French Acts at Central Park SummerStage

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Central Park SummerStage, a series of Free concerts presented by the City Parks Foundation, featuring artists of all genres for diverse audiences. In 2015, there will be a number of French acts, including Meshell Ndegeocello, Angelique Kidjo, Ibeyi, Mayra Andrade, and a dance and music event celebrating the transatlantic voyage of the Hermione to New York. Details below:

MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO – Saturday, June 6, 2 – 7PM (FREE) Mercurial and masterful, Meshell Ndegeocello has made sojourns into soul, spoken word, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, rock, all bound by a lyrical, spiritual search for love, justice, respect, resolution, and happiness. Event info Meshell Ndegeocello | Roy Hargrove | Gabriel Garzón-Montano ANGELIQUE KIDJO – Sunday, June 7, 2 – 7PM (FREE) In a career marked as much by extraordinary musical achievement as passionate advocacy and philanthropy for Africa, Angelique Kidjo has found many ways to celebrate the rich truth about the continent’s women beyond the media spotlight. Event info Angelique Kidjo | Emmanuel Jal | Rich Medina IBEYI – Saturday, June 20, 6 – 10PM (FREE) French-Cuban twin sisters Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz form Ibeyi, a duo that sings in English and Yoruban with a minimalist sound that merges their heritage with their natural love of the modern music they have encountered as teenagers growing up in Paris. Event info Ibeyi | Jungle UN BREAK À MOZART – Thursday, July 2, 7 – 10PM (FREE) Un Break à Mozart creates a dialogue with Mozart’s Requiem between ten hip hop dancers from the Centre Chorégraphique National directed by Kader Attou and ten musicians from the Champs-Elysées Orchestra. This event celebrates the transatlantic arrival of the Hermione in New York. Event info Un Break à Mozart | The DASH Ensemble MAYRA ANDRADE – Sunday, July 12, 2 – 7PM (FREE) Mayra Andrade’s distinctive, poetic voice, described as “the other Cape Verde” – is the sound of a Cesaria freed of the twists of fate and patina of tradition. Lovely Difficult is the fourth album by this singer, who makes it plain that her life and aims are not as straightforward as you might think. Event info Mayra Andrade | Cesária Évora Orchestra | Dino D’Santiago ABOUT SUMMERSTAGE SummerStage is the largest FREE performing arts festival in New York City. We believe that by presenting artists and genres that reflect the diverse cultures and communities in neighborhoodparks across the five boroughs, we help to build new audiences and foster a broader interest in the arts. This year marks the 30th anniversary of SummerStage. More info SummerStage is located near the 5th Ave / 72nd St entrance to Central Park. Enter at 69th and 5th Avenue. All events are FREE and Rain or Shine.