Ljova and The Kontraband Kick Off Rite of Summer Music Festival at Governors Island Tonight, 7/7

Pianists and Artistic Directors Blair McMillen and Pam Goldberg present the Rite of Summer Music Festival, taking place Summer 2012 on Governors Island, New York City. This marks the return of the first classical-contemporary concert series on Governors Island. The aim of the Festival is simple: to present the highest quality live performances, and to bring free contemporary classical music to as many people as possible in a relaxed, fun, outdoor setting.

This summer’s kick-off concerts at Fort Jay feature gypsy-folk inspired chamber group Ljova and The Kontraband in a program of original compositions deeply rooted in classical forms, imbued with improvisations on Eastern-European and Gypsy melodies, and Latin rhythms; selected folk material, as well as compositions by Igor Stravinsky, John Jacob Niles & others tonight, July 7th. Performers are: Ljova, viola and fadolin; Inna Barmash, vocals; Patrick Farrell, accordion; Mike Savino, bass and banjo with special guest: Satoshi Takeishi, percussion.

The second concerts taking place on Saturday, August 4th on Colonels Row feature the high-octane JACK Quartet with works by Guillaume de Machaut arr. by Ari Streisfeld, Charles Ives, Brian Baumbush, Ken Thomson, Payton MacDonald and David Crowell.

Next up in the same location, the final concerts take place Labor Day weekend on Monday, September 3rd. These concerts will feature violinist/composer Todd Reynolds with guests, Jordan Tice on guitar, Jonny Rodgers on glass and more to come in a program of American folk music.