Date: Wednesday, July 9th Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm (doors, 6:00pm) Location: Tobacco Warehouse, Brooklyn Bridge Park (1 Main St, DUMBO) map Cost: Free
Tonight is the kickoff for DUMBO's Music At the Bridge series, where five Brooklyn performance spaces—each with a limited seating capacity, but impeccable taste and a lot of heart and personality— are invited to make the Tobacco Warehouse their home for the evening. This evening is currated by FreeNYC Favorite Barbés, Park Slope's forward-thinking space for global music, art, and film. Featuring performances by Las Rubias Del Norte (angelic harmonies set to a South of the Border beat), The Parker String Quartet (from Beethoven to Ligeti and back)and Mandingo Ambassadors (West African guitar music from the ‘60s). With video manipulations by Shaun Irons and Lauren Petty. More info on the artists below. All Ages.
Las Rubias Del Norte
The sound of Las Rubias Del Norte is a re-invention, a nostalgic throwback to a time and place mostly imagined where Peruvian waltzes, Andean huaynos and Cuban Guajiras mix with French opera, Cowboy tunes and Bollywood classics. The result plays like a dreamy soundtrack with classical harmonies set to a Latin beat. Songs on their latest album Panamericana have been called sparkling gems (The New Yorker) and their harmonies described as pure as Andean air (LA Times). The group has been featured on NPR's Weekend Edition. They will be joined by The Parker String Quartet on a few songs.
The Parker String Quartet
Founded in 2002 by four NEC students, The Parker String Quartet has already gone on to win the Grand prize at the Bordeaux String Quartet competition and has been called "extraordinary" by Allan Koznin of The New York Times in his review of their Carnegie Hall debut. The quartet is known for playing high profile concerts in halls across the world as well as more unorthodox concerts in alternative venues such as Barbès. They will join forces with Las Rubias Del Norte on a few songs and draw from their repertoire which includes Beethoven, Bartok, Haydn and Ligeti.
The Mandingo Ambassadors
The Mandingo Ambassadors originally formed in Guinea, West Africa in the late 1960s by guitarist Mamady Djelike Kouyate and singer Emile Soumah. Their music became some of the most beloved and influential of their generation and their songs were widely imitated. Mamady later went on to perform for many years with Guinea’s most popular group, Bembeya Jazz National. Now based in New York, Mamady Kouyate has decided to revive The Ambassadors. His electrifying guitar-work is supported by the new Mandingo Ambassadors, a crew of Guinean and American musicians who have steeped their glorious sound in classic 60's Guinean mandingo music.
Date: Wednesday, July 9th Time: 7:00pm Location: Rockefeller Park (River Terrace and Warren St) - map Cost: Free
This is my sleeper event of the week... There is so much going on today that I think a lot of people are - unfortunately - going to overlook this free show with North Carolina's The Avett Brothers. Playing an acoustic-tinged mix of folk, country, blues, and southern-fried rock, The Avett Brother's play some honest Americana that comes off heart-felt but not overproduced like so much coming out from below the Mason Dixon. All Ages.
Date: Wednesday, July 9th Time: 7:00pm Location: Brower Park (St. Marks and Park Place, Brooklyn) - map Cost: Free
Yes, yes y'all, Brand Nubian are back. Originally hailing from New Rochelle, New York, Grand Puba, Sadat X, and Lord Jamar are reunited to bring fresh, conscious hip hop to the masses. You'll recognize Nubian’s 80's hits include “Wake Up” and “Word is Bond” but there's new material in the works. Expect plenty of classics and some new drops this evening. All Ages.
Date: Wednesday, July 9th Time: 7:00pm Location: Brower Park (St. Marks and Park Place, Brooklyn) - map Cost: Free
Now in its 10th year, Socrates Sculpture Park's Outdoor Cinema series combines performance, film, and food into a weekly, internationally-influences, sunset event. Tonight's kickoff event features a screening of Slingshot Hip Hop and "exhilarating documentary... [that tells] the dynamic stories of young Palestinians who use Hip Hop to surmount divisions imposed by occupation and poverty. Also on the bill is Who's on First, a documentary about the first ever Greek baseball team and the 2004 Olympics. Live music is provided by Mohammed Al Farra (from PR) and Abeer from Slingshot Hip Hop (from Lyd) and Greek cuisine (may or may not be free, someone let us know) is provided by Opa! Souvlaki. Trailer below. All ages.
Date: Wednesday, July 9th Time: Dusk (around 8 or 8:30) Location: Pier 54 (14th st and the Hudson River) Cost: Free
On top of getting to watch movies outside on beautiful summer nights on the Hudson River, the other thing I like about River Flicks is every year they pick a central theme for their screenings. This year they take on the world of music in movies. Tonight's film is La Bamba, the biographical story of the rise from nowhere of singer Ritchie Valens. Seating is first come, first served, and as always the popcorn is free!
"Booklyn Artist Alliance is excited to announce the publication of Haiku Not Bombs, the latest edition of the Another Booklyn Chapbook series, a letterpressed/silkscreened handmade series. Please join Booklyn and Collectivo Haiku authors for a book release party including readings and films from the book in a multimedia extravaganza." Readings and films by Tom Gilroy, Jim McKay, Shin Yu Pai and Patrick So.
Date: Wednesday, July 9th Time: 10:00pm Location: Galapagos, 70 N 6th St, W'burg Cost: Free
Jubilee (Trash Menagerie) and Jesse Mann (Body Music, Bembe) kick off a new monthly series tonight at our beloved Galapagos. They welcome Volvex from Bostons's Basstown parties for an evening of bass heavy bangers... baseline, grime, heavy electro... you know, whatever suits their fancy. 21+
