| River to River Festival '09 |
| Written by Dja Horry |
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posted by Dja Horry River to River Festival May 31, 2009 - August 14, 2009 Admission: FREE! This Year's Event Venues: Battery Park Castle Clinton The Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts One New York Plaza Rockefeller Park The Seaport Wagner Park World Financial Center Zuccotti Park rivertorivernyc.com  Brian Stokes Mitchell  Bang on a Can All Stars  The Big Draw Named one of the ten New York cultural institutions “we can’t live without” by Time Out New York and a "must-visit for urban arts aficionados" by the New York Post, the River To River Festival is New York’s largest free summer arts festival. Founded in 2002 to revitalize Lower Manhattan by bringing the arts to new audiences and new artists to public attention, the festival draws hundreds of thousands of people each year to venues along downtown’s spectacular waterfront, including the World Financial Center, The Seaport, Rockefeller Park, Battery Park, and Castle Clinton National Monument. The 2009 River To River Festival’s schedule is just as ambitious as years past, with free events – from established stars like Arlo Guthrie, Conor Oberst, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company to hotly-tipped artists like The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Jenny Lewis, and choreographer Jonah Bokaer to wildly fun, cutting edge extravaganzas like The Bang on a Can Marathon and The Big Draw – taking place almost daily. “The River To River Festival embodies the energy and creativity that has carried New York City through both good and challenging times,” said Valerie Lewis, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communication for the Downtown Alliance. “At a time when audiences need art and inspiration more than ever, we are determined to bring them outstanding, world-class entertainment at a price that can’t be beat.” Presented by American Express, the 2009 River To River Festival’s schedule highlights include: • The Bang on a Can Marathon returns to World Financial Center for its fourth year to kick-off the 2009 River To River Festival on May 31st . One of the highlights of New York City’s music calendar, the 12-hour marathon of mind-boggling, genre-bending music epitomizes the spirit of the Festival. • Avant-garde Hungarian violinist Félix Lajkó performs his unique fusion of folk, jazz, Gypsy and Jewish klezmer in his U.S. debut on June 1st as a co-production with the Extremely Hungary Festival. • Hailed as “Broadway’s last leading man,” Brian Stokes Mitchell takes to the Rockefeller Park stage on June 3rd . • New York City Opera brings opera downtown with three distinct varied programs for the opera novice and expert alike – in three different River To River venues from June 25 to 27. • Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band with opening act Jenny Lewis perform at the Festival’s flagship 4th of July concert in Battery Park. • As part of LMCC’s Sitelines 2009, Jonah Bokaer, one of today’s most exciting choreographers, collaborates with visual artist Daniel Arsham to present their new work, “Blind Fold,” in a public plaza Downtown. Location TBD (Week of July 6th and 13th ). • Indie faves The Pains of Being Pure at Heart play Seaport Music, Pier 17 (July 10th ). • The famed Indian composer Karsh Kale and Timeline perform with GamelaTron, the world’s first and only robotic Gamelan orchestra, at the World Financial Center Winter Garden on July 21st . • Marking Merce Cunningham’s 90th birthday, The Joyce Theater will co-produce Merce Cunningham Dance Company’s site-specific Event celebrating the work of the legendary choreographer on August 1st and 2nd at a location to be announced shortly. • Acclaimed Cuban dance band Químbombó takes over Wagner Park on July 29th . • Richie Havens (July 23rd ) and Arlo Guthrie (July 30) perform at Castle Clinton in Battery Park. • In “Songs for a Shiny Hot Night,” John Kelly sings The Joni Mitchell Songbook at Castle Clinton in Battery Park on August 6th . • May 31st , LMCC’s Sitelines presents Zvi Dance in “White” at Fort Jay on Governor’s Island. • Moshi Moshi Records’ Belated NY 10th Anniversary Show with Casiokids, The Wave Pictures, and Slow Club takes over The Seaport, Pier 17 on August 7th. |