Classical Pianist, Lara Downes has curated a free concert, Rhapsody for This Land: The American Odyssey in Music at the Brooklyn Bridge Park on July 27 at 6 p.m.
Rhapsody for This Land is an innovative new take on George Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue. The new piece was composed by a young Puerto Rican artist, Edmar Colón. The concert will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Gershwin’s most famous piece.
Listeners don’t need to leave their home to experience the concert as WNYC, New York’s public radio, will broadcast the concert as part of their own 100th anniversary celebration. The event brings many different artists and organizations together to provide free entertainment to the city.
Headcount is a nonpartisan organization that will be at the concert, getting New Yorkers registered to vote. Rhapsody for This Land is only possible with The Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, a foundation that supports the arts. Brooklyn Bridge Park, WNYC and St. Ann’s Warehouse are all collaboratively hosting the event. St. Ann’s Warehouse is an avant-garde Brooklyn venue that presents plays, dance and music performances and visual arts.
The celebration involves many decorated musicians including Downes who is not only a pianist, but is the host of NPR’s Amplify with Lara Downes as well as another nationally syndicated radio program, Classical Americana. Her 2023 album, Love at Last, reached #1 on the Billboard Classical Chart.
Grammy award winning artists like Rosanne Cash, Christian McBride, Arturo O’Farrill and string trio, Time for Three, will perform the compositions. Aram Demirjian will conduct the ensemble of young NYC musicians, Orchestra Elena.
The concert will also feature music from other legendary artists like Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone.
To listen to the concert, you can visit the WNYC website here.
This summer, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy hosts the Sounds at Sunset summer concert series at Pier 3 Plaza, located on Pier 3 at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Standing along the banks of the East River, Pier 3 Plaza offers a wonderful view of the Manhattan skyline. The best method to travel by subway is to take the A or C train to High Street, followed by a 15-20 minute walk from the station.
The concert series hosts a variety of artists from all over the world. Solo artists, small ensembles, and even conductors and chamber groups will play at these concert series throughout the summer. Special events, including the Americana Music Festival and Paak Appreciation Night, are scheduled for the concert series as well.
Due to the high variety of events, the Sounds at Sunset summer concert series will be hosting an incredible lineup. The full list is posted below, but for more information, visit here.
Friday, June 21 at 6:00 PM – The Steely Dan Happy Hour
Kicking off the series is The Royal Scam with a Steely Dan Happy Hour at Pier 3 Plaza. Featuring NYCâs elite touring and recording musicians, The Royal Scam brings a night of fun and nostalgia to Pier 3 as an iconic tribute band. Before the show, there will be an opening DJ set by Maurice Bernstein, founder of Giant Step.
Friday, June 28 at 7:00 PM – Igmar Thomas & Musical Guests
Maestro, Trumpeter, conductor, composer, and arranger Igmar Thomas brings special musical guests, including a chamber ensemble, to Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. In the past, Thomas has worked with hip-hop legends Lauryn Hill, Nas, and Busta Rhymes on lyrics and music composition. Join Thomas and guests for a night of big band-style jazz and jazz fusion on Friday, June 28.
Friday, July 12 at 7:00 PM – Yacouba Sissoko
World-renowned kora player Yacouba Sissoko and his band SIYA share West African songs and stories at Pier 6 Plaza. These stories have passed down from generation to generation. A night of tradition, culture, and folklore arrives in Brooklyn with Sissoko and SIYA on July 12.
July 26 at 7:00 PM – Brooklyn Americana Music
Brooklyn Americana Music curates a taste of their award-winning festival at Pier 6 Plaza. Featuring internationally touring singer-songwriters with fiddles, banjos, and guitars, the festival celebrates its tenth anniversary. Their annual festival curates a blend of internationally recognized and up-and-coming music artists in the folk, country, and Americana music scene.
Friday, August 2 at 7:00 PM – PAAK Appreciation
The final Sounds at Sunset event dedicates itself to one of music’s biggest names. For fans of the R&B icon Anderson .Paak, a night of deep cuts, unreleased tracks, and collaborations, awaits at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The event will be hosted by producer and drummer George “Spanky” McCurdy, accompanied by a band and DJ set.
Spanning just over a mile long, the park is home to activities for all ages. These include biking trails, skating rinks, basketball and handball courts, playgrounds, and fields. In addition to the array of activities, Brooklyn Bridge Park offers a scenic view of the Lower Manhattan skyline, admired by tourists and locals alike.
Other than its views and activities, the park is an important location for the DUMBO community. For decades, the space has served as the host of many neighborhood-wide events. These events include art shows, game nights, athletic events, and live concerts.
