The festivities continued for a second week of performances at the 43rd annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival series, after officially returning to live, in-person performances last week.
The evening commenced with opening remarks from our very own Executive Producer of Celebrate Brooklyn! Lia Camille Crockett, before introducing LA-based, Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer, and artist Theo Croker.
Theo announced his new album BLK2LIFE|| A FUTURE PAST, his first one since Star People Nation, which earned him a Grammy-nomination, would be available for pre-order starting August 7th and released on September 24th. Theo gave the crowd a lively set of compositions, showcasing his funk-soul jazz style with songs off his newly announced album including: “Soul Call Vibrate,” “No More Maybe,”and “Hero Stomp,” which Theo noted is one of his favorite songs, before leaving the crowd with “It’s Gonna Be Alright.” After his set, Theo surprised the audience by debuting his music video for his new song “STATE OF THE UNION 444,” featuring Wylef Jean.
Following the high energy instrumental music set, the 1973 documentary film Wattstax, was shown on the stage projection screen for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival’s first movie night of the season. Wattstax, directed by Mel Stuart, follows the 1972 Watts Summer Festival, founded to commemorate the Watts Riots of 1965. The epochal documentary features performances by Stax Records’ R&B, gospel, soul, and jazz greats, including Albert King, Kim Weston, the Staple Singers, Issac Hayes, and commentary by Richard Pryor. Wattstax not only captured a celebration of Black music, but a movement as well. The profound, historic and cultural significance of Wattstax led to many accolades, including a Golden Globe nomination and induction into the National Film Registry.
Friday Night audiences were mesmerized by the “bewitching, utterly transporting” Indigenous Canadian-American folk-rock icon BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE. The legendary live performer and magical force to be reckoned with has been a leading voice in climate activism and social justice since the 1960s.
The audience was treated to a special evening dedicated to highlighting the impact of climate change and soulful healing by Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter NAIA KETE, who mixes pop, soul, and reggae with her band SayReal.
Our action-packed weekend concluded with a family show for children of all ages. With ice cream sandwiches in hand, and bubbles galore, Brooklyn families were treated to a day of music from all over the world. The Latinx alternative quartet LADAMA showcased the instruments and rhythms from the members’ respective countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, and the USA, while performing in Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
The Haitian-born, Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist TIGA JEAN-BAPTISTE weaved together traditional Zimbabwean with Shona rhythms and played everything from Haitian wind instruments, the Australian didjeridoo, and the Mbira.
Brooklyn-based DJ Ali Coleman had the kids (and parents) on their feet opening and closing sets.
The electrifying performances will continue through September 18th with upcoming shows to include acts by The Roots, Wizkid, D-Nice with Special Guests, Glass Animals, Skip Marley, Vijay Iyer, Rita Indiana, Mr. Eazi, Trombone Shorty, Junglepussy,Yaeji, and much more! Click here for the full lineup.