BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival Announces Lineup for 40th Season

BRIC, the leading presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn, is pleased to announce THE LINEUP and sponsors for its 40th season of the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival. With 31 performances (June 5 - August 11), BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! launches a yearlong celebration to cap off four decades for the pioneering NYC arts-and-media organization and leading presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn. The programming, reflective of Brooklyn's eclecticism and diversity, will feature a wide array of free, world-class performances at the beautiful Prospect Park Bandshell.

Of the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, Billboard writes, "In the CROWDED summer festival season, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! stands apart." Since it began in 1979 as a catalyst for a burgeoning Brooklyn performing arts scene, and to bring people back into Prospect Park after years of neglect, the Festival has become one of the city's foremost summer cultural attractions. Winner of the Village Voice Readers' Poll and Critics' Picks for "Best Free Concert Series," BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival is New York City's longest-running summer outdoor performance festival. Over its 40-year history, the Festival has presented more than 2,000 artists, drawing a diverse audience upwards of 200,000 each season. Time Out New York writes, "Catching one of these gigs is guaranteed to be a highlight of your summer show-going season, whether you're seeing a buzzy indie-rock band, a classic soul or funk group, or one of the best hip-hop artists around."

The 2018 season kicks off June 5 with a free BET-sponsored opening night concert by Academy and GRAMMY Award-winning actor and musician Common. Preceding the concert will be a gala honoring outgoing BRIC President Leslie Griesbach Schultz for her 13 years of transformational leadership. Since 2005, Schultz has helped BRIC grow from $3.7 million to $15.8 million in annual operating revenues; led the transformation of BRIC from an umbrella for largely discrete arts and media programs in disparate locations into a leading, high-impact institution in an award-winning new facility in Downtown Brooklyn; vastly expanded BRIC's programming, education initiatives and community-engagement work; strengthened BRIC's commitment to providing support and resources for Brooklyn artists and media-makers; and advanced workplace equity and diversity.

The 2018 season exemplifies the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival's signature mix of music, film, dance and multimedia works, complemented by food and other provisions from local artisans and vendors. Of the 31 total performances being presented this season, 25 are free (with a $5 suggested contribution at the gate): 21 music concerts, two Music & Movies performance events in which live music accompanies films projected on one of NYC's largest (50' wide x 21' high) outdoor screens, and two dance performances. The remaining six shows are ticketed benefit concerts, which offer rare opportunities to see great artists in an extraordinary outdoor setting at reasonable ticket prices while supporting the Festival's free performances.

The full season lineup consists of artists from Brooklyn and around the world-across the U.S., the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. They include The Jayhawks / Mandolin Orange / Parsonsfield (June 16), Fischerspooner / Juliana Huxtable (June 23), Branford Marsalis / Roger Guenveur Smith (June 29), Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder / Sierra Hull and Justin Moses / Mamie Minch (June 30), Antibalas / Combo Chimbita / DJ Nickodemus (July 12), Kronos Quartet / Trio da Kali (July 14), Anoushka Shankar / My Brightest Diamond (July 20), Tinariwen / Cheick Hamala Diabate (July 27), Tarrus Riley with Dean Fraser and the Blak Soil Band / Mwenso & the Shakes (August 4), and Godspeed You! Black Emperor / Emel Mathlouthi (August 10).

Returning for the 17th consecutive year is Series Title Sponsor Bud Light, which presents the Bud Light Music Series, including Aimee Mann / Superchunk / Jonathan Coulton (June 21), R+R=Now Featuring Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Derrick Hodge, Justin Tyson, Taylor McFerrin / Paul Beaubrun (June 22), Gary Clark Jr. / Fiona Silver (August 9), and The Breeders / Speedy Ortiz (August 11).

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival also welcomes Series Title Sponsor Eventbrite, which will present the Eventbrite Music Series, including Rhye / Natalie Prass / Overcoats (July 7), Mala Rodriguez / Ana Tijoux / Girl Ultra (July 13), Brandi Carlile / Ruthie Foster (July 26), BADBADNOTGOOD / Charlotte Day Wilson (August 2), and Noname / Topaz Jones / Jazze Belle (August 3).

