Brooklyn Roads Turns a Page

Kings Theatre Marquis /photo by Matt Lambros

It’s hard to believe, but there was a time when there was very little live music and performing arts to be found here in Brooklyn. While it’s always been an incubator for creativity and talent (see Brooklyn Voices and Milestones for some contemporary and historical examples), pursuing such a career meant journeys to Manhattan and even farther-flung places. Thankfully, for the Brooklyn Roads team, that has changed radically over the past decade.

With the emergence of world class performance venues like Barclays Center, the Kings Theatre and the soon to be reopened Brooklyn Paramount, Brooklyn has become a music destination.  Live music  venues such as Brooklyn Bowl, Baby’s All  Right, Jalopy, Rough Trade NYC and The Bell House have fueled the arts passion, while  community-minded organizations such as BAM and BRIC provide an array of creative opportunities.

Rhiannon Giddens Takes a Selfie at Celebrate Brooklyn! /photo by Howard B. Leibowitz/B.L.Howard Productions

Another example of our borough’s musically nurturing nature is BRIC’s annual Celebrate Brooklyn! performing arts series, which increasingly features locally based artists. Among current Brooklynites who wowed the crowds this summer  — and whom we believe you will be hearing more from in the future — were José James , The Punch Brothers, Lucius, Sarah Jarosz, Luke Temple, Pavo Pavo, Dawn Landes, Henry Butler and Porches.

Grace Jones at Afro Punk 2015 /photo by Kyra Kverno

Brooklyn’s diverse performance spectrum has helped spawn spectacular events such as Afro Punk, 90’s Fest, the new Brooklyn Americana Music Festival, Northside Festival, the Brooklyn Electronica Music Festival and the CMJ Music Marathon are now on festival calendars worldwide.

This is an exciting time to be here, but even if you’re not, we invite you to share the magic of talented performers and venues and to be a part of the cultural phenomenon that has made Brooklyn the newest, most exciting music capital on the map. We’ve reinvented Brooklyn Roads to become a digital music magazine, with an eye (and an ear) toward giving exposure to emerging artists in the new Artists On Our Radar feature, exclusive video views with top name performers , concert images from our photography contributors, contest giveaways and insider looks at some of our borough’s live music venues.