Bryant Park to Present ACCORDIONS AROUND THE WORLD Through August

Bryant Park Presents, an outdoor performing arts series with over 50 free events, announces the lineup of Accordions Around the World, a weekly series that regularly features over 75 accordionists - as well as bandoneon, bayan, concertina and harmonium-players of different musical genres - performing in various locations around Bryant Park.

The series, which highlights six musicians each Wednesday, represents many cultures and genres, offering audiences the chance to experience the often underappreciated instrument. The series, produced with Ariana's List, has garnered acclaim from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ABC News and NY1.

The series culminates with the second annual Accordion Band Festival (August 31), featuring Fidelina Pascual performing Dominican merengue tipico, as well as local favorites Pistolera, Golem and more.

Bryant Park Presents is a singular contribution to a city already rich with summer festivals. The venue is extraordinarily convenient, within a few blocks of major transportation hubs including Penn Station, Times Square and Grand Central Terminal, and virtually all subway lines. There's never a need to wait in line since the park can easily accommodate several thousand attendees on chairs or blankets. Amenities abound, including free board games, ping-pong, kubb, Petanque, and Wi-Fi, plus food and beverages available for purchase from a variety of in-park and nearby restaurants.

More information available at BryantPark.org/BryantParkPresents.

Bryant Park Presents Accordions Around the World
WEDNESDAYS, through AUGUST 24, 6-8PM
ACCORDIONS AROUND THE WORLD
FREE

These weekly performances will feature six accordion acts working in a wide range of genres, including:

• August 3: Albert Behar (Gypsy jazz & waltz musette), Ariel Lud (bandoneon: Argentine tango), Rob Curto (Brazilian bluegrass), Lacey Anderson (indie), Phil Racz (classical & Brazilian) and Lauren Brody's Accordion Bytes (Balkan)
• August 10: Maestro Tito Castro (bandoneon: Argentine tango), Melissa Elledge (pop & rock), Jenny Luna (Balkan & Turkish), Jay Palylyk & Walt Syzonenko (Ukrainian folk), Vitor Gonçalves (Brazilian choro & forró) and Sadys Rodrigo Espitia (Colombian cumbia & vallenato)
• August 17: Yumbell Donato (Colombian cumbia & vallenato), Suzanne Davenport (French musette), Tony Kovatch (French musette & Gypsy jazz), Mary Spencer Knapp (cabaret, soul & pop), Jody Kruskal (concertina: old Americana) and Niall O'Leary (Irish traditional)

  August 24: Christina Crowder (klezmer), Gregory Grene (Irish rock), Alma Mia (Colombian vallenato), Mario Tacca (French musette & waltz), Yuri Lemeshev (world, classical & jazz) and Brooke Watkins (French musette & standards)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 5-10PM
ACCORDION BAND FESTIVAL
FREE

In this second annual festival, six exemplary New York-based bands play music from across the globe, each featuring an accordion, performing to an audience of thousands on the lawn. The lineup includes Silver City Bound (American roots), Barynya Balalaika Trio (Russian), Pistolera (Latin alt party), Golem (klezmer punk), Fidelina Pascual (Dominican perico ripiao) and Brooklyn Qawwali Party (Pakistani-inspired party funk).

Soloists perform in between each band, including Ismail Butera with Natalia Perlaza (epyllion music from the Mediterranean), Gregory Grene (Celtic roots-rock), Albert Behar (Gypsy jazz & waltz musette), Eva Salina & Peter Stan (Balkans), and Gregorio Uribe (Colombian cumbia & vallenato).

Bryant Park Corporation (BPC), a private not-for-profit company, was founded in 1980 to renovate, finance and operate Bryant Park in New York City. BPC is funded by income from concessions, corporate sponsors and events, as well as an assessment on neighboring properties, and does not accept government or philanthropic monies. In addition to providing security, sanitation, and horticultural services tending the park, notably the lush lawn and seasonal garden displays, BPC provides public amenities, programming and activities, including Bryant Park Presents, plus movable chairs and tables, cafe umbrellas, restaurants, food kiosks, world-class restrooms, and a wide range of other free events throughout the year. The Midtown Manhattan parkis visited by more than six million people each year and is one of the busiest public spaces in the world. Visit BPC's website, www.bryantpark.org, for more information and a schedule of upcoming events.