FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2025 Season Ends on a High Note:
Closing Snapshots Features Raekwon’s Album 30th Anniversary & William Parker’s Tribute to Duke Ellington
From Grace Jones to Janelle Monáe, Buscabulla to Gogol Bordello—BCB! Delivered a Summer of Genre-Defying Performances Under the Banner “Where Brooklyn Meets…The World”
Raekwon and Busta Rhymes perform at Lyricist Lounge Presents the 30th
Anniversary of ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx’ at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! in
Prospect Park, August 9,2025.
Toby Tenenbaum
Brooklyn, NY August 22, 2025 — BRIC wrapped its 47th annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! performing arts festival on August 16, at the Lena Horne Bandshell, capping a season that embraced global music, exchange, and deep community resonance. As New York City’s longest-running free outdoor performing arts festival, BCB! once again cemented its role as a cultural cornerstone. Anchored by the theme “Where Brooklyn Meets… The World,” this year’s performances showcased artists from 25+ countries and highlighted the borough’s evolving diversity— positioning the festival as a living, breathing cultural crossroads that intersects global music.
Across 18 free and benefit shows, the season spotlighted legendary icons, next-generation artists, and homegrown talent. From the iconic opening with Grace Jones and Janelle Monáe, to the soul-stirring historic all-female Haitian and Caribbean showcase led by Mélissa Laveaux, to Buscabulla’s genre-bending Puerto Rican celebration, audiences experienced an unparalleled journey through global sound. Punk night roared with Gogol Bordello’s high-octane set, Adrian Quesada and Trish Toledo infused psychedelic soul into Latin classics, Raekwon’s 30th anniversary of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx brought Hip-Hop history to the Bandshell, and the season finale with Nick Hakim and Karriem Riggins closed the summer on a transcendent note. This landmark season drew acclaim not only from audiences but also from the press, which highlighted the festival’s cultural impact and historic moments:
“On Saturday, August 9, Prospect Park welcomed with classic rap enthusiasts spanning the ‘80s, ‘90s, early 2000s to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon’s solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx — … Hip-hop heads also gathered to celebrate the return of Lyricist Lounge, thanks to BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!.” – Forbes
Additionally, Billboard hailed BCB! as “one of the world’s top festivals celebrating Latin music,” spotlighting standout performances from Buscabulla, Adrian Quesada, and other diasporic heavyweights including Grammy winning artist Mireya Ramos. Rolling Stone highlighted Raekwon’s “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” 30th Anniversary Show at the legendary bandshell. Outlets such as The New York Times, Time Out, and Gothamist documented the festival’s impact—celebrating its diversity, accessibility, and dynamic programming from punk to jazz, Latin fusion to hip hop.
“Latin music acts include Adrian Quesada, who will bring his psychedelic boleros, performing on Aug. 8 with Trish Toledo; as well as Puerto Rican dream pop duo Buscabulla who will be joined by Chuwi and Paso Negro on June 26.” – Billboard
According to Brooklyn Paper, this year’s Celebrate Brooklyn! lineup marked a deliberate shift toward emerging global artists, a move organizers said reflects the borough’s rapidly changing communities. BRIC Executive Director Saidah Blount explained:
“My mission is to make sure Celebrate Brooklyn! truly reflects the richness of this borough — musically, culturally, and economically […] curating a lineup that speaks to Brooklyn’s evolving communities.” – Brooklyn Paper
This mission energized the festival’s programming—from Haitian women artists to electric Latin-infused nights that mirrored Brooklyn’s multicultural pulse. As BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2025 comes to a close, the season reaffirms BRIC’s mission to foster creativity, community, and connection through accessible cultural programming.
“WHERE BROOKLYN MEETS…THE WORLD” SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Opening Benefit Concert (June 9): The festival launched in unforgettable fashion with global icon Grace Jones and trailblazing superstar Janelle Monáe. Their electrifying performances set the tone for the summer, blending avant-garde theatrics and futuristic funk to open the season with a celebration of Pride Month.
Haitian & Caribbean Celebration (June 13): Folk artist Mélissa Laveaux, who melodically stirred fusions of Haitian folk, blues, and Brazilian tropicália. There were also performances by Nathalie “TALIE” Cerin, who brought soul-infused acoustic roots, and Riva Nyri Précil, whose performance blended Haitian rhythms with jazz and Afro-Caribbean traditions.
Family Day (June 14): Families flocked to the Pippi Longstocking celebration presented with The Center for Fiction, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and the Swedish Consulate. The day included klezmer music by The Klezmatics, puppet magic from the Parks PuppetMobile, storytelling by acclaimed author Jacqueline Woodson, and music from Brownstone Brass.
Juneteenth Celebration (June 19): A funk-filled performance from Ghost-Note, spotlighting Houston’s influence on music and identity, dramatic readings by Voices of a People’s History, edited by historians Anthony Arnove and Howard Zinn, and a DJ set from Dallas’ Flash Gordon Parks honored Black freedom and creativity.
Habibi Festival (June 20): The Habibi Festival takeover showcased bold voices from Southwest Asia and North Africa, including French-Tunisian saxophonist Yacine Boulares, Palestinian singer-songwriter Rasha Nahas, and DJ collective Yalla! Party Project. Together, they delivered a genre-bending celebration of SWANA sounds, igniting the Bandshell with energy and cultural pride.
Latin Music Showcase (June 26): Puerto Rican electronic pop duo Buscabulla headlined a night of dreamy synths, reggaeton nostalgia, and salsa-infused rhythms. Joined by Bad Bunny collaborator Chuwi and Afro-Puerto Rican ensemble Paso Negro, the evening honored Puerto Rico’s rich musical legacy while reimagining its future.
Punk Night (Aug 2): Legendary NYC/Lower East Side-based gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello lit up the Bandshell with their explosive blend of punk and Eastern European rhythms, turning the park into a frenzy of unfiltered joy. Joined by DIY punk standouts Puzzled Panther and Pons, the night celebrated the raw energy and border-defying spirit of punk in its purest form.
Adrian Quesada & Trish Toledo (Aug 8): Grammy winner Adrian Quesada brought his bold vision of psychedelic boleros to life, weaving classic Latin ballads with inventive, contemporary sounds. His collaboration with the soulful Trish Toledo delivered a night of powerful performances that honored tradition while pushing the genre into exciting new territory.
Hip Hop Milestone (Aug 9): Lyricist Lounge Presents: Raekwon the Chef — Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… was one of the summer’s most talked-about events. The Lyricist Lounge tribute brought Raekwon, Busta Rhymes, and special guests together for a historic celebration. The show honored the 30th anniversary of Raekwon’s seminal debut and the 34th anniversary of Lyricist Lounge, cementing its place as a defining cultural moment of the season.
BRIC JazzFest 2025 Preview (Aug 15): The final weekend legendary bassist William Parker. His ensemble’s expansive, improvisational performance highlighted the depth of Brooklyn’s jazz legacy and offered a glimpse of what’s to come at BRIC’s JazzFest this fall.
Season Finale (Aug 16): The 2025 season came to a close with a powerful finale featuring Nick Hakim, whose soulful, experimental sound anchored the night, joined by a DJ set from Karriem Riggins. The evening wove together jazz, soul, and hip hop, serving as a fitting capstone to a summer defined by cultural exchange and global artistry.