The Williamsburg Waterfront’s free concerts might be a washout this summer, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more free music to be had on the streets of Brooklyn. This Friday marks the return of Make Music New York, a day packed with over 1,000 gratis musical performances from fabulous musicians all over the city. And, naturally, Brooklyn’s not being left out in the cold this year; our fair borough’s getting a good dose of the shows. Here are some highlights, organized by ‘hood.
BED-STUY: Blues singer-songwriter Kira Lyra will be performing some soul and jazz hits from 4pm to 5pm at 1114 Fulton Street. At 7pm, hip-hop and R&B group H.O.M.E. TEAM will be laying down beats at 376 Tompkins Ave.
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS: For fans of acoustic country and bluegrass, Chicken Barn Heroes will perform at 155 Montague Street from noon to 1pm.
BUSHWICK: Silent Barn’s crew will team up with Warper Party to host a block party on the corner of Stanwix and Melrose Streets from 10am to 7pm, featuring performances by the multimedia art space’s resident musicians as well as other local musicians. Singer-songwriter Clair Reilly-Roe will perform her reggae-inspired songs at 44 Wilson Ave from 9pm to 10pm.
CARROLL GARDENS/COBBLE HILL: Folk artist Spencer Brill will perform at Carroll and Columbia Streets from 3:30pm to 4pm.
CLINTON HILL: Local bands like BOYTOY and Brown Rice Family will perform as part of the annual Hillstock Fest at Fulton Street and Grand Street, with shows ongoing all day. In addition to Hillstock, Brooklyn-based guitarist Daryl Shawn will be wrapping up his attempt to play shows in all five boroughs with a performance at Green Brooklyn (432 Myrtle Avenue), at 6pm, so give him a hero’s welcome if you’re in the area.
CROWN HEIGHTS: Jazz group Tempuus performs from 12:30pm. to 1pm. at 727 Franklin Ave. Pop-rock singer Joya Bravo will strut her stuff at 630 Nostrand Ave from 5:30pm. to 6pm.
DUMBO: From 5:30pm. to 6pm., the Gamelan Dharma Swara Gender Ensemble will play their Balinese gender wayang music at Pier One in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
FORT GREENE: P.S. 20’s Kid Chorus will perform from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tomorrow sculpture at Myrtle Ave and Washington Park. All-woman AfroBrazilian drum band BatalaNYC will play samba raggae from 7pm to 8pm at 795 Fulton Street.
GREENPOINT: From 1pm to 2pm, the Polish Theater Institute will perform an Eastern European version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in McGolrick Park. A New Music Flash Choir will perform at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk from 4pm to 6pm.
PARK SLOPE: Latin jazz band Los Mas Valientes will make some music at El Viejo Yayo Restaurant at 35 Fifth Ave. Choral group the Bella Voce Singers will perform at Warren St. Marks Community Garden at 623 Warren Street from 7pm to 8pm.
PROSPECT HEIGHTS: Folk singer Roger Street Friedman will perform at Hanson Dry, 925 Fulton Street, from 3 to 4 p.m. Artists from the non-profit mentoring program Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls will put on a showcase at the Branded Saloon, 603 Vanderbilt Ave, from 7pm to 8pm.
WILLIAMSBURG: Unsurprisingly, Williamsburg hosts the biggest collection of musicians, with jazz bands, experimental artists, rockers and more performing at places like City Reliquary, Kinfolk Studios and 525 Dar.
Make Music NY runs all day Friday; check out their website for a full schedule and list of performers.
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Also at Branded Saloon starting at 9pm is a showcase of musicians using old game hardware as instruments to make pop/dance music! Should be a really good time!