Faves featured on SummerStage slate
As the weather warms, anticipation is heating up for the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage performance series, which include a number of favorite Caribbean performers and artists preferred by folks with roots in the region.
The big-name Caribbean performers include are calypsonian Mighty Sparrow; the award-winning CASYM Steel Orchestra; Haiti’s popular Tabou Combo band; the Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater; and a collection of recording artists marking the 40th anniversary of VP Records.
Also taking the SummerStage stages this year will be Jamaica-rooted, British-born hip-hop veteran Slick Rick; and an R&B session featuring The Stylistics, The Manhattans and Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes.
Headliner Mighty Sparrow and the CASYM Steel Orchestra open the SummerStage Caribbean sessions on July 5 in Queens at Springfield Park, Springfield Blvd. and 184th St. at 7 p.m.
The Tabou Combo leads performers on July 7 in Queens at Springfield Park with a show that features Lakou Mizik and DJ Sabine Blaizin in association with the Afro-Latino Festival of New York. The show starts at 6 p.m.
On July 27 in the Bronx, Slick Rick and DJ Chuck Chillout will entertain at Soundview Park, Colgate and Lafayette Aves., at the Bronx River, beginnng at 6 p.m.
Back in the Bronx, Caribbean-rooted Garifuna culture is on display at Crotona Park, 1700 Crotona Ave., when the Garifuna Collective and the Wabafu Garifuna Dance Theater perform on Aug. 2, at 6 p.m.
Old school R&B — a longtime Caribbean favorite — takes center stage at the Ford Amphitheater, 3052 W. 21st St., in Coney Island, Brooklyn, when The Stylistics, The Manhattans, and Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes star in The 70’s Soul Jam at 7 p.m. on Aug. 3.
The VP Records 40th anniversary
show — part of a yearlong celebration — takes place on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. on the Central Park stage with with Elephant Man, Junior Reid, Estelle and Raging Fyah
For a complete schedule visit cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage.
Prepping girls for ‘Excellence’
There’s still time for girls, ages 7 to 10, to “Prep for Excellence.” The free Saturday educational initiative — run by Caribbean-rooted 16-year-old Shawnia Yon — continues through June 8 in Queens at the English Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 116-01 204th St., St. Albans. Sessions are held from 10 a.m. to noon.
For information, send email to prep4excellence@gmail.com.
Anguilla awards and fund-raiser
Anguilla Progressive Association of New York is holding its Awards Dinner Dance and Fund-raising Affair on June 1 in Queens at Antun’s, 96-43 Springfield Blvd., in Queens Village, starting at 8:30 p.m.
Net proceeds of this event will benefit ongoing charity programs for Anguilla and the Anguillian diaspora.
To get information and tickets, visit apa-ny.org.
Queens marks Guyana b-day
Guyana’s birthday will be celebrated in Queens — home of a sizable and vibrant Guyanese community — on Tuesday at the fourth annual Guyana Independence Day Celebration at Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
To RSVP, send email to queensbp.org/rsvp or call (718) 2862661.