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Highlights of summer's free music concerts in New York

Hal Bienstock | Special to amNewYork

May 23, 2008

Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore during a 2006 concert at McCarren Park. (Newsday photo/Alejandra Villa / May 22, 2008)

For music fans in New York, summertime means free music. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, hundreds of musicians will play free concerts in parks across the city, offering everything from rock to classical to jazz to world music.

The free concerts aren't just about giving people something to do. New York's most famous summer concert series, Central Park Summerstage, was started in 1986 to revive the park.

"At the time, Central Park was a dark and forbidding place," said David Rivel, executive director of City Parks Foundation. "People didn't want to go into it, especially at night. The feeling was that a performing arts festival would draw people into the park and build a constituency of people interested in saving Central Park and turning it around."

By that criteria, Summerstage has been a massive success, bringing 160,000 180,000 people into the park each year. But the park isn't the only thing Summerstage has helped build up. Another goal of the concert series is to help local artists build their careers.

"We see ourselves as the New York City festival, promoting New York City artists," said Rivel. "When we present artists from outside New York or around the globe, it's about appealing to the different communities that live in New York."

Rivel said his team tries to put together interesting pairings as a way of introducing people to new artists.

"Seun Kuti, who is playing July 6, is an African world music performer," said James Burke, City Parks Foundation's director of arts and cultural programs. "But we'll also have [hip-hop legend] Afrika Bambaataa and [dub group] Love Trio on that bill, so we won't just get people who are interested in African music. Or if we do, they'll also get introduced to an interesting local band."

One of the most popular bands performing at Summerstage this year is indie rockers Vampire Weekend, who are playing on June 14. Rivel points to them as an example of a group that can bring different communities together.

"They're a band from New York that's garnering a good following," he said. "Their influences point to what's great about the festival. They take African and Caribbean music and build it into their sound."

This year's final show at Summerstage, on August 17, will feature another New York musician who recently burst on to the national scene: Sharon Jones, who will perform with her band The Dap-Kings.

"It's great to play outside for people who don't normally get to see me," said Jones. "You can bring the kids, the cousins, the nieces. People are showing the kids something, since those kids can't get into a club. To see families enjoying themselves together is a great thing."

But all of this great music doesn't come cheap. Concerts at Summerstage cost $3 million to put on, with the money raised primarily from foundations, corporations and wealthy individuals. A lot of that money goes to pay the artists.

Then there's the army of 500-800 unpaid volunteers who help make sure everything runs smoothly. Some do it in exchange for a front-row seat. Others do it just to be outside.

"We have volunteers who have been coming back for 15 years or more," said Rivel. "Some of them have very substantial day jobs at major financial firms and other places but love the atmosphere and understand that we need their help."

With a beautiful setting, nice weather and great music, is there anything not to like about free summer concerts?

Well, there is one thing you need to keep it clean.

"Inside a club, when it's late and everyone's drinking and feeling nice, you can use certain words," said Jones with a laugh. "Outside, there are young kids. It's a different atmosphere. You don't say certain things you can say in a club at night. But anytime I get an opportunity to sing to people is great. There's nothing bad about it."

Summer Music Highlights
Wire -- May 30, South Street Seaport: British art-punks from the '70s who paved the way for bands like Bloc Party and Franz Ferdinand, Wire rarely plays the U.S., and hasn't played anywhere at all since 2004.

Isaac Hayes -- June 12, Prospect Park: You may know him as chef on South Park, but Hayes is a pioneer whose music encompasses soul, funk, disco and hip-hop.

Vampire Weekend -- June 14, Summerstage: A triumphant homecoming for Columbia University's contribution to Afro-pop

Sonic Youth/The Feelies -- July 4, Battery Park: Two legendary bands from the '80s alternative scene: one that's reuniting and one that's been innovating for nearly three decades.

Seun Kuti/Afrika Bambaataa -- July 6, Summerstage: The son of legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti shares a bill with the South Bronx DJ who helped invent hip-hop.

St. Vincent -- July 10, Castle Clinton: This eclectic singer-songwriter was one of the brightest new talents to emerge last year

Deerhoof / Metropolis Ensemble: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring -- July 18, Prospect Park: A unique and unexpected combination of avant-garde indie rock and classical music.

Kinky/Alejandro Escovedo -- August 9, Summerstage -- Celebrate Mexican Heritage Day with an array of Latin-influenced music, from Kinky's electro-pop to Escovedo's roots-rock.

Wilco -- August 13, McCarren Pool: Veering from quiet folk to ear-splitting noise, Wilco have emerged as one of America's best and most interesting rock bands. (NOTE: NOT FREE)

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings -- August 17, Summerstage One of the best soul singers working today, Jones can heat up even the coldest day. imagine what she'll do on an August afternoon.