For anyone close to the NYC area, check out theseLog In. May 26–August 18 Summer Thunder at Union Pool The Williamsburg venue's annual free summer concert series features (no surprise here) hip acts like Turing Machine, Lone Wolf and Rocksteady Yeti. For more info, visit union-pool.com. July 25–August 12 Lincoln Center Out Of Doors at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Lincoln Center’s annual festival of free performances includes a number of notable concerts, including jazz trio The Bad Plus on August 2, dance-punks !!! on August 8 and a tribute to jazz poet Gil Scott-Heron on August 12. For more info, visit aboutlincolncenter.org. August 3–26 Bronx Salsa Fest "New York's 'Salsa Borough'" presents a month of programming including the "Hip Hop Generation Next Block Party," music performances at Orchard Beach and The Morrison Avenue Festival—a community celebration packed with food and music. For more info and a full calendar of events, visit bronxsalsafest.com. August 10 StePhest Colbchella ’012 – Rocktaugustfest at Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum Stephen Colbert’s pun-filled festival is back for a second year, and it’s taking over the Intrepid. For this year’s installment, the Comedy Central star has rounded up The Flaming Lips, Santigold, Grizzly Bear, Fun. and DJ Grandmaster Flash. For a chance at tickets, enter your email here. For more info, visit colbertnation.com. August 11 Buckwheat Zydeco at Central Park Always touring and always lively, Buckwheat Zydeco brings a party with him wherever he goes. He plays the accordion, sings upbeat Creole-inspired Louisiana folk songs and will have you dancing through his entire set. For more info, visit summerstage.org. August 11 Lyle Lovett at Prospect Park There’s little Lyle Lovett hasn’t done in the entertainment industry. He sings country, folk, swing and pop, writes songs, produces records and has even made an acting career for himself. Catch the multitalented Texan during a free show in Prospect Park. For more info, visit bricartsmedia.org. August 16 Gladys Knight and the Commodores at Coney Island The soulful Gladys Knight took her talents in another direction this year, joining the cast of Dancing With the Stars. While the singer's fancy footwork didn't yield victory on the show, her vocal talents remain unimpeachable. Stop by the Coney Island waterfront to see her live, joined by funk and soul masters the Commodores—best known for their funky '70s hit “Brick House.” For more info, visit brooklynconcerts.com. August 18 The Kills at Hudson River Park, Pier 63 It's free to see rock duo Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince perform selections from their four studio albums, but you need tickets. For more information, visit bowerypresents.com. August 18 Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings at Williamsburg Park Despite her amazing pipes, Sharon Jones spent decades on the fringes of the music industry until a special group of Brooklyn musicians began to tease out her seemingly bottomless pool of talent and charisma. The band eventually became the Dap-Kings, and the label, Daptone Records, became an analogue-worshipping funk phenomenon. For more info, visit the Williamsburg Park Facebook page. August 25–26 Afro-Punk Festival at Commodore Barry Park Head out to Commodore Barry Park and hear the likes of Erykah Badu, Gym Class Heroes, Spank Rock, Reggie Watts, Janelle Monae and Das Racist. This year's Afro-Punk Festival has been a long time coming—the 2011 edition was wiped out by Hurricane Irene. For more info, visit afropunk.com. August 29 Turbonegro at House of Vans Norwegian punk-rockers Turbonegro formed in 1989. If you’re brave enough to see what “deathpunk” (what the band calls its signature style) is all about, head to House of Vans for this free show. For more info, visit Vans.com. September 7 Bob Mould at Williamsburg Park The influential Hüsker Dü rocker plays a free show during which he'll perform the now 20-year-old Sugar record Copper Blue in its entirety. Yep, you're getting old. For more info, visit facebook.com.
