If you’re headed to the show, send me a tweet @loveofbrooklyn or @hipstersunited – would love to see you there!

I put together a mix of eight summery songs I adore — featuring Brooklyn-loving bands, naturally — which you can stream below. You can find me over at 8tracks as jillysp and who knows? Maybe I’ll share more tapes here on the blog in the future! Hope you enjoy!

It was a lot of fun to relax and treat my ears to something new, and share in the joy that Zach has for recording live music. He’s been contributing to NYC Taper as of late, and I’m so happy he’s been enjoying his hobby as much as I do with photography. The importance of a creative outlet keeps coming up in conversations with friends and colleagues lately, and I can’t stress how instrumental it is for me to balance out the craziness in life!

I brought my camera along for the show and thought I’d share a few photos. Check out the New York Press for a review of the summery show and some shots below of New Jersey indie darlings Big Troubles, Julian Lynch, and Real Estate!

Big Troubles takes the stage, after opener Family Portrait:

Julian Lynch plays to a sold-out crowd of fans and admirers:

Real Estate closes it down with a set of summery, relaxed rock and roll:

If you haven’t heard of the great Ms. Jones, this article from NYMag is a must-read. It was a real pleasure to see her perform, showing off her moves (and giant voice) in a beautiful blue-sequined dress. Metromix has a great series of photos from the show, and for me, the people-watching was a great opening act.

My vintage Leica was happy to come along for the show…

Afro-Punk became a touchstone of a cultural movement strongly reminiscent of the early days of Hip-Hop. Alternative urban kids across the nation (and across the globe) who felt like outsiders discovered they were actually the core of a boldly innovative, fast-growing community.

With the temperature in the 90′s and little-to-no breeze, I was surprised to see the festival already buzzing along. The BMX “Battle For The Streets” had gathered a crowd on the street course — complete with stair-set, rails, and grind boxes. The contest ended on a high note with one overachiever doing a backflip off of the ramp and out of the course.

The local vendors were out in flux. There were bikers and skaters riding around, and graffiti artists tagging a wall that had been built for the event. It was a really great day in Brooklyn. Though I don’t identify myself as an afro-punk or even a punk for that matter, I did not feel ostracized by the scene (as can often be the case in scenes). The music was great, and as diverse as the crowd, from hip hop to punk, pop to hardcore, soul to funk-infused metal.

Martin Luther (left) 24-7 Spyz (right)

J* Davey (left) K-OS (right)

Cool Kids

Mos Def, headlining the festival (above and below)

Also lovely was the show at Radio City Music Hall last night. After meeting up with Cher to give her the tickets, we all quickly found out that we were in for a treat. The National played a wide variety of new songs and old hits alike to the sold-out crowd. Sufjan Stevens and St. Vincent’s Annie Clark also made cameo appearances, and the audience was loving it. Check out Brooklyn Vegan for the setlist and more commentary about the show, and below for more photographs!

Brooklyn-based indie faves The National will take the stage tonight at Radio City Music Hall to a sold-out crowd in support of their new album, High Violet. For the Love of Brooklyn has an extra pair of tickets to the show and is itching to give them away to one lucky reader.

Leave a comment on this post and tell us: what’s your favorite thing to do in Brooklyn during the summertime? Is it seeing free shows at Prospect Park? Biking to the shore and enjoying Coney Island? Rocking out to sweaty shows at Union Pool or strolling the streets of Ditmas Park?

The winner will be selected and emailed at 4pm. You must be able to pick up the tickets in DUMBO before 7pm or meet up at Radio City by 7:45pm.

Good luck!

* PRIZE: Two tickets to see The National TONIGHT (6/16, 8pm) at Radio City Music Hall.
* TO ENTER: Comment on this post and tell us your favorite thing to do in Brooklyn in the summertime!
* GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, June 16th at 4pm EST
* HOW IT WORKS: One entry per e-mail address permitted.

After the brief downpour on Saturday morning I ventured out on my bike and with camera and a 55 mm lens in tow. The winds were were blustering but otherwise a pretty day, sun shining and in the 70′s. I went to the Groundbreaking of the Richard B. Fisher Building at The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The new arts facility will live at at 321 Ashland Place, former home to the Salvation Army. The renovation on the 7,700-square-foot building is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012 and will include a garden rooftop for special events.

The vendor tents and picnic tables were lined up down the block. Scents of BBQ chicken and fried seafood filled the air. The festivities were kicked off by the Soul Tigers and The Brooklyn Steppers in a spirited Battle of the Bands. The crowd formed tightly around the bands with smiles and cheers all around. The crowd was instructed to give them room as the bands started swinging their drums with their choreographed moves. It was really a fantastic performance by both bands.

Representatives from BAM, The Fisher Family, Letitia James, and Mary Markowitz were among the speakers. There was a lot of excitement about the continued expansion of the BAM cultural community. District 35 city councilwoman Letitia James spoke of the future of arts and culture in Brooklyn and what this development means to that future. By naming legends as diverse as Beethoven, Dizzy Gillespie and Jay-Z she reminded the crowd of the ever present need to support the artist. Borough President Marty Markowitz spoke about the continued growth of downtown Brooklyn. He got the crowd going by discussing the soon to be Brooklyn Nets. The Fisher family–namesake for the new building–spoke warmly about what BAM has meant to them as a family growing up and living in Brooklyn by discussing the concerts, dance performances and operas that have defined Brooklyn culture throughout their lives.

The groundbreaking had a very celebratory atmosphere. In a time when budgets are tight, often it is the cultural programs that are the first to get cut. It is nice to see the continued expansion and renewed importance placed on the arts and culture that define Brooklyn. The creation of a new 263-seat performance venue and affordable space for the community and education programs is the kind of project I can get behind.

LINKS
More info and a rendering of the renovated Richard B. Fisher Building
Recent WSJ interview with BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins discussing the project
Brownstoner covers the groundbreaking