Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival: A summer of music and dance

The Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival returns, offering you the chance to soak up acclaimed musical talent and dance performances for free, under swaying trees and open skies.

Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Pictured: A Crimson Grail for 200 Electric Guitars at Damrosch Park Photograph: ©Stephanie Berger

Lovers of summer, music, dance and free things—that's all of you, then—rejoice! The Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival is upon us. The 43rd season runs from July 24 to August 11, and this year's program is every bit as deliciously diverse as you'd expect from Lincoln Center.

The Kronos Quartet kicks of the festival with a week of events to celebrate its 40th anniversary, starting with a sizzling all-star tribute to Fela Kuti: Red, Hot & Fela (July 24). Twinkling indie outfit My Brightest Diamond teams up with the hip string quartet (July 25), and fans of open-air grooving can shake some rump to Ozomatli on Family Day (July 27).

Global sounds galore are also on offer, from the Malian maestros playing Festival au Desert: Caravan for Peace (July 31) to a celebration of Korean music, the S(e)oul of Korea (Aug 4).

For something a little more refined, check out jazz legend Rubén Blades (Aug 7), and there's a treat for roots enthusiasts when the festival's Roots of American Music showcase celebrates its 30th anniversary (Aug 10) with guests including Allen Toussaint and Nick Lowe.

Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra bring a delicious touch of madness to the festival (Aug 9), and for those wishing to dive right in, check out the parades on July 28, which feature an "athiest trombone shout choir." Tell 'em we sent you.

Kronos at 40
NYC's hippest string quartet celebrates with special guests including Dan Deacon, and a celebration of Fela Kuti.
Mark Dendy Dance & Theater Projects
Choreographer Mark Dendy presents a new work, Ritual Cyclical, with the Kronos Quartet.
Festival au Désert
Malian musicians make their NYC debut under the stars.
La Casita
The city's top performance poets and Afropop musicians come together for two afternoons of verse, rhythm and dance.
The S(e)oul of Korea
A promising afternoon of traditional South Korean music and dance.
Sacred Drums
A mix of rhythm masters from African, Latin American, Indian, Japanese and other international traditions.
Rubén Blades
This Panamanian singer, songwriter and bandleader is one of salsa's most durable icons.
No BS! Brass Band
The Bon Iver–affiliated No BS! Brass Band is a good-time Richmond outfit that loves to funk up pop hits.
Dance Heginbotham
Choreographer John Heginbotham presents Throwaway, featuring music by Daft Punk.
Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra
Former Dresden Doll and cult pinup Amanda Palmer brings her spectacle of a show to NYC's foremost campus of culture.
30th Annual Roots of American Music
Buddy Holly's old band, the Crickets, play a grand finale before retirement, snuggled between Nick Lowe and Jason Isbell.