LINCOLN CENTER JAMS
Midsummer Night Swing returns on June 29, with an East Coast–West Coast battle of the bands. New York’s George Gee Swing Orchestra will face off against the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra, from Los Angeles. The series runs through July 17. The following month, the Lincoln Center Festival brings a number of interesting musical acts to the stage, including, on Aug. 12, the International Body Music Festival, in which body parts replace musical instruments. The twelve-piece Brazilian ensemble Barbatuques is making its New York début. (lincolncenter.org.)
PLAYING IN THE PARK
SummerStage’s season is already under way, but the big news is that this local institution is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary by expanding beyond its home in Central Park; it’s presenting music across the five boroughs this summer. Highlights from around the city include the hip-hop innovator DJ Kool Herc in Crotona Park, in the Bronx, on June 30; the old-school rappers EPMD and Funkmaster Flex in Queensbridge Park, in Queens, on July 15; and Lisa Lisa in Tappen Park, on Staten Island, on July 20. (summerstage.org.) | Celebrate Brooklyn!, which is staying put in Prospect Park, kicks off its season this week with the soft sounds of Norah Jones, on June 9. The Swell Season (on July 30), Sonic Youth (July 31), and Sharon Jones (Aug. 7) follow. (bricartsmedia.org.)
INDEPENDENCE DAY
The nation’s birthday means more than just hot dogs and fireworks. It means blowout concerts. The New Jersey locals the Feelies get things started early at Maxwell’s, in Hoboken, with a three-day run July 2-4. (maxwellsnj.com.) On the Fourth of July itself, the Old 97s barnstorm the South Street Seaport (rivertorivernyc.com); She & Him serenade the Beach @ Governors Island (bowerypresents.com), and Dan Zanes keeps the kids (and their parents) happy at Battery Park. (rivertorivernyc.com).
WATERFRONT SHOWS
The Siren Music Festival marks its tenth anniversary with a solid lineup. Surfer Blood, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Earl Greyhound, Matt and Kim, Ted Leo, and a slew of other acts take the stage in Coney Island on July 17. (siren.villagevoice.com.) | The Pool Parties, which brought acts like Mission of Burma, the Black Lips, and Girl Talk to the scenic East River State Park in previous summers, is expected to return this year starting July 11. (thepoolparties.com.) | The Rocks Off Concert Cruises series does other seaside shows one better. It takes the music out on the water aboard half a dozen different vessels, one of which looks like a paddlewheel boat. The Electric Six (July 15), Jesse Malin (July 17), and Kid Koala (Aug. 26) are making waves there this year. (rocksoff.com.)
JAZZ ROUNDUP
The mostly free, regularly roving Jazzmobile series has been bringing the music to the streets since 1964. This summer, it presents Wycliffe Gordon, Jeremy Pelt, Arturo O’Farrill, Jimmy Heath, Houston Person, and Barry Harris, among others. (jazzmobile.org.) | The annual Charlie Parker birthday celebration takes place this year Aug. 28-29, with, as is its tradition, shows uptown and down. The first day, McCoy Tyner, Jason Moran, and JD Allen hit Marcus Garvey Park. The following day, James Moody, Jimmy Scott, Vijay Iyer, and Catherine Russell can be found in Tompkins Square Park. (cityparksfoundation.org.)
