circus
Saturday	Jul 9	7:00 PM	Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series featuring Michelle Bradley, Kang Wang, Yunpeng Wang, and Dan Saunders	Jackie Robinson Park	MN	Music
Sunday	Jul 10	3:00 PM	Justin Roberts & the Not Ready For Naptime Players / Mister G / Excerpts from Finding Neverland / Gizmo Guys	Central Park	MN	Family
Sunday	Jul 10	7:00 PM	DJ Kool Herc / Little Shalimar / Screening: Rubble Kings	Crotona Park	BX	Music & Film
Monday	Jul 11	7:00 PM	The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series featuring Michelle Bradley, Kang Wang, Yunpeng Wang, and Dan Saunders	Socrates Sculpture Park	QN	Music
Tuesday	Jul 12	7:00 PM	Johnny Rivera / Joan Català	St. Mary’s Park	BX	Music
Wednesday	Jul 13	7:00 PM	Joe Bataan Meets Setenta / Joan Català	St. Mary’s Park	BX	Music
Wednesday	Jul 13	7:00 PM	The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series featuring Michelle Bradley, Kang Wang, Yunpeng Wang, and Dan Saunders	Crotona Park	BX	Music
Thursday	Jul 14	7:00 PM	Tito Rojas	St. Mary’s Park	BX	Music
Friday	Jul 15	7:00 PM	Felix Hernandez’s Rhythm Revue / Screening: We Like It Like That	St. Mary’s Park	BX	Music & Film
Saturday	Jul 16	6:00 PM	Taiwanese Waves: Anpu / Wonfu / Sunset Rollercoaster	Central Park	MN	Music
Saturday	Jul 16	7:00 PM	Full Circle Souljahs Presents: From The Streets To The Stage/Behind The Groove / Master Class: Kwikstep and Rokafella	St. Mary’s Park	BX	Dance
Sunday	Jul 17	4:00 PM	Legacy Women / Recess Monkey / Music with a Message / Double Dutch Dreamz	St. Mary’s Park	BX	Family
Sunday	Jul 17	3:00 PM	Paulo Flores / Herencia de Timbiquí / Monsieur Periné / DJ Greg Caz / DJ Manny	Central Park	MN	Music
Monday	Jul 18	7:00 PM	The Feelies / Beach Fossils	Central Park	MN	Music
Tuesday	Jul 26	7:00 PM	Black Moon & Smif-N-Wessun, performing a tribute to Enta Da Stage & Dah Shinin’	Queensbridge	QN	Music
Wednesday	Jul 27	8:00 PM	Complexions Contemporary Ballet / Carolyn Dorfman	Central Park	MN	Dance
Wednesday	Jul 27	7:00 PM	Dianne Reeves / DJ Greg Caz	Queensbridge Park	QU	Music
Thursday	Jul 28	7:00 PM	Lyfe Jennings	Queensbridge Park	QU	Music
Friday	Jul 29	7:00 PM	Nuyorican Poets Cafe: Paolo Javier and Maria Lisella host a night of Queens Poets	Queensbridge Park	QU	Theater
Saturday	Jul 30	7:00 PM	Stefanie Batten Bland with Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber / Master Class: Karisma Jay	Queensbridge Park	QU	Dance
Saturday	Jul 30	7:00 PM	Unknown Mortal Orchestra / Empress Of, in association with Okayfuture	Central Park	MN	Music
Sunday	Jul 31	4:00 PM	Marc Cary: The Harlem Jam Sessions / Joseph Webb: Dancing Buddhas / WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Featuring Brianna Thomas & The Jazz Travelers	Queensbridge Park	QU	Family
Sunday	Jul 31	7:00 PM	Rock Steady Crew 39th Anniversary with Nice & Smooth / Bahamadia and more	Central Park	MN	Music
Tuesday	Aug 2	7:00 PM	Jon B	Clove Lakes Park	SI	Music
Wednesday	Aug 3	7:00 PM	Screening: Kirikou and the Wild Beasts / Orisha’s Journey / DJ Djib Sayo, in association with African Film Festival	Clove Lakes Park	SI	Music & Film
Thursday	Aug 4	7:00 PM	Jungle Brothers / G-Bo the Pro	Clove Lakes Park	SI	Music
Friday	Aug 5	7:00 PM	Terence Blanchard Featuring The E-Collective	Clove Lakes Park	SI	Music
Saturday	Aug 6	6:00 PM	Monobloco / Cabruêra / Boogarins / DJ Luiz Santos, in association with Brasil Summerfest / Pre-Show Panel	Central Park	MN	Music
Saturday	Aug 6	7:00 PM	Complexions Contemporary Ballet / Master Class: Jamel Gaines	Clove Lakes Park	SI	Dance
Sunday	Aug 7	4:00 PM	Secret Agent 23 Skidoo / Sierra Leone Dance Troupe / Wahoo Skiffle Crazies, in association with the Staten Island Arts Folklife	Clove Lakes Park	SI	Family
Sunday	Aug 7	7:00 PM	Igmar Thomas & the Revive Big Band present: A Journey Through the Legacy of Black Culture, produced by Revive Music / Pre-Show Panel	Central Park	MN	Music
Tuesday	Aug 9	7:00 PM	Neon Indian	East River Park	MN	Music
Wednesday	Aug 10	7:00 PM	“We Play For You, Butch Morris” featuring Nublu Orchestra / DarkMatterHalo with Wadada Leo Smith / Screening: Black February	East River Park	MN	Music
Wednesday	Aug 10	8:00 PM	Tamar-kali with ASE Dance Theatre Collective / Nathan Trice Rituals	Central Park	MN	Dance
Thursday	Aug 11	7:00 PM	Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound	East River Park	MN	Music
Friday	Aug 12	7:00 PM	Roger Guenveur Smith “RODNEY KING”	East River Park	MN	Theater
Saturday	Aug 13	7:00 PM	Carolyn Dorfman / Master Class: Theresa Lavington	East River Park	MN	Dance
Sunday	Aug 14	6:00 PM	Mbongwana Star / Batida / Young Paris / Okayafrica Electrafrique feat. DJ Underdog / Pre-Show Panel	Central Park	MN	Music
Sunday	Aug 14	4:00 PM	DJ Spinna celebrates Earth Wind & Fire / Shine & the Moonbeams	East River Park	MN	Family
Tuesday	Aug 16	7:00 PM	Alpha Blondy	Marcus Garvey Park	MN	Music
Wednesday	Aug 17	7:00 PM	Saul Williams / Kimberly Nichole	Marcus Garvey Park	MN	Music
Wednesday	Aug 17	8:00 PM	DJ KS 360 & Full Circle Souljahs Presents: Behind The Groove / Soul Connected / Raphael Xavier	Central Park	MN	Dance
Thursday	Aug 18	7:00 PM	Tamar-kali with ASE Dance Collective / Master Class: Calvin Wiley	Marcus Garvey Park	MN	Dance
Friday	Aug 19	7:00	Nathan Trice Rituals / Harlem School of the Arts Young Dance Alliance / Master Class: Calvin Wiley	Marcus Garvey Park	MN	Dance
Saturday & Sunday	Aug 20-21	7:00 PM	Kalabantè Circus / Iron Skulls & Quim Moya / Sxip’s Hour of Charm	Marcus Garvey Park	MN	Circus
Sunday	Aug 21	3:00 PM	Sweet Micky / MHD / DJ Erick La Peau	Central Park	MN	Music
Friday	Aug 26	7:00 PM	Charlie Parker Jazz Festival: Jason Lindner: Breeding Ground / DJ Greg Caz	Marcus Garvey Park	MN	Music
Saturday	Aug 27	3:00 PM	Charlie Parker Jazz Festival: Randy Weston African Rhythms Sextet / Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles / The Artistry of Jazzmeia Horn / Charles Turner III / Master Class: Samuel Coleman	Marcus Garvey Park	MN	Music
Sunday	Aug 28	3:00 PM	Charlie Parker Jazz Festival: DeJohnette – Moran – Holland / Allan Harris / Donnie McCaslin Group / Grace Kelly	Tompkins Square Park	MN	Music
Sunday	Aug 28	3:00 PM	GoldLink / Backyard Band / DJ Spicoli, in association with MeanRed	Central Park	MN	Music
Wednesday	Aug 31	8:00 PM	Chicago The Musical: 20th Anniversary Concert	Central Park	MN	Theater

 

SummerStage 2016 Benefit Show Schedule

Day	Date	Time	Artist	Park	Boro	Genre
Monday	May 16	6:00 PM	The Bowery Presents: Cage the Elephant / Portugal. The Man / BRONCHO [SOLD OUT]	Central Park	MN	Music
Tuesday	May 17	6:00 PM	The Bowery Presents: Cage the Elephant / Portugal. The Man / BRONCHO	Central Park	MN	Music
Wednesday	May 18	6:00 PM	The Bowery Presents: Rudimental / Gorgon City	Central Park	MN	Music
Monday	Jun 13	6:00 PM	Live Nation presents: Barenaked Ladies / Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark / Howard Jones	Central Park	MN	Music
Wednesday	July 20	7:00 PM	Live Nation presents: Ryan Adams & The Shining	Central Park	MN	Music
Sunday	Jul 24	6:00 PM	AEG presents: Flight of the Conchords Sing Flight of the Conchords [SOLD OUT]	Central Park	MN	Music
Monday	Jul 25	6:00 PM	Mass Appeal: Live at the BBQ	Central Park	MN	Music
Wednesday	Aug 3	6:00 PM	Live Nation presents: Phillip Phillips / Matt Nathanson / A Great Big World	Central Park	MN	Music
Monday	Aug 8	7:00 PM	Live Nation presents: Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring Warren Haynes	Central Park	MN	Music
Saturday	Aug 13	6:30 PM	Live Nation presents: The Go-Go’s Farewell Tour	Central Park	MN	Music
Friday	Sep 23	7:00 PM	The Bowery Presents: Lucius / JD McPherson / Big Thief	Central Park	MN	Music