BAM brings back pre-pandemic programming, including free concerts

FORT GREENE — The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) recently re-launched its free concert series on Thursday nights, with a lineup of seven concerts between January and June this year. 

“We’re super excited to have BAM Free Music relaunch,” Amy Cassello, artistic director at BAM, told the Brooklyn Eagle in a December conversation. “We’re really pleased to be able to offer that again. It used to be a well-known program at BAM, and it’s been on hiatus through the pandemic.”

BAM is located in the center of Brooklyn’s Cultural District, which took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic and is continuing to recover. During the pandemic, cultural institutions including BAM dealt with layoffs and unprecedented vacancy as it canceled events, postponed programming and limited its capacity. 

But BAM, an over 160 year nonprofit cultural institution, proves that resilience and creativity are key to survival. 

Just this year, the Cultural District has celebrated the opening of L10 Arts and Cultural Center at 300 Ashland Place, which marked a significant step in reinvigorating the district and realizing the decades-plus-long cultural development. The first-of-its-kind center features BAM KBH, the first permanent home for BAM’s Hamm archives and a black box theater that fits 60 people. 

BAM is also welcoming performances including a five-week run of “A Streetcar Named Desire” starring Paul Mescal and Patsy Ferran and directed by Rebecca Frecknall and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in June. 

“Brooklyn has changed so much. I think a lot of people appreciate walking to the theater or taking a short subway ride and not having to go into Manhattan to see things that are of such great quality and appeal,” said Cassello. 

Cassello noted that even attending free events helps support BAM. For those who regularly attend BAM, supporting the institution through its membership program offers benefits such as advance access to tickets, discounted movie tickets, discounts at Greenlight Bookstore and more. 

“Ultimately we would love more members. Entry level membership is $85. It gives you discounts to a range of programs, including film and also early access to tickets,” said Cassello. “When we have a blockbuster coming like Paul Mescal in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ if you’re a member at a certain level, you can buy tickets before the general public. You also get notice of what upcoming events are, so that you can plan your calendar accordingly.”

But BAM is also cultivating programming for locals who want more than just big-name programming. Through events like BAMKids and the revival of beloved programming like BAM Free Music, the cultural institution allows locals to access a variety of performances. 

Cassello noted that the return of BAM Free Music and other pre-pandemic events is encouraging to the institution as well as the community. “I think that’s a sign of recovery and health and investment in our local community,” she said.

BAM Free Music has concerts planned for five more Thursdays this year. The lineup brings together diverse musicians with genres encompassing jazz, R&B, Afro-Caribbean, rock and soul. The events include a cash bar for drinks and snacks and DJs following the performances. The performances are first come, first served.

Performances will include trumpeter and East Village native Dave Guy, who has worked with bands such as The Roots, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and the Menahan Street Band; Spanish and English singer-songwriter Angélica Garcia; and Brooklynite Lollise x Loboko. The full schedule is available on BAM’s website.

Performances take place at the Adam Space at 30 Lafayette Ave., with doors opening at 7 p.m.