New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College has announced that the fifth annual Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World Festival will take place on Saturday, July 21 at the historic Flushing Meadows
Corona Park -- the same borough where Louis Armstrong lived for more than twenty years and within walking distance of his former home, which is now a national landmark operated by the Louis Armstrong House Museum.
This year's festival will be headlined by legendary Queens rapper, Action Bronson. Bronson, who shares a home borough with Armstrong and has been hailed over the last decade as "one of the most promising prospects in New York hip-hop" (NYT), Bronson is a fitting artist to host the celebration of music's greatest innovators. The rapper's flamboyant phraseology, explosively charismatic nature, and entrepreneurial spirit make him one of the most exciting acts in the music world today.
He will be joined by eight-piece brass ensemble The Soul Rebels, who continue to chart new territory blending tones of funk and soul with elements of hip hop, jazz and rock. Okayplayer writes that the Rebels are doing their part in "sublimating the homogenous tones of the contemporary urban music landscape with the lush instrumentation of our culture's root."
"We can't wait to take NYC festival-goers on a thrilling ride from Queens to New Orleans and back, at the same time that we honor and celebrate the legacy of America's greatest musical icon, Louis Armstrong," says the Kupferberg Center team. "For this year's What a Wonderful World Festival, we honor Satchmo's life in
Corona by featuring one of Queens' finest, Action Bronson, and we remember his birthplace by presenting the Soul Rebels, who will bring their New Orleans sound to the field at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park."
Additional musical acts will be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition to a diverse musical line-up, the festival will include food trucks, activities, and more, all paying tribute to the legacy of Louis Armstrong. Additionally, Ricky Riccardi, the
Director of Research Collections at Louis Armstrong House Musuem and author of "What A Wonderful World: The Magic of Louis Armstrong's Later Years," will host lectures and appear at the festival's Louis Armstrong House Museum tent.
The free festival will kick off at 4PM. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $25, which includes a private viewing area and access to premium restrooms. For more information, visit armstrongswonderfulworld.com.
The 2018 Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World Festival is produced by the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College in association with The Bowery Presents, a major partner providing generous financial, booking, marketing and operational support. Other partners include Queens College/CUNY, the NYC Department of Parks and Recrecation, the Louis Armstrong House Museum, and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation. Additional Funding provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
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