Festival season is upon us, and guys, we’ve got a really good one, right in our fair borough. Northside Festival is this weekend, and whether you’re keen on seeing Brian Wilson croon all of Pet Sounds, you wanna get emo with Conor Oberst, or you just feel like supporting some really kickass local musicians, this fest’s got you covered. Pretty much the only way it doesn’t have you covered is if you feel like perpetuating rape culture (sorry not sorry, Good English) or if you, you know, hate good music.
Basically, Northside is an incredible celebration of music and of Brooklyn. But it’s one of those where there are SO many shows by SO many bands that it can be a bit daunting. We gave you our 15 overall picks of acts not to miss here, but what if you can’t afford a whole festival badge situation? Fear not! We’ve compiled this handy list of shows you can get to for free and cheap shows that cost $10 or less.
THURSDAY, June 10
FREE SHOWS
Kick off Northside with a free show from Land of Talk and Wolf Parade (be sure to click the link and RSVP). This all ages show starts at 6pm and happens in McCarren Park. If you are 21, be sure to swing by the Turkey’s Nest for a to-go margarita [note: Turkey’s Nest sometimes asks you not to take drinks outside during Northside so use discretion].
You can also RSVP to House of Vans for a free show with DIIV, BADBADNOTGOOD, Sunflower Bean and The Paranoyds.
CHEAP SHOWS
If you’re willing to shell out a few bucks, hit up Rough Trade at 8pm to catch Chaos Chaos, Long Beard, and perennial Brokelyn favorites The Prettiots. It’s $10. The Prettiots are recommended for fans of ukuleles and Law And Order SVU.
FREE SHOWS
This one’s a doozy of a free show: Grandmaster Flash hits at 6pm in McCarren Park. This pioneer of the South Bronx hip hop movement of the 1970s will grace the stage of our fair borough for an all-ages show with Kweku Collins, Radamiz, and I.O.D.
CHEAP SHOWS
Both Goldsounds and Matchless were among the venues who decided to reconstruct their bills after the drummer for Good English released a statement sympathizing with Stanford rapist Brock Turner. So, if you’ve got a couple bucks, you should absolutely go to at least one of these shows and give these venues some love; plus, the resulting bills are pretty rad.
For $8 at Goldsounds, you can catch Heliotropes, The Teen Age, Such Hounds, Tower, and Tournament. It starts at 7pm, and it’s 21+. Or head over to Matchless at 8pm and catch Los Bronson, Secret Crush, Very Fresh, Friend Roulette, and Heliotropes (yes, the same Heliotropes!), for $7. It’s also 21+.
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FREE SHOWS
Today’s free show is a really, really good one. Swing by the Lyft stage at Williamsburg Walks, at Bedford and North 5th. Get there at 2 to catch Petal, Benny Sings, PWR BTTM and Pity Sex. If you like catchy-as-hell pop punk with songs about real shit, especially when those songs are performed by two gender nonconforming folks covered in thrift-store drag and sparkly makeup, PWR BTTM is a must not miss.
CHEAP SHOWS
Start early at Palisades and get a whole day of rad music for $5: this all-ages show starts at 11:30am and features The Adventures of The Silver Spaceman, Surf Rock is Dead, New Myths, Cosmonaut, Echo Friendly, Lazyeyes, Heliotropes and Haybaby.
Industry City Distillery is not only another venue that changed their bill, but they’re also helping to sponsor this awesome party hosted by a secretive Brooklyn cult in order to unseat Judge Aaron Persky. Show them some love, drink some amazing vodka, and check out great sets from Yaman Palak, Taylor Tucker, Noble Kids, Secret Nudist Friends, Flannel Mouth, Manic Pixi, The Skulx, and a DJ set from DJ Dizzy. Music starts at 6pm, and it’s free (note: this one is in Sunset Park, a bit away from the main Northside action).
Catch T-Rextasy with And The Kids and Vundabar at Knitting Factory for a $10 all-ages show at 7pm, or go get some excellent music with a side of tasty tacos at Union Pool: WALL, Honey, Posse and Jeff Zagers play a 21+ show that starts at 8pm.
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FREE SHOWS
If you’ve still got some energy left from all that scampering from show to show, here are some really solid, cheap ways to squeeze the last ounce of music out of this weekend.
CHEAP SHOWS
At Aviv, $10 gets you into an all-day, all-ages extravaganza. Bands include Dust From A Thousand Years, Kal Marks, Horse Jumper of Love, Posse, Mannequin Pussy, Caddywhompus, Nine of Swords, Haybaby, Zula, WALL, Stove, and IAN. Doors open at 3pm, and the last band goes on after midnight.
Finally, if you prefer your music with a side of bowling, head to The Gutter for Sharp Shadows, Del Caesar, Casey Hopkins, Crazy Pills, and Slang King. 6pm, 21+.