FIRST WORKS-ROGER WILLIAMS PARK

FirstWorks Relaunches In-Person Performances with

FirstWorks Live—Music at Roger Williams Park Summer Concert Series

Line-up features a mix of local and national artists with a global flair

FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Providence, RI—FirstWorks, a Rhode Island non-profit dedicated to building community through world-class arts, announced today a free summer concert series in the gorgeous outdoor setting of the park, in partnership with Roger Williams Park Conservancy and the Providence Parks Department. The FirstWorks Live—Music at Roger Williams Park series features six free Sunday afternoon performances, kicking off on June 27, 2021, and running through September 19, 2021. The series offers a global journey from Polynesian dance and drums to Andean folk music, international hip-hop to Caribbean Carnival, red-hot Latin jazz to red roots Americana. For more information and the full line-up visit http://first-works.org. FirstWorks Live concerts will take place at the Dalrymple Boathouse Lawn and the Bandstand.

“FirstWorks Live rejoices in gathering families and friends to be inspired by artists and music that allows spirits to soar. FirstWorks is thrilled to collaborate once again with the Roger Williams Park Conservancy, Providence Parks Department, and the FirstWorks family of artists to bring one-of-a-kind live arts experiences to our community,” said Kathleen Pletcher, FirstWorks Executive Artistic Director. “After a year of coming together virtually, we are excited to gather again to share the power of live arts with audiences.”

In a welcoming free return to live, in-person performances, FirstWorks Live—Music at Roger Williams Park will give park attendees a chance to experience artists from a global range of genres and backgrounds. This marks a second season for FirstWorks’ live performance partnership with Roger Williams Park Conservancy, following a successful pilot through the Summer Beats and Global Journeys performance series in July-October 2020.

“We are thrilled to support a second summer of free, world-class music in Roger Williams Park through our partnership with FirstWorks and the Providence Parks Department,” said Kevin Essington, Roger Williams Parks Conservancy Executive Director. “Visitors were filled with joy at last year’s shows, I am sure we will see even more smiles this year.”

“I am so pleased that Providence parks provided people with a way to enjoy the arts safely this past year and will continue to engage and inspire the community with this outstanding lineup of performances at Roger Williams Park,” said Wendy Nilsson, Superintendent of Providence Parks.

Rhode Island-based artists include dance and drum troupe Napua O’Polynesia, “Flowers of Polynesia,” kicking off the series at the Dalrymple Boathouse Lawn on Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 5 PM with a mix of modern and traditional hula traditions. Local trumpet master Carlos de Leon will bring sizzling Latin Jazz to the Dalrymple Boathouse Lawn on Sunday, July 18, 2021 at 5 PM.

Multi-generational family band Voces de los Andes, Rhode Island’s ambassadors of contemporary and traditional Andean music will perform at the Dalrymple Boathouse Lawn on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at 5 PM. Rounding out the Rhode Island-based line-up is spoken word artist and rapper Chachi Carvalho, hosting a hip-hop dance party and performance along with his cohort of International Players at the Bandstand on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at 5 PM.

Audiences are invited to shake off the blues and celebrate to the sounds of Caribbean Carnival at a concert featuring local and national guest artists to be announced. Carnival takes place at the Bandstand on Sunday, August 15, 2021 at 5 PM. Boston-based Indigenous performer-songwriter Thea Hopkins performs her award-winning contemporary folk music style she describes as “Red Roots Americana” for the series finale on the Dalrymple Boathouse Lawn on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 5 PM.

About FirstWorks

FirstWorks is a non-profit based in Providence, Rhode Island whose purpose is to build the cultural, educational and economic vitality of its community by engaging diverse audiences with world-class performing arts and education programs. Since 2004, FirstWorks festivals, performances and programs have attracted more than 600,000 participants. Last season, FirstWorks arts education programs reached over 5,500 students from public and charter schools across Rhode Island with transformative, arts-based learning experiences. FirstWorks is the founding partner of PVDFest, collaborating with the City of Providence to produce the City’s free signature arts celebration since 2015. In 2019 PVDFest drew 130,000 visitors to Providence to experience music, art and spectacular performances. Embracing collaboration, FirstWorks has fostered over 90 community partnerships across business, social service, government, arts, and education sectors. Visit http://first-works.org to learn more.

About Roger Williams Park Conservancy:

The mission of the Roger Williams Park Conservancy is to sustain and enhance Roger Williams Park as a vibrant public space for all. An independent nonprofit organization, the Conservancy works in partnership with the City of Providence Parks Department to steward the Park, offer community programs, raise resources, coordinate marketing efforts, and plan for its long-term sustainability and enjoyment by the community. Visit https://rwpconservancy.org to learn more.

Listings Information:

WHO: Polynesian Dance Troupe Napua O’ Polynesia

WHAT: FirstWorks Live—Music at Roger Williams Park

WHEN: Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 5 PM
WHERE: Roger Williams Park, Dalrymple Boathouse Lawn