Live at the Gantries Presents Reggae, Prog Rock, World Music and Bellydancing
The borough’s official tourism slogan is “It’s in Queens,” but over the summer, it could also be “It’s Outside in Queens,” as countless parks, cultural venues, and boulevards host countless plein air movies, concerts, plays, food festivals, and parades. Among the most popular is Live at the Gantries, a series of free performances in Gantry Plaza…
The borough’s official tourism slogan is “It’s in Queens,” but over the summer, it could also be “It’s Outside in Queens,” as countless parks, cultural venues, and boulevards host countless plein air movies, concerts, plays, food festivals, and parades. Among the most popular is Live at the Gantries, a series of free performances in Gantry Plaza State Park featuring a diverse collection of musicians doing everything from Prog Rock to Reggae to Arab sounds with bellydancing. Tonight, Dahka Band, which infuses traditional music from Algeria, Nigeria, and Turkey and sings in Arabic, Berber, Yoruba, and English, will take the stage, which boasts the East River and the Midtown Manhattan skyline as its backdrop.
Information on the remaining performers and a photo of the venue are on the jump page.
Kevin Batchelor’s Grand Concourse will play on July 29th. Though born in St. Louis, Batchelor met Reggae superstar Sugar Minot in the early 1980s. A few conversations later, the trumpeter was performing at a huge concert in Jamaica. He then partnered with various bands, before teaming up with songwriter Jonny Meyers and some Ska musicians to form his band.
On August 5th, the prog rock band And You And I will perform. These Queens lads are known for their high energy, rock-infused shows.
The final concert, on August 12th, features Zikrayat (above), an Arab music-and-dance ensemble dedicated to honoring the traditions of Egypt, Lebanon, and the greater Arab World.
Details: Live at the Gantries, Gantry Plaza State Park (below), vicinity of 49th Avenue and Center Boulevard along the East River, Long Island City, shows every Tuesday through August 12nd, 7 pm, free.
Top photo: Zikrayat; bottom photo: Arianys Wilson Photography
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