Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown + More to Headline the 2011 ‘Today’ Summer Concert Series

Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown and many more are about to heat up Rockefeller Plaza again for this year's Toyota Concert Series on 'Today.' This will be the 16th year the summer concerts have taken over the New York City destination.

Rihanna will kick off the festivities on Friday, May 27, which will mark the pop star's fourth time appearing in the concert series. Mars will be performing for the crowd on June 24, and Brown will try his hand at the morning show circuit once again when he works the audience on July 15.

For the first time ever, Zac Brown Band, Pitbull and Journey will be performers at the morning television concerts, and New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys will make their debut on the series as NKOTBSB.

Three of the mentors on NBC's 'The Voice' will join the line-up, with the exception of Christina Aguilera. Blake Shelton plays on July 8, Cee Lo Green performs on July 22 and Maroon 5 will take the stage on Aug. 5.

All performances will be on a Friday, except for the June 2 concert featuring the winner and runner-up of 'American Idol,' and more artists may be added to the line-up throughout the summer. Fans who plan on attending the free concerts should arrive early. Viewing is on a first-come, first-served basis, and 'Today' suggests guests arrive by 6AM.

'Today' Summer Concert Series Schedule
5/27 -- Rihanna
6/2 -- 'American Idol' winner and runner-up (Special Thursday performance)
6/3 -- NKOTBSB
6/10 -- The Script
6/17 -- Kenny Chesney
6/24 -- Bruno Mars
7/1 -- Pitbull featuring T-Pain and Ne-Yo
7/8 -- Blake Shelton
7/15 -- Chris Brown
7/22 -- Cee Lo Green
7/29 -- Journey
8/5 -- Maroon 5
8/12 -- Zac Brown Band
8/19 -- Enrique Iglesias
8/26 -- Train
9/2 -- Lenny Kravitz

Watch the 'Today' Summer Concert Series Announcement