All music…All Brooklyn!

With the winter a distant memory and before the dog days of August are upon us, Brooklyn Roads thought a quick look back at the burgeoning BK music scene was in order. This past year saw an array of live music venues, hosting a variety of genres, continue to incubate the arts and culture that is Brooklyn. Places such as Spike Hill, Hill Country, The Way Station and Littlefield have raised their Brooklyn music brand to join pioneering establishments such as The Bell House, Brooklyn Bowl, Union Hall, Jalopy and Pete’s Tavern to keep live music both accessible and affordable, and provide exposure to emerging artists.
Local promoters such as Don Duggan of The Brooklyn Music Shop have presented shows featuring Bill Kirchen, Jorma Kaukonen and our borough’s own Joan Osborne, while Brooklyn Bodega President and Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival founder Wes Jackson is now on the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Historical Society. The Afro Punk Festival has become one of the biggest and most successful urban cultural events in the country and Dance Theatre Etcetera just held its 21st Red Hook Fest.

These great local music clubs and promoters are thriving, especially since Barclays Center has become a musical mecca, drawing top artists with international profiles and played host to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this past April and the MTV Video Music Awards last August. Community-minded organizations BRIC Arts Media and BAM have raised the Brooklyn brand awareness to an international audience.

Brooklyn Roads is proud to be a part of the Brooklyn (and beyond) music scene and we are eager to expand our modest role to keep the BK music and arts scene vibrant and alive. To accomplish that, we need your help, your readership and your voices.