River To River Festival 2015
June 18–28
Lower Manhattan

Since the festival began in 2002, River To River has been bringing dance, music, visual arts and other projects to various spaces throughout Lower Manhattan and the waterfront. This includes the Governors Island Arts Center, Pier 15, Federal Hall, North End Way, Nelson A Rockefeller Park, Fulton Center, Vbar, Robert R. Wagner Jr. Park and Peck Slip Park as well as a few others. In total River To River compiled sixty events (a full calendar can be viewed here), all of which are free. For those with limited capacity, it is possible to RSVP and reserve space. Of the dozens of performances, our picks are:

Olga Bell
When: Tuesday, June 23
8:30–9:30pm
Where: Pier 15

Benyoro, Los Crema Paraiso & Golem
When: Saturday, June 27
5:00–9:00pm
Where: Seaport District: Fulton and Water Street

Roomful of Teeth
When: Wednesday, June 24
8:00–9:15pm
Where: 28 Liberty Plaza

Brasil Summerfest
July 30-August 8
Where: South Street Seaport

Founded by Petrit Pula in 2011 and co-curated by Beco Dranoff, Brasil Summerfest has since brought the sounds and energy of Brazilian music to New York for several years now. From July into the first days of August, the festival has sports a mix of traditional and new age music. Artists like Bebel Gilberto, Maira Freitas, Marcela D2, Planet Hemp, DJ Nuts, Brothers of Brazil, Pedro Moraes and DJ Greg Caz have played the festival in past years. Of this summer’s lineup, our must-see musicians are:

Marcia Castro
When: July 30
Where: Lincoln Center

Letieres Leite & Orkestra Rumpilezz, Cyro Baptista’s Banquet of the Spirits
When: July 30
Where: Lincoln Center Out of Doors

Colaera Harlem Samba
When: August 1
Where: Southwest Seaport

DJ Patrick Tory
When: August 3
Where: Cielo

-Zoe Marquedant