Running through Aug. 24, the 2008 Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival marks the first under the leadership of Bill Bragin, who joined Lincoln Center in January as the Director of Public Programming.

A variety of free concerts — including presentations from Karole Armitage, Ronald K. Brown and Simone as well as a new take on The Sound of Music — are on the bill for the Festival, which is presented at the Lincoln Center Bandshell in Damrosch Park at 62nd Street at Amsterdam Avenue.

The festival kicks off Aug. 7 with musician Stephane Wrembel, who joins Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca for a 7 PM concert.

On Aug. 8 at 7:30 PM Passing Strange's Armitage and her company Armitage Gone! Dance collaborate with Lukas Ligeti's musical group Burkina Electric to stage the U.S. premiere of Summer of Love. Also on the bill that evening is Ronald K. Brown — who previously choreographed Crowns and The English Only Restaurant Off-Broadway — and his award-winning Evidence/A Dance Company, which will present High Life and Upside Down.

Singer and actress Simone (Rent, Aida) takes to the Lincoln Center Bandshell Aug. 10 at 7 PM. Simone – the daughter of legendary soul singer Nina Simone and an accomplished vocalist and songwriter in her own right — will appear with the Rob Stoneback Big Band to pay tribute to her late mother. Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic family musical The Sound of Music gets a contemporary dance overhaul Aug. 16 at 3 PM. Choreographer Doug Elkins creates a dance-narrative with "hip hop-influenced lonely goatherds and other urban updates. The show features a cast of downtown dance all-stars including Elkins, vogue icon Archie Burnett, choreographer David Parker, new vaudevillian Mark Gindick, baritone Johnnie Moore" and the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein score.

For further information visit LincolnCenter.