Free Outdoor Concerts Coming to Lincoln Center

The Green at Lincoln Center opens today as a free outdoor concert series begins

New Yorkers love "free." After 14 months of sequestering from live events, thousands of New Yorkers are eager to attend concerts again, and free tickets makes live music even more compelling. The public awaits the publication of schedules of Bryan Park's Picnic Performances series of 25 events, which begins with performances by members of the New York Philharmonic on June 9, as well as Little Island, which is said to open in June, and Open Culture, Mayor Bill de Blasio's initiative which apparently grants permits for cultural events but does not list them on the city calendar.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts tonight launches Restart Stages, a series of outdoor events that will host 150 live concerts for live audiences. These concerts will play on the Lincoln Center campus and on stages throughout the boroughs. The events will be inaugurated tonight with the public opening of The Green, a physical reimagining of Josie Robertson Plaza into an open space by Tony-winning set designer Mimi Lien, and a land blessing ceremony conducted by Chief Dwaine Perry of the Ramapough Lunaape in collaboration with the Redhawk Native American Arts Council at 7 p.m. 

Tonight's events will continue with a concert with Native-American singer-songwriter Martha Redbone at Hearst Plaza. At 8 p.m., just on the other side of the Metropolitan Opera House, Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis at Damrosch Park will perform songs from his Broadway stage career, accompanied by a trio. Lewis' concert also will be live streamed on Lincoln Center's Lincoln Center's Facebook and YouTube channels, as well as on Lincoln Center at Home.

Free outdoor concerts will begun tonight at Lincoln Center

The Juilliard School will perform many concerts in Restart Stages starting May 12. The Chamber Music Society begins a series on May 15. Red Baraat, Jose Llana, Pauline Jean & Godwin Louis, Jennifer Koh, and Eddie Palmieri are among the music acts announced for May. Some Restart Stages events will be live streamed.

Free tickets are available by lottery. Attendees will be required to complete a health survey and other safety protocols. Visitors will be seated in pods that include two armless chairs and are situated a minimum of six feet from other pods. For more information, visit TodayTix.com. 

Meanwhile, numerous other musicians continue performing free concerts in parks, sidewalks, and other public spaces.

Leni Stern (second from right) performed with her band in front of The Front on May 6

The Meetles in Tompkins Square Park on May 2

King Crash at Washington Square Park on May 7

Solid Goold at Tompkins Square Park on May 6

The [Insert Name Here] Trio was a quintet in Tompkins Square Park on May 2

BB Y.T.K. at Tompkins Square Park on May 2

Mariachi Loco de NY outside 7B on Cinco de Mayo

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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's  May 2021 calendar.