If Patty Griffin isn’t your speed, Rakim is playing for free in Red Hook on Wednesday night.
BEST OUTDOOR CONCERT
Patty Griffin at Celebrate Brooklyn! Prospect Park Bandshell
Wednesday, June 5
FREE ($3 suggested donation)
6:30pm gates open/8:15pm show
Prospect Park Bandshell (9th Street & Prospect Park West)
Singer-songwriter Patty Griffin has recorded poignant, lovelorn songs since her debut album, Living with Ghosts, came out in 1996. Her voice is still honey-sweet and earnest on her latest effort, American Kid, but with an airy maturity that matches the somber images in her lyrics. Griffin will kick off the 35th annual Celebrate Brooklyn! summer concert series this Wednesday with a free show at the Prospect Park Bandshell.
BEST BIG VENUE SHOW
The National and Youth Lagoon at Barclays Center
Wednesday, June 5
Tickets start at $37
8pm
Barclays Center
Brooklyn indie-rock royalty The National play to a home crowd at the Barclays Center on Wednesday in support of their new album, “Trouble Will Find Me.” It’s one of the pricier shows this week, with tickets starting at $37, but is a steal compared to the $200 seats for Paul McCartney, who plays the venue on Saturday.
BEST HIP HOP SHOW
Rakim at Red Hook Park Presented by SummerStage
Wednesday, June 5
FREE
7pm
Red Hook Park (Bay and Clinton Streets)
Hip-hop fans shouldn’t miss the legendary MC Rakim’s free show at Red Hook Park on Wednesday. Rakim will play shows throughout the northeast this summer, with tickets going for up to $75, so this is a great chance to catch him for free.
BEST SMALL VENUE SHOW
Fuzz with Ex-Cult and Pampers at Death by Audio
Thursday, June 6
$10 at the door
9pm doors/9:45pm show
Death by Audio (49 S. 2nd Street)
Fans of rocker Ty Segall have two chances to catch his new power trio Fuzz on Thursday. The group plays a free SummerStage show at Red Hook Park with Ex-Cult and DJ Jonathan Toubin at 7 pm before hopping over to Death by Audio in Williamsburg for another set (also with Ex-Cult and Pampers).
BEST SHOW FOR STUB HUB TIX
Japandroids and Crocodiles at Music Hall of Williamsburg
Friday, June 7
$30 on Stub Hub (plus delivery fee)
11pm doors/11:30pm show
Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 N. 6th Street)
If a trip to Randall’s Island for Governor’s Ball isn’t on the agenda this summer, you can still catch some of the festivities. Canadian rock duo Japandroids and Californian indie-pop duo Crocodiles play an afterparty show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday. The show is sold out but tickets are still available on Stub Hub.
BEST KID-FRIENDLY SHOW
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for Kids with Wynton Marsalis at Celebrate Brooklyn! Prospect Park Bandshell
Saturday, June 8
FREE ($3 suggested donation)
3pm gates open/4pm show
Prospect Park Bandshell (9th Street and Prospect Park West)
Adults and children alike will enjoy a family-friendly show by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at the Prospect Park Bandshell on Saturday. Marsalis will read stories by acclaimed Brooklyn children’s author Ezra Jack Keats during intermission.
