Arts

2021 South End Summer Arts Preview

by Michele D.  Maniscalco
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021

Oscar Serrano
Oscar Serrano  

The South End News is especially pleased to present the annual Summer Arts Preview this year, as the city reawakens from its social hibernation with the loosening of pandemic restrictions.
Due to the significant lead time required to book touring artists, organize concessions and so on, some events such as the Tito Puente Latin Music Series, Festival Betances, and Fête de La Musique will take place on-line this year, while and the Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association's (WSANA) Music in the Square series will return in their usual outdoor settings.
The Boston Parks and Recreation Department (BPRD) is still in the process of planning outdoor activities for the South End and other neighborhoods as well.
Liz Sullivan, director of external affairs and marketing for BPRD, wrote, "We started planning a full summer of events and booking artists as soon as the governor shared the reopening news. The schedule is being firmed up now." Sullivan referred readers to Boston.gov/parks for developing details on city-sponsored fitness, entertainment and other activities.
This Summer Preview offers all the details that could be confirmed at press time and will be followed with a Summer Arts Guide with further information on South End outdoor entertainment in an upcoming issue.
Salsa with MetaMovements, sponsored by BPRD, kicked off its season on Tuesday, June 8 from 6:00-7:00 PM at O'Day Playground, and will continue through Tuesday, September 28. The classes are free and registration is not required. Visit https://www.boston.gov/calendar/parks-fitness-salsa-metamovements.
The South End News contacted the Friends of Titus Sparrow Park to inquire about their popular Wednesday night summer concerts and the Tuesday morning children's concerts, but did not receive a response by press time.
The Community Music Center of Boston again will celebrate the summer solstice when Fête de la Musique returns on-line on Saturday, June 26 from 3:00-5:00 PM with a diverse lineup of music including the Javier Rosario Trio. As usual, this event is free and all ages, but registration is required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fetehome-2021-tickets-157685209707?fbclid=IwAR0uWmtWtW_mhmAaQeY6ApIUsKUhiQhd4zmDRB0lpeyvamWXXqC4UOTylJI. For additional details on the concert, please visit https://www.facebook.com/communitymusiccenter.
Festival Betances returns en casa (at home) for one night only, July 17 at 7:00 PM, with the theme, "Latinos Siempre Unidos" (Latinos always together) and a virtual concert with an exciting lineup. Opener Yuba Iré describes its style as "rumba criollizada," rooted in traditional rumba with unique infusions of bomba, plena and Afro-Cuban rhythms.
The headliner is merengue star, Oscar "Oscarito El Más Loco" Serrano, who started out with Grupo Mania and is now a merengue star in his own right. As always, Festival Betances is free and for all ages, and can be streamed at IBA's Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/IBAboston, or at the Festival's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/festivalbetances.
The Tito Puente Latin Music Series is back in virtual form on two Thursdays, July 22 and July 29 at 7:00 PM, sponsored by IBA, Berklee College of Music and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. On July 22, Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Abraham Dorta entertains with sweet melodies, poetic lyrics and bohemian guitar accompaniment.
On July 29, Puerto Rican singer Amor De Jesús presents a variety of styles from the dance rhythms of salsa, bomba and plena to nueva trova, a socially conscious musical movement dating from the Cuban revolution. Both concerts will stream live on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube. See https://ibaboston.org/events/tito-puente-latin-music-series for further information.
Plans are in the works at the South End Branch Library to bring back the Concerts at Library Park this summer, but details were not available at press time. More information will be forthcoming in the South End News.
WSANA plans to reprise its Music in the Square series this season but had no firm details to report at press time. Organizer Craig Hughes said via e-mail, "WSANA is wrapping up its planning for summer "Music in the Square" concert series. Expect two or three concerts on Thursday evenings to be announced on our website at www.worcestersquare.org and on Facebook at facebook.com/worcestersquare in the next two weeks."
That's all for now, but look for additional information on outdoor arts and activities in the South End News. Enjoy!