It's just about outdoor concert season, and Summerstage has announced their lineup for 2014. Every year they deliver a massive summer-long bill, which includes music across the genres performing all over the city. Here's a quick glance at the bigger names playing this year, and there's something for everyone—check out the full schedule here. As always, some shows are ticketed, but many more are free.
ATAVISTIC ACOUSTIC ECSTASY: Andrew Bird has mysteriously ditched his longtime supporting band—even his seemingly indispensable percussionist Martin Dosh—in favor of an "old timey acoustic configuration" he's calling The Hands of Glory. We'll miss the rolling waves of buttery electric magic conjured up by Bird and his old boys, but that doesn't mean we're not ready to swoon for his softer new sound. It's been two years since the man played a proper show here in NYC (not counting his transcendent holiday performances at Riverside Church), a troubling fact that will finally be rectified in July, when the masterful multi-instrumentalist plays a FREE show at Summerstage.
Bird's got a new EP coming out in November called "I Want to See the Pulaski at Night," so expect plenty of new material and surprises in addition to some world class whistling. (John Del Signore)
Tuesday, July 8th, in Central Park // FREE
NOSTALGIA TUNES:Counting Crows and Toad the Wet Sprocket
Monday, June 30th, with opener Daniel & The Lion, in Central Park. Tickets: $62.50
A TRIBUTE:An Evening Honoring Pete Seeger
Monday, July 21st, in Central Park. With performers including: Amanda Palmer, Anti-Flag, Steve Earle, Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root, The Chapin Sisters, and many more. Includes a DJ set from Kool Herc!
SAD BASTARD MUSIC: Conor Oberst and Dawes
Tuesday, July 29th, in Central Park. TIckets: $47
THE COOL GUY: Blood Orange (Dev Hynes)
Saturday, August 16th, in Central Park. With Moses Sumney, Sean Nicholas Savage
THE THONG GUY: Sisquo (not THE thong guy)
Wednesday, June 11th,at Betsy Head Park
