Get ready for a summer filled with free, local music in Long Island City.
The Kupferberg Center for the Arts’ Live at the Gantries concert series returns tonight at Gantry Plaza State Park. Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. during the months of July and August, a different local artist will showcase music from different genres, including jazz, rock, hip-hop, folk and pop.
In the past Live at the Gantries has featured seven acts, but due to an increase in attendance this year’s concert series will have eight acts.
Lady and the Vamps will kick off the series tonight, covering a range of genres from jazz standards like “Cheek to Cheek” to modern hits like Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass.” The Manhattan-based band has performed at iconic venues across the city like the Rainbow Room, NIOS Restaurant, Winnie’s Jazz Bar and the New York Hilton.
Following tonight’s performance, the weekly concert series will continue with seven other local acts:
July 17: Lindsay Lou: Americana, Folk and Bluegrass Ensemble
July 24: FDR Drive: Classic Hits of Rock n Roll
July 31: Valerie Green/ Dance Entropy: Modern Dance with a Splash!
Aug. 7: Maestro Khan, “East Meets West”: Classical Indian Music and dance ensemble.
Aug. 14: The Barlett Band with The Next Generation Sound: The hits from Bebop to Hip Hop
Aug. 21: The Chuck Braman Quintet: Reimagining the jazz classics from the famed Blue Note Recordings.
Aug. 28: Supermambo: A Vibes Tribute to Tito Puente
The concert series is cosponsored by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Queens Theatre and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.
Attendees can take the 7 Train to the Vernon/Jackson stop in Queens and walk west toward the river on 50th Avenue or take the East River Ferry to Hunters Point and walk north on Second Street.
For more information on the Live at the Gantries concert series, visit kupferbergcenter.org/live-at-the-gantries/ or call the box office at 718-793-8080. The box office is opened Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and up to one hour prior to all performances.
