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Billy Bragg did his Busk, Lincoln Center Out Of Doors continues (Ponderosa Stomp & Mavis Staples this weekend)

“numb fingertips from the guitar playing last night. .. worth it coz I get to tell people I played Lincoln Center with Billy Bragg!!” – Marsha Burnett

Billy Bragg at Lincoln Center (via Ian Jane)
Billy Brag

Billy Bragg kicked off the FREE Lincoln Center Out Of Doors 2011 season on Wednesday (7/27) with his “Big Busk”. He invited people to play and sing along to the songs, many of which were covers. I pictured it more like a parade, but he basically just played from the stage. Some in the audience had guitars. Ian Jane writes:

Bragg launched into a cover of Johnny Cash’s I Walk The Line… not the greatest starting point and probably the worst song of his set. From there he covered The Monkees, Smokey Robinson, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Marley, The Weight, and most puzzlingly, Cee-Lo Green (turning ‘Fuck You’ into ‘Forget You’ as there were kids in the audience). As far as material from his own catalogue, the only tracks we got were Power In A Union (itself a cover of sorts but one of Bragg’s most powerful songs) and New England (the only track that really seemed to have everyone in the crowd singing along). He came out for a quick encore and did a rock solid cover of Kristofferson’s Me And Bobby McGee before finishing the night.

Check out a video of Billy Bragg covering The Band’s “The Weight” below.

Lincoln Center Out of Doors continues with free outdoor shows through August 14. On Saturday (7/30), Ponderosa Stomp: A Girl Group Extravaganza will take place at Damrosch Park Bandshell with performances by members of girl groups including The Crystals, The Chantels, The Jaynetts, The Angels, and others. On Sunday (7/31), Mavis Staples performs at Damrosch Park with The Relatives who will be making their NYC debut. Blitz the Ambassador plays Damrosch Park on August 7 with Spoek Mathambo and Iyadede. Laurie Anderson and Friends play Damrosch Park on August 10 with many guests including Caleb Burhans, Conrad Harris, Yuki Numata, and others. Bettye Lavette, Ellis Hooks, and Dylan LeBlanc play Damrosch Park on August 14. Many other events will be occurring throughout the series too. Full schedule HERE (and below).

Billy Bragg plays his last of three City Winery shows tonight (7/29). That show is sold out. Video and Out of Doors schedule below…


Billy Bragg – “The Weight” (The Band cover) at Lincoln center 7/27/11

LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS FESTIVAL 2011

Fri Jul 29 7:30
Don Byron New Gospel Quintet
Burnt Sugar / Danz: Conduction #6: The Trojan Rumba Suite
Creative Direction by Gabri Christa, Greg Tate and Germaul Barnes
The Trojan Rumbas, The Fata Morgana Suite and Revelations Glitch (world premiere collaboration with Don Byron)
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Fri Jul 29 9:30
Eiko & Koma: Water (2011)
(world premiere, site-specific work)
Conceived and performed by Eiko & Koma
Music composed and performed by Robert Mirabal
Paul Milstein Pool, Hearst Plaza

Sat Jul 30 1:00-4:00
The Ponderosa Stomp: Girl Talk (symposium)
Presented in association with the Ponderosa Stomp Foundation and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
David Rubenstein Atrium

Sat Jul 30 4:30
Double Dutch Divas
Josie Robertson Plaza

Sat Jul 30 5:00-10:00
Ponderosa Stomp: She’s Got the Power! A Girl Group Extravaganza
including Tribute to Ellie Greenwich
LaLa Brooks (The Crystals)
Lesley Gore
Arlene Smith (The Chantels)
Baby Washington
Barbara Harris (The Toys)
Beverly Warren
Brenda Reid, Lillian Walker (The Exciters)
Louise Murray (The Jaynetts)
Margaret Ross (The Cookies)
Maxine Brown
Nanette Licori (Reparata and the Delrons)
Peggy Santiglia Davison, Jiggs (The Angels)
Backup singers:
Toni Wine (vocal arrangements)
Jean Thomas-Fox
Lesley Miller
Mikie Harris
Susan Collins
Ula Hedwig
Jeremy Chatzky, musical director
Presented in association with the Ponderosa Stomp Foundation
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Sat Jul 30 9:30
Eiko & Koma: Water (2011)
(world premiere, site-specific work)
Conceived and performed by Eiko & Koma
Music composed and performed by Robert Mirabal
Paul Milstein Pool, Hearst Plaza

Sun Jul 31 2:00
Family Day
Rhythm and ROOTS 360
Djoniba Dance & Drum Centre, Abadá-Capoeira, KR3T’s, and Full Circle Souljahs
Presented in association with Full Circle Productions
Family Day is sponsored by Disney
Hearst Plaza

Sun Jul 31 3:30
Family Day
Stax Music Academy
Presented in association with the Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Hearst Plaza

