Janelle Monae and Grace Jones will lead off the concert season on June 9 at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!’s 2025 season, an annual summer tradition at the bandshell in the borough’s beautiful Prospect Park, followed by shows through August 16 by Dinosaur Jr. and Snail Mail, Gogol Bordello, Nick Hakim, a Lyricist Lounge anniversary concert, tributes to Quincy Jones and more. The full linupe appears below.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn, presented in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks, includes 14 free shows and 4 benefit concerts at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park. The season will commence on June 7, with BAYO in Brooklyn at BRIC House: A Conversation with DJ and global producer Michaël Brun, Council Member Rita Joseph, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Executive Producer Saidah Blount, and BRIC President Wes Jackson where they will discuss the importance of Haitian and Caribbean music to diasporic communities in New York.
The Quincy Jones tributes begin June 27 with a screening of The Greatest Night in Pop, documenting Jones’ production of “We Are the World,” preceded by an 80’s themed DJ set from Rontronik and a conversation with director Bao Nguyen. The tribute continues July 26 with a screening of “The Wiz,” showcasing Jones’ soundtrack and cinematic legacy.
Jazz enthusiasts will be treated to a powerhouse double bill on August 15, opening with vibraphonist Nikara Warren’s Black Wall Street sound collage weaving Hip-Hop, jazz, neo-soul, and Afro-Caribbean influences, followed by free jazz legend William Parker’s masterful interpretations of Duke Ellington compositions.
The 3rd Annual Juneteenth in the Park celebration (June 19) presents Ghost-Note with supporting acts including Voices of a People’s History and DJ Flash Gordon Parks, centering Texas artists and underrepresented histories, while the Lyricist Lounge Anniversary Show on August 9 will celebrate the 34th anniversary of Lyricist Lounge and the 30th anniversary of an iconic Hip-Hop album to be revealed in July.
“The magic of the performing arts lies in their power to move, unite, and inspire,” said Saidah Blount, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Executive Director. “This season, the Lena Horne Bandshell transforms into a global gathering place – where rhythms, stories, and cultures from around the world meet to form Brooklyn’s creative heartbeat. We’re proud to celebrate the diversity and depth of our borough through artists who reflect the many ways music and performance connect us all.”
2025 BRIC CELEBRATE BROOKLYN! SEASON AT-A-GLANCE
SATURDAY, JUNE 7 BAYO in Brooklyn: A Conversation with Michaël Brun at BRIC House
MONDAY, JUNE 9 Opening Benefit Concert: Blue Note Jazz Festival & Live Nation Present Grace
Jones & Janelle Monáe
FRIDAY, JUNE 13 Opening Free Concert: Mélissa Laveaux | Nathalie ‘TALIE’ Cerin | Riva Nyri
Précil
SATURDAY, JUNE 14 Family Day: Pippi Longstocking’s 80th Birthday Celebration with the Klezmatics!
THURSDAY, JUNE 19 BRIC Celebration Brooklyn’s 3rd Annual Juneteenth in the Park
FRIDAY, JUNE 20 Habibi Festival at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!
THURSDAY, JUNE 26 Buscabulla | Chuwi | Paso Negro
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 A Tribute to Quincy Jones: The Greatest Night in Pop
SATURDAY, JULY 12 Benefit Concert: Still Woozy – Loveseat Tour
THURSDAY, JULY 17 Benefit Concert: Dinosaur Jr. + Snail Mail with special guest Easy Action
FRIDAY, JULY 18 Benefit Concert: Men I Trust | strongboi
SATURDAY, JULY 19 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! at Brower Park
SATURDAY, JULY 26 A Tribute to Quincy Jones: The Wiz
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices | Talibah Safiya | Morley
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 Gogol Bordello | Puzzled Panther | Pons
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 Emily Johnson / Catalyst
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 Adrian Quesada | Trish Toledo
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 LYRICIST LOUNGE Anniversary Show
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 William Parker | NIKARA presents Black Wall Street
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16 Closing Night: Nick Hakim | Karriem Riggins (DJ set)
BRIC is excited to work with a wide array of media partners across the 2025 season, including WABC, City Point, WFUV, WNYC, Schneps, Park Slope Parents, and Hearing Things.
Public support for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council for the Arts with the support of the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature with special thanks to New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie and Andrew Gounardes and New York State Assembly Member Robert Carroll and Phara Souffrant-Forrest, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York City Council with special thanks to Commissioner Laurie Cumbo and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Member Crystal Hudson, Rita Joseph, Shahana Hanif, Farah Louis, and Chris Banks. In-kind marketing support is provided by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn at Brower Park is presented in partnership with New York City Council Member Chi Osse, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assemblymember Brian Cunningham, and Rooftop Films.
Lead support for performing arts at BRIC comes from the Howard Gilman Foundation. BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is made possible in part by support from our sponsors, members, and BRIC Board of Directions. Additional support for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! comes from the Shubert Organization, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, and the Scherman Foundation.
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