Skip to main content

Featured Post

Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park infographics: what's built/what's coming/what's missing, who's responsible, + project FAQ/timeline (pinned post)

Eric Adams announces five free shows at Wingate, with many sponsors; five free shows, via City Parks Foundation, in Coney (starting tonight)

Borough President Eric Adams, continuing--in part--a tradition established by his predecessor, Marty Markowitz, has announced the annual Wingate Concert Series, in Central Brooklyn:
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams invites you to join us and our partners as we honor the career achievements of artists in Gospel, Hip-Hop, R&B and Afro-Caribbean music, many of which were born, raised and still reside in Brooklyn. We look forward to seeing you at the live celebration of music.
The lineup:
  • July 9: R&B stars Monica, Queen Naija, and BJ the Chicago Kid, as well as guest DJ Funk Flex
  • July 10:“Jeff Redd R&B Revue” hosted by Jeff Redd, honoring Al B. Sure and Angie Stone
  • July 16: a salute to reggae icons Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, and Gregory Isaacs,
  • July 17: a night of R&B music that honors Avant, PJ Morton, and Raheem DeVaughn. 
  • July 18: a night of gospel music honoring Bebe Winans and featuring William McDowell, Le’Andria Johnson, Jonathan McReynolds, Kierra Sheard, Travis Greene, and Anthony Brown

The sponsors

Of course, it also burnishes the BP's reputation.

For sponsors, it's an end-run around campaign finance laws. Those sponsors include real estate developers like Brookfield Properties, Two Trees Management, Tishman Speyer, and Broadway Stages, as well as the overall REBNY, or Real Estate Board of New York. Also Kasirer, the city's leading lobbying firm, which represents Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park.

Note: Brookfield absorbed Forest City, so it runs MetroTech, remaining a major playor, and has a tiny role in Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park. Interestingly enough, absent as sponsors are Greenland USA/Greenland Forest City Partners and BSE Global, the Barclays Center operator, though The Madison Square Garden Company is a sponsor (perhaps looking toward Adams's mayoral ambitions?).

Other sponsors include National Grid, Con Edison, WBLS, Pepsi, and TD Bank.

What about Coney?

The Brooklyn Paper reported 3/29/19, in Talk about an encore! Private builder funds Coney Island’s free summer-concert series for the next six years:
Coney Island will host free summer concerts for the next six years, after a real-estate-investment firm handed over three-and-a-half-million dollars to keep the tunes coming, leaders of the city’s Economic Development Corporation announced on Thursday.
The seasonal shows at the Ford Amphitheater and the nearby Seaside Park, both on the Riegelmann Boardwalk between W. 21st and W. 23rd streets, drew some of the biggest stars in music in years past...
At the time, the schedule was uncertain, but four or five free shows were expected to be funded by IStar. Adams had had trouble raising money, blaming new corporate caution.

As of now, there are five free shows. according to the Ford Amphitheater schedule and the announcement (right) circulated by Adams's office.

They are organized by the City Parks Foundation's Summerstage, which in general has Capital One as lead sponsor, though there are many sponsors.

The announcement also credits "Supported by Borough President Adams, Council Member Treyger, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, together with iStar." I kind of doubt those entities contribute equivalent amounts.

The lineup:
  • July 7 (tonight): THE HEAVY HITTERS BROOKLYN TAKEOVER Jim Jones / Casanova / TJ Porter / Jay Gwuapo / Fetty Luciano /
  • July 21: NY NIGHT TRAIN: SOUL CLAP & DANCE-OFF LIVE REVIEW WITH JONATHAN TOUBIN
  • July 26:  FELA! THE CONCERT
  • August 3: THE 70S SOUL JAM: THE STYLISTICS, THE MANHATTANS, AND HAROLD MELVIN'S BLUE NOTES
  • August 8: LA SONORA PONCEÑA / JOSE "EL CANARIO" ALBERTO / DJ LUCHO / DJ C.DEVONE
The press release on Wingate

