Who’s up for some free outdoor shows in Prospect Park this summer? Yeah, we thought so. BRIC thought so too, which is why they’re bringing back their annual Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Festival. Now in its 37th year, Celebrate Brooklyn!’s programming is always indicative of the borough it calls home: it’s eclectic and world-class. Musical highlights of this season include tUnE-yArds, Lucinda Williams, Punch Brothers, The New Pornographers, Jason Isbell, Esperanza Spalding, Shabazz Palaces, Will Oldham (aka Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy), and Chaka Khan, who has the honor of kicking things off on June 3. 

In addition to the many musical acts performing, Celebrate Brooklyn! also features dance performances, theater and film. This year, DanceBrazil, Reggie “Regg Roc” Gray’s The Dream Team, and modern dance troupe LeeSaar will all be slaying crowds with their moves. Incomparable theater artist Taylor Mac is set to perform an abridged version of his A 24-Hour History of Popular Music. In cinema, expect screenings of The Son of the Sheik with live musical accompaniment by Alloy Orchestra, and Paris is Burning, which will be preceded by a live set from JD Samson (Le Tigre). 

Celebrate Brooklyn!’s free shows are always augmented by benefit concerts (yeah, you have to pay). For 2015, this line-up includes Damien Rice, Interpol, Modest Mouse, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes and Willie Nelson & Family. Tickets for these are now on sale at Ticketmaster. 

The festival runs from June 3-August 12, with Squarespace returning as the presenting sponsor. And for the cyclist out there, Transportation Alternatives will be providing valet bike parking. See below for a full schedule or visit BRIC’s website for more details.  

June
6/3, 8pm Chaka Khan
6/6, 4pm Creole for Kidz! Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
6/11, 7:30pm Krosfyah feat. special guests Lead Pipe & Saddis & Something Positive
6/12, 7:30pm Esperanza Spalding Presents: Emily’s D+Evolution & José James
6/13, 7pm Lucius, Luke Temple & Pavo Pavo
6/17, 7:30pm Damien Rice*
6/18, 7:30pm Eighth Blackbird with special guest Will Oldham, Bill Frisell & Sam Amidon
6/20, 7:30pm DanceBrazil & Forro in the Dark
6/25, 7:30pm Lucinda Williams & Jason Walker
6/26, 7:30pm Paris is Burning & JD Samson
6/27, 7:30pm Jason Moran’s Fats Waller Dance Party, Butler, Bernstein & The Hot 9

July
7/9, 7:30pm Punch Brothers & Sara Jarosz
7/10, 7pm Bajofondo, Astro & Los Auténticos Decadentes
7/11, 7:30pm The New Pornographers, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down
7/16, 7:30pm Vieux Farka Touré, Tamikrest & DJ Dakar
7/17, 7:30pm The Son of the Sheik with Live Score by Alloy Orchestra & Ghost Train Orchestra
7/18, 7:30pm Rhiannon Giddens & Joe Henry
7/21, 7pm Interpol*
7/22, 7pm Modest Mouse*
7/24, 7:30pm Jason Isabell & Dawn Landes
7/25, 7:30pm Sylvan Esso & Porches.
7/30, 7:30pm The Musical World of Harmonium Mountain, an audio visual collaboration between Clifford Ross & The Orchestra of St. Luke’s, & Jeffrey Ziegler, Andy Akiho & Roger Bonair-Agard
7/31, 7:30pm Big K.R.I.T., Angel Haze & The D.R.E.A.M. Ring: Flexn

August
8/1, 7:30pm Taylor Mac: The 20th Century Abridged
8/4, 7pm Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros & Preservation Hall Jazz Bank*
8/6, 8pm LeeSaar the Company, Ohad Naharin & Guest Dancers from Batsheva Dance Company
8/7, 7:30pm Third World & Awa Sangho
8/8, 7:30pm tUnE-yArds & Shabazz Palaces
8/12, 7pm Willie Nelson & Family & Old Crow Medicine Show*

*Benefit Concerts