Sun Jul 31 5:00
Family Day
Vy Higginsen’s Gospel for Teens
Hearst Plaza

Sun Jul 31 7:00
Mavis Staples
The Relatives (New York debut)
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Sun Jul 31 9:30
Eiko & Koma: Water (2011)
(world premiere, site-specific work)
Conceived and performed by Eiko & Koma
Music composed and performed by Robert Mirabal
Paul Milstein Pool, Hearst Plaza

Wed Aug 3 6:30
Asphalt Orchestra
Plazas throughout Lincoln Center

Wed Aug 3 7:30
Trey McIntyre Project and Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Ma Maison (2008), The Sweeter End (2011) (New York premiere)
Trey McIntyre Project (TMP) is presented with support from the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Thu Aug 4 6:30
Raya Brass Band
Broadway Plaza

Thu Aug 4 7:30
Malkit Singh
Dengue Fever
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Fri Aug 5 7:30
Mujeres de Agua (U.S. premiere) by JAVIER LIMÓN
featuring BUIKA, La Shica, Sandra Carrasco
Bassam Saba and the New York Arabic Orchestra
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Sat Aug 6 12:00
La Casita
Music and spoken word performances
Ash (Æ), Bodoma and the Garifuna Culture Band, Douglas Kearney, Enriqueta Lunez, Felipe Luciano, Flying Words Project: Peter Cook and Kenny Lerner, Gowri K, Joaquin Zihuatanejo, Justin Long-Moton, Mayda del Valle, Mikael Mutti and Percussivo Mundo Novo, Oba Ire, Phil Kaye, Sophia Rei, Staceyann Chin
MC: Rich Villar
Hearst Plaza Stage
Sat Aug 6 6:30
Natural Expression Rhythm Band
Josie Robertson Plaza

Sat Aug 6 7:30
Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquiño
François Ladrezo & Alka Omeka
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Sun Aug 7 1:00
Heritage Sunday:
Desconocido: El Otro Lado del Colombia / Unknown: The Other Side of Colombia
Sexteto Tabalá (U.S. debut)
Diego Obregón y Grupo Chonta
Paíto y Los Gaiteros de Punta Brava (U.S. debut)
Rebolú
Hearst Plaza Stage

Sun Aug 7 3:00-8:00
La Casita
See artist line-up for August 6
Teatro Pregones, 571-575 Walton Avenue, The Bronx

Sun Aug 7 7:30
Live from the Continent
Blitz The Ambassador
Spoek Mathambo
Iyadede
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Wed Aug 10 6:00-7:30
Spike’s Side Show
Aurora Nealand and The Royal Roses (New Orleans traditional jazz / western swing combo)
Chris McDaniel, juggling, trick rope and whips
Christine Lavin, baton twirling, music
Data the Robot and Heather Knight of Marilyn Monorobot
Jonathan Nosan, acrobatics, contortion
Matthew Holtzclaw, magician
Miss Saturn a.k.a. Jenny McGowan, hula hoops
Stephanie Monseu and Keith Nelson of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, stilt walking, juggling, bed of nails, ladder of swords
Plazas throughout Lincoln Center

Wed Aug 10 7:30
Laurie Anderson and Friends
Todd Reynolds with Sxip Shirey, Adam Matta and Strings (worldwide debut)
with Caleb Burhans, Conrad Harris, Pauline Kim Harris, Yuki Numata, Courtney Orlando, and Ben Russell
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Thu Aug 11 6:00
MarchFourth Marching Band
Josie Robertson Plaza

Thu Aug 11 7:00
David Dorfman Dance featuring The Family Stone:
Prophets of Funk–Concert Edition (world premiere)*
Debo Band with special guests Fendika
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Fri Aug 12 7:30
Tan Dun conducting the Metropolis Ensemble:
The Martial Arts Trilogy
Damrosch Park Bandshell

Sat Aug 13 2:00
28th Annual Roots of American Music Festival
Abigail Washburn
Sid Selvidge and Sons of Mud Boy (Cody & Luther Dickinson)
Sun Records artist oral histories hosted by Spike Barkin
Hearst Plaza Stage

Sat Aug 13 5:00
28th Annual Roots of American Music Festival
Ebony Hillbillies
Josie Robertson Plaza

Sat Aug 13 6:00
28th Annual Roots of American Music Festival
Marty Stuart & his Fabulous Superlatives
Tribute to Sun Records with Sonny Burgess & the Legendary Pacers, Cowboy Jack Clement, Rudy “Tutti” Grayzell, Hayden Thompson
Dailey and Vincent
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Sun Aug 14 2:00

28th Annual Roots of American Music Festival
Dixie Fried–The Life & Music of Jim Dickinson
Panel Discussion: Sid Selvidge, Cody and Luther Dickinson
Additional panels to be announced
David Rubenstein Atrium

Sun Aug 14 5:00
28th Annual Roots of American Music Festival
Steve Cropper and Friends: Tribute to The “5” Royales (New York debut)
with Bettye Lavette, Ellis Hooks, and Dylan LeBlanc
The Bar-Kays
North Mississippi Allstars Duo
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Damrosch Park Bandshell