Dar Williams & Stephen Kellogg

Last night’s SummerStage Gala Benefit to raise funds for the Parks Foundation’s free music festival featured the songs of Simon and Garfunkel, and what better way to celebrate summer in the city than by enjoying the music of New York’s most legendary singing duo. The weather was perfect and after being introduce by Mayor Bloomberg, Art Garfunkel observed that he and Paul had always felt that some of the best interpretations of their music had been by others. On this night those words seemed especially apt – if not prescient.

The evening kicked off with a bouncing rendition of “We’ve Got A Groovy Thing Going Baby” by Dar Williams and Stephen Kellogg. This was followed by a smokingly soulful take on “Mrs. Robinson” by the Homes Brothers. With these first two songs the gauntlet was laid down and each successive act was challenged to keep up with the one before.

Aimee Mann

Next on the bill was “Baby Driver” featuring Jorma Kaukonen, one of several Simon & Garfunkel contemporaries to perform, and the multi-talented Larry Campbell. This was followed by a hauntingly evocative version of “Scarborough Fair” by Ollabelle, which also served brilliantly as the back-up band for the evening. Aimee Mann and John Roderick then took their turn with “The Only Living Boy In New York“, followed by Marc Cohn and Jonatha Brooke treating “Sounds of Silence” to their remarkably complementary vocal interpretation. As dusk turned to night, it seemed that each successive song built upon the last in a rising wave of good vibrations.

Loudon Wainright and Lucy Wainright Roche then sang “Bleecker Street“, which featured an impromptu dance by father and daughter. This was followed by another folk veteran, Livingston Taylor, combining with Jill Sobule on the “59th Street Bridge Song“, forever immortalized as “Feelin Groovy“. Corey Chisel and Brendan Benson then gave their take on the Andean flute classic “El Condor Pasa“, one of Paul Simon’s initial forays into rich oeuvre of international music. Veteran Ricky Skaggs then led Joan Osborne and Gordon Kennedy out onto the stage for a solid performance of that sixties anthem to adolescent angst (mine anyway) “I Am A Rock“. John Forté and the angelic Valerie June followed with Cecilia, Forté exhorting the crowd to clap along to the playful pop melody. Next “April, Come She Will” was given a beautiful interpretation by David Hines and Olivia Mori. The duo of Dean and Britta then leant their singular voices to “Homeward Bound”

Shawn Colvin

One of the high points of the evening was the combination of Shawn Colvin and Paula Cole giving a stirring rendition of “America“. Their brilliantly combined voices soaring into the Central Park night had the crowd on its collectively well-shod feet and was one of the most powerfully evocative performances of the evening.  Cole and Colvin made the song theirs in a way that few others had approached and took the night to an entire other level. The torch was then passed to Ben Gibbard and St. Vincent who answered with a suitably psychedelic version of “Fakin It” with St. Vincent’s distorted guitar wailing into the darkness.

Last on the menu, but by no means least, were songwriters Alejandro Escovedo and New York’s own Willie Nile giving a stirring rendition of “The Boxer” that had the crowd dancing in the aisles. This was followed by an ensemble encore with everyone on stage harmonizing to “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”

Paul Simon

The show’s production was flawlessly managed by City Winery’s Michael Dorf. The staff of SummerStage once again made the evening a complete success by their always attentive professionalism. The perfect evening with a good cause benefitting from brilliant performances as all the acts donated their time to the City Parks Foundation which makes the SummerStage free performances possible. Halfway through the evening Paul Simon joined the crowd and afterwards it seemed that everyone was reflecting his unassuming smile and charmingly unaffected good nature. A much more intimate night than the duo’s classic 1981 performance, but one that resonated through the Central Park night long after the lights had dimmed.

Pavement performing at SummerStage in 2010

A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage.

After years of speculation, the most important American band of the Nineties is returning to the stage with the lineup of Mark Ibold, Scott “Spiral Stairs” Kannberg, Stephen Malkmus, Bob Nastanovich and Steve West reuniting for dates around the world in 2010. Please be advised this tour is not a prelude to additional jaunts and/or a permanent reunion.

Described in their own Wikipedia entry as having experienced “moderate commercial success,” Pavement’s catalog for the Matador, Domino, Drag City and Treble Kicker imprints has come to define in the eyes of many the blueprint for independent rock over the past generation. An evidentiary compilation release is planned to coincide with the touring sometime in 2010.