This summer, Brooklyn Bridge Park will be hosting a variety of events. Starting May 31st, the sixth annual DUMBO Drop marked the beginning of the season.
The Dumbo Drop is a neighborhood-wide block party signifying the beginning of the summer season in Brooklyn. According to tradition, thousands of Dumbo-shaped balloons and toys are tied to parachutes made by local artists and lifted into the air. Immediately after the viewing follows a block party. Activities are available for adults and children alike. Visitors can visit stands dedicated to hundreds of local restaurants and shops.
Live at the Archway – Weekly on Thursdays starting June 20th
Following the Dumbo Drop, the Live at the Archway event will begin on Thursday, June 20th. Live at the Archway is an annual series of free concerts and interactive visual arts programming located in the DUMBO Archway. Each year, the event seeks to promote local artists and musicians. Founded in 2015, the series reflects the neighborhood’s diversity and commitment to the arts. Here, you can find several arts showcases, including a broad variety of music, dance, and visual art styles.
Each event, which is held weekly on Thursdays, will feature a live concert followed by an art display. Live at the Archway begins on June 20 and will last until August 15th. Tickets are free and available to the public.
Lineup for Live at the Archway
June 20 Fogo Azul | La Banda Chuska / Art Wall by Sam Ticknor
Fogo Azul is a New York City-based all-women, trans, and non-binary Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line. Launched in 2016 with Marcus Santos’ Grooversity education project, Fogo Azul is a diverse community that showcases drummers from all walks of life.
La Banda Chuska is re-imagining the vintage sounds of Peruvian cumbia and surf through the lens of their New York City home and diverse musical and cultural backgrounds. Taking inspiration from the twangy 1960s surf bands of Lima, as well as the psychedelic flavors of 1970s chicha, the band has been playing their musically expansive and dancey tunes. They have performed around New York City for the past three years, building up a loyal local following.
June 27 Paisley Fields / Art Wall by Billie Elise
Paisley Fields is an up-and-coming country singer-songwriter. His recently released duet with Mya Byrne featured on Democracy Now, in Rolling Stone, NPR, and more. Join Fields for their live performance in Live at the Archway on June 27.
July 11 Brasil Summerfest / Art Wall by Noah Lyon
Brasil Summerfest is a list of festival events hosted around several venues throughout New York City. On July 11, they come to Live at the Archway for a showcase of traditional Brazilian funk, samba, and bossa nova.
July 18 La Sonora Nuyorkina / Art Wall by Joan LeMay
La Sonora Nuyorkina is a contemporary salsa band comprised of young, talented musicians who bring a fresh sound to the Latin genres. The band covers a variety of songs, from salsa classics to original compositions. Join them on July 28th at Live at the Archway.
July 25 Jerron Paxton / Art Wall by Emily Nam
Multi-instrumentalist Jerron Paxton revives the once-buried sounds of classical American music. Drawing inspiration from the 1920s, Paxton’s many talents allow him to revive old-fashioned blues, jazz, and country music in the twenty-first century.
August 1 Gentleman Brawlers / Art Wall by Annick Martin
Drawing inspiration from Afrofunk and indie dance genres, Brooklyn collective Gentleman Brawlers will stun the audience with an electrifying performance at Live at the Archway on August 1st.
August 8 Tracy Bonham / Art Wall by Joshua Reynolds
Two-time GRAMMY nominee Tracy Bonham celebrates with a night of alternative and indie throwbacks at Live at the Archway on August 8th.
August 15 Queerchella / Art Wall by Melanie Hope Greenberg
Join Queerchella for their second year of festivities with a lineup of over 70 different LGBTQ+ artists from all over the country. The festival features live concerts, dance, and other visual arts performance showcasing the diversity of New York City’s music and arts scene.
Drink and Draw – Weekly on Wednesdays starting on June 19th
Presented by the DUMBO Improvement District with Creatively Wild Art Studio, Drink and Draw workshops provide the opportunity to work with some of DUMBO’s best artists. Although the event specifically caters to adults, there is no artistic requirement to join. All artistic levels are welcome at the workshop. Tables, easels, and art supplies are provided.
For the first workshop of the summer, DUMBO artist Craig Anthony Miller (CAM) will lead participants in a project incorporating the symbolism of the elephant. As a representation of strength, wisdom, and overcoming obstacles, the elephant serves as a model for the workshop to capture the essence of Brooklyn’s rich history. DJ Zemotion will provide a soundtrack for the night.
