Brooklyn’s lush parks and industrial paradises are the perfect stages for sun-bathed outdoor concerts. So grab the sunscreen and step out for a non-stop program of top-notch outdoor gigs from rappers, indie-rock heroes, and classic and classical music stalwarts. Here is our guide to the most essential outdoor concerts going down across Kings County this summer.
Funk yeah!
Brooklyn’s own Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings will bring the funk to Prospect Park to open the Bric Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival’s 38th season of summer concerts. This year’s opener really celebrates Brooklyn, since Jones is a Bedford-Stuyvesant native!
Prospect Park Bandshell (Ninth Street and Prospect Park W. in Prospect Park www.brica
Green dream
Singer-songwriter Conor Oberst, who also records as Bright Eyes, will turn around a bill shared with alternative country star Kasey Musgraves and folk outfit the Felice Brothers. Their concert at beautiful McCarren Park is part of the Northside Festival music series, which starts on June 9.
McCarren Park (N. 12th Street and Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, www.north
Park sounds
Don’t miss this show from once-reclusive music genius Brian Wilson, who will play the essential Beach Boys album “Pet Sounds” in full, along with plenty of classic California tunes for the Northside Festival’s closing day. He will be joined by New York singer-songwriter Rostam and kick-ass Spanish girl band Hinds.
McCarren Park (N. 12th Street and Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, www.north
Summer night’s dream
Brooklyn alt-rock band Blonde Redhead will play dreamy tunes as the sun sets over Red Hook, as part of Brooklyn’s Summer Stage program.
Coffey Park (85 Richards St. at Verona Street in Red Hook, www.cityp
Tech yes
Electronic artist Richie Hawtin will assault a lush Williamsburg pop-up venue with his unique brand of Detroit-influenced techno. He will be joined by a slew of industry stalwarts and a secret special guest.
Brooklyn Mirage (140 Stewart Ave. at Meserole St. in Williamsburg, www.resid
Party monster
The Beach Burger Bash brings rock and metal acts Andrew W.K., Pentagram, and F—— Up to Sodom by the Sea, along with Wu-Tang Clan member GZA and jokey performer Har Mar Superstar, among many others, playing an all-day, all-ages festival.
MCU Park (1904 Surf Ave. at W. 17th Street in Coney Island, www.burge
Bring the noise
Legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy will take over a Brownsville park with its politically conscious rhymes when it plays a free Summer Stage show.
Betsy Head Park (Dumont Avenue and Strauss Street in Brownsville, www.cityp
A night out
The Metropolitan Opera promises an enchanting evening of opera arias and duets featuring some of its biggest stars in Brooklyn’s Front Yard.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1 [enter at Furman and Old Fulton streets, www.metop
Good vibrations
On America’s birthday, summer heroes the Beach Boys will bring the fun, fun, fun to the People’s Playground, performing sun-tinged oldies in Brooklyn’s newest music venue.
Coney Island Amphitheater (3052 W. 21st St. at Surf Avenue in Coney Island, www.coney
Dance break
Swing under the stars with Tammy McCann and the Sharp Radway Big Band as part of Kingsborough Community College’s Hot Summer Nights music series.
Kingsborough Lighthouse Bandshell (2001 Oriental Blvd. at Decatur Avenue in Manhattan Beach, www.onsta
Nas-ty boys
Rapper Nas headlines this year’s Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival alongside Bedford-Stuyvesant’s own Fabolous, and a slew of other big name wordsmiths. They’ll get Brooklyn Bridge Park throwing their hands in their air during the one-day extravaganza.
Brooklyn Bridge Park (On Water Street between Old Fulton and Dock streets in Dumbo, www.bkhip
Got the bite
Swing, jazz, and blues outfit the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn will play their unique blend of New Orleans-inspired tunes with blues, rhythm and blues, and swing under the trains in the Manhattan Bridge Archway.
Manhattan Bridge Archway (Anchorage Place and Water Street in Dumbo). July 21 at 7 pm. Free.
Hometown heroes
Brooklyn indie outfit Beirut will show off its rock tunes, which come with a hint of world music, at this concert in Prospect Park.
Prospect Park Bandshell (enter at Ninth Street and Prospect Park West in Park Slope, www.brica
Round there
Travel back to the ’90s with two of that decade’s biggest acts: rock band Counting Crows, and singer Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20.
Coney Island Amphitheater (3052 West 21st Street at Surf Ave in Coney Island, www.coney
Jam out
The Disco Biscuits will cast a spell on the Coney Island Amphitheater for its “City Disco” show that promises to be an extended evening of chilled out jams.
Coney Island Amphitheater (3052 West 21st St. at Surf Avenue in Coney Island, www.coney
A good day
Ice Cube headlines the 2016 incarnation of Afropunk Festival in Fort Greene. He will be joined by quirky rapper Tyler, the Creator, funk legend George Clinton, and hip-hop producer Flying Lotus, among many others.
Afropunk Festival at Commodore Barry Park (Flushing Avenue between Navy Street and N. Elliott Place in Fort Greene, www.afrop
