The weekend began with Movie Night: “In the Heights” on Thursday. — The film fuses Lin-Manuel Miranda’s kinetic music and lyrics with Jon M. Chu’s (“Crazy Rich Asians”)’ ‘ lively and authentic eye for storytelling.”In The Heights” captures a world very much of its own place, but universal in its experience. Movie goers in Prospect Park could be heard singing along to many of the songs from the Tony-award Winning musical.
Yaeji took over the Lena Horne Bandshell Friday night to headline a hand-curated lineup that included singer-songwriter-instrumentalist KeiyaA and the prolific local writer, rapper, producer and emcee Nappy Nina. The night belonged to Korean-American Brooklynite Yaeji, who rocketed to fame with her full-length 2020 debut mixtape What We Drew. When doors opened a sea of fans ran towards the stage. Yaeji’s set included tons of strobe lights, dancers, and contortionists as she switched between performing and DJing. Yaeji also shared exclusive songs off her new EP and shut the park down with her smash-hit “Raingurl” to end the show.
The night’s fashionable guests were dressed in makeup and outfits made to rage.
On Saturday, the Grammy Award-winning Attacca Quartet, whom San Fermin worked with on their 2021 single “In This House,” started things off at the Lena Horne Bandshell. It was a big night for Friends & Members of BRIC as the tents and seats were full of guests.
The innovative guitarist and singer Son Little held down the middle set as he blended elements of acoustic blues, vintage soul, and conscious hip-hop into a mixture that was expressive yet deeply personal from his new album titled Aloha. Attacca Quartet joined Son Little’s performance and took the masterful R&B and rock ‘n’ roll performance to the next level with classical flourishes.
Brooklyn’s very own indie rock collective San Fermin closed out the night with soaring ballads from vocalist Clair Wellin and velvety smooth vocals from lead vocalist Allen. Bandleader Ellis Ludwig-Leone collaborated with Attacca Quartet and Son Little for a musical mashup of the ages.
On Sunday, Emmy-winning entertainer Darren Criss hosted Elsie Fest 2021: Broadway’s Outdoor Music Festival as part of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at the Lena Horne Bandshell. Darren has hosted the event for the past seven years. However, last year’s event was canceled because of the pandemic. It was a special night for Broadway as an always-impressive lineup of stars and songs from your favorite musicals had fans singing along to popular showtunes.
To close the night, Miss Piggy stole the show when she joined Criss on stage for a duet performance. While on stage, Darren Criss’ electric energy kept fans screaming as he performed songs off of his new EP, Masquerade. The festival also included performances by Freestyle Love Supreme, Krysta Rodriguez, Adrienne Warren, Jordan Fisher, Alex Brightman, Barlow and Bear and more for this LiveNation production.