The first show announced is a New York performance on September 21, 2010 at Central Park SummerStage. The general on-sale is slated for 10:00 AM EDT on Friday, September 25, 2009. Please note that tickets will be available without surcharges from the Nokia Theatre box office in Times Square and from Earwax at 218 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg.

1) Video cameras are not allowed, so please leave them at home
2) Glass bottles and alcohol are a no-no too
3) Leave your folding chairs at home (we do have bleacher seating and a blanket’s nice too)
4) Shows are rain or shine (you may want to have a poncho handy in case of passing summer showers)
5) Gates open one hour prior to show time and many of our shows fill to capacity so it’s a good idea to come early, especially for our highly visible, popular shows
6) Pack a lunch or purchase food, drinks, beer or wine from our concession stands
7) Central Park SummerStage is located at Rumsey Playfield and is easily accessed by entering the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue or 72nd Street and Central Park West
8 ) There is priority seating for our wheelchair and disabled patrons
9) There’s a hotline for up to date info on performances: 212-360-2777

Click here for a printable pdf schedule

TV on the Radio
Dirty Projectors
Friday, June 05, 2009
From 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage.

Josh Ritter and The New York Pops
Friday, June 12, 2009
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Smokie Norful
Tye Tribbett & G.A.
Ruben Studdard
Saturday, June 13, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Indigo Girls
Matt Nathanson
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
From 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage.

Word
Wally Lamb
Zoë Heller
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
From 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Sharon Olds
Thomas Sayers Ellis
Thursday, June 18, 2009
From 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Comedy Central Park
Gabriel Iglesias
Pablo Francisco
Friday, June 19, 2009
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Definitely Poetry Hosted by Majora Carter
Earthdriver
Staceyann Chin
Jennifer Johns
Artbattles
Urban Word NYC
Saturday, June 20, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Fête de la Musique
Yannick Noah
Coralie Clément
Mayra Andrade
Sunday, June 21, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

311
Ziggy Marley
The Expendables
Thursday, June 25, 2009
From 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
 A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage.

Istanbulive: The Sounds & Colors of Turkey
Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan
Painted on Water featuring Sertab Erener & Demir Demirkan
NY Gypsy All-Stars with Hüsnü Senlendirici and special guests
Saturday, June 27, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Ledisi / Esperanza Spalding
Jonathan Batiste
Sunday, June 28, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Explosions in the Sky
Constantines
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
From 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage.

Oumou Sangare, Les Nubians, Asa
Sunday, July 05, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Juana Molina
Curumin
El G (ZZK)
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Matisyahu
Umphrey’s McGee
Thursday, July 09, 2009
From 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage.

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Eric Bobo
Saturday, July 11, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Global Family Day!
DJ Lance Rock & Brobee (of Yo Gabba Gabba!)
Billy B.
Iza Trapani, Storyteller
“Sleeping Beauty” Puppet Show
Sunday, July 12, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Featuring Paulo Szot
Monday, July 13, 2009
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Q-Tip
Chester French
Little Dragon
Benji B
Saturday, July 18, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Alpha Blondy & The Solar System
Lee “Scratch” Perry & Dubblestandart
Subatomic Sound System
Sunday, July 19, 2009

From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Bettye Lavette
Budos Band
Felix Hernandez Rhythm Revue
Friday, July 24, 2009
From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Jerry Rivera and special guests
N’Klabe
Saturday, July 25, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Ginuwine
Joe
Chico DeBarge
Sunday, July 26, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Dance
RIOULT
Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Expressions
Friday, July 31, 2009
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

M. Ward
Mike Watt & Nels Cline +
Saturday, August 01, 2009
From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

CineFest Brasil
If I Were You 2 (Se eu fosse você 2) directed by Daniel Filho
Silvia Machete
Sunday, August 02, 2009
From 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Toumani Diabaté
Monday, August 03, 2009
From 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Music & Film
I Am Cuba directed by Mikhail Kalatozov
The Pedrito Martinez Project
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Asbury Shorts: An Evening of the World’s Best Short Films
Mingus Dynasty Quintet
Thursday, August 06, 2009
From 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Dance
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
nathantrice/RITUALS dance theater
Friday, August 07, 2009
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Boys Noize
Saturday, August 08, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Jazmine Sullivan
Chrisette Michele
Jon B.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Dance
Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company
with musical guest Martha Wainwright
Friday, August 14, 2009
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Dance
Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company
with musical guest Martha Wainwright
Saturday, August 15, 2009
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM