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One of the more redeemable parts of sweltering New York City summers is the massive slate of artists who bring their game to city parks, totally gratis. This week, the two biggest organizers of these events (City Parks' SummerStage and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn) announced their 2019 schedules, and yeah, we're in for an absolutely stacked season.
SummerStage will kick off this June by unveiling its renovated flagship stage in Central Park; over the course of the summer, Parquet Courts, Big Freedia, Japanese Breakfast, Hatchie, Alvvays, The Courtneys and Corinne Bailey Rae will each christen the main stage.
Beyond Central Park, City Parks has gigs scheduled across each borough. Young M.A and Funk Flex will headline Betsy Head Park in Brooklyn on June 29. Crumb and Phony Ppl will perform at East River Park on August 8, while the Mountain Goats will take the same stage August 10. FELA! The Concert will pay tribute to Fela Kuti in both Coney Island and Central Park. Elsewhere in the city, Slick Rick, The Wailers, Sheila E. and Ana Tijoux are scheduled to perform.
BRIC also has a number of high wattage shows lined up for the Prospect Park Bandshell all summer long. The legendary Patti LaBelle will open the season on June 4, followed by gigs from Ibeyi, Sudan Archives, Tank and the Bangas, Calexico, Iron and Wine, Protoje, Liz Phair, and Ted Leo. In July, Mick Jenkins, Leikeli47, Oddisee, Gaby Moreno, I'm With Her, Burna Boy, and Jidenna will all take the stage. Nilufer Yanya is notably opening for a surprise headliner on July 25. Rounding out the season are Nosaj Thing, Kimbra, and Bomba Estereo, each of whom are due to perform in August.
Check out the full SummerStage lineup here, and check out the full BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn lineup here.