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Music of the sea: The best summer concerts in Coney Island

Music of the sea: The best summer concerts in Coney Island
Associated Press / Matt Sayles

Summer is here, and Coney Island is heating up with live music performances of all genres! Here are 10 concerts by the beach you should be sure to sea!

Unless otherwise noted, all shows are the Ford Amphitheater [3052 W. 21st St at the Boardwalk in Coney Island, (718) 954–9933, www.fordamphitheaterconeyisland.com].

Proud and loud!

Brooklyn transgender rapper Uncle Meg will wave the rainbow freak flag at Coney Island’s Sideshow stage on June 27 during “Uncle Meg’s Pride Extravaganza.” The night, part of the Music of Curiosities seasonal music showcase, will feature hip-hop and performance art from artists who bust the gender binary, including Brooklyn metal-rap duo Ratchet by Nature, Soup, and KikiRiki Live Poultry.

Coney Island USA (1208 Surf Ave. at W. 12th St. in Coney Island, www.coneyisland.com). June 27 at 9 pm. $20.

Ever after!

Get ready for the greatest weekend ever at Coney Island, when two-day music festival “The Greatest Day Ever” brings 16 electronic and hip hop artists to the People’s Playground. The sixth annual festival, previously held in Williamsburg, the Bronx, and Governor’s Island, is in Coney for the first time, and your ticket will includes free rides at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Luna Park, and on other rides imported by the festival. This year’s lineup includes Carnage, Cashmere Cat, Pusha-T, Zeds Dead, and a dozen more artists.

www.thegreatestdayever.com. July 13–14 at 3 p.m. $65 (one day); $99 (both days).

Original Jersey boy

The legendary voice behind “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Can’t Take My Eyes off You” is coming to Coney! Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons have been touring steadily since 1962, and they will perform their classic hits at Coney Island’s Ford Amphitheater on July 19.

July 19 at 7:30 p.m. $29–$125.

Local legends

The Coney Island Music Festival will rock the People’s Playground on July 20 with an outpouring of free music, rain or shine. The event will feature some of the city’s best local bands, including the Feelies, Bane’s World, and Los Wilds, along with some mystery acts to be announced!

On Stillwell Avenue, between Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk (www.allianceforconeyisland.org). July 20; 3–10 p.m. Free.

Fall for Fela!

Summerstage presents a “Fela! The Concert,” a music-only adaptation of the Broadway play about Fela Kuti, the founder of Afrobeat, featuring the show’s Tony-winning 10-piece Afrobeat band. The show is free, so you have no excuse to stay home!

July 26 at 7 p.m. Free.

Can’t be beat: The awesome musical about the life of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, “Fela!” comes to Coney Island as a free Summerstage concert on July 26.
Jeff Fasano

Starry night

Hip-hop stars Eric B and Rakim, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Lil Cease and DJ Marley Marl will swing by the Coney Island Boardwalk for the “Heart of Hip Hop” event. The show is one night only, so you do not want to miss your chance to miss these big-name rappers !

Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. $25–$100.

I really think so

Put on copious amounts of Aquanet for the perfect big ’80s hair, and put on your sunglasses at night! Now you are ready to travel back in time to the 1980s with the “Lost 80’s Live” tour. The retro concert, now in its eighth year of touring, will feature Flock of Seagulls and a handful of bands known mostly for one song, including the Motels (“Only the Lonely”), Farrington & Mann (formerly known as When in Rome, who play “The Promise”), The Vapors (“Turning Japanese”), and more.

Aug. 2 at 6:30 p.m. $25–$175.

A killer show

Well known in the underground rap scene, rap duo $uicideboy$ has recently appeared on the Billboard charts. The duo will stop by Coney this summer with special guests Denzel Curry, Germ, Turnstile, and more.

Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. $29–$133.

Space case

A new music venue is set to rise over the Coney Art Walls this summer, and its first concert will be “Moon Dot Beach,” an all-day festival of electronic music headed by beat-maker “Space Jesus.”

Amuse at the Coney Island Art Walls (3050 Stillwell Ave. between Bowery Street and the Boardwalk in Coney Island, www.bitly.com/moondotbeach). Aug. 17; 2 p.m.–midnight. $39–$59.

Where the Boyz are

The R&B band Boyz II Men has been singing since the ’90s, so they are definitely men by now. Expect to hear the now-trio sing hits like “I’ll Make Love To You,” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye,” along with some Motown hits, if we are lucky. En Vogue will open for the Boyz at the Ford Amphitheater.

Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. $29–$271.

Reach reporter Chandler Kidd at ckidd@schenpsmedia.com or by calling (718) 260–2525. Follow her at twitter.com/ChanAnnKidd.
The Meg: Transgender rapper Uncle Meg will host a hip-hop Pride Concert at Coney Island USA on June 27.