9 Brooklyn Music Festivals: Something for Everyone

Brooklyn is home to many music festivals. From a summer-long outdoor concert series to weekend-long festivals, there are numerous events around Brooklyn. Here are nine music festivals that will appeal to fans of jazz, folk, indie rock, and almost any music lover. From established acts to up-and-coming bands, you’ll find it at these festivals.

01 of 09

Northside Festival

If you want to be in the epicenter of Brooklyn's creative renaissance add a visit to the Northside Festival to your Brooklyn itinerary. Buy a badge and take in all of the events or purchase a single ticket. The Northside Festival takes place from June 6-12th where "over 100,000 creative and cultural trendsetters converge in Brooklyn to uncover the future of music, innovation, and content; with over 400 bands, 150 speakers, and 100 content creators."

02 of 09

Seaside Summer Concert Series

This July, Coney Island will be home to a new 5,000 seat open-air Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk. In addition to hosting comedy, family shows, and other events, it will be the new home for the longtime Seaside Summer Concert Series. This popular free concert series will announce their 2016 lineup soon. Be sure to see a show at this new oceanfront Amiptheater, which "incorporates the Childs Building, built in 1923 as one of the first large-format stand-alone restaurants in the country. The building is now designated as a New York City Landmark and is currently undergoing a full restoration after suffering decades of neglect. The stage, which will be housed inside of the Childs Building with 50-foot tall doors opening to the Amphitheater during the summer..." This is a definite stop when you visit Coney Island.

03 of 09

Celebrate Brooklyn

For a three dollar suggested donation you can see everything from rock to classical concerts at Celebrate Brooklyn concert series at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Not an official music festival, this summer concert series is a Brooklyn summertime tradition. If you're heading to Brooklyn this summer, don't forget to pack a picnic blanket and peruse the lineup of this series that runs from June 8 until August.

04 of 09

Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

The 12th annual Brooklyn hip-hop festival held on July 13th-16th is "more than just music, The Festival celebrates all aspects of Hip-Hop culture including art, film, dance, business, fashion, community activism, technology and more." The festival's "Big Show" on the main stage at Brooklyn Bridge Park will have performances from Nas, Fabolous, Talib Kweli, and many other artists and takes place on July 16th at 1 pm.

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05 of 09

Brooklyn Country Music Festival

You don't have to travel to Nashville to hear some good country music, you can head to Brooklyn for the Brooklyn Country Music Festival. Last year, folks crowded the popular Bell House to hear Ramblin' Jack Elliot, The Defibulators and tons of other musicians. Founded by Alex Battles, the Brooklyn Country Music festival recently hosted an 84th birthday bash tribute for the legendary Johnny Cash in Williamsburg. Stay tuned for more events for the upcoming 11th annual festival.

06 of 09

Brooklyn Folk Festival

The 8th annual Brooklyn Folk Festival takes place in April. Next spring head to this three-day festival, which includes "30 bands, vocal and instrumental workshops, a family-friendly square dance and swing dance, jam sessions, film screenings, the famous Banjo Toss contest and more!” The festival is held in the historic St. Ann's church in scenic Brooklyn Heights. Be sure to visit the iconic Brooklyn Heights promenade between sets and grab a meal at the many restaurants on Brooklyn Height's main drag, Montague Street.

07 of 09

Afropunk Fest

The annual Afropunk festival is held in Commodore Barry Park (City Park) in Fort Greene. The weekend-long multicultural music and art festival takes place on August 27 and 28th. From Ice Cube to CeeLoo Green, the lineup for this weekend-long music festival will appeal to all music lovers. If you're headed to France, there is also an Afropunk festival in Paris on June 3-5th.

08 of 09

Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival

The 17th annual Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival will take place from April 15th-May 15th and is "NYC longest continually running grass roots festival dedicated to jazz," and is their mission is to "recognize the contributions of artists and the role they play in advancing the culture while promoting the dignity of a people; to develop venues that are affordable, accessible and attractive to the community." Enjoy over fifty events around the city celebrating this annual Jazz festival. From spoken Word, Reggae, Youth JAZZ Jam, the festival takes place at venues in Williamsburg, Bed Stuy and is a tribute to Brooklyn's vital Jazz culture.

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09 of 09

Live at the Archway

Live at the Archway is a free concert series that takes place on Thursdays at 6 pm under the Manhattan Bridge Archway in DUMBO for 18 weeks on Thursdays at 6 pm from June 2nd through September 29. The series encompasses a broad range of musical genres including salsa, R&B, jazz, and classic rock, together with some of today’s emerging indie bands, performances by modern dance companies, etc. The lineup also includes a free swing dance class from the Harlem Swing Dance Society and Millennial jazz-lounge group Bellatonic, and many others.