Even though warmer temps are still playing hide-and-seek in New York City, that doesn't mean that summer 2018 isn't already on the minds of many. Now NYC residents will have more than just warm weather to look forward to thanks to the release of this year's SummerStage schedule. From the looks of it, folks will be breaking out in a sweat in all five boroughs with acts like Big Daddy Kane, Ginuwine, Femi Kuti, Melanie Fiona, Gabriel Garzon-Montano, Jungle Brothers and a nearly 100 other acts slated to take the stage this summer.
SummerStage's 2018 season marks the return of New York City's largest free outdoor performing arts festival that will see over 200 artists performing in 17 parks across the city, including Manhattan's Central Park. The season will kick off June 2nd with a performance by Gregory Porter and newcomer Victory Boyd. The performers span across all genres and disciplines including hip-hop, blues, Latin, jazz, R&B, salsa, opera, contemporary dance, spoken word and indie rock. The celebration of the arts makes the performances accessible to all across the city. There'll be performances in Queensbridge Park on July 15th by Jungle Brothers and reggae/dancehall stars Sister Nancy and Shinehead keeping it hot in Ctana Park on August 4th. Meanwhile, SB fave ToKiMONSTA will bring her brand of electro-hip-hop to Central Park on August 11th. Meanwhile, hip-hop will be well-represented thanks to Talib Kweli's June 30th performance in Brooklyn's Betsy Head Park, Big Daddy Kane's June 20th show at Coney Island's Ford Amphitheater and Young M.A.'s June 29th show at the same venue.
Music isn't the only artistry that will be highlighted this summer. SummerStage's pre-show workshop will also bring two season-long collaborations with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and VOICES, a non-profit arts, education, and social organization. As part of this partnership, Ailey instructors will be hosting free dance workshops where participants will be able to learn choreography from Ailey's signature work, Revelations.
