SummerStage
New York’s City Parks Foundation announced the lineup for its 2025 season of Capitol One City Parks Foundation SummerStage series of shows on Wednesday (April 23). The series of 70 free and benefit concerts and performances will bring music to Central Park and 13 other neighborhood parks across all five boroughs this summer, kicking off on June 4 with a New Orleans-inspired show featuring Marcus Miller, Tank and the Bangas and the Soul Rebels in association with the Blue Note Jazz Festival.
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The rest of the eclectic roster for the 39th edition of SummerStage will feature jazz, hip-hop, rock, salsa, reggae, Afrobeat, soul and pop artist, as well as DJs and contemporary dance performers from around the globe.
“I am thrilled to announce our 2025 SummerStage lineup, a stellar reflection of what makes our festival so unique and beloved,” said Heather Lubov, executive director of City Parks Foundation in a statement. “The huge variety of artists we’re presenting and the parks where we’re located reflect our city’s demographic and cultural diversity, but they also serve to unite us as neighbors and as lovers of music, regardless of our differences.”
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Among the other acts slated to take the stage are: The Roots, Soccer Mommy, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Rakim, Celia Cruz Centennial Celebration, Big Freedia, Camilo, Jessica Pratt, Bob Sinclair, IZA, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Awich, Frankie Negrón, La Sonora Poceña and Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues, among others.
This season’s events will take place in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, Herbert Von King Park and The Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, St. Mary’s Park and Crotona Park in the Bronx, Stapleton Waterfront Park on Staten Island, and SummerStage’s flagship venue, Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Performances are free and open to the public, with the exception of the ticketed benefit concerts in Central Park.
Other 2025 SummerStage highlights include:
The Aussie BBQ: a June 14 celebration of sounds from Down Under featuring father-son hip-hop duo Flewnt and Inkabee, indie pop artist Gordi, singer-songwriter Grace Cummings, EDM duo PINES, garage rockers The Grogans and a special appearance from beloved children’s music group The Wiggles.
Nordic Next: a June 15 show with sounds from Nordic nations featuring singer-songwriter Jakob, Swedish indie-folk singer Sarah Klang and Danish art-pop violinist/singer Astrid Sonne.
New York Sings Yiddish: a June 30 showcase of Yiddish music and folklore with sets from multi-instrumentalist Zalman Mlotek and klezmer/jazz fusion band Frank London’s Klezmer All-Stars.
Canadian music showcase: a July 2 show featuring Toronto R&B singer Charlotte Day Wilson and folk-rock band The Weather Station.
Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC): July 9 show with Colombian Latin pop band Morat, with punk/reggaeton band Planta Industrial and a July 12 show with Colombian singer-songwriter Camilo and Colombian pop singer and 2024 Latin Grammy best new artist winner Ela Taubert.
Big Freedia: the New Orleans bounce queen will take the stage at Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn with Black trans femme choreographer Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington.
Bastille Day Celebration: a July 13 showcase with performances from house DJ Bob Sinclair, hip-hop brother duo Big Flo & Oli, singer-songwriter Patrick Bruel and pianist/singer ESTL.
The Roots: The Philly hip-hop collective and Tonight Show house band will play Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens on July 20.
Femi Kuti: a July 27 show with the Nigerian superstar and his band, the Positive Force, along with New York rap crew dead prez — celebrating their 30th anniversary — and poet Maryam Bukar Hassan.
Frankie Negrón: Tropical/salsa star Negrón will play the Bronx’s Crotona Park on July 31.
Taiwanese Waves: an August 3 showcase celebrating indigenous Taiwanese culture with contemporary dance company Bulareyaung Dance Company, indigenous Paiwan pop star ABAO and singer-songwriter Enno Cheng.
Rakim: The legendary New York MC will take the stage at Stapleton Waterfront Park on Staten Island on August 9.
Celia Cruz Celebration: the tribute to the legendary Queen of Salsa’s centennial on August 9 will feature Cuban singer/pianist Aymée Nuviola and Afro-Cuban singer Brenda Navarrete.
La Sonora Ponceña: The Puerto Rican salsa band will play Stapleton Waterfront Park on August 10.
Soccer Mommy: indie rock band will close out the Central Park season on Sept. 16 with help from Hurray for the Riff Raff and Dummy.
The series will include celebrations of New York’s cultural communities with guest curators including MIKE’s Young World V — with July 12 sets from Roc Marciano and The Alchemist — DJ Rekha’s Basement Bhangra Beyond dance show with London-based Punjabi singer Tara Lily on July 19 and Coney Island’s NEMS’ second GORILLAFEST hip-hop show on July 26. In addition, legendary DJ Funk Flex will celebrate the sounds of hip-hop and R&B across the boroughs on Aug. 1 (the Bronx), Aug. 16 (Coney Island) and Aug. 17 (Central Park) and DJ/producer King Britt will host his Blacktronika Festival with back-to-back shows in Central Park (Aug. 16) and Marcus Garvey Park (Aug. 17).
SummerStage will put the spotlight on a number of female artists as well, with bluegrass/Americana singer Rihannon Giddens playing Central Park on June 25, Indian-American singer-songwriter Asha Puthli taking the stage on July 23 and folk singer Jessica Pratt performing on July 24.
Other artists who will perform as part of the season include: Lettuce with Styles P (June 14), Chris Tomlin (July 11), Cymande (July 23), The Originals featuring Rich Medina, Stretch Armstrong and Tony Touch (Aug. 10) and various artists at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival (Aug. 22). For the full line-up click here.
