If your soundtrack has mostly been shaped lately by the World Cup – Oasis’ “Wonderwall” during England’s matches or Rosalía during Spain’s – here’s a reminder that New York in the summer is full of free concerts. 

Spanning the five boroughs and ranging from neighborhood concerts in Jackson Heights to sunset jazz by the East River, there’s something for fans of nearly every musical genre. Here, we focus on offerings set for parks in Queens. The descriptions below have been largely paraphrased from concert websites. 

JACKSON HEIGHTS

Summer Sundays in the Park

One of the borough’s longest-running free community music events, this Sunday concert series runs through Aug. 30 in Travers Park. All performances begin at 6 p.m. 

Summer Sundays is volunteer-run, organized through the Jackson Heights Beautification Group (JHBG), a nonprofit focused on preserving and promoting the well-being of this Queens neighborhood. Longtime resident Javier Arau, who curates and produces the concert series and is the founder and executive director of the New York Jazz Academy, leads a jazz orchestra and serves on the board of directors for JHBG. 

This year’s lineup includes genres from big band, indie rock and Argentinian tango to cumbia and son jarocho, a traditional genre that comes from Veracruz, Mexico, blends Mexican, Spanish and African musical elements and is rooted in songs about social issues, nature and everyday life. For the full schedule and more information, visit www.jhbg.org/programs/summersundays. Here’s the rest of this summer’s lineup: 

July 26: Cody Childs (R&B and soul)

Aug. 2: The Lead Flowers (indie rock)

Aug. 9: Guachinangos (son jarocho)

Aug. 16: BIM (Bangla fusion)

Aug. 23: Ximena Y Alex (Latin pop, including romantic duets and pop songs) 

Aug. 30: John Yao & His 17-Piece Instrument (jazz big band)

LONG ISLAND CITY

Live at the Gantries

Bring a chair or picnic blanket to Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City — and maybe a poncho or large umbrella, because all shows at Live at the Gantries are outdoors and go on rain or shine. Support Queens talent while catching sunsets over the East River. The concerts take place every Tuesday at 7 p.m. through Aug. 11. 

July 28: La Cumbiamba eNeYé is among the first ensembles in the country to perform and teach Colombian gaita music. The genre is rooted in the Afro-Indigenous tradition from Colombian campesinos, or countryside communities and blends Indigenous gaita flutes, Afro-Colombian drums, and European and Arab influences from the Iberian Peninsula with ensemble leader Martin Vejarano’s original compositions. 

Aug. 4: Bartlett Contemporaries, featuring the Uptown Funk Sound, fuses bebop, funk and hip-hop. Despite celebrating more than 60 years as leaders of a band, brothers Carl Bartlett and Charles Bartlett Jr. are known for dynamic, high-energy performances. In 1964, they were the first group to play at the New York State Pavilion during the World’s Fair, in 1964, the same year they formed the group at Andrew Jackson High School. They’ve gone on to other high points, including performing at Spike Lee’s wedding reception.

Aug. 11: Stéphane Wrembel Trio is led by world-renowned French guitarist Wrembel, who fuses jazz and gypsy swing with other global sounds. He has composed scores for films such as Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” 

PARKS ACROSS QUEENS

Queens Jazz Trail

The annual Queens Jazz Trail celebrates the borough’s rich jazz history with performances in neighborhood parks. All performances take place on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

July 30: John Yao & His 17-Piece Instrument, Bowne Park, Flushing

The release of the latest album from trombonist, composer and arranger John Yao and his band celebrates Yao’s 20-year career in the city and the long-awaited return of this modern big band after a decade. They blend swing, Latin, funk and contemporary influences. 

Aug. 6: Wycliffe Gordon, Rockaway Beach Park Amphitheatre, Rockaway Beach

Trombonist, composer, and educator Wycliffe Gordon has deep roots in jazz. A former member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, he also directs jazz studies at Augusta University. 

Aug. 13: Wallace Roney Jr., Archie Spigner Park, St. Albans

This Miles Davis centennial celebration will feature trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr., who was shaped by the icon. The son of artists Wallace Roney Sr. and Geri Allen, Roney Jr. has performed with Chick Corea, Jimmy Heath and Ornette Coleman.

Aug. 20: Brass Queens, Cunningham Park, Fresh Meadows

This women-led, Brooklyn-based brass band, formed in 2019, also has lots of love for Queens. It brings high-energy performances, NYC roots and the traditions of New Orleans brass music together in a fusion of jazz, pop, reggaeton, mambo and classic rock. The group has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Met Gala and alongside David Byrne. 

Aug. 27: Lucy Yeghiazaryan, Astoria Park

An Armenian American vocalist and violinist, Lucy Yeghiazaryan blends her heritage with American jazz tradition. Raised in New Jersey and based in NYC, she performs at venues such as Birdland and Jazz at Lincoln Center and has worked with celebrated jazz musicians like Harold Mabern, Houston Person and Terell Stafford. 

NYC Parks hosts daily summer concerts across the whole city.  Check the schedule out here. 

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