Central Park Summerstage - Free Music That's Good
By Jim Farber

Summer's here (almost) and the time is right for live music in the parks.
One of the first signs of the approaching warm season is the roll out of concerts planned by the Summerstage festival. Every year this fest brings hundreds of performances to 18 parks throughout the five boroughs. Summerstage just announced this seasons events. Here are some highlights of the freebies, followed by a few hot ones you have to shell out for.

- Roy Ayers and the Jazz Mafia Sat. July 2nd 7 p.m. Central Park Mainstage
- EPMD and Funkmaster Flex Tuesday June 7th 7 pl.m. at Betsy Head Park in Brooklyn
- Blue Note Jazz Festival wtih Medeski Martin and Wood Sat. Jun 11th 6:30 p.m. The Central Park Mainstage
- Talib Kweli June 21st 7 p.m. Red Hook Park
- Ozomatli Wed. June 22nd 7 p.m. Red Hook Park
- We Are Scientists Thurs. June 23rd 7 p.m. Red Hook Park
- Slick Rick Tuesday July 12th 7 p.m. Crotona Park, Bronx
- Chrisette Michel Thursday July 28th 7 p.m. Springfield Park, Queens
- Wanda Jackson/Imelda May Wed. July 27th 7 p.m. Central Park Mainstage
- Shelebration? A tribute to the works of Shel Silverstein, produced by Hal Willner Sat. Aug. 6th 7 p.m. Central Park Mainstage
- Ryan Leslie Thurs. August 11th 7 p.m. Marcus Garvey Park Manhattan
- Melanie Fiona, Jagged Edge, Avant Sunday August 28th 3 p.m. Central Park Mainstage

As for the benefit shows:
- Florence and The Machine Fri. June 24th 6:30 p.m. Central Park Mainstage
- Emmylou Harris and Levon Helm Monday July 18th 6 p.m. Central Park Mainstage
- Wiz Khalifa TBA

You can buy tickets to the benefit shows rom ticketmaster.com
You see all the Summerstage events at their own web site: summerstage.org