Brooklyn Beats of 2025: What to Expect in the New Year
Brooklyn’s iconic live music venues are gearing up for an exciting 2025, featuring legendary artists, rising stars, and immersive music experiences across genres.
Diana Ross In Performance / photo by Raph_ PH/ courtesy of Wikipedia
Kings Theatre will celebrate its 10th anniversary since reopening with two shows from Diana Ross on February 28 and March 1, 2025. Ross’ “Celebrating Timeless Classics” promises a nostalgic journey through her legendary career, marking her return to the historic venue where she performed its inaugural concert in 2015. Fans of timeless R&B, soul, and pop can look forward to these performances as a highlight of the season.
The Brooklyn Paramount, freshly revitalized, is expected to host a stellar 2025 lineup featuring chart-topping artists and dynamic performances. Singer-songwriter and multi-Grammy award winner Finneas, known for his introspective lyrics and polished production, will perform one of his signature solo sets in February. Also set to take this stage is alternative rock legends Pixies during their 2025 North American summer tour. Other anticipated acts include indie singer-songwriter James Bay and up-and-coming pop artist Nessa Barrett, both of whom are stopping at the venue for their North American tours.
BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) will continue its tradition of cutting-edge performances well into the new year, blending music, theater, and art. Modern classical fans can expect Max Richter to bring his immersive and genre-defying compositions to the Howard Gilman Opera House in May.
Tyler, The Creator / photo courtesy of Instagram /feliciathegoat
Of course, for mainstream concerts, Barclays Center remains one of the biggest stages in Brooklyn. Upcoming 2025 shows already include major global acts. Think stadium-sized pop and hip-hop tours, K-pop supergroups, and other big-name artists like Charli XCX and Tyler, The Creator.
Jack Grace / photo by Jelle Wagenaar
If the bright fame and fortune that come with big ticket venues aren’t quite calling your name, Brooklyn’s smaller venues offer an entirely different kind of charm—and Barbès stands out as a perfect example. Nestled in Park Slope, Barbès feels worlds away from the grandeur of a stadium. One standout regular is Jack Grace, known for his genre-blending style of combining country, rock, and a touch of quirky storytelling. You can catch the band here for three nights in 2025, along with more stripped down and soulful sounds by Reed Basket and Todd Sickafoose.
Brooklyn Bowl remains a hub for high-energy rock, funk, and jam bands. Expect intimate performances, retro-leaning shows, and local favorites. In 2025, one of the venue’s standout performances will be from Atmosphere, the Minneapolis-based hip-hop duo known for their raw lyricism and genre-defying production. For fans seeking music that moves both body and soul, performances at this venue will undoubtedly be a highlight of the 2025 lineup.
With so many venues across the borough, Brooklyn’s music scene in 2025 offers something for every taste and background. From the grandeur of Kings Theatre and Barclays Center to the intimate charm of venues like Barbès or even ShapeShifter Lab and Baby’s All Right, Brooklyn continues to be a dynamic hub for live performances, where both iconic artists and emerging talents share the stage, keeping the borough’s vibrant musical pulse alive.