Summerstage Gala 2014 - the Music of the Beatles!

On Tuesday, June 3, City Parks Foundation presented the 2014 SummerStage Gala in Central Park. Honoring Andrew Tisch with the 2014 People and Parks Award, the evening helped raise significant funds to support CPF’s year round free arts, sports, and education programs. The clouds broke right on schedule and the crowd was treated to a brilliant rainbow to start the evenings festivities, This year’s concert featured the music of THE BEATLES. An all star line up of GE Smith and his all star band, Jon Batiste, David Broza, Paula Cole, Marshall Crenshaw, Philip Bailey, Southside Johnny, Willie Nile & Teddy Thompson ripped through a fast paced set that immediately had the crowd on its feet dancing the entire evening.

GE Smith kicked off the show with a rocking version of 8 Days A Week and laid down the gauntlet for the rest of the following artists to bring their A game – and they did! Highlights included downtown music legend Willie Nile‘s killer rendition of A Hard Days Night followed by Israeli singer-songwriter, David Broza’s igniting the crowd with Twist and Shout. Paula Cole kept the party going with Get Back with Marshall Crenshaw‘s inspired version of a lesser known gem from the Yellow Submarine Album – It’s All Too Much. The first half of the show finished with Wille Nile joining Crenshaw on Some Other Guy.

After GE got the second set started with She Said, She Said Louisiana prodigy Jon Batiste gave Blackbird a bluesy twist, which Teddy Thompson followed with a rocking version of Can’t Buy Me Love (See pic of airborne Teddy below). Southside Johnny then brought the house down with a classically manic Helter Skelter. Philip Bailey kept the crowd dancing with I Saw Her Standing There. The show finished with the entire ensemble singing All You Need Is Love, ending the night way too soon for everyone.

A brilliant production, as always, by the City Parks Foundation, raising a record amount for the cause and kicking off what looks to be the best Summerstage season to date.

Full Set List –

GE Smith & his all star band 8 Days A Week	MARSHALL CRENSHAW It’s All Too Much Some Other Guy	SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY Helter Skelter Drive My Car
WILLIE NILE Hard Days Night Revolution	GE Smith & his all star band She Said She Said	PHILIP BAILEY l Saw Her Standing There Got to Get You Into My Life…
DAVID BROZA In My Life Twist and Shout	JON BATISTE Blackbird Paperback Writer	FINALE All You Need Is Love
PAULA COLE Get Back She’s Leaving Home	TEDDY THOMPSON And Your Bird Can Sing Can’t Buy Me Love