The Music & Movies series events include a screening of Viktor Jakovleski's 2017 documentary about the National Pyrotechnic Festival in Tultepec, Mexico, Brimstone and Glory, with a live score by Wordless Music Orchestra, and an opening set by Sonido Gallo Negro (July 21); and Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) with an opening performance by Kaki King (July 28).

Los Lobos will headline this year's Family Concert on June 10, performing an electrified collection of hits and family music bona fides. Dance performances this year include The Blues Project featuring Dorrance Dance with Toshi Reagon & BIGLovely (June 28); and Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal with Leonard Cohen's Dance Me, an acclaimed dance homage to Leonard Cohen (July 6).

This summer's benefit concerts provide support for the free performances and include The Decemberists (June 13), Vance Joy / Alice Merton (June 14), Grizzly Bear + Spoon (June 20), Joe Russo's Almost Dead (July 19), Courtney Barnett / Julien Baker / Vagabon (July 25), and Good Vibes with Jason Mraz & Brett Dennen (August 7).

The Festival welcomes several Co-Sponsors:

The 40th season of the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival is backed by long-time sponsor American Express, as part of the company's commitment to strengthen the communities where its Card Members and colleagues live and work.

Bud Light returns for the 16th consecutive year, and will activate with fun VIP experiences at their four-concert Bud Light Music Series.

In support of New York City's independent live music scene, Eventbrite is a first-time sponsor, bringing to life the first five-concert Eventbrite Music Seriesand offering chances to access VIP experiences throughout the season.

Returning season co-sponsor Oris, the independent Swiss watch brand, will have a cool, immersive airstream trailer onsite and a special promotion with local retailer The Clay Pot.

Sorbabes will once again refresh Festival crowds with dairy-free, plant-based sorbets made from rich nut butters and real fruits with delicious toppings folded in. Sorbabes - It's not ice cream, it's better. Discover for yourself @Sorbabes.

Co-Sponsor IKEA Brooklyn, NYC's destination for home furnishing and goods, returns for its 10th consecutive season, providing decor to beautify the Bandshell.

BET serves as sponsor of the opening night concert as part BET's celebration of Black Music Month.

WorldStage and Audible Difference Inc. are the official providers of the Festival's lighting, video and audio systems.

Hilton Brooklyn New York is the official hotel partner for the Festival.

WNET's new ALL ARTS multimedia platform joins long-time Season Media Partners The Village Voice, WABC-TV, WNYC 93.9 FM/820 AM and WFUV 90.7 FM, which plans several live broadcasts from the Festival.

Longtime promotional partner on select jazz performances include WBGO 88.3 FM.

The Festival is presented in partnership with the City of New York Parks & Recreation and the Prospect Park Alliance.

A complete list of supporters can be found at www.BRICartsmedia.org/cb.

BRIC President Leslie Schultz, said, "We are enormously proud that the world-class BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival has become a leading light of New York City's vast cultural offerings, and that we are marking our 40th season of extraordinary, diverse and free performances. For four decades-since the summer of 1979-the Festival has represented the best of what Brooklyn and America can be: a welcoming supercollider of ideas and cultures, informing and enriching each other. We are grateful for all the support BRIC receives to keep the festival free and accessible to all New Yorkers."

Jack Walsh, BRIC's Vice President of Performing Arts and Executive Producer of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, said, "We are thrilled to announce the 40th summer season of the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at the Prospect Park Bandshell. This special season features over fifty celebrated artists from around the world and around the block who reflect the times and advance the Festival's founding principles of inclusion and democracy, illuminating the vibrant cultures that make our borough so unique. We invite everyone to come together at the Prospect Park Bandshell as these artists take our stage to compel, intrigue, entertain and uplift us."

Sue Donoghue, President of the Prospect Park Alliance, said, "We are delighted to host the 40th season of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Over the past four decades, this festival has brought a wide range of free music and family programming to Prospect Park, to the delight of the many diverse communities we serve. Congratulations to our partners at BRIC for this tremendous success."

Friends of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival memberships for individuals and small businesses offer reserved seats, Friends Tent access with food and beverage service, and ads for businesses. The Friends Tent interior is specially designed by IKEA Brooklyn. More information is available at www.BRICartsmedia.org/cb.

To post a comment, you must register and login.