After more than a year with live performance in hibernation, the music scene revs up considerably this summer, with a slew of new albums and concerts. The musician and former Vampire Weekend member Rostam brings a newfound jazz inspiration to “Changephobia” (June 4), his follow-up to “Half-Light,” from 2017. The pop historian Lana Del Rey releases her second album of the year, “Blue Banisters,” on Independence Day. Following a sweep of the major categories at the 2020 Grammys, Billie Eilish returns with the highly anticipated “Happier Than Ever” (June 30). The same day, the Prince estate plans to release “Welcome 2 America,” a never-before-heard project from the icon’s vaults.
Venues begin the slow process of reopening, with shows rescheduled from early in the pandemic. At Radio City Music Hall, two R. & B. stalwarts will sit before pianos to run through aching ballads from their award-winning discographies—Alicia Keys (Aug. 13) and John Legend (Aug. 23). New York’s SummerStage concert series starts live, in-person performances at outdoor venues with the indie-folk band Dawes (Sept. 16). The Governors Ball moves to Citi Field with headliners Eilish, Post Malone, A$AP Rocky, and J Balvin (Sept. 22-24). As the summer winds down, talented singer-songwriters set up in more intimate venues, including Julien Baker, who brings stunning, sobering songs to the Beacon Theatre (Sept. 14). And with the return of live music comes the return of scheduling conflicts: Soccer Mommy comes to Brooklyn Steel to share the soft glow of her indie-pop songcraft the same day that the cheeky, R. & B.-influenced folksinger Faye Webster plays the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Sept. 21). ♦
