A program of BRIC Arts|Media|Bklyn, Celebrate Brooklyn! kicks off its 30th summer of music, dance, theater and film at the Prospect Park Bandshell on June 12th. Celebrate Brooklyn’s season will feature 25 free performances over 9 weeks.

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Celebrate Brooklyn 2008 Schedule

Thursday, June 12

Isaac Hayes Thursday, June 12, 8 p.m. From the 60s soul and R&B of his Stax-Volt days to the 70s funk of Shaft to laying down the genetic blueprints for of both disco and rap, few artists approach Isaac Hayes’ overall influence on the evolution of American popular music.

Saturday, June 14

Miriam Makeba Saturday, June 14, 7:30 p.m. South Africa’s living legend of song, the artist for whom the term world music was invented, Miriam Makeba arrives for an historic celebration of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday and one of just two American performances on her farewell tour.

Thursday, June 19

Medeski Martin & Wood Thursday, June 19, 7 p.m. A night of pyrotechnic grooves featuring MMW’s “freaky funk, free interludes, amazing group chemistry and chops that slacken the jaw.” (Mojo)

Sunday, June 22

Salif Keita Sunday, June 22, 6 p.m. Known as the “Golden Voice of Africa”, Keita blends the traditional griot music of his own Mali with sounds from Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Senegal, along with influences from Cuba, Spain, and Portugal. “Keita’s voice leaps out of every song with tender urgency.” (NY Times)

Thursday, June 26

Carolina Chocolate Drops Thursday, June 26, 7:30 p.m. The Carolina Chocolate Drops are revisiting the ecstatic black string band music of the ‘20s and ‘30s “with a joyful vengeance” (Rolling Stone).

Friday, June 27

Cold War Kids Friday, June 27, 7 p.m. Unleashing “cave-stomp drums, barroom piano and chiming post-punk guitars,” (Rolling Stone) Cold War Kids eschew preciousness for grit. Live, they’re all smoldering energy and raw power.

Saturday, June 28

Crooklyn Dodgers Reunion Saturday, June 28, 7 p.m. Brooklyn hip-hop history will be made as the open mic pioneers of Lyricist Lounge return to the Bandshell to assemble for the first time the MCs and DJs responsible for the classic ‘90s singles "Crooklyn Dodgers" and "Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers", soundtracks to the Spike Lee films Crooklyn and Clockers.

Saturday, July 5

Michael Stuart Saturday, July 5, 7 p.m. With hints of reggaetón and other urban strains flavoring his classic New York sound, the dashing salsero Michael Stuart's style “isn’t your abuelita’s salsa,” (All Music) but it will get you up and dancing.

Thursday, July 10

Freddie McGregor Thursday, July 10, 7:30 p.m. Reggae icon Freddie McGregor has “the ability to shift smoothly between serious-themed roots and more commercial lover’s rock without losing his Rasta credibility.” (Washington Post) After 40+ years performing he remains one of Jamaica’s most soulful singers.

Friday, July 11

Brazilian Girls Friday, July 11, 7 p.m. Not actually Brazilian—but very possibly the sexiest band alive—Brazilian Girls shimmy into town on a “dizzy mix of bossa nova, jazz, rock, and electro beats” (Entertainment Weekly) to fête the Latin Alternative Music Conference.

Saturday, July 12

Beth Orton Saturday, July 12, 7:30 p.m. Maverick UK singer-songwriter Beth Orton practically invented a genre on her groundbreaking 1996 debut Trailer Park, blending folk with trip hop. More than a decade on she’s “a performer with a dramatically renewed sense of vigor and purpose,” (London Times) as unclassifiable as ever and still wielding a voice as evocative as any in pop music.

Thursday, July 17

Jerry Douglas Thursday, July 17, 7:30 p.m. “Dobro’s matchless contemporary master,” (NY Times) Jerry Douglas has had an unparalleled impact on bluegrass and its related genres—to the tune of 12 Grammy Awards.

