Forest Hills Stadium summer concert series set to return Saturday

Forest Hills Stadium‘s summer concert series is set to return this weekend with a performance from Bloc Party on Saturday, May 31.

The 2025 series will feature 22 different events between May 31 and Oct. 25, when Big Thief closes out the summer series.

The series also features performances from Shawn Mendes, the Black Keys, Phish, Mumford & Sons and Alabama Shakes across the five-month period in addition to the three-day All Things Go festival from Sept. 26-28 featuring performances from Lucy Dacus, Clairo and Grammy-winning artist Doechi. Tickets for both Phish and Mumford & Sons have now sold out, however.

After months of turmoil, the popular concert series was under a cloud of uncertainty as recently as last month.

A years-long legal battle between local homeowners group Forest Hills Gardens Corporation (FHGC) and concert organizers West Side Tennis Club, which operates and leases Forest Hills Stadium, and Tiebreaker Productions, which runs events at the venue, had threatened the 2025 summer concert series.

FHGC, which owns the private streets surrounding the venue, had denied the city access to the private roads, leading the NYPD to decline any sound amplification permits for the upcoming summer concert series.

However, the NYPD granted “conditional approval” for events to take place at the venue in April, with Tiebreaker Productions set to utilize private security teams to monitor conditions on the privately-owned streets during events at the venue.

With legal hurdles now cleared, Forest Hills is set to launch its summer concert series with a performance from Bloc Party from 5 p.m. on Saturday night. The English group will be performing their greatest hits and songs from their album “Silent Alarm” during Saturday’s performance.

Forest Hills Stadium officials have stated that the venue will use a new state-of-the-art sound system for the upcoming season that will enhance fan experiences. They stated that the L-Acoustics sound system, designed by Dave “Rat” Levine, will also significantly reduce offsite sound into the neighborhood.

“Forest Hills Stadium’s commitment to both exceptional live music and being a responsible neighbor is demonstrated through the installation of our cutting-edge PA system, “Forest Hill Stadium officials said in a release. “This innovative technology delivers crystal-clear sound quality while controlling and minimizing sound propagation into the surrounding community.”

Noise from events at the venue had been at the heart of the dispute between FHGC and event organizers, dating back to May 2023 when the homeowners group filed lawsuits against WSTC and Tiebreaker. Event organizers subsequently implemented numerous sound mitigation materials throughout the entire stadium for the 2024 season.

In October last year, Queens County Supreme Court Judge Joseph J. Esposito dismissed five of seven claims brought against West Side Tennis Club and Tiebreaker by FHGC, including claims of trespassing and zoning violations.

He did not dismiss claims of public or private nuisance but also did not deliver a verdict in either case and encouraged all parties to continue working with the NYPD to ensure that concertgoers do not stray from designated routes and venture into residential areas.

Forest Hills Stadium hosted a record-breaking 37 events for the 2024 season, with organizers vowing to announce more shows for the 2025 season in the near future.