The 17th Annual Live at the Gantries in Queens, NY | Kicks Off July 8th, 2025 (FREE ADMISSION!)
Kupferberg Center for the Arts
Presents
17th Annual Live at the Gantries
Free Summer Concert Series Returns to LIC Waterfront: Live at the Gantries Kicks Off July 8 at 7 PM
Queens, NY – Queens’ favorite free outdoor summer concert series, Live at the Gantries, returns for its 17th season this July at Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City. Presented by the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College, in collaboration with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and with generous support from the Mathis-Pfohl Foundation, this annual series celebrates the borough’s diverse cultural landscape with an exciting lineup of live music—set against the iconic backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and East River sunsets.
Starting Tuesday, July 8 at 7 PM, and running every Tuesday evening through August 12, audiences are invited to bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, friends, and family for six weeks of unforgettable performances at one of NYC’s most scenic waterfront parks.
This year’s lineup highlights a wide range of musical styles—from salsa, country, and jazz to Afro-Caribbean rhythms and global sounds:
2025 Live at the Gantries Lineup
Tuesdays at 7 PM | Gantry Plaza State Park | Free Admission
July 8 (7 PM) – Migguel Anggelo’s ICONS: Celia Cruz
Migguel Anggelo’s second episode of ICONS celebrates the legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz in honor of her 100th birthday year. Directed and developed by Adrian Alea, with Musical Direction by Jaime Lozano and backed by an all-star lineup of live musicians and dancers, this high-energy concert pays tribute to the Queen of Salsa while exploring themes of Latine cultural identity, resilience, and the transformative power of music.
July 15 (7 PM) – The Slide Stops
The Slide Stops is a Brooklyn-based honky-tonk band inspired by classic American country artists like Hank Williams, Bob Wills, and the Carter Family. Their set features country standards alongside original songs—all delivered with a heartfelt style that’s sure to make you dance and cry.
July 22 (7 PM) – Alphonso Horne & The Gotham Kings
Led by two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter Alphonso Horne, Gotham Kings is a high-energy, immersive jazz experience. Blending the sounds of New Orleans with funk, jazz, and hip hop, this all-star band channels the youthful virtuosity of Louis Armstrong and the innovation of King Oliver. Their performances take audiences on a musical journey through rags, stomps, shouts, and funk—a joyful celebration that lifts the spirit and moves the soul.
July 29 (7 PM) – Rebolu
With some of the finest Colombian musicians in the United States, Rebolu—founded by Ronald Polo, Morris Cañate, Johanna Castañeda, and Erica Parra—brings together a powerful ensemble rooted in the rich musical traditions of their Afro-Colombian ancestors from the Caribbean coast. Driven by strong, mesmerizing rhythms and infused with modern urban Caribbean sounds, their music pulses with contagious energy that goes straight to the soul.
August 5 (7 PM) – Malika Zarra
Jazz, rooted in African and diasporic traditions, is defined by its spirit of improvisation—and few embody this more than Malika Zarra. A Moroccan-born, French-raised, and globally celebrated singer, composer, and producer, Zarra fuses North African chaâbi, Amazigh (Berber), and Gnawa rhythms with contemporary urban jazz. Singing in Amazigh, Arabic, French, and English, her velvety mezzo-soprano and multicultural sound have captivated audiences worldwide, making her a powerful voice in the global jazz scene.
August 12 (7 PM) – Mireya Ramos
Latin Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated artist Mireya Ramos is a powerhouse vocalist, violinist, and founder of NYC’s all-women mariachi group Flor de Toloache. A proud Afro-Latina of Dominican and Mexican roots, raised in Puerto Rico, she blends mariachi, salsa, merengue, hip-hop, and classical music into a bold, signature sound. Her versatility and rich tone have made her a standout in New York’s Latin music scene, with features on albums by Luisito Quintero, Chicano Batman, Adrian Quesada, and more.
“Live at the Gantries is a celebration of Queens—the people, the cultures, and the incredible talent that thrives here,” said Jon Yanofsky, Director at Kupferberg Center for the Arts. “We’re proud to mark our 17th season of this free series and invite the community to enjoy live music in such a beautiful public space.”
Event Details:
When: Tuesdays at 7 PM, July 8 – August 12, 2025
Where: Gantry Plaza State Park, Center Blvd. between 48th & 49th Ave, LIC, Queens
Admission: Free – No tickets required
For artist details, park directions, and weather updates, visit: kupferbergcenter.org/live-at-the-gantries
About Kupferberg Center for the Arts (KCA): The mission of KCA is to provide high quality accessible and affordable cultural attractions to the Queens College community and the borough’s 2.4 million residents. The largest indoor year-round multi-disciplinary arts entity in the borough, KCA features world class artists and performances at its main stage campus venues and showcases the talents of emerging and regional artists in off-site, neighborhood settings. A leader in the cultural landscape of Queens, KCA connects residents of the most ethnically diverse region of the nation to their unique cultural heritages, showcasing these arts to a broader audience and highlighting the contributions each makes to the distinct nature of our campus and community.
Source: Kupferberg Center for the Arts