Tis the season, people!

This year, there will be over eighty free and benefit shows across the city through October 20th.

Central Park is the primary venue for the series, so this post will concentrate on that, but do head here to check out the full schedule, because there will be lots of good music happening in parks across all five boroughs of the city. (In venues like Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem and Tompkins Square Park in the East Village.) Folks can enjoy jazz, salsa, indie-rock, country, opera, afrobeats and more in the 38th season of our favorite music festival. This year will spotlight international music, so you can expect flamenco, Catalan, Ghanaian, Balkan and Australian performers in the mix as well.

Free dance performances and comedy are on tap along with the music--something for everyone. Here are some highlights of the Central Park lineup:

• June 1:  Andra Day  

• June 13:  Kim Gordon, Sun Ra Arkestra and Slauson Malone

• June 16:  Corinne Bailey Rae

• June 23:  T-Pain (benefit)

• June 29:  Pride Disco with Trixie Matell, Amanda Lepore and Jess King (benefit)

• July 11:  Counting Crows (benefit)

• August 4:  Galactic featuring Irma Thomas and The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.

• August 8: Comedy with David Cross and Super Pals, featuring Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Silverman, Fred Armisen and more (benefit)

• August 18: Funk Flex Birthday Party with live performances by Slick Rick, Dana Dane, Dougie E. Fresh, DJ Maseo and Funk Flex

• August 23: Hip-Hop Is The LOML Tour: The Roots ft. Jungle Brothers and Digable Planets (benefit)
  

All concerts are free, except for benefits; pricing varies, but remember, proceeds go towards maintaining our beautiful parks!

SummerStage is located at the Rumsey Playfield, which is right off the 5th Avenue and 69th Street entrance to the park, a quick subway ride from the hotel. And admission is on a first-come, first-served basis, so get there early!  (Doors open an hour prior to performances.) Food and wine and beer are available for purchase. (You can bring your own grub, but leave your adult beverages at home.)

There's nothing like listening to music in the great outdoors.

Time to party!

Image via egon69/iStock