ACL Festival 2018 weekend one - Saturday
photo by Andy Sawyer

2019 SummerStage at Central Park free shows (Japanese Breakfast, Parquet Courts, more)

ACL Festival 2018 weekend one - Saturday
Japanese Breakfast @ ACL 2018 (more by Andy Sawyer)

SummerStage at Central Park is putting the finishing touches on its $5 million upgrade in Rumsey Field, which will be ready for action when the 2019 kicks off June 1 with Emily King and Durand Jones & The Indications, which is a free show. SummerStage just announced the 2019 season’s lineup and there are tons of great free shows in Central Park this year. Here’s the lowdown:

Parquet Courts will play on June 8, an evening show with Sachiko Kanenobu, ARP and a DJ set from Prince of Queens.

On June 10, it’s the Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series featuring Ying Fang, Ben Bliss, Nathan Gunn, and Dan Saunders.

The New York Cantors with Special Guests Shulem and Frank London will perform on June 12, conducted by Zalmen Mlotek and presented by the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene.

Big Freedia headlines on Thursday, June 13 with Mike Q, and BATEKOO. The evening is hosted by Gina Yashere.

Part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival, on June 15 it’s the Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane and Matt Garrison Trio, plus Brandee Younger.

It’s not all music as Summerstage at Central Park, there’s dance too: on June 19 you can see Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.

On June 22 there’s the afternoon Aussie BBQ with A.B. Original, Hermitude, San Cisco, The Teskey Brothers, Tkay Maidza, and WAAX. 2 PM start.

If you’re looking for a French Touch dancing, on Sunday, June 23 it’s Fete de la Musique featuring Philippe Zdar from Cassius / Les Negresses Vertes.

Japanese Breakfast plays Monday, June 24 with a DJ set from House of Nod.

ACL Festival 2018, Weekend 1 - Friday
Alvvays @ ACL 2018 (more by Andy Sawyer)

More indie rock: Alvvays headline on June 26 as part of an all-Canadian lineup with The Courtneys and Ellis.

On Sunday, June 30 it’s Latin Grammy winner Buika, who will be joined by Yemenite-Israeli sister trio A-WA, plus Blick Bassy and DJ Tara.

On July 7 you can catch Ghanaian singer Efya, plus Blinky Bill and DJ Mahogany.

The Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) presents the July 10 show which is Ximena Sarinana with iLe, and Nathy Peluso.

LAMC are also presenting a 20th Anniversary celebration of the Latin Grammys on July 13, details TBA.

Sunday, July 14 is Family Day with Railroad Earth and Ranky Tanky.

More dance: on Wednesday, July 17 it’s  Merce Cunningham: SummerCool featuring Stephen Petronio Company, Melissa Toogood, Calvin Royal III, and A-Y Dancers.

Brasil Summerfest presents a show on July 27 with Alceu Valença, Cordel do Fogo Encantado, LaBaq, and DJ Grace Kelly.

There’s an afternoon dance party on Sunday, July 28 with Afropop quartet Magic System, plus Smarty, Selma Uamusse, and DJ Birane.

On July 31 it’s  FELA! The Concert with a “10-piece Afrobeat band, with nine singers and dancers who bring to life Fela’s provocative spirit.”

You can catch an evening of Taiwanese acts on August 3, including One Fang, Tizzy Bac, A Bao, and 9m88.

Corinne Bailey Rae at National Sawdust
Corinne Bailey Rae @ National Sawdust (more by P Squared)

Acclaimed UK singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae plays August 4 with Jose James, and a DJ set from Natasha Diggs of Soul in the Horn.

Reggae label VP Records celebrates its 40th anniversary on August 10 with Elephant Man, Junior Reid, Estelle, and Raging Fyah.

Grammy winning Mexican folkloric singer Lila Downs plays August 11 with Lido Pimienta, and DJ Ripley.

On Sunday, August 18 it’s a Selena-themed dance party with Cuco, Ambar Lucid, DJ Svani, and the Santuario House Band with Music Direction by Adrian Quesada.

Ballet dancer and choreographer Wendy Whelan presents a work in progress titled Carnival of the Animals on August 21. There’s also a screening of the documentary about her, Restless Creature, and a spoken word performance by Marc Bamuthi Joseph.

Salsa star La India (Linda Viera Caballero) brings the heat on August 25 with Cimafunk, DJ Sonni, and DJ Lucho.

And finally on August 27 it’s The Originals, led by legendary Motown session man Hank Dixon.

Check out the full SummerStage free show lineup for all city parks here. and we detail all the free hip hop SummerStage shows, too.