Free "Today Show" and "Good Morning America" Summer Concerts Schedule

Better late than never, below I present the schedules for the Summer 2012 free concerts that will be aired by "The Today Show" (NBC) and "Good Morning America" (ABC). The concerts in both series take place on Friday mornings; the "Today" shows are held outside the program's studios in Rockefeller Plaza, while the "GMA" gigs are at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, the same site as the SummerStage concerts.

The "Today" show and "GMA" free summer concert series are underway.

The "GMA" schedule, you'll notice, is filled with a lot of "TBA"'s, so check back with the "GMA" concert series home page for updates.

Here is the schedule for the remaining concerts in each free summer concert series:

"Today" Show:
JUNE
June 1: The Band Perry
June 8: Chris Brown
June 15: Justin Bieber
June 22: Kenny Chesney
June 29: Maroon 5

JULY
July 6: Flo Rida
July 13: Zac Brown Band
July 20: Hot Chelle Rae

AUGUST
[Updated] August 13: The Fray
[Updated] August 14: Nicki Minaj
[Updated] August 15: Carrie Underwood
 [Updated] August 16: Lionel Richie
[Cancelled] August 17: Shakira 
August 24: Train
August 31: Jason Mraz with special guest Christina Perri

SEPTEMBER
[Updated] Sept. 3: Matchbox 20
[Updated] Sept. 18: Pink

"Additional performances may be announced throughout the season," the "Today" concert series page says. The site also says: "Viewing is on a first-come, first-served basis outside TODAY's window-on-the-world studio, located at 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Fans should arrive by 6 a.m. for best viewing."


"Good Morning America":
JUNE
June 1: Brad Paisley
June 8: Counting Crows
June 15: Beach Boys
June 22: Mary J. Blige
June 29: LMFAO

JULY
July 6: Demi Lovato
[Updated] July 13: Luke Bryan
[Updated] July 20: Karmin and Dragonette
July 27: No Doubt

AUGUST
[Updated] August 3: Ne-Yo
[Updated] August 10: One Republic
August 17: Neon Trees
August 24: The Wanted
[Updated] August 31: The Backstreet Boys

From the "GMA" website: "Viewers interested in joining 'GMA' in Central Park are encouraged to arrive at Rumsey Playfield via the 72nd street entrance on Fifth Avenue at 6 a.m. when the park opens to the public."

Schedule for (the Remaining) "Today" and "Good Morning America" Free Summer 2011 Concerts

Florence and the Machine (featuring Florence Welch, above) play the GMA Concert Series on June 24. Photo: Rosario López

For music fans in NYC who don't mind rising really early for the chance to see some big-name pop acts for free, the Today show and Good Morning America summer concerts are a welcome rite of the season. If you don't like waking up quite so early, you can watch the performances on TV. But you'll only see a few songs (maybe a couple), whereas if you're there in person you'll see a longer set and possibly a couple of takes of some songs as the bands warm up.

In a perfect world I would have posted these lists before the series actually started (instead of several weeks in), but there are plenty of shows to come, so better late than never.

All shows for both series take place on Friday mornings.

NBC Today Show Free Summer Concert Series, Rockefeller Plaza
Listed show time: 7 a.m.
June 10 - The Script
June 17 – Kenny Chesney
June 24 – Bruno Mars
July 1 – Pitbull featuring T-Pain and Ne-Yo
July 8 – Blake Shelton
July 15 – Chris Brown
July 22 – Cee Lo Green
July 29 – Journey
August 5 – Maroon 5
August 12 – Zac Brown Band
August 19 – Enrique Iglesias
August 26 – Train
Sept. 2 – Lenny Kravitz

ABC Good Morning America Summer Concert Series, Rumsey Playfield (Central Park):
Listed show time: between 7 and 9 a.m. (the TV show's air time)
June 10 – Jennifer Hudson
June 17 – Selena Gomez
June 24 – Florence & the Machine
July 1 – Beyonce
July 8 – Miranda Lambert
July 15 – Brad Paisley
July 22 – Goo Goo Dolls
July 29 – Debbie Gibson and Tiffany
August 5 – Nicki Minaj
August 12 – American Idol Top 11
August 19 – Taio Cruz
August 26 – TBD
September 2 – Mary J Blige