Awich is set to grace the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage outdoor music event in New York City, as curator of the "Japan Champloo in the Park" segment along with other top artists from the Okinawan rapper's home country.
This event, taking place Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. local time, will feature performances by five artists with diverse styles and roots: Awich, pianist BIGYUKI, rapper JP THE WAVY, OZworld, and DJ/music producer U-LEE.
"I'm truly honored to take the stage in New York's Central Park this summer," says Awich. "I'm from Okinawa and included the local word champuru meaning 'to mix,' in the title 'Japan Champloo in the Park.' This resonates with the spirit of hip-hop, where different cultures and values collide, giving birth to new forms of expression. I look forward to sharing this moment from Japan with the world."
Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage is one of New York City's most beloved and widely accessible free outdoor performing arts festivals. Each year, over 80 free and ticketed performances are held in Central Park and community parks across five boroughs, drawing more than 220,000 people to the events. Festival goers can enjoy performances by various artists across genres embodying NYC's cultural diversity, including jazz, hip-hop, Latin, world, indie, and contemporary dance.
Since its founding approximately 40 years ago, this festival has featured artists such as Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monáe, Herbie Hancock, The Roots, Jay-Z, and Nas, boasting an attendance of over 7 million people from New York City and around the world over the years.
"Joining me on stage to create this experience are my incredible collaborators: BIGYUKI, JP THE WAVY, OZworld, and U-LEE," Awich continues. "While each brings a distinct style from different backgrounds, they all constantly strive to forge the future through music without shying away from challenges. We aim to deliver 'today's Japan' that can only be realized with these members to the audience in New York, giving everything we have. We hope this event becomes a single cypher that resonates across borders and languages, connecting us all."
Japan Champloo in the Park -- Curated by Awich
Date & Time: Sunday, Sept. 14, 6-10 p.m. ET
Venue: Central Park (Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan)
Performers: Awich, BIGYUKI, JP THE WAVY, OZworld and U-LEE
