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
Grand Finale

Things To Do

From The Philharmonic on the Great Lawn to Shakespeare in the Park to SummerStage, Central Park offers an endless array of things to do, see, hear – and, with two full service restaurants and several cafes, taste.  You can visit The Shakespeare Garden, take in a performance at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, take a ride on the Carousel – or just sit and people watch at Bethesda Terrace!

Contact Us

Contact Info

5th Ave. 
New York, NY, 10028

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