Queens Hosts Plenty Of Outdoor Concerts For All Kinds Of Music Lovers
Spend some of those long summer nights enjoying tunes at many free concerts scheduled at public parks and other venues across the Times Newsweekly coverage area throughout July and August.
While there’s no cover charge at these venues, seating may be limited or unavailable-so guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs to the show. Depending on the venue, the concerts may be cancelled due to extreme weather; residents should contact the sponsoring organization prior to the event.
The outdoor concert lineup includes the following, listed according to neighborhood or venue:
Middle Village
Doo-wop, classic rock and European sounds will fill the air at Juniper Valley Park the next four Tuesday nights during the 2014 Juniper Valley Park Concert Series. Each show will take place at 7 p.m. on the softball field located off the corner of 80th Street and Juniper Boulevard North.
The series kicks off this Tuesday, July 8, with Doo-wop Night, as the New York Exceptions will delight an audience with some of the 1950s favorite hits. Italian Night on July 15 will feature acts performing popular tunes with an Italian flair.
One week later, July 22, Tommy Clyne and Rumor Has It will rock the stage on Irish Night. The concert series wraps up on July 29 with “Summer of ’69,” as Generations takes concertgoers on a far out musical trip to the time of Woodstock.
Presented by the city Parks Department and the Juniper Park Civic Association, the concert series is also sponsored by Crifasi Real Estate, the Juniper Valley Park Conservancy, Queensboro UNICO and O’Neills’ Restaurant.
For more information, visit www.junipercivic.com or call 1- 718-651-5865 .
Maspeth
Golden oldies will headline three free summer concerts hosted by Maspeth Federal Savings at the parking lot of its main branch, located at the corner of 69th Street and Grand Avenue in Maspeth.
The series kicks off on Wednesday night, July 9, with two classic doo-wop acts: Larry Chance and The Earls, best known for the hits “Remember Then” and “Life is But a Dream”; and Tommy Mara and The Crests, who-while previously led by the late Johnny Maestro-had hit songs such as “16 Candles” and “Step by Step.”
Then on Wednesday night, Aug. 6, Real Diamond-a tribute to, naturally, Neil Diamond-will take the stage to perform hit songs from the voice behind fan favorites such as “Sweet Caroline” and “Cracklin’ Rosie.”
Finally, guests are sure to come down with a serious case of “Night Fever” on Wednesday, Aug. 20, as Stayin’ Alive-a Bee Gees tribute band-performs some of the disco group’s greatest hits.
All three shows will get underway at 7:30 p.m.; seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. The shows will be held under a tent and are rain or shine.
Call Maspeth Federal Savings at 1-718-335-1300 or visit www.maspethfederal.com for additional information.
Highland Park
Drumbeats will pound at Highland Park in Cypress Hills this Wednesday, July 9, as Hip Pickles-billed as “the world’s most exciting interactive drum band”-will perform their percussion sounds for guests of all ages.
The show takes place from 6 to 7 p.m. in Highland Park off the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and Elton Street. Visit www.nycgovparks.com for additional information.
Forest Park
Tributes to some of rock-androll’s greatest acts will headline the Forest Park concert series scheduled to get underway next Thursday night.
Each of the shows will take place on five consecutive Thursday nights from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the George Seuffert Bandshell located off Forest Park Drive and Woodhaven Boulevard.
Concertgoers will “Livin’ on a Prayer” during the July 10 show, as Bon Jersey-a tribute to Bon Jovi-performs some of the Garden State-based band’s favorite hits. The Forest Park Trust sponsors the performance.
Four decades of Rod Stewart hits will be celebrated the following week, July 17, as Blondes Have More Fun, featuring singer Rick Larrimore, perform some of the British singer’s chart-topping songs.
Latin sounds will grace the bandshell on July 24 as Pasofino takes the audience on a journey through various Latin music genres. Singing the songs of the “Piano Man” on July 31 will be Mike Delgidice and Big Shot, a cover band featuring several of Billy Joel’s accompanists.
Finally, Disco Unlimited will put everybody in a 1970s dancing groove with their Aug. 7 perormance.
For more information, visit www.nycgovparks.com.
Astoria
This year’s Waterfront Concert Series at Astoria Park, in the shadow of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, pays tribute to some of the greatest acts of rock-and-roll, country and Motown.
Sponsored by the Central Astoria Local Development Corporation, each show will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. over six Thursday nights in July and August at the Astoria Park Lawn, located on Shore Boulevard near the Astoria Pool.
Sounds of the “Fab Four” will headline the next show on Thursday, July 10, as Strawberry Fields performs a wide variety of The Beatles’ greatest hits. One week later, Forever Ray-a tribute to Ray Charles-will perform the classic R&B pianist’s favorite hits on July 17.
The doo-wop stylings of The Devotions-best known for their hit song “Rip Van Winkle”-will entertain audiences on July 24, and guests will enjoy “A Tribute to Motown” for the July 31 concert.
Michael Patrick’s Ring of Fire, a tribute show to the late Johnny Cash, will take the stage on Aug. 7, and the concert series wraps up on Aug. 14 with the rock-and-roll stylings of The Regulars.
For more information, visit www.centralastoria.org.
Queensbridge Park will play host to the SummerStage concert series between July 15-17 and feature a variety of Latin, R&B and hip-hop acts.
Sponsored in part by the City Parks Foundation, each show will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. inside the park on the East River waterfront, located off the intersection of Vernon Boulevard and 41st Avenue.
Ismael Miranda-also known as El niño bonito de la Salsa (The Pretty Boy of Salsa) will headline the Tuesday, July 15 show, entertaining guests with some of his favorites including “Let’s Ball” and “Señor Sereno.” The performance will also include songs from Rebel Tumbao and Joe Claussell.
The next night, July 16, J. Holiday will bring his laid-back R&B sounds to Queensbridge Park, delighting an audience with favorites including “Forever Ain’t Enough” and “Be With Me.”
The SummerStage series wraps up on Thursday, July 17, with one of the original hip-hop groups, locally-based Mob Deep, who will perform hits including “Survival of the Fittest” and “Nothing Like Home.”
Visit www.nycgovparks.com for additional information.
Forest Hills
Good vibrations will surely be felt by guests at Maspeth Federal Savings’ free concert in Forest Hills on Wednesday night, July 23, as The Driftwoods-billed as a Beach Boys tribute party band-takes the stage.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. in the branch’s parking lot, located at 101-19 Metropolitan Ave. A limited number of seats is available on a first come, first served basis. Since the concert takes place under a tent, the event is rain or shine.
The Driftwoods will delight an audience with their rendition of various Beach Boys favorites such as “California Girls,” “Surfin’ U.S.A.” and “Help Me, Rhonda.”
For more information, visit www.maspethfederal.com or call 1- 718-335-1300.
Sunnyside
Classic jazz tunes will be enjoyed by guests of all ages at the annual Sunnyside Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Concert on Saturday, Aug. 2.
The show will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. under the Sunnyside Arch on 46th Street between Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint Avenue.
Sponsored by the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District (BID) and the Sunnyside Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Committee, the concert pays tribute to Beiderbecke, a cornetist considered to be one of the pioneers of jazz, who lived for a time on 46th Street in Sunnyside and died of illness in 1922.
For further information, visit www.sunnysideshines.org.
