BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival
June – August, Prospect Park
The BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival attracts around 250,000 attendees to Prospect Park Bandshell each summer. The festival, which runs from June through August is without a doubt one of the city’s most anticipated cultural attractions. It’s hard to imagine that it’s inceptions in 1979 was part of a revitalization initiative to bring a neglected Prospect Park back into people’s hearts. It’s popularity makes the summer festival in Brooklyn one of New York City’s longest running, free outdoor performing arts festivals.
Free Concerts
This summer festival in Brooklyn features a number of free concerts, and is seasoned with a few benefit concerts throughout the summer as well. Last year, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! hosted acts such as Los Lobos, The Jayhawks, and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. This year, the opening night concert is none other than the incomparable Patti LaBelle. This powerhouse vocalist put out her debut single 55 years ago, and has never lost her touch, nor her reputation for grace, style, class, and elegance. Her soul and passion has been demonstrated countless times, not just through performances and studio work, but also with her tireless dedication to causes such as adoption, diabetes, cancer and HIV/AIDS. Come see her and so much more this summer!
To kick off the benefit concerts, the festival welcomes back The National with indie rocker Courtney Barnett. In fact, the June 12 show is already sold out, and June 13 tickets are selling quickly! The National feels right at home on the Bandshell stage, and they’re eager to connect with the audience here again. They’ve been busy, as members of the band were nominated for their work on the musical score for the 2015 film Revenant. Like Ms. LaBelle, both The National and Courtney Barnett keep themselves busy with a variety of charitable and artistic endeavors.
You’re in for a treat when you hear the collaboration of Father John Misty with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Father John Misty, a 4-time Grammy award winner, has been in the biz for 15 years and has dabbled with groups such as Demon Hunter, Saxon Shore, Fleet Foxes, and more. When he joins Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, however, that’s when indie rock and alt-country come together for mind-blowing perfection. At the top of the show, revel in British singer-songwriter Jade Bird, whose been described by Rolling Stone magazine as an ‘indie-pop sensation with a punk edge.”
As part of his 2019 North American tour, Canadian singer-songwriter Mac DeMarco will grace the Bandshell stage in a benefit concert this summer. Pitchfork calls his songwriting skills “impeccable,” and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival is more than thrilled to have him.
There is no arguing that music brings people together. There are few things more unifying than when musicians and audiences connect in outdoor venues. This year, Prospect Park welcomes dozens of acts throughout the summer, and they’re sure to have some surprises up their sleeves. This summer festival in Brooklyn is not to be missed.