When it started, Prospect Park wasn’t exactly the place New Yorkers wanted to hang out in at night to hear live music.
It was 1979 when the founders of a new performing arts festival were hoping to bring the park back to life. BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! was born.
What You Need To Know
- BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is back for a 47th season
- There are 15 free shows and 3 benefit performances
- The season runs through Sept. 19
“Through the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, there was this initiative to you know, create and bring back performing arts to the parks, and we started with jazz, but it’s now expanded to almost every genre under the sun,” said Saidah Blount, the executive director of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!
The festival is in its 47th season with 15 free shows and three benefit shows, which help pay for the free programming and support Prospect Park.
This year’s performers include Common, Katie Yamasaki, Lady Wray, Victory Boyd, Reggae with Wayne Wonder and Lila Iké, and a benefit with the legendary Patti LaBelle.
“This woman is 80-years =-old and sill in amazing vocal shape. That’s going to be a show for the times; we are very excited for her,” said Blount.
And the season is expanded this year beyond Labor Day, with Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney on Sept. 19. Blount said the festival is curated to appeal to every community in Brooklyn.
“It’s just a nice afternoon and evening to come out and be part of nature and hear great music,” said Blount.
The venue takes about a month to prepare for the summer of shows. There is also one show off-site at Brower Park in Crown Heights.
For details on all the shows, click here.