BP ADAMS INVITES BROOKLYNITES TO UPCOMING WINGATE CONCERT SERIES, WITH FREE SHOWS HONORING BELOVED BIG-NAME ENTERTAINERS

BROOKLYN, NY, July 3, 2019: Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams invited Brooklynites to join him for upcoming free shows at the Wingate Concert Series at Wingate Park in East Flatbush, which will take place on Tuesday, July 9th; Wednesday, July 10th; Tuesday, July 16th; Wednesday, July 17th, and Thursday, July 18th. Borough President Adams, who is also hosting free outdoor entertainment this summer at Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Coney Island, Columbus Park in Downtown Brooklyn, and Kingsborough Community College in Manhattan Beach, thanked the organizers of this series — Globe Star Media-N-Entertainment and Make Music New York — for their commitment to putting on these well-attended free concerts that honor the career achievements of artists in genres such as gospel, R&B, and reggae, many of whom were born, raised, and still reside in Brooklyn.

“Summertime in Brooklyn is celebrated with backyard barbecues, trips to the beach, and incredible live music,” said Borough President Adams. “The 2019 Wingate Concert Series is a continuation of that beloved tradition in Wingate Park, where millions of great memories have been made. I thank Globe Star Media-N-Entertainment, Make Music New York, and the many sponsors and partners that make these shows such a success for the tens of thousands of fans who attend from across our borough and beyond. Spread the word: Free summer entertainment is back in Central Brooklyn in a big way!”

The Wingate Concert Series will kick off on Tuesday, July 9th with a show presented with Hot 97 FM that will honor R&B stars Monica, Queen Naija, and BJ the Chicago Kid, as well as guest DJ Funk Flex. On Wednesday, July 10th, 107.5 WBLS-FM will present a “Jeff Redd R&B Revue” hosted by Jeff Redd, honoring Al B. Sure and Angie Stone as well as including performances by Force MD’s and Horace Brown. On Tuesday, July 16th, 107.5 WBLS-FM will present a salute to reggae icons Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, and Gregory Isaacs, as Leon and Dahved Levy host a night of performances honoring artists such as Baby Cham, Spragga Benz, and Third World, as well as a special appearance by Noah Powa. On Wednesday, July 17th, 107.5 WBLS-FM will present a night of R&B music that honors Avant, PJ Morton, and Raheem DeVaughn. The series finale will take place on Thursday, July 18th, as 1190 WLIB-AM and 107.5 WBLS-FM present a night of gospel music as a celebration of the three-year anniversary of “Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell” honoring Bebe Winans and featuring William McDowell, Le’Andria Johnson, Jonathan McReynolds, Kierra Sheard, Travis Greene, and Anthony Brown; the show will be hosted by Erica Campbell, Liz Black, and Neicy Tribbett. All shows are scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM, with gates to the public opening at 6:00 PM.

“The Brooklyn Honors Wingate Concert Series and the work of the Borough President’s Office has been an inspiration to me and the team at Globe Star Media,” said Dan Otero, president of Globe Star Media-N-Entertainment. “This concert series honoring African-American musical culture is an amazing music experience for all attendees.”

“Make Music New York is proud to work with Borough President Adams and his team to present the Wingate Concert Series for the third consecutive season,” said James Burke, executive director of Make Music New York. “Our mission is to provide free, outdoor concerts for the people of NYC and the Wingate Concert Series is the perfect setting to bring New Yorkers together in a spirit of celebration through live music, activating the entire Crown Heights, Brooklyn community in the process. With five stellar free concerts this July, the 2019 Wingate Concert Series truly has something for everyone.”

Sponsors for the Wingate Concert Series include Altice, Barone Management, Broadway Stages, Brookfield Properties, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Christian Cultural Center, Citibank, Con Edison, Kasirer, Macy’s, Make Music New York, National Grid, New York City Council, NYC & Company Foundation, Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, One Brooklyn Fund, Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of New York, Pure Leaf House Collection, Reach One Media, Radio One, Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), TD Bank, The Madison Square Garden Company, Tishman Speyer, Two Trees, Uber, and Wyndham Hotel. Partners for the series include New York City Health + Hospitals/Kings County, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks), New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), New York City Police Department (NYPD), and New York City Fire Department (FDNY).

All shows are subject to change. Those interested in more information on the 2019 Wingate Concert Series are encouraged to visit wingateconcertseries.com.

Comments