As Coney Islanders wait with baited breath, Debra Garcia, the person that runs the infamous Seaside Summer Concert Series said that an announcement with both the line-up and dates for the return of the concerts are forthcoming.
But there remains an air of mystery about the entire situation.
The 35-year-old tradition, started up in 1979, under the auspices of former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz when he was still a Flatbush State Senator. Markowitz hosted his last Seaside Concert Series in 2013, with performances from Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson and The Go-Go’s.
According to the New York Daily News, when Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams was going into office he “would very much like to work with Marty to continue the series,” a spokesperson said.
Last year however, due to construction and it being Adam’s first summer in office, the concert series took a break. Adams assured the habitual concert series goers that time and resources were being put into planning for a memorable event for next summer.
Then in April, Garcia responded to inquires from the excellent local news blog Sheepshead Bites that that an announcement was coming within weeks.
In that story, Adams reiterated that his office was working in partnership with the local people and organizations involved in the concert series and there would indeed be shows this year.
Additionally, The Coney Island Blog was told in April that this year’s concerts are on.
Emails to the Borough President’s office regarding the series were referred to the website http://brooklynconcerts.com/, which is no longer available.
The borough’s office also gave out Garcia’s office number for both the Martin Luther Kings Concert Series, which Markowitz also produced at Central Brooklyn’s Wingate Field behind Kings County Hospital, and the Coney Island Seaside Summer Series.
One thing seems certain. With past performances by Jerry Seinfeld, The Village People and Liza Minelli, this year’s lineup – if there is one – should be one for the books, since Adams has had a whole year to plan it.
