Clive Davis to Organize Central Park Concert to Celebrate Pandemic Recovery

By Serach Nissim

On Monday, New York City officials announced an upcoming concert in Central Park to celebrate the recovery from the harshest stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The all-star concert has been set for Aug. 21, said Clive Davis, the record producer who has been appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to put together the event.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Davis, a native New Yorker, said he could not yet reveal all the musicians tapped for the concert, but said they will feature the top well-known performers, representing multiple musical genres. “I want it to be a memorable concert,” Mr. Davis said, adding that Live Nation, the global entertainment company, will be helping to organize the occasion. The concert, to be held in the park’s Great Lawn, will be free to the public, but attendance will be limited to 60,000 people, Mr. Davis said.

Mayor de Blasio said the concert will “celebrate the rebirth of New York City.” He said that he has asked Mr. Davis to feature “the biggest, most extraordinary all-star lineup you can put together, heavy on New York artists.” The concert will be part of a weeklong celebration in NYC, with a range of events being planned throughout the week across the five boroughs. “Get ready for an unforgettable week,” Mr. de Blasio said.

Mayor de Blasio has been insisting on the notion of a post-pandemic celebration since last year, when he initially said they should have a ticker-tape parade to honor healthcare workers and others who helped the city get through the darkest days of the pandemic. A spokesman for the mayor said a parade has not been ruled out, though it was not the focus of the plans.

A spokeswoman for the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that supports the Manhattan green space, confirmed the event. “We are ready to celebrate this moment,” the spokeswoman said, adding that the city and the conservancy have specific rules so as to keep the Great Lawn in good condition.

Mayor de Blasio said the weeklong celebration will prioritize those who live in the city, but he welcomed tourists and residents of New York State to enjoy as well. “Folks in the suburbs and the tri-state area appreciate and love New York City. And for most of them, New York City is where the roots are,” he said on Monday. “Time to come home, time to help us move forward.”