FirstWorks Announces 2025 Summer Beats Concert Series

News Summary

FirstWorks has revealed its 2025 Summer Beats Concert Series, featuring three free outdoor concerts at Roger Williams Park starting June 26. Highlighted performances include Las Guaracheras, William Cepeda with Elio Villafranca, and Khumariyaan, culminating in a finale with Elida Almeida on August 9 at Jenks Park. The series emphasizes cultural diversity and community engagement.

Providence, RI – FirstWorks has announced the lineup for its highly anticipated 2025 Summer Beats Concert Series, which will feature three free outdoor concerts at Roger Williams Park. This exciting series, which begins on June 26, 2025, is presented in partnership with the Roger Williams Park Conservancy and the Providence Parks Department.

The inaugural concert will kick off on Thursday, June 26, at 6:00 p.m., showcasing Las Guaracheras, an all-female salsa sextet hailing from Colombia. Known for their lively performances of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, Las Guaracheras aim to bring awareness to women’s roles in the Latin music scene. Their musical arrangements include an array of instruments such as vibraphone, percussion, bass, piano, and vocals, with themes centered around joy, memory, and transformation, all designed to get audiences on the dance floor.

The second concert in the series will take place on Friday, July 11, 2025, also starting at 6:00 p.m.. This concert pairs together William Cepeda, an Afro-Rican jazz musician, with Elio Villafranca, a Cuban artist. Titled “Merging Roots,” this collaboration delves into the musical connections that span from the African roots of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and New Orleans through the lens of jazz. Notably, this concert will coincide with Food Truck Friday at the Roger Williams Park Carousel Village, which begins at 5:00 p.m.

The final concert is set for Friday, July 25, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., featuring the Pakistani band Khumariyaan. This group is celebrated for their unique blend of traditional folk music with contemporary styles, and they emerged during a tumultuous period in Peshawar, Pakistan, using their art as a means of resistance. Like the previous installment, this concert will also be part of Food Truck Friday at the carousel village, allowing attendees to enjoy great food alongside live music.

A new addition to this year’s concert series is a finale event on Saturday, August 9, 2025, taking place from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Jenks Park in Central Falls. This closing concert will feature the acclaimed Elida Almeida, a Cape Verdean vocalist recognized for her exploration of Cape Verdean traditions infused with Latin influences. Almeida, who gained prominence after her debut in 2014, will be joined by local hip-hop artist Chachi Carvalho, a Cape Verdean-American artist known for his youth advocacy in the Rhode Island community.

The Summer Beats Concert Series emphasizes FirstWorks’ commitment to celebrating diverse musical talents while making cultural experiences accessible to the public. Each event in the series is free, providing a unique opportunity for community engagement and cultural exchange. For more details on the concerts and the artists performing, interested individuals can visit the FirstWorks website.

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