The Washington Square Music Festival’s 66th season of free concerts kicks off with a traditional Latin groove when Los Hacheros hit the park stage Tues., June 4, at 8 p.m.
The Brooklyn-based Los Hacheros promise to give “an electric, explosive and energetic performance that signifies the essence of Latin Music.” Their beat revives folkloric styles, like son montuno, guaracha and salsa, often combining them with bomba, a fiery rhythm from the mountains of Puerto Rico.
The concert will be on Washington Square Park’s main stage and limited seating is available. Lawn chairs and wheelchairs are welcome.
The festival is under the auspices of the Washington Square Association. The evening’s curators are Los Hacheros flutist Itai Kris and Ahmed Alom, the annual festival’s music director.
The rain space is Grace Church, 802 Broadway, at 11th Street.
The music festival continues on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. throughout the month. June 11 will feature “Women in Classical Music,” with Alom conducting the Washington Square Music Festival chamber orchestra; June 18 will see “Baroque to Latin,” again conducted by Alom, with Ruben Rengel as violin soloist; June 25 will be “New York Jazzharmonic: A Tribute to Count Basie,” with conductor Ron Wasserman.
For more information, visit loshacheros.com and ws-mf.org.
Last year the Washington Square Music Festival opening concert was performed by the Harlem Chamber Players String Quartet. Maybe the Washingon Square Music Festival could have hosted it again or another notable New York City-based classical music ensemble. Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer opportunities to hear classical music for free. It’s a pity the Washington Square Music Festival will have only two classical music concerts this June season; the fewest it has had in years. On the other hand, Central Park’s Naumburg Orchestral Concerts has demonstrated a much stronger commitment toward supporting classical music performances, featuring such notable ensembles as Brooklyn-based The Knights and Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society. Perhaps those who love free classical music should turn their attention instead to Naumburg Orchestral Concerts: https://naumburgconcerts.org/upcoming.
The gang at the Washington Square Music Festival welcome one and all and your lawn chairs for our opening concert June 4, 8 pm free!.
Peggy Friedman, Executive Director