Photo Credit: City Parks Foundation
SummerStage in Central Park is returning in person next month, with the line-up announced.
The concert series pivoted to a virtual performance last year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Now the famous Central Park live attraction is returning to an in-person concert series for this summer. The SummerStage 2021 line-up was also announced today.
Patti Smith, Questlove, Machine Gun Kelly, Ani DiFranco, Gloria Gaynor, and several other artists will perform this year. While most shows are available to attend for free, there are some benefit concerts that are not free. All benefit concerts are marked below with an (*) after the event title.
SummerStage in Central Park Line-up
- Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis – June 17
- Chris Botti: The Blue Note Jazz Festival* – June 20
- Falu & Film: Monsoon Wedding – June 24
- George Clinton: The Blue Note Jazz Festival* – June 24
- Galactic: The Blue Note Jazz Festival* – July 11
- Sun Ra Arkestra and Sistazz of the Nitty Critty – July 24
- Dance IS! featuring the Rennie Harris Puremovement – July 25
- The Originals – July 31
- Tito Nieves – August 1
- Met Opera Summer Recital – August 8
- Marc Rebillet, DJ Premier and Brady Watt – August 14
- Armand Hammer & The Alchemist with Moor Mother, KAYANA, Fielded, and Quelle Chris –
- August 15
- Antibalas – August 21
- Lake Street Drive* – August 24
- Dom Salvador Sextet – September 4
- Erica Campbell – September 11
- Machine Gun Kelly* – September 13
- Dawes with Erin Rae* – September 17
- Patti Smith – September 19
- Indigo Girls and Ani DiFranco* – September 21
Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem:
- Summer of Soul Screening with Questlove and Friends – June 19
- Charlie Parker with Strings: The Donald Harrison Quartet &
the Harlem Symphony Orchestra – August 28 - Willie Jones III – August 29
Coney Island, Brooklyn:
- Gloria Gaynor with DJ Stormin Norman – July 17
- La India – July 18
- Funk Flex Birthday Party with Ginuwine and Friends – August 7
- Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Mike Jackson with DJ KS360 – August 29
All performances will follow New York State health regulations. Those include limiting capacity, a mask mandate, and socially distanced seating at all events. SummerStage will also require proof of vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test and a health screening – like a temperature check upon entry.
Limited capacity means tickets will be gone fast. But most performances will also be streamed on the Summer Stage Anywhere website.