Williamsburg Waterfront

WHY?

Note: Williamsburg Waterfront was replaced as a concert by Williamsburg Park, now named 50 Kent, between North 11th and 12th.

The entrance to Williamsburg Waterfront is on North 9th Street and Kent Avenue, just off the East River. An empty, half grass/half concrete waterfront space, it is a New York State Park, currently with proposed, but not yet implemented, redevelopment plans. While it held a few events before 2009, such as Boredoms’ ‘88 BoaDrum’ East Coast performance of 88 drummers on 8/8/08, it was really opened as a major New York City outdoor venue when Jelly NYC moved their Pool Parties there in 2009, from the being redeveloped McCarren Park Pool to the northeast. In 2010, the stage was moved and upgraded, and paid events began to booked there as well. Unfortunately, that was the last year of Pool Parties there, but there have been a few free shows in 2011 to go with the paid events.

Stretching over two blocks south, and from Kent Avenue to the East River, the ground is sometimes concrete, sometimes grass, though there is a building, a warehouse converted into the ‘All-Star VIP Pub’ during Pool Parties, in the middle along Kent. The southern side of the space is the ‘beer area’, fenced off with a space in between it and the regular area, and one can only enter through a turnstile in the middle (after getting a 21+ wristband). The western, seaside edge contains food & water vendors and port-a-potties, which are also in the beer area, with a wide variety of food on offer (though one has to purchase drink tickets first). To the east of that space is the VIP area, which has its own connection to the main area/photo pit. The stage itself, moved from the western side to the eastern side of the park in 2010, as well as being much expanded into a full, ‘proper’ outdoor stage, with serious scaffolding and side banners, and a large photo pit, is right next to the lone building. To the north is a separate-entrance area (which stretches all the way to the river, and down along it for all of the space) where you can bring in your own food & drink – they’re not allowed in regular area.

Williamsburg Waterfront seriously improved in its second year, most notably in the much improved stage – having a semi-real back to it means the sound disappates less (though lack of sidewalls still means some outdoor dissappation). The stage is higher as well, creating a better view, and while you don’t get the Manhattan skyline in the background anymore, you also don’t get the sun in the background, either. The place also benefits from being further removed from McCarren Park Pool, timewise, and so more judged on its own merits. Security is still fairly strict, as it is a state, not city park (thus the ‘beer area’, and quicker hook because of rain), but better organized (though all the fencing can make one feel like they’re cattle, or in a prison yard). It also fairy close to the Bedford Ave. L stop, and the river gives a great, constant breeze. We’d said in 2009 that Williamsburg Waterfront would only get better, and it has.

Capacity: 5,000

all ages

Address:

Entrance is on North 9th Street & Kent Avenue

By Subway:

L train to Bedford Ave. – walk 2 blocks north on Bedford, 3 blocks west on North 9th Street
G train to Nassau Ave. – walk 5 blocks south on Nassau, 2 blocks west on North 14th Street, 5 blocks south on Kent Avenue

QRO Coverage:

-TV On the Radio, with Broken Social Scene, September 8th, 2011 – Broken Social Scene live review, TV On the Radio photos, Broken Social Scene photos

-They Might Be Giants, with Jonathan Coulton, Patton Oswalt, Todd Barry, Kristen Schaal, Jim Gaffigan, and Eugene Mirman, July 29th, 2011 (‘Eugene Mirman & Pretty Good Friends’) – They Might Be Giants photos, Jonathan Coulton photos, Patton Oswalt photos, Todd Barry photos, Kristen Schaal photos, Jim Gaffigan photos, Eugene Mirman photos

-Thievery Corporation, with Raphael Saadiq and Dam-Funk, June 24th, 2011 – live review, Thievery Corporation photos, Raphael Saadiq photos, Dam-Funk photos

-Pavement, with Jenny and Johnny, September 19th, 2010 – Pavement live review (including four more nights at Central Park SummerStage), Pavement photos, Jenny and Johnny photos

-Chromeo, with Kid Sister and The Suzan, August 22nd, 2010 – Chromeo photos, Kid Sister photos, The Suzan photos

-!!!, with Lee Fields & The Expressions and The Strange Boys, August 15th, 2010 – !!! live review, !!! photos, Lee Fields & The Expressions photos, The Strange Boys photos

-Cut Copy, with Memory Tapes, Glasser and Restless People, August 8th, 2010 – Cut Copy photos, Memory Tapes photos, Glasser photos, Restless People photos

-The Death Set, July 25th, 2010 (rest of show rained out, moved to Brooklyn Bowl) – photos

-Weezer, July 16th, 2010 – live review, photos

-Deerhoof & Xiu Xiu playing Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures, with WHY?, Fang Island and Pictureplane, July 11th, 2010 – Deerhoof & Xiu Xiu photos, WHY? photos, Fang Island photos, Pictureplane photos

-Grizzly Bear, with Beach House, August 30th, 2009 – Grizzly Bear photos, Beach House photos

-Girl Talk, with Wiz Khalifa and Max Tundra, August 23rd, 2009 – Girl Talk photos, Wiz Khalifa photos, Max Tundra photos

-Del tha Funkee Homosapien, with Gravytrain!!!, DD/MM/YYYY and Kenan Bell, August 16th, 2009 – Del tha Funkee Homosapien photos, Gravytrain!!! photos, DD/MM/YYYY photos, Kenan Bell photos

-Black Lips, with HEALTH, July 26th, 2009 – Black Lips live review, Black Lips photos, HEALTH photos

-Dirty Projectors, with Magnolia Electric Co., July 19th, 2009 – Dirty Projectors photos, Magnolia Electric Co. photos

-Mission of Burma, with Fucked Up, Ponytail and Jemima Pearl, July 12th, 2009 (inaugural Pool Party) – Mission of Burma live review, Mission of Burma photos, Fucked Up photos, Ponytail photos, Jemima Pearl photos

Pictureplane