Friday, July 18

Deerhoof Friday, July 18, 7:30 p.m. The mercurial experimentalists Deerhoof, “the most creative band in indie rock today,” (LA Weekly) forge a distinctive sound out of sophisticated improvisation, fierce dissonance, and weirdly catchy melodies.

Saturday, July 19

Karsh Kale: Enter the Dragon Saturday, July 19, 7:30 p.m. Insane crime lord holds deadly karate tournament at island fortress—DJ emerges victorious! South Asian electronic musician, tabla master and Bruce Lee fanatic Karsh Kale, a “visionary composer and producer,” (Billboard) performs his incendiary new live score to Enter the Dragon (1973), a special Celebrate Brooklyn commission.

Sunday, July 20

Golem Sunday, July 20, 5 p.m. JDub, the innovative not-for-profit Jewish music label, celebrates its 5th anniversary with a global lineup of artists bridging the divide between the old world and the new, featuring Gypsy folk rock from Golem.

Thursday, July 24

Brave New World Repertory Theater Thursday, July 24, 8 p.m. For its third Celebrate Brooklyn outing, the daring and ambitious Brooklyn theater company Brave New World takes on Ray Bradbury’s 1953 science fiction masterpiece Fahrenheit 451, which Bradbury himself adapted for the stage in the 1970s.

Friday, July 25

The Philip Glass Ensemble Friday, July 25, 8 p.m. World-renowned composer Philip Glass and his ensemble perform Glass’ masterful score to avant garde filmmaker Godfrey Reggio’s visually stunning chronicle of cultures around the world Powaqqatsi (1988), “a stunning tour-de-force” (Variety). Joined in this rare event by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.

Saturday, July 26

Ghostland Observatory Saturday, July 26, 7 p.m. With axe-wielding front man Aaron Behrens simultaneously channeling Freddie Mercury, Bowie, and Gary Glitter against a backdrop of diabolical beats and a laser show that will melt your brain, Ghostland Observatory offers an “undeniably unique brand of electro-rock.” (PopMatters)

Thursday, July 31

Mark Morris Dance Group Thursday, July 31, 8 p.m. Based in Fort Greene, world-renowned director and choreographer Mark Morris has challenged convention in the dance world for almost three decades, "blending originality and insight and extending the horizons of dance with unflagging inspiration." (LA Times)

Friday, August 1

Carl Davis: The Charlie Chaplin Mutuals Friday, August 1, 7:30 p.m. Three of Chaplin’s greatest shorts—The Rink (1916), The Immigrant (1916), and The Adventurer (1917) - will come alive as never before with new scores by the highly sought after UK based composer Carl Davis (London Philharmonic Orchestra), performed live by the dashing 16-piece pickup NY chamber orchestra The Knights. Brooklyn-born Davis returns home to conduct.

Saturday, August 2

Father Goose Saturday, August 2, 4 p.m. Join us to celebrate the classic and progressive work of children’s book author Ezra Jack Keats as Dan Zanes cohort Father Goose throws a block party stretching from Jamaica to Brooklyn.

Sunday, August 3

African Guitar Festival Sunday, August 3, 2 - 9 p.m. Our annual all-day festival of food, clothing, crafts, and music from across the African continent.

Thursday, August 7

Ailey II Thursday, August 7, 8 p.m. Celebrate Ailey’s 50th anniversary with the extraordinary artists of Ailey II, universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding emerging choreographers.

Friday, August 8

Lila Downs Friday, August 8, 7 p.m. Mexican songbird Lila Downs' intense folkloric style juxtaposes the emotion of fado and mariachi with norteño and tejano influences. “Fascinating...both current and timeless in the same moment.” (CMJ)

Saturday, August 9

Hal Willner's Bill Withers Project Saturday, August 9, 7 p.m. Visionary music producer Hal Willner returns to the Bandshell with a multi-artist celebration of acoustic R&B pioneer Bill Withers, whose Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone, Lovely Day, and Lean On Me only hint at a body of work that ranks him among our greatest songwriters.