Where You Need To Be: Top 5 Summer Free Concerts

ND McCray creates the ultimate cheat sheet, letting you know the Top 5 Free Summer Concerts (ND says: "However, there's one that cost $3...but it's three bucks!") YOU should be attending!

TOP 5 (Mostly) FREE Summer Concerts in New York

1. Soul Summit Music Festival
Sun, July 11, 3pm – 8pm, Ft. Greene Park; Ft. Greene, Brooklyn http://soulsummitmusic.com/

Presented by SoulofBrooklyn.com and other sponsors, will actually be held every second Sunday in July through the last week of August. They’ll be showcasing DJs, bands, filmmakers, photographers and dancers. Music of the day: Soulful House & Classics (you can’t go wrong with house!) OPEN and FREE to the public!

2. Lisa Lisa
Tues, July 20, 7pm, Tappen Park, Staten Island (Canal St, Wright to Bay St.) http://www.summerstage.org/

80's R&B, electro singer-songwriter Lisa Lisa (sorry no Cult Jam) will be performing (I hope) a lot of their hits such as “Head to Toe”, “I Wonder If I Take You Home”, “Lost In Emotion” and one of my other faves, “Little Jackie Wants to be a Star"

3. CELEBRATE BROOKLYN!
Sat, August 7, 7pm, Prospect Park Bandshell (enter @ Prospect Park West & 9th St); Park Slope, Brooklyn (Suggested: $3) Website

Brooklyn-based soul, funk, gospel and afrobeat label, Daptone Records will host this event that will feature their roster of artists –which is headlined by the fantastic Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings. (Mental note: I’ve been trying to see SJDK LIVE since ‘08; each time I try, every time the shows are sold out. I ain’t missing this one!)



4. Doug E. Fresh w/ DJ Dee Wiz
Wed, August 11, 7pm, Jackie Robinson Park, Harlem (Bradhurst & Edgecombe Aves, West 145 to West 155 St.) Website

One of the innovators of beatboxing and known for such hits as “The Show” and “La Di Da Di”, Doug E. Fresh and DJ Dee Wiz will takes us on a journey through hip hop. (Side note: One of my most memorable hip hop shows --Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Dana Dane and Biz Markie; Houston, TX, 2004. So you know he’s gonna bring it in NY!) 

5.Summerstage Music: Chrisette Michelle, Mario & Tamia

Sat, August 21, 3pm, Central Park, Rumsey Playfield (enter @ 5th Ave and E. 67th St) http://www.summerstage.org/

Essentially we’re getting three different styles of R&B: Chrisette Michelle (R&B, jazz & gospel); Mario (grown man R&B); and Tamia (seductive R&B).

Will you be hitting up these events this summer? For a full list of summer concerts in your area (or in any of the 5 boroughs), click on the links provided! Bring a chair and a snack and enjoy some of the greatest summer activities the Big Apple is known for! Who can beat FREE?