Exploring Brooklyn-From NOLA!

October 13, 2021 by Ray Fontaine

Editor’s Note-

Even though contributor “Creator” Ray Fontaine relocated to New Orleans, she fondly recalls some of her Brooklyn music captures:

From basement parties in the dead of winter to warm summer nights spent at Prospect Park for the Celebrate Brooklyn! concert series, my time with Brooklyn Roads Magazine took me on a musical journey to explore artists of all genres and levels of fame. I hold dearly my memories dancing sweatily in the packed venues like the Bushwick Public House, Brooklyn Bowl and Baby’s All Right, in between fiercely snapping photos and typing notes on my phone!

The greatest delight of working the photopit derives from the number of epic music festivals Brooklyn hosts each year. Afropunk brought incredible food, poetry, art, shopping, music and activist initiatives together in one thriving space. The entire festival vibrated every year with culture and celebration. Alternatively, the Northside Festival blended science, innovation, and music seamlessly into a wide array of venues across the Northside of Brooklyn, creating a scavenger hunt of performances and events for Brooklyn locals to engage with.

Today I live in New Orleans, a city filled with music and art, but I still long for Brooklyn nights, where the streets reverberated with throttling force of the subway underneath you on your way to take in a show.

: Summer Mix With Aimee Mann/ photo by Ray Fontaine

: Call Me Latasha / photo by Ray Fontaine

: Iris Lune/ photo by Ray Fontaine

: Miguel /photo by Ray Fontaine

: Lucite Tokki / photo by Ray Fontaine

: Superchunk / photo by Ray Fontaine

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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