PHOTOGRAPHY KEVIN SINCLAIR
ARTICLE DAVID GARGIULO

There’s nothing quite like SummerStage in Central Park. Music under the open sky, the city buzzing just beyond the trees, and a crowd that feels like one big family. That's the magic of it.

On October 1st, we spent the evening with The Favors on stage, and it was pure energy. Songs carried through the night, people smiled, swayed, and just enjoyed the moment. It reminded everyone why New Yorkers love coming here: it’s not just a concert, it’s an experience. The early October air had that sharp edge, summer fading, fall starting to take over, but the city still holding onto the last traces of warmth. The crowd at SummerStage was a mix of dedicated fans, curious tourists, and city kids just looking for a night that felt alive. People leaned against railings, swapped drinks, scrolled through their phones to check the time, but mostly, they waited, buzzing with anticipation. When The Favors hit the stage, that buzz shifted into a hush, the kind of quiet that only comes when everyone knows something special is about to happen.

FINNEAS and Ashe, longtime collaborators now officially The Favors, brought their debut album The Dream to life with a mix of precision and ease that felt effortless but electric. Their sound is intimate but sharp with a modern indie edge. Approachable, confident, undeniably theirs. Ashe’s voice carries a luminous warmth, while FINNEAS balances it with steadiness. Together, their harmonies are seamless, alive with chemistry and connection, making the audience feel every note. Every song landed like it was written for the park, for this exact mix of people and energy: personal enough to feel like it was just for you, but big enough to fill the entire open space.

The set opened gently, as if they were inviting the crowd to lean closer. The Little Mess You Made landed perfectly in the October night. Phones went up, heads nodded, some sang along, others just listened, leaning into the moment. Later, The Hudson carried a quiet resonance, performed steps from the river it’s named after, the skyline reflecting in the water as the notes drifted across the park. People swayed, friends hugged, strangers shared smiles; the kind of connection only live music in New York can create.

By the time the last chords faded and applause lingered, the park felt changed, sharper, warmer, undeniably alive. The Favors may be a new name, but in Central Park, they already felt like they belonged. They left the city with a mark: a night that was fleeting, shimmering, and unforgettable, exactly the kind of live music moment New York does best.

At Vestal, we loved it. The music, the atmosphere, the way the city comes alive when art takes the stage. Our creative director brought back a series of black-and-white photographs from the show, capturing the band in their element. They’re a glimpse of what makes SummerStage so special. If you haven’t been yet, trust us: it’s worth it.

© 2025 Published by Vestal.

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