New York City hosts free star-studded ‘Homecoming’ concert in Central Park on Aug. 21
From a press release:
Today, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, music industry legend Clive Davis, Live Nation, and New York City Economic Development Chair Danny Meyer announced the all-star lineup set to perform at the “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert” on the Great Lawn in Central Park on Saturday, Aug. 21.
Presented by Citi and Expedia, this historic, once-in-a-generation concert in Central Park will feature an array of music icons and contemporary artists spanning musical and entertainment genres. Those confirmed to date include:
- Journey
- The Killers
- Carlos Santana
- Paul Simon
- Patti Smith
- Bruce Springsteen
- Elvis Costello
- Jennifer Hudson
- Barry Manilow
- Rob Thomas
- LL Cool J
- Jon Batiste
- Wyclef Jean
- Andrea Bocelli
- Polo G
- Kane Brown
- Lucky Daye
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds
- Cynthia Erivo
- Don Lemon
- Jimmy Fallon
- Gayle King
- The New York Philharmonic
As a celebration of New York City’s comeback, the concert will promote health, safety, and equity. 80 percent of tickets for “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert produced by New York City, Clive Davis, and Live Nation” will be available for free. For ticketholders, proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for entry. Given the outdoor setting and vaccination requirement, masks will be optional. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for persons unable to get vaccinated because of a disability.
Free tickets, as well as VIP tickets for purchase, will be released to the public in batches at nyc.gov/homecomingweek starting on Monday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. Additional free and VIP ticket release dates and times are as follows:
- Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 7 a.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 9 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 5 at 7 a.m.
- Friday, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 7 at 9 p.m.
“This is going to be an historic, monumental moment for all New Yorkers and all Americans. I’ll put it plainly – you’re going to want to be here. This is truly once in a lifetime, and we thank Clive Davis, Live Nation, and Danny Meyer for all their efforts to help make this possible,” de Blasio said.
“This is a celebration of our city, of every working family who faced incredible challenges last year and overcame. This is a celebration for you.”
Gates will open for “We Love NYC” at 3 p.m. on Aug. 21. The concert will begin at 5 p.m. and air live worldwide exclusively on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and unauthenticated on CNNGo.
“There is absolutely no place more special than Central Park to celebrate the reopening of New York City,” Davis said.
“I consider the mayor’s request a true honor and, with Live Nation, we are curating an unforgettable show befitting of this historic occasion.”
“Live music has the unique ability to bring us together,” added Geoff Gordon, regional president of Live Nation.
“We are excited to join Mayor de Blasio, Clive Davis, and Danny Meyer in producing this special night of live music as we reconnect fans with some of their favorite artists in Central Park.”
Citi is a presenting sponsor and the official card of “We Love NYC.” Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale VIP tickets beginning Thursday, July 29 at 10 a.m. until Sunday, Aug. 1 at 10 p.m. through the Citi Entertainment program. For all pres-ale details, visit citientertainment.com. Additionally, Citi will be giving away 1,000 general admission tickets to Citi cardmembers on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Monday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m.
“New Yorkers know that their city is waking up and coming back strongly – and I can’t think of a more uplifting way to celebrate than to enjoy live music from some of the world’s most renowned artists, on the Great Lawn of NYC’s Central Park,” said Danny Meyer, board chairman of the NYCEDC and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group.
“I’m thrilled to join Mayor de Blasio, Clive Davis, and Geoff Gordon for what I know will be an event for the ages.”
Expedia is the presenting sponsor and official travel companion of “We Love NYC,” giving away up to 1,000 concert tickets to select Expedia Rewards members and providing a variety of other ways for travelers to win tickets in the lead-up to the event. In addition, Expedia will spotlight popular New York City hotels, flights, activities and more to help travelers plan and get the most out of their trip.
In addition to “We Love NYC,” NYC Homecoming Week, a citywide celebration of New York’s resilience, will also include the following from Aug. 14-22:
- Live concerts produced by the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens
- Free movie screenings by Rooftop Films
- Cultural activities and public art
- Iconic events, including NYC Restaurant Week and Summer Streets
The five-borough week of events will drive support for the mom-and-pop businesses that define the city’s neighborhoods and kept its heart beating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on NYC Homecoming Week events and tickets, visit nyc.gov/homecomingweek.
Live Nation Entertainment is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. In the New York metropolitan area, Live Nation promotes more than 2,000 shows at more than 30 venues annually.
