Featuring Local, Cultural Artists
All are invited to enjoy summer nights of fine music on the waterfront during the “Live at the Gantries” series of free outdoor concerts featuring Queens-based musicians and performers at Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, as announced by City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer.
This year’s Live at the Gantries, which celebrates its fourth year of free performances, features Latin Jazz, big band sounds, a bluegrass string band, an Asian Jazz trio, Andean music ensemble, and Irish flutes and whistles. Enjoy the Manhattan skyline and the sounds of world music at these Tuesday night concerts. The concerts begin at 7 p.m. and end with a spectacular sunset.
“I am proud to fund and sponsor “Live at the Gantries” for the third consecutive year,” said Van Bramer, chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee. “This summer concert series on the waterfront brings the community of Hunters Point and Long Island City together as some of our most talented musicians bring a world of music into one of New York City’s most scenic settings.”
“We are pleased that this publicprivate partnership is keeping ‘Live at the Gantries’ as a centerpiece of programming at Gantry State Park. These fabulous and diverse Queens musical groups bring this premier public space alive,” said Karen Phillips, director of NYC Region, Office of New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The upcoming performances are as follows:
– Ebony Hillbillies next Tuesday night, July 17. As one of the last black string bands in the United States, the Ebony Hillbillies draw upon the traditions of the blues, jazz, bluegrass, country, rock and its offshoot, rockabilly. Rock out to original compositions, unique versions of the classics of bluegrass and even mix in some contemporary R & B. The Ebony Hillbillies play an irresistible brand of music that evokes the vibrant sounds of Americana.
– Tahuantinsuyo on Tuesday, July 24. A pioneer folk music group from the Andes, Tahuantinsuyo blends regional instruments and costumes keeping the traditional Andean music alive. Connect with this vibrant culture through music. Tahuantinsuyo performs of the music of the countries that once formed the empire of the Incas: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Columbia.
– Blue Pipa Trio on Tuesday night, July 31. Blue Pipa Trio performances combine Chinese folk music, regional opera and Taoist music with American jazz standards and bluegrass.
– “Cross Cultural Delight” – Elliott Simon, All About Jazz and the York College Big Band on Tuesday night, Aug. 7. The York College Big Band is a jazz ensemble composed of talented students and members of the York College Music Department teaching staff who perform traditional big band jazz arrangements and everything else from the blues, swing, and fusion. The York College big band performs regularly at York College and has performed at the CUNY Jazz Festival, the Forest Hills Jazz Festival, Make Music New York and the Louis Armstrong House Museum.
– Christel Rice on Tuesday night, Aug. 24. Rice plays brings a traditional and unique style to Irish flute music. She has performed at prestigious music festivals around the world and also teaches flute music at the New York City Irish Center. She plays with “Soulfulness and verve that reminds the listener of an ecstatic nightingale,” according to Rob Wasserman of Colorado Daily.
Live at the Gantries is a program of the Kupferberg Center, New York State Department of Parks, Recreation & Historical Preservation and Queens Theatre. Sponsored by Con Edison, Pepsi Co., TF Cornerstone and NYC Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. Additional Support provided by Green Mountain Energy, Queens West Development and RCN.
Gantry Plaza State Park is a 12- acre riverside oasis that boasts spectacular views of the midtown Manhattan skyline, including the Empire State Building and the United Nations. It has earned its name from the park’s centerpieces- restored gantries. These industrial monuments were once used to load and unload rail car floats and barges. Today they are reminders of the waterfront’s past. Recreational facilities include basketball courts, playgrounds, handball courts, and a fishing pier with its own cleaning table.
To get to Gantry Plaza State Park, take the 7 train to the Vernon Boulevard Jackson Avenue station, then walk on 50th Avenue to the East River.
If traveling by car from Queens Boulevard, turn south on 21st Street, then turn right on Jackson Avenue and make another right on 48th Avenue.
For more information, visit www.LiveAtTheGantries.com.
