Lincoln Center Sets Local Summer 2015 Free Live Concerts

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Lincoln Center Education continue the popular, free summer community concert series, Lincoln Center Local, with eight live events in libraries throughout Queens this August. The series continues Lincoln Center's commitment to bring exceptional arts and artists to new audiences and into the community. Lincoln Center also furthers its partnership with the Queens Library for the fourth-straight year, bringing events to four neighborhood library locations around the borough. This summer's free programs encompass a wide range of eclectic musical styles and traditions, some with a unique fusion of world cultures. Each presentation is an hour long and is offered twice on a given Saturday at a particular Queens Library branch.

This summer's Lincoln Center Local lineup details:

Saturday, August 1, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Nation Beat: Carnival Caravan Featuring Cha Wa
Queens Library at Flushing
41-17 Main Street
Flushing, NY

Carnival Caravan is a vibrant intercultural collaboration featuring Brazilian-American group Nation Beat and New Orleans band Cha Wa. Their goal is to incorporate Brazilian, New Orleans, and related music, dance, and art into a show that explores the common ground and cultural exchange between North and South America.

Saturday, August 8, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Zikrayat: Cairo Nights
Queens Library at Broadway
40-20 Broadway
Long Island City, NY

In the mid-20th century, Cairo had a rich nightclub scene where top musicians and dancers from across the Arab world came to perform, often launching careers into Egypt's film industry. Zikrayat will present a set evoking the atmosphere of that period, including a mix of fun and quirky belly dance numbers from the "Golden Age" of Egyptian cinema, introspective and ecstatic classical tarab music, and upbeat, popular shaabi songs. Led by Arab violinist, vocalist, composer, and teacher Sami Abu Shumays and Egyptian-style dancer Robin "Dameshe" Shumays, Zikrayat also features a talented line-up of performers from diverse backgrounds brought together by their devotion to these rich art forms.

Saturday, August 15, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Eva Salina: Jewish and Romani Journeys
Queens Library of Forest Hills
108-19 71 Avenue
Forest Hills, NY

Stemming from a mutual love and respect for traditional cultures, Eva Salina and her ensemble explore the complexity and beauty of "being different" as expressed through the Balkan Romani and Jewish musical traditions of Southeastern Europe, which can be heard throughout the region and the world. Together with her ensemble, Eva embraces and celebrates important artists from these cultures and shares personal stories about identity, passion, and the search for belonging.

Saturday, August 22, 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Heritage Blues Orchestra - The Trio: Exploring African-American Folk Music
Queens Library at Ridgewood
20-12 Madison Street
Ridgewood, NY

When not performing with their nine-member, Grammy-nominated Heritage Blues Orchestra, guitarist and harmonica player Bill Sims, Jr., vocalist and percussionist Chaney Sims, and guitarist and vocalist Junior Mack moonlight as an intimate trio. Just as the blues is full of both joy and sorrow, the program will range from upbeat and celebratory to somber and reflective.

In addition to the live performances, attendees can enter to win a special Lincoln Center package prize including dinner for two at Lincoln Ristorante and two tickets to a future White Light Festival performance at Lincoln Center. A winner will be drawn at the last performance on August 22.

Artists, dates, and locations subject to change. Special seating policy at double sets may apply. Due to varying seating capacities at each location all seating is first-come, first-served.

To post a comment, you must register and login.