Free Outdoor Summer Concerts Throughout Queens
QUEENS, NY – Borough President Melinda Katz, in partnership with the Kupferberg Center for the Arts and NYC Parks, today announced the full schedule of the fourth annual “Katz Concert Series”, a slate of free outdoor concerts scheduled this summer at various locations throughout Queens.
“Summers are all about free concerts in the parks,” said Borough President KATZ. “We’re delighted to continue the partnership and bring this concert series back for the families of Queens.”
“Queens College is honored to continue its partnership with Borough President Melinda Katz and NYC Parks to present another great roster of artists in the Katz Concert Series,” said Felix Matos Rodriguez, President of Queens College. “This program fulfills the goals of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts @Queens College, “to provide cultural programs borough-wide in the neighborhoods where our students and their families live and work.”
The Katz Concert Series kicks off on Sunday, July 8 in Rockaway Beach, and runs through August 19 at other parks in College Point, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, Bayside, and the campus of St. John’s University in Jamaica. The full schedule can be found below, along with descriptions of scheduled talent. All performances are free admission, held rain or shine, and last approximately 90 minutes each. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets to these outdoor events.
SUN JULY 8 AT 6:00PM – ROCKAWAY BEACH – ALIVE N’ KICKIN’ (cover band from the ‘60s to today)
@ Rockaway Beach, Beach 94th Street and Shore Front Parkway in the Rockaways
Led by co-founder and lead singer Pepe Cardona, Alive N’ Kickin’ has been a mainstay of the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut music scene for decades. Their number one hit single –“Tighter, Tighter”–was written and produced by Tommy James of Tommy James and the Shondells, who also wrote and recorded such hits as “Mony, Mony,” “I Think We’re Alone Now,” and “Crimson and Clover.” Tighter, Tighter” sold over a million copies and earned Alive N’ Kickin’ a gold record.
SUN JULY 22 AT 6:00PM – SPRINGFIELD PARK – DR. K’S MOTOWN REVUE (Motown cover band)
@ Springfield Park, Springfield Boulevard between 146th and 147th Avenues in Springfield Gardens
This outstanding band of musicians and singers takes you on a realistic journey of the Motown sound and makes you want to sing along with song they play. They have kept true to the Motown sound roots, and each and their every performance of the group transports listeners back to another era. Their audiences both young, and not so young, can’t help dancing to that Motown beat.
TUE JULY 24 AT 7:00PM – THE LAWN AT ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY – QUEENS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
@ St John’s University (Great Lawn), 8000 Utopia Parkway in Jamaica
Queens Symphony Orchestra (QSO) is the borough’s only professional orchestra and the oldest and largest professional arts organization in Queens. Founded in 1953 by Borough President Katz’s father, David Katz, QSO is comprised of professional, Local 802 union musicians who also perform on Broadway and with the New York City Ballet and other freelance regional orchestras. QSO’s mission is to serve the culturally diverse members of the Queens community.
THU JULY 29 AT 6:00PM – MACNEIL PARK – TRAMPS LIKE US (Bruce Springsteen tribute band)
@ MacNeil Park, Poppenhusen Avenue and 119th Street in College Point
Tramps Like Us brings more than 25 years of road-tested musicianship that have won the band the high praise from across the music industry. Formed in 1990, Tramps Like Us has performed over 2000 concerts and have rocked over 1 million fans!, delivering rock songs and ballads with the raw intensity and swagger reminiscent of the Boss himself, Tramps Lie Us features a line-up of seasoned and professional musicians with a repertoire of over 140 songs.
SUN AUGUST 5 AT 6:00PM – FORT TOTTEN – ALIVE N’ KICKIN’ (cover band from the ‘60s to today)
@ Fort Totten, Totten Avenue at Cross Island Parkway in Bayside
SUN AUGUST 12 AT 6:00PM – CROCHERON PARK – LADY AND THE VAMPS (Pop/Rock cover band)
@ Crocheron Pak, 35th Avenue between Corbett Road and Cross Island Parkway in Bayside
Lady and the Vamps is a band that covers a range of genres from jazz standards like “Cheek to Cheek” to chart topping hits like “All About That Bass” The band has an impressive and unique sound and its members pride themselves on their technical abilities, improvisational skills, and musical versatility.
SUN AUGUST 19 AT 6:00PM – O’DONOHUE PARK – DR. K’S MOTOWN REVUE (Motown cover band)
@ O’Donohue Park, Seagirt Boulevard and Beach 17th Street in Far Rockaway
Follow Borough President Katz via @melindakatz or www.facebook.com/queensbpkatz
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