The diverse mix will include the NY Philharmonic, Elvis Costello, LL Cool J, Patti Smith, The Killers, Wyclef Jean, Journey, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Jennifer Hudson is a main act, and not because she shares her name with the river. Bruce Springsteen will be headlining the concert, but it hasn’t been announced if he will be backed by The E Street Band. He will perform with punk’s premier poet, Patti Smith. This will be Springsteen’s first performance to a large concert audience since The River anniversary tour in 2017. Springsteen’s Broadway show at the St. James was one of the first shows to reopen when New York began lifting restrictions. The main concert will take place on the park’s Great Lawn as part of a weeklong celebration of the city’s reopening. Paul Simon will be playing it, of course. His name is almost synonymous with Central Park, and even if he’s not performing at a show there, he may be contractually obligated to be present anytime someone plays. Central Park’s Great Lawn concerts are legendary, and some of music’s most defining moments happened there. Diana Ross got caught up in a storm during her show, and it brought out her greatest performance. Simon and Garfunkel, Elton John, and Carole King all put on iconic shows. Recent concerts by Global Citizen featured Pearl Jam, Beyonce, Metallica, Neil Young, and Coldplay. In addition to the concert at the Great Lawn, The Universal Hip Hop Museum is in charge of curating four additional concerts, one in each of the outer boroughs, will be held in the days leading up to the Central Park event. “Throughout each of the five boroughs, we will be highlighting special talent that represent the spirit and soul of our city,” Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been, said in a statement. The acts have not been announced yet. New York’s Central Park Homecoming Concert Performers include: Jean-BaptisteAndrea BocelliKane BrownLL Cool JElvis CostelloEarth Wind & Fire joined by Lucky Daye and Kenneth “Babyface” EdmondsCynthia ErivoJimmy FallonJennifer HudsonWyclef JeanJourneyThe KillersGayle KingDon LemonBarry ManilowNY PhilharmonicPolo GCarlos Santana with Rob ThomasPaul SimonPatti Smith duetting with Bruce Springsteen The venues are:Monday, August 16, at Orchard Beach in The BronxTuesday, August 17, at Richmond County Bank Park in Staten IslandThursday, August 19, at Brooklyn Army Terminal in BrooklynFriday, August 20, at Forest Hills Stadium in QueensSaturday, August 21, at The Great Lawn, Central Park in Manhattan An audience of 60,000 is expected. Proof of vaccination is necessary to attend.Live Nation is involved with the production, and tickets will be free, except V.I.P. seating. Tickets will be made available starting Monday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. “WE LOVE NYC: The Homecoming Concert” will air Saturday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español.
