Another satisfied Bonnaroo customer.

CatalpaNYC comes to Randalls Island this weekend, another attempt by big-time promoters to make some big-time money ($180 for a weekend pass) off of NYC residents, who as we all know, are starved for big-name touring acts. Are you going? Are you excited about going? Are your friends going and rubbing it in your face? One person who won’t be going (unless his job pays him to, of course) is the Daily News’ Jim Farber, who let loose a fire hydrant-pressurized blast of hate on festivals like Catalpa this weekend.  (more…)

We miss you, CBGB. Probably.

While filmmakers down in Savannah, Ga. are busy trying to recreate the rock legacy of CBGB, a music festival this weekend is trying to reawaken the famous punk brand right here in New York City. The first-ever CBGB Festival is already underway, featuring dozens of bands in venues across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Passes to the whole thing cost $90, but luckily for you some of the biggest shows are super free, including Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and The Hold Steady in Times Square and Guided By Voices at Summer Stage in Central Park. In true punk rock fashion that penniless Clinton Hill-living Patti Smith would approve of (Just Kids, anyone?), here is your badge-less guide to free shows at the CGBG festival. (more…)

Beer gut, or gut full of beer?

We’re a little abashed that Jezebel scooped us on the very Brokelyn topic of how to smuggle booze into outdoor concerts. But we also thank them for leaving lots of room for brokester-improved tips. Of course, the city is intent on being a severe buzz kill and “alcohol is prohibited for all special events held in parklands. Alcohol is prohibited at parades. Alcohol is prohibited at block parties, special events and street festivals.” [NY Post] You’ll get a fine and a summons if you get caught.

That said, if there’s one good thing about being broke it’s that it inspires creativity. With the Northside Festival starting this weekend including outdoor shows in McCarren Park, 90s revival concert series in Williamsburg Park, outdoor films, outdoor films, outdoor films, and Celebrate Brooklyn events in Prospect and Brooklyn Bridge Parks, we polled Brokeland and discovered various techniques for smuggling party favors into outdoor entertainment venues. (more…)

2010 photo by Jackie Roman via Siren Fest

Hope you enjoyed Brooklyn’s biggest free music festival while it lasted: The Village Voice announced last night it killed the Coney Island Siren Festival in favor of a new one called 4 Knots at the South Street Seaport in hip, young downtown Manhattansburg. Siren was a summertime tradition (albeit a hot and sweaty one, like all good music fests) but perhaps its death is symbolically parallel to the overall mucusy sickness of Coney’s attempted rebirth. The two-stage fest over the decade featured Ted Leo, Built to Spill, Frightened Rabbits, TV on the Radio, M.I.A. and the New York Dolls among many others. Says the Voice: “Siren had a fantastic 10-year run, but the 4 Knots Festival will replace it on the Voice’s summer-show docket. Embrace change!” No lineup has been announced yet, so we’ll see.

Common

If the Fort Greene Festival were a sandwich, it would be the most badass multi-decker sandwich in all Kings County. Hosted by Malik Yoba, Rosie Perez and Toure, the music-packed festival is going down this Saturday, June 26, from noon to 6 p.m. in Fort Greene Park. Big-name offerings include hip-hop artist extraordinaire Common; Zap Mama, everyone’s favorite poly-genre all-female group; and Caron Wheeler, two-time Grammy-winning British soul singer. (more…)