A new pop-up festival series by the New York Philharmonic is coming to Harlem, bringing music, dance, poetry and art to Marcus Garvey Park starting Friday.
The NY Phil Bandwagon 2 series is built around a mobile shipping container used as a stage.
The monthlong project kicked off last week at Brooklyn’s Domino Park and will stop in two more neighborhoods after Harlem — though the locations are not being announced far in advance.
The Marcus Garvey event starts 5 p.m. Est Friday, held on the park’s northeast lawn on Madison Avenue and East 123rd Street.
The festival is being run in partnership with the National Black Theatre.
It is free and unticketed, but capacity is limited and entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Friday’s events kick off with “Digital Soul Festival,” an art feature that includes original works from the National Black Theater and a presentation of photographs of civil unrest by Peter Cooper, underscored with live music by philharmonic musicians.
The Bandwagon 2 festival at Marcus Garvey Park will run through Sunday evening.
Here’s the full schedule:
Friday, May 14, 2021:
- 5 p.m. – Digital Soul Festival
- 6 p.m. – Paul Beabrun: the singer/instrumentalist will perform with the Zing Experience
- 7 p.m. – Dance Party featuring Grand Wizzard Theodore, a “DJ and scratch pioneer”
Saturday, May 15, 2021:
- 3:30 p.m. – Tribute to Craig “muMs” Grant, the actor and poet who died suddenly in March. It will feature poetry readings by Mahogany L. Browne, Jennie West and Michael Carlsen, with performances by Philharmonic musicians.
- 4:30 p.m. – Curtis Stewart, a violinist, performing with a Philharmonic string quartet
- 5:30 p.m. – Mama Foundation for the Arts: Sing Harlem Choir
- 6:30 p.m. – Digital Soul Festival
Sunday, May 16, 2021:
- 3:30 p.m. – Laquita Mitchell & Harlem Chamber Players
- 4:30 p.m. – Justin Hicks and Kenita Miller-Hicks with percussionist Rey De Jesus
- 7 p.m. – Poetry for the People: curated by poet/activist Liza Jessie Peterson, with readings by Carl Hancock Rux, Brad Wolford, Abiodun and Toni Blackman
Read more about the event at nyphil.org/bandwagon.
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