Storm Interrupts We Love NYC Homecoming Mid-Term Concert



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New York’s “Homecoming” concert in Central Park was abruptly brought to a halt amid Barry Manilow’s performance on Saturday night, as thunderstorms related to the approaching Hurricane Henri swept through the Big Apple.

Spectators were ordered at 7:37 pm to “walk towards your vehicles and the protected areas outside the event center” as Manilow sang his 1978 hit “Can’t Smile Without You”.

An announcer could be overheard that the highly anticipated concert was “canceled”.

Saturdays "We love NYC" the concert was suddenly canceled due to dangerous weather conditions.
Saturday’s “We Love NYC” concert was suddenly canceled due to dangerous weather conditions.
ROBERT MILLER
Mayor Bill de Blasio announcing the cancellation of the concert on stage.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announcing the cancellation of the concert on stage.
Photo by Kevin Mazur / Getty Image

Moments earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio had expressed optimism that the show would continue. “We need everyone to move for a short time to a safe place because of the thunder and lightning, and then we’ll bring the concert back,” he said over the microphone.

Hurricane Henri, a Category 1 storm, is expected to hit eastern New York on Sunday.

People were leaving the concert after it was abruptly canceled.
People were leaving the concert after it was abruptly canceled.
ROBERT MILLER

Manilow went through “Copacabana” and “Mandy” before being cut.
Disappointed music fans said the show could have gone on.

“It’s very disappointing. I didn’t even get to see the Killers – that’s the main reason I came. Shinice Hemmings said. “The concert was going so well and it was so good.”

Others were furious that the show hadn’t been canceled sooner.

The concert stage empty after stopping during Barry Mannilow's performance.
The concert stage empty after stopping during Barry Manilow’s performance.
ROBERT MILLER
People leaving Central Park as Hurricane Henri approaches.
People leaving Central Park as Hurricane Henri approaches.
ROBERT MILLER

“We just walked in so we tripped. We’ve just come in and they’re like “Evacuate,” said Brandee McDermott, 26, Bay Ridge. “Do you deploy the National Guard and have a concert?” They see the storm coming and they do nothing about it. They claim that is not happening.

“We’ve literally waited three hours and have just walked in now,” said Alex Maxwell, 22, of Midtown.

“It could be a metaphor… because we think the pandemic is over, then we come in here and it’s literally a storm and it’s like that’s what’s in store for us with the pandemic,” he said. she stated, referring to the Delta variant.

Additional reports by Kerry J. Byrne

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