SummerStage releases lineup of free shows in Central Park and across NYC

SummerStage returns in June with more than 70 shows in Central Park or 13 other neighborhood parks across the five boroughs – nearly all of them free.

Opening night is set for Wednesday, June 4 in Central Park, with a free New Orleans-themed celebration featuring jazz great Marcus Miller, NPR “Tiny Desk” winners Tank and the Bangas, and brass ensemble The Soul Rebels.

Afrobeat star Femi Kuti will headline a free Central Park show on July 27 alongside poet Maryam Bukar Hassan.

Many of this year’s evenings are curated by artists themselves, according to City Parks Foundation Executive Director Heather Lubov, including “Blacktronica,” a festival of POC electronic artists, at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on Aug. 17.

“There’s a lot of work to really identify artists in their own communities and curate shows in those communities,” Lubov said.

Other notable Central Park dates include Jessica Pratt’s haunting folk songs on July 24 and an indie-rock closing show on Sept. 16 with Soccer Mommy and Hurray for the Riff Raff.

As always, a handful of concerts are paid benefit shows that support the City Parks Foundation, including an already sold-out show from recently reunited indie giants Rilo Kiley, as well as shows from James Blunt, the Head and the Heart, and Jacob Collier.

Paid tickets are sold through LiveNation. Free shows do not require reservations.

Beyond Central Park, Big Freedia brings her bounce/rap project to Herbert Von King Park in Bed-Stuy on July 10 and The Roots play Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens on July 20. Both shows are free.

SummerStage's opening night is June 4 and closing night is Sept. 16. The shows happen at parks across New York City. Most events are free – the full lineup and more information is available here.