Returns To Prospect Park This Summer

This year marks the 45th Anniversary year of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! In partnership with Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! has become one of the hottest summer performing arts series, a beloved tradition and an opportunity to catch global music icons, chart-topping artists, and the very best diverse talent from around the world and around the block. In addition to free concerts, the festival includes movie and dance nights, a family day, and special benefit concerts.

In celebration of its 45th year, and under the guidance of BRIC President Wes Jackson and Artistic Director and Executive Producer Diane Eber, the 2023 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! season theme is “looking to the future, while honoring the past.”

In the spirit of looking to the future, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Taja Cheek, aka L’Rain, joins BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! as the first-ever artist curator. Born and raised in Crown Heights, she has extensive experience participating in and uplifting Brooklyn’s experimental music communities, including performing at BRIC JazzFest 2021. Cheek has curated at some of the most prestigious art institutions in New York City.

“I have been going to BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! my whole life and having an opportunity to be a part of the team is nothing short of a dream come true,” said Artist Curator L’Rain. “Collaborative curatorial work is so special—more important than any individual contribution are the conversations we have with each other about artists we’re excited about, the ways we push each other out of our comfort zones, and the new music we learn about along the way.”

The season will kick off on Wednesday, June 7th, with three-time past headliner and Grammy-award winning legendary Blues artist Taj Mahal, two-time Grammy Award winner Corinne Bailey Rae, and The Harlem Gospel Travelers will open the series. Known for their electric live performances, The Head and The Heart will be the festival’s closing headliner.

BRIC is also rolling out their BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! ticketed benefit concerts, which help support BRIC’s extensive free programming. As an extension of the Blue Note Jazz Festival, the ticketed concert on June 24th will feature headlining performances from NxWorries, the art-duo composed of Anderson Paak and Knxwledge, who haven’t performed in the states as NxWorries in nearly five years; alongside legends like Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway, Bilal, and BJ The Chicago Kid. August’s 10th’s benefit show will feature New Orleans-based eight-piece rock collective The Revivalists, and Seattle indie-favorites Band of Horses. The last two benefit shows will take place on August 22nd and 23rd, featuring lo-fi multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Alex G, with support from Canadian indie-pop band Alvvays, fresh off the release of their third full-length album, Blue Rev.

While the festival will remain free of charge, excluding benefit shows, RSVPs are encouraged to stay up to date on festival news, but are not required. Media applications for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! will open soon, with the full lineup announcement.

Stay tuned for additional details on the 2023 season as they’re announced! For more information on the artist lineup, tickets and more, visit bricartsmedia. org/bcb.