You can get your twee on at noon, that's when tickets go on sale.

Beloved twee-pop cult heroes Belle and Sebastian haven't played a show on American soil since 2006. But this fall, the Matablog reports that the band will breeze through North American venues on a way-too-brief tour that'll include a pair of Mexican dates.

This announcement comes on the heels of news that the band is back at work, writing songs in Glasgow and recording in Los Angeles. According to a Friday news update on the band's site, they're currently in "the final stages" of recording a new album. They'll also tour through Europe and Asia in the coming months, and also promise some UK dates and "a trip to South America" before year's end. And they'll curate and headline the Bowlie 2 festival, which takes over Butlins in Minehead, England December 10-12. Taking twee global!

More information here.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

We're still waiting for an announcement about the free Sunday Pool Parties at the Williamsburg Waterfront, but Band of Horses and Grizzly Bear have just announced that they'll be performing together on June 20th. Sadly this one is not free. (Tickets go on sale Friday). You can check out the full schedule (thus far) at www.freewilliamsburg.com/h2oshows.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Sure, the caption is technically grammatically correct, but still. In other news, the waterfront is now open for the season?

via the Lens Blog

Posted by Jackie Snow at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(image c/o Michael Rusch)

Senator Schumer is fighting hard for the hipster vote to ensure that the Williamsburg Pool Parties return in 2010. Here's the latest press release from his office:

Schumer: The FREE Jelly NYC Pool Parties Are A Big Part of Why Summers in NYC are So Great And I Will Do Everything In My Power to See They Return

Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he is pressing officials to iron out remaining concerns to see that the JELLY Pool Parties are saved from being shut down. Schumer is meeting with state and park officials and organizations to get the ball rolling on a permanent solution. The JELLY Pool Parties, a very successful free summer concert series started in 2005, were held at East River State Park in 2009. Unfortunately, the New York State Parks Department and the Open Space Alliance (OSA) indicated that the Jelly Pool Parties may not return for a 2010 season. No final schedule has been set for the 2010 season and Schumer is committed to seeing the JELLY Pool Parties remain a fixture for next summer