New York’s Central Park Concert Adds Bocelli, Kane Brown, More, Announces Vaccination Requirement

Jason Kempin / Getty Images – Homecoming Kane
Kane Brown will perform at the New York City concert celebrating the city’s reopening.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and music business luminary Clive Davis unveiled the full lineup for August’s massive Central Park “homecoming concert” on Tuesday – and an updated vaccination protocol for entry.

The event’s lineup now includes Andrea Bocelli; LL Cool J; Kane Brown; Elvis Costello; Earth, Wind & Fire; Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds; Cynthia Erivo; Jimmy Fallon; Wyclef Jean; Journey; The Killers; Gayle King; Don Lemon; Barry Manilow; Polo G; Patti Smith and Rob Thomas with Santana, who will join previously announced performers Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and Jennifer Hudson.

“The greatest city in the world is ready to take center stage,” de Blasio wrote on Twitter. “Join us August 21 for the most epic concert in Central Park history! All you need to be a part of it is a ticket and proof of #COVID19 vaccination.”

The mayor’s announcement revealed the other big news about the concert: In a shift from the show’s previous policy, which would have partitioned the audience into vaccinated and non-vaccinated sections, the event will now only allow vaccinated New Yorkers.

The decision comes as coronavirus cases are rising across the country, in large part due to the more contagious Delta variant. Coronavirus cases remain low in New York City, although their frequency has risen since the city’s low point in late June. According to municipal data, 65.4% of New York City adults are fully vaccinated, while 70.7% have received at least one dose of vaccine. Manhattan, where next month’s concert will be held, leads the city’s five boroughs, with a fully vaccinated rate of 66%.

Free tickets, which will comprise 80% of those available, and VIP tickets for purchase for the event will be released in batches daily beginning on August 2 and proceeding through August 7. Citi cardholders will have access to purchase presale VIP tickets beginning July 29.

Initially announced in June, Live Nation is producing the event alongside New York City and Clive Davis, and it will air exclusively on CNN.

The Central Park concert will come about two months after the live industry’s revival in New York City, marked in late June by Foo Fighters’ headlining Madison Square Garden show, two concerts by Trey Anastasio at the Beacon Theatre and Bruce Springsteen’s resurrection of his one-man Broadway show.

Courtesy New York City – Manhattan Megashow
New York City’s massive “homecoming” concert revealed its lineup Tuesday.