The entrance to Prospect Park Bandshell is on Prospect Park West and 9th Street.  Located deep within Brooklyn, Prospect Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux after they finished Manhattan’s famed Central Park.  The park itself is a wilder version of Central Park, given more room to roam in Brooklyn, though much of the forested areas are fenced off.  Depression-era mayor Fiorello La Guardia appointee Robert Moses added the Bandshell in 1939, but it fell into disrepair in the sixties and seventies.  The Prospect Park Alliance and Celebrate Brooklyn! revived the Bandshell in the early eighties, with a major revamp in the late nineties.  Now Celebrate Brooklyn! holds concerts at the Bandshell during the summer.

There are actually two audience areas in front of the Bandshell, a 2,000-person seated area, and behind it, a 5,000-person lawn.  All together, it makes one of the largest venues in all of New York City, larger even than the Central Park Summerstage or the late McCarren Park Pool.  There’s a distinct slope down from all sides towards the front-center, creating a better view; spectators on the lawn often sit on their own blankets.  There’s usually a photo pit in the front; on free events, there’s often a reserved ‘VIP’ area at the very front.  Beer tents can be found on either side.

Most of the events held by Celebrate Brooklyn! are free (though they ask for a three dollar voluntary contribution), with a few paid events as benefits for the organization.  Celebrate Brooklyn! holds a mix of concerts, from fairly big-name acts to indie-rock, as well as world music and adult contemporary.  Usually, there is at least one free show from a well-known Brooklyn alternative act (2009: Blonde Redhead, 2008: Cold War Kids, 2007: The Hold Steady, 2006: TV On the Radio), and often at least one ticketed benefit with a large indie band.  While the events are relatively infrequent, the few that do happen are well worth attending.

Capacity: 2,000 plaza, 5,000 lawn

all ages

Address:

Within Prospect Park, at Prospect Park West and 9th Street

By Subway:

QRO Coverage:

-Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, with Budos Band, August 7th, 2010 - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings photos, Budos Band photos

-Metric, with Joan As Policewoman and Holly Miranda, August 5th, 2010 - Metric live review, Metric photos, Joan As Policewoman photos, Holly Miranda photos

-The Dead Weather, with Harlem, August 3rd, 2010 - The Dead Weather photos, Harlem photos

-Sonic Youth, with Grass Widow and Talk Normal, July 31st, 2010 - Sonic Youth photos, Grass Widow photos, Talk Normal photos

-The Swell Season, with The Low Anthem, July 30th, 2010 - The Swell Season photos, The Low Anthem photos

-The Roots, with Talib Kweli and Janka Nabay, July 11th, 2010 (OkayAfrica) - The Roots photos, Talib Kweli photo, Janka Nabay photos

-Norah Jones, June 9th, 2010 (Celebrate Brooklyn! season opener) – photos

-Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, with Deer Tick and Jones Street Station, August 7th, 2009 – Jones Street Station live review, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals photos, Deer Tick photos, Jones Street Station photos

-Dean & Britta's '13 Most Beautiful', with Crystal Stilts, August 1st, 2009 – Dean & Britta's '13 Most Beautiful' live review, Dean & Britta's '13 Most Beautiful' photos, Crystal Stilts photos

-Dr. Dog, with Phosphorescent and These United States, June 27th, 2009 – Dr. Dog live review, Dr. Dog photos, Phosphorescent photos, These United States photos

-Blonde Redhead, with Ólöf Arnalds, June 26th, 2009 – Blonde Redhead live review, Blonde Redhead photos, Ólöf Arnalds photos

-The Jealous Girlfriends, with Bear Hands, July 26th, 2008 – The Jealous Girlfriends live review, The Jealous Girlfriends photos, Bear Hands photos  

-Cold War Kids, with Elvis Perkins in Dearland and Sam Champion, June 27th, 2008 – live review, Cold War Kids photos, Elvis Perkins in Dearland photos, Sam Champion photos  

-The Hold Steady, August 9th, 2007 – live review, photos

-The Stills, June 30th, 2007 – photos

Jones Street Station - "Oh Victoria", Brooklyn, NY, 8/7/09

Click here for the venue's website