Summer is in full swing and the options for your entertainment needs are varied and wide across the city; but we have a righteous and free fest happening this weekend (7-20-19) that you should check out in Athens Square Park in Astoria, Queens, NY. The event starts at 12pm and runs til 8pm with performances by hey guy, GIFTSHOP, Joe Abba’s Funk Unit, Humblebrag, Beecher’s Fault, Os Clavelitos, Cold Club of Queens and The Bumper Crop Boys. Directly following what is sure to be a memorable day, is a free (donations encouraged) after-party at Irish Whiksey Bar where the music and good vibes will certainly continue.
Astoria Music Now! Artwork courtesy of HISSxx
In 2008, Astoria Music & Arts was established to provide a vehicle for a rapidly growing music scene in Western, Queens. Originally promoting largely with smaller venues (i.e. The Quays Pub and The Shillelagh Tavern) the vision expanded to creating a larger scale outdoor show, highlighting the musicians and artists that were impacting this burgeoning community. In 2009, Astoria Park seemed the perfect venue for the very first Astoria Music Now! It’s initial success went on to spawn a series of annual shows, subsequently totalling seven uniquely themed festivals.
In 2016, Astoria Music Collective was formed. Working essentially as a grassroots, community music program, the collective set out on an ambitious goal of furthering the scope of Astoria Music Now to include numerous annual showcases and open mics, as well as multiple festivals (BetweenTwo Bridges, Turning Leaves) and collaborating with other local music, art and activist initiatives, such as, Venus Envy Artist Coalition, Queensfolk Collective and the Hell Gate Bridge Alliance.
This year is a tribute and celebration of the neighborhood that has become home to so many great artists and inspired them to flourish and create.