Summerstage
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A Caifanes concert at the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in New York City was abruptly cut short due to bad weather on Wednesday night (June 26). The evening was a unique occasion for fans, who were able to see two of Mexico’s most iconic rock acts, Café Tacvba and Caifanes, together on the […]
Very few bands can play exciting international shows without a new album, but the beloved Café Tacvba can. Fresh off two back-to-back shows at the Hollywood Bowl, the mercurial Mexican group landed in New York on Monday (July 24) at Central Park’s Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage and captivated crowds with a dazzling two-hour show.
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Donning black jeans and matching long-sleeved shirt, frontman Rubén Albarrán commanded the stage from the start when he began to belt out “Seguir Siendo,” a rock masterpiece from their 2007 album SINO. The song, which runs through disparate vibes and emotions, with pensive chants and chilling howls, has the ability to hypnotize listeners instantly, in an almost shamanic way.
The summer night show began as clear as day at 8:00 p.m., a civil twilight, with blue skies and lush foliage. “Friends, look at this great afternoon, with the moon, the sky, and the trees in this wonderful place — thank you so much for bringing us here to Mexa York,” the frontman said with a chuckle.
Spanning through their three-decade discography, the band’s musical prowess was on full display throughout the evening. Their ability to seamlessly transition between different genres, from the raw power of rock to the soulful melodies of folk, was nothing short of impressive. Each band member brought their unique talents to the forefront, creating a harmonious blend of instruments that elevated the songs to new heights.
Here are five reasons why Café Tacvba is an enduring force in Latin music.
Their uncanny ability to evoke a range of emotions
Right from the jump, Café Tacvba has shown its ability to take us on a ride of emotions, from euphoric highs to devastating lows, with songs that span a wide range of stylistic configurations, such as rock balladry, folk, and electronica. In a way, the members — also comprised of Emmanuel del Real (keyboards), Joselo Rangel (guitar), and Enrique Rangel (bass) — convey a supreme musicality in the vein of musical greats (a Beatle-like quality, we dare to say), balancing moods with harmonic delivery that sounds equally as impressive in an outdoor setting as it does indoors with perfect acoustics.
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Albarrán’s multifaceted voice
The band has written some timeless ballads like “María,” “Esa Noche,” “Quiero Ver” and “Diente de León”, which we had the pleasure of hearing on Monday. And Albarrán’s unparalleled, crystalline voice is capable of piercing your heart and soul. Equally, that same voice can turn harsh and raw, unleashing ominous growls — as evinced in songs like “Bar Tacuba,” “Futuro,” and “Déjate Caer” — that make you wonder if it’s all coming from the same person. Listening to the band’s two-hour set with such an eclectic set, and that voice, is truly an unforgettable experience.
Their charming, occasional silly choreography
The band has pulled out some of the funnest choreography of the Spanish-language rock game. Who else doesn’t shy away from busting some charmingly silly moves like we see on “Déjate Caer”? Then they do the duck walk somewhere in between their set, with the Rangel brothers pulling their heavy instruments near the ground with them, while still playing them. Albarrán does some kind of air split, dances and flirts with the crowd. Every band member is always active and vibrant, giving us visual entertainment with just their moves — which never feel forced, but just a sign of having fun on stage while engaging with the audience.
Their audience engagement
Mexican flags lofted high throughout the scene. Yet there were Colombians, Puerto Ricans, Brazilians, Ecuadorians, Argentinians and more in the house, people of all ages. Most in my immediate surroundings seemed to know most of Café Tacvba’s lyrics, singing along with them. They watched in awe during moments of serene vibes with their captivating ballads and rocked the heck out with them in the raucous numbers. The thousands in attendance were there to be engrossed by the show and it showed.
Their uniqueness and continued relevance
Although Cafeta has been around since the late 80’s, their songs still sound as vibrant as ever: That is their gift. Few bands have been able to evolve and transform, while staying true to themselves, with each album they release. From embracing their folk roots (Café Tacvba, Re) to becoming strange and experimental (SINO, El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco), their sound is unique and singular in concept and execution.
Capital One City Parks Foundation announced the 2023 roster for its SummerStage concert series on Tuesday (April 25) including Grandmaster Flash, Tanya Tucker, Noel Gallagher and more.
The season will kick off June 10 with a free performance by St. Paul and the Broken Bones in Central Park, and continue through the summer with 80 free shows and benefit concerts across all five boroughs of New York City.
Highlights this year will include a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop throughout the summer, starting with Mike bringing his Young World Festival to Brooklyn’s Von King Park on July 15 followed by Grandmaster Flash returning to the Bronx for a special hometown show on Aug. 2 in Crotona Park. A few days later, a Hip-Hop 50 Special Edition Showcase will head to Coney Island on Aug. 6.
“We are thrilled to present another vibrant season filled with captivating artists from around the world and introduce music fans to their diverse sounds,” said SummerStage executive artistic director Erika Elliott in a statement. “As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop this year, we are excited to highlight the global impact that the genre has had on music and culture with an outstanding lineup of international artists and hometown heroes. SummerStage has been featuring hip-hop in our performances since the ’90s and is dedicated to giving a platform to showcase this important culture, shining a light on the genre every season.”
SummerStage won’t just be hip-hop, though. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Garbage will join forces on July 10; Juanes will bring his Latin flair on July 12 as part of the Latin Alternative Music Conference; rising electronic Afro-Cuban/French duo Ibeyi will join The Comet Is Coming for a night of electronica-jazz stylings on August 2 and Tucker will close out the season-long series with her own headlining show in Central Park on Sept. 14.
Check out the SummerStage 2023 announcement below and get a look at the entire schedule of concerts here.
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