Event Details
For Bastille Day, the Consulate General of France in New York imports four distinct acts from across the French pop landscape. Headlining is Black M, French-Guinean rapper and member of the world-renowned group Sexion d’Assaut. Known for his animated personality and tongue-twisting rhyming style, he broke out as a solo artist with the 2014 album Les yeux plus gros que le monde, and has collaborated with artists such as Shakira (“Comme Moi”), Manu Dibango, and Amadou & Mariam.
He’s joined by Laurent Voulzy, one of the most successful and critically acclaimed composers in contemporary French pop who has only become more prolific with age. Often working in tandem with longtime collaborator Alain Souchon, Voulzy is known for an obsessive attention to detail in the studio, crafting sophisticated melodies and rich arrangements. Also featured, Legends of the 80’s, a group of some of the most legendary French artists of the ‘80s. They’ve been touring as a unit for more than two decades, sharing nostalgia and a love of one of France’s most popular eras in music. Finally, Michel Polnareff, the enigmatic French singer and composer best known for his 1966 hits “La Poupée qui fait non” and “Love Me, Please Love Me,” who has found success writing pop hits, film scores, and music for the stage.
He’s joined by Laurent Voulzy, one of the most successful and critically acclaimed composers in contemporary French pop who has only become more prolific with age. Often working in tandem with longtime collaborator Alain Souchon, Voulzy is known for an obsessive attention to detail in the studio, crafting sophisticated melodies and rich arrangements. Also featured, Legends of the 80’s, a group of some of the most legendary French artists of the ‘80s. They’ve been touring as a unit for more than two decades, sharing nostalgia and a love of one of France’s most popular eras in music. Finally, Michel Polnareff, the enigmatic French singer and composer best known for his 1966 hits “La Poupée qui fait non” and “Love Me, Please Love Me,” who has found success writing pop hits, film scores, and music for the stage.
About SummerStage
The 2026 season lineup is here! Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage, the season features more than 60 shows in 13 parks and honors SummerStage history by presenting beloved veterans and tomorrow’s icons.
In June 1986, the first-ever SummerStage show kicked off with avant-garde Afrofuturist Sun Ra Arkestra at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. Both the park and the city’s cultural landscape were forever changed. In the 40 years since, SummerStage has presented thousands of global artists to audiences numbering over seven million, bringing free live performances to neighborhood parks across the city. Whether attending since the very first show or discovering SummerStage more recently through performances by Jon Batiste, The Roots, Marcus Miller, or Soccer Mommy, audiences have continued to dance, sing, and groove together.
In June 1986, the first-ever SummerStage show kicked off with avant-garde Afrofuturist Sun Ra Arkestra at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. Both the park and the city’s cultural landscape were forever changed. In the 40 years since, SummerStage has presented thousands of global artists to audiences numbering over seven million, bringing free live performances to neighborhood parks across the city. Whether attending since the very first show or discovering SummerStage more recently through performances by Jon Batiste, The Roots, Marcus Miller, or Soccer Mommy, audiences have continued to dance, sing, and groove together.
Location
Central Park
Rumsey Playfield
New York, NY 10021
Image: Courtesy of SummerStage 2026