The Brian Lehrer Show Summer Culture Calendar: SummerStage & Celebrate Brooklyn!
May 14, 2025
Ryan Kailath, an arts and culture reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, dives into the vibrant cultural scene of New York City’s summer music festivals. He highlights the thrilling lineups for SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn!, featuring artists like Marcus Miller and Tank and the Bangas. Kailath discusses the diverse musical genres, including the unique Blacktronica festival. He also touches on the cancellation of certain performances, the advantages of early arrival for concerts, and the importance of celebrating Juneteenth through music and film.
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SummerStage's Wide Musical Scope
- SummerStage offers a wide range of genres, from jazz and electronic to funk and techno.
- It includes innovative festivals like Blacktronica, spotlighting electronic music by musicians of color.
SummerStage Across Boroughs
- SummerStage concerts now occur across multiple NYC boroughs, not just Central Park.
- Big-name artists like The Roots and Big Freedia are performing in different borough parks.
Controversy Over Cancelled Acts
- Two artists had their SummerStage sets canceled amid political controversy, with one cancellation linked to the artist's criticism of Israel.
- Safety concerns were officially cited, but political motives are suspected.
