people watching Sonic Youth in Battery Park (more by Jason Bergman)

The 2010 River to River series of free summer shows in NYC is slowly being announced. As previously mentioned, Genesis member Steve Hackett is playing Rockefeller Park, the Bang on a Can Marathon returns to the World Financial Center in June, kids will be crowding into Battery Park on 4th of July, The Old 97s play South Street Seaport the same day, and other bands play South Street Seaport on other days. Rockfeller Park is located at the north end of Battery Park City, and will also host free shows by Beth Orton and Burning Spear this summer. Castle Clinton, also located in Battery Park, has so far announced Antibalas. Free movies on "The Elevated Acre" at 55 Water Street so far this year include "The Muppets Take Manhattan". Those and other free Battery Park events announced so far, below...

Continue reading "free shows in Battery Park - intitial summer 2010 schedule (Beth Orton, Burning Spear, Antibalas & more) "

photos by Fresh Bread

"...I had been to Celebrate Brooklyn [on July 30, 2009] for a uncharacteristically fair set from Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens and a phenomenal set from Burning Spear. It was probably the first time I'd gone to the Prospect Park Bandshell solo, and I instantly made friends while surrounded by every Jamaican living in the city of New York, all of whom made significant contributions to a cloud laced with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol that permanently hung over the lawn like the fog in the San Francisco Bay." [Intelligent Rectum]

Speaking of THC, the 2009 season of Celebrate Brooklyn shows in Prospect Park comes to an end this weekend with two nights of Animal Collective. Wednesday night was Bonnie Rait and Taj Mahal and the night before that was TV on the Radio - all ticketed benefit shows. The final free show was Saturday's Big Daddy Kane gig which came one night after the free Grace Potter / Deer Tick show.

All the way back on July 30th (the night before All Points West and while Grace Jones was doing her thing in Hammerstein Ballroom), Burning Spear played a free show at the bandshell with Daptone Records recording artist Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens as support. More pictures from that show, the setlist, and a live recording link, below....

Continue reading "Celebrate Brooklyn 2009 is finished this weekend, here are some pics from the Burning Spear & Naomi Shelton show"

FREE SHOW REMINDER: Thursday, July 30, 7:30 P.M. (gates open at 6:30 P.M.) Burning Spear/Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens

A performing arts program of BRIC Arts | Media | Bklyn, Celebrate Brooklyn! is one of New York City's longest running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals. Launched in 1979, as a catalyst for a Brooklyn performing arts scene and to bring people back into Prospect Park after years of neglect, Celebrate Brooklyn has been an anchor in the park's revitalization and has become one of the city's foremost summer cultural attractions. Over the course of its history Celebrate Brooklyn has presented over 1,700 artists and ensembles reflective of the borough's diversity, ranging from internationally acclaimed performers to emerging, cutting-edge artists. All Celebrate Brooklyn performances are free. The festival attracts upwards of 250,000 attendees from across New York City to the Prospect Park Bandshell each summer.

All performances except Benefit Concerts are free with a $3 suggested contribution. They are listed below...

Continue reading "Celebrate Brooklyn! 2009 Prospect Park concert schedule "