After an online leak that included false information about big headliners (like The Strokes, Odd Future, Fleet Foxes, Gayngs, Dan Deacon), and then a promised-but-never-happened announcement about something right after that, NYC show promoters Jelly have officially announced a series of shows at "RockBeach"...

TOPMAN and JELLY have announced their partnership to bring you 'ROCKBEACH'- a brand new festival concept taking place from July to September this summer in the Rockaways of Brooklyn. The series of six free weekend events will deliver the hottest acts and new talent from its brand new home and will also - for the first time ever - offer festival camping for the last three events in the series at the Floyd Bennett Field - the setting of New York's first ever airport.

"After 5 years of Pool Parties in Williamsburg, we are very excited to be moving out to the Aviator Sports Complex near one of our favorite summer destinations, Fort Tilden Beach. We are looking forward to leaving Bedford Ave behind offering an ultimate weekend destination and adventure for all ages." - JELLY

The whole ROCKBEACH experience will deliver weekends of the coolest music and total fun to festival-goers with the likes of slip n slides, dodgeball, beach volleyball and most importantly - swimming pools filled with ice cold water and giant inflatables.

Entry to the festival is free - all festival-goers need to do is register online at WWW.ROCKBEACH.US In addition, there will be a ROCKBEACH festival shuttle bus with roundtrip rides costing $20 - but there are 100 lucky bus tickets up for grabs for each event which can be won by registering online at WWW.ROCKBEACH.US.

The first ROCKBEACH will take place on Saturday 9th July 2011 and will include performances from Penguin Prison, Wild Yaks, Janka Nabay and The Bubu Gang, and Monogold.

The July 9th date is the only one with a lineup, but there's also a less-specific flyer that has a big list of bands, and then there's a list of dates with no bands attached. All of that is below...

Continue reading "Jelly announces RockBeach shows"

by Andrew Frisicano

The rain held off for Todd P's Unamplified Acoustic BBQ at Fort Tilden Beach on Sunday, June 14th. At the show, a sizable crowd congregated along the dunes where acts from the day's lineup played on acoustic guitars, hand percussion and various other things (xylophone, a small boombox, etc).

Park rangers watched from the hills behind, and only intervened, as far as I could tell, when people walked onto the dunes or into the water.

On the beach, the temperature was at least 10 degrees cooler, with a strong wind that carried away a lot of the sound. I caught a couple acoustic acts, and Puttin on the Ritz' B.J. Rubin, who told a story about going to Monterrey with Todd. White Diamonds decided to spin the unamplified theme, opting for a performance-art set that featured an iPod hooked to a stereo. The band clanked on bells, hit a drum and threw clumps of sand in the air. Even with a bit of sand in their hair, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

It looks like the group moved toward the water later in the day to gather more closely around the bands (via Dumbo Books of Brooklyn)...

The bands started moving down to the water as the day waned. As far as we could hear, nobody introduced anyone, and when bands alternated, they sometimes passed on their instruments.

We noticed what we think was Todd P talking to the park rangers back by the rise where the beach begins (or ends). On our way out via the concrete path, we asked the park rangers if we could take their photos. No dice, not even for an alter kocker wearing a blue Rockaway Beach Surf Shop t-shirt. But the rangers, who tolerated the nude beach back in our day at least, said they enjoyed the day and had no trouble.

More pictures below (though only of a very short part of it)...

Continue reading "Todd P's 2009 unamplified BBQ @ Fort Tilden Beach - pics "

Sunday June 14th @ FORT TILDEN BEACH
:: FREE ALL AGES UNAMPLIFIED ACOUSTIC BBQ 2009
:: each year we throw an informal, quiet party in a beautiful public place, w/
:: many diverse musicians playing two or three songs w/ no amplification
:: this year, it's on Fort Tilden Beach in the Rockways! best beach in NYC! [Todd P]

Schedule (subject to change) below...

Continue reading "Todd P's UNAMPLIFIED ACOUSTIC BBQ 2009 (at Fort Tilden)"