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River To River Set To Entertain City
Sean Lennon
With summer here, New York City is in high gear for the 10th annual River To River Festival to finally welcome the warm weather and celebrate the arts Lower Manhattan style. Beginning on Sunday, June 19 and continuing until Saturday, July 16, the River To River Festival brings an assortment of entertainment, ranging from jazz concerts to cowgirl inspired manhunts— absolutely free.
The 2011 River To River Festival is the first time the Lower Manhattan Cultural Center will the lead sponsor of the event instead of The Alliance for Downtown New York. Andy Horowitz, Curator at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Center reassures festival goers that they have nothing to fear about the switch. “The River To River Festival is still an exciting, multidisciplinary celebration of the arts in Lower Manhattan, and it still provides a variety of programs for different audiences.” Horowitz also said, “The River To River Festival not only gives audiences the opportunity to see great artists for free, it brings people from all over the city together in Lower Manhattan.”
Established in 2002, the River To River Festival was brought to the busy streets of the big apple in the wake of 9/11 to help revive the city back to full health, and has since become one of the most highly anticipated concert series in the summer season. This year’s festivities are inspired by a “Made in New York” theme. Each venue will feature at least one artist who proudly calls the concrete jungle home, beginning with New York fan-favorite, Bang On A Can.
“The Bang On A Can Marathon really embodies the spirit of River To River,” said Horowitz. “It is artistically adventurous but still accessible. It brings people together to experience a wide variety of exciting, genre-defying music in one place, at one time.”
Bang On A Can Marathon will entertain crowds with their 12-hour-plus super-mix of music featuring over 150 astounding musicians and composers from around the world. The ensemble will play at the World Financial Center Winter Garden featuring the likes of Philip Glass performing with the Bang On A Can All-Stars, the Asphalt Orchestra playing music by Byrne/Anne Clark, Yoko Ono and Frank Zappa, with many more downtown legends—and that’s just opening day!
Indie rock fanatics will find their haven on Pier 17 at the Seaport Music Series, happening every Friday night from June 24 to July 15. The series will start with the alluring Brazilian rhythm and French pop sound of New York icons Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl in Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger. The Seaport Pier will continue to rock and entertain crowds with bands flying in from coast to coast giving the series a unique flare.
Even opera buffs may rejoice when the critically acclaimed Rufus Wainwright performs pieces of his new opera “Prima Donna”, which is not set to premiere in New York City until spring of 2012, on Tuesday, June 28 at the World Financial Center Winter Garden. His production is accompanied by members of the New York City Opera including pianist Kevin Murphy.
Music lovers and performing art enthusiasts can rest assured knowing the River To River Festival will satisfy every musical or other artistic taste with a vast showcase created to appease any appetite.