Articles

The 2025 Brooklyn Folk Festival

Brooklyn Folk Festival 2025

September 27, 2025 by The Brooklyn Roads Team

The Brooklyn Folk Festival is a celebration of down home music, cultural diversity and memory that began in 2009 and draws talent from New York’s... read article

Wakellee By A Fence/ photo by Eve Mahoney photo by Eve Mahoney

Wakelee’s Indie Rock Soundtrack

September 26, 2025 by Giulia Arlia

In 2019, identical twins Alex (vocals/guitar) and David Bulmer (drums) formed a Brooklyn-based indie rock band with their friend Elliot Shiang (vocals/bass). Since then, the... read article

BKAMF 2025

Brooklyn Americana Fest Rides Again!

September 10, 2025 by David K. Moseder

The 11th Annual Brooklyn Americana Music Festival (BKAMF) is set for Sept. 18-21 (Thurs.-Sun.) at multiple sites in Dumbo and Red Hook, including Sunny’s Bar, Dumbo Archway, 68 Jay... read article

Collage for Photo Pit featured image-10.08.21-revised

Music Artists Performing In Brooklyn

New Music From Brooklyn Artists: Summer 2025

August 10, 2025 by David K. Moseder

A number of artists based in Brooklyn or with strong ties to our borough have recently released or are currently working on new music. Here’s... read article

Grand Street Recording Studio photo courtesy of Grand Street Recording

Ken Rich and Grand Street Recording-Building Brooklyn’s Sonic Sanctuary

July 26, 2025 by Michela Arlia

In the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, sits a music haven that has become one of New York’s most respected creative spaces: Grand Street Recording. At... read article

Cover Art

Johnny Burgos Blends Brooklyn with Soul

July 25, 2025 by Giulia Arlia

Johnny Burgos describes himself as a creator of “Brooklyn-bred music that soothes the soul.” Burgos’ music spans genres from Nu Funk to R&B soul and... read article

Planet Brooklyn Festival courtesy of Planet Brookyln Festival

Planet Brooklyn Enters the Borough’s Festival Orbit

July 3, 2025 by David K. Moseder

Brooklyn, the music festival capital of New York, is getting another jewel in its crown this summer. Planet Brooklyn, set for August 23-24, will feature... read article

Willie Nile at City Winery NYC © photo by B.L.Howard

Willie Nile Lights Up the Darkness With “A Great Yellow Light”

July 3, 2025 by Michela Arlia

The Great Yellow Light, the latest album from rocker Willie Nile, is a defiant and bright collection that blends driving rock with heartfelt lyricism. The... read article

Brayden Baird -photo courtesy of Mix-Tape Media

Brayden Baird Is Asking the Big Questions – And Making You Laugh Through the Pain

June 17, 2025 by Michela Arlia

After decades of producing and releasing music under various aliases, Brooklyn’s own Brayden Baird is stepping into the spotlight with his most raw and refined... read article

The Lena Horne Bandshell Stage at Celebrate Brooklyn ! photo coutrtesy of BRIC Arts Media

Where Brooklyn Meets the World: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2025 Unites Global Sounds

June 2, 2025 by Michela Arlia

This summer, Brooklyn’s cultural heartbeat returns with the 47th season of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! — a free, open-air performing arts festival transforming the Lena Horne... read article

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Artists on our Radar

Wakelee’s Indie Rock Soundtrack

In 2019, identical twins Alex (vocals/guitar) and David Bulmer (drums) formed a Brooklyn-based indie rock band with their friend Elliot Shiang (vocals/bass). Since then, the three bandmates, now known as Wakelee, have created a strong bond through music, using production techniques heard in the Brooklyn indie scene and simple metaphors to tell their story. Wakelee’s instrumentation and production feel like a blast from the 2000s and 2010s indie rock past, while their direct lyricism and unique title tracks resonate with audiences. Their most recent single released in May, “Field Goal,” features confessional lyrics detailing the feeling of never getting anything right. Alex Bulmer’s vocals highlight direct and relatable lyrics like “Took the car/and made a dent/the little things/I’m spread thin.” In every Wakelee song, upbeat drum rhythms, catchy guitar riffs, and bass hooks add to the band’s chemistry and unique path. Wakelee’s most recent releases also feature production by Zach Aumueller, who captures the contrast between honest songwriting, the DIY rock aesthetic, and indie rock production. In addition to their May release, Wakelee has had a very productive and successful year, starting with the release of their EP, “Doghouse” in February. The EP features five songs that balance indie rock soundscapes with introspective lyrics. The title track uses the metaphor of a doghouse to describe the desperate need to wait out life’s constant stresses. Another standout song, “mildlyinteresting,” is a critique of social media’s influence on our lives. The band is also dedicated to creating an honest connection with their fans, through the release of music videos, releasing guitar tabs for their songs, and live performances. Catch Wakelee at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on September 5th, and on tour with Young Culture at Baby’s All Right on November 30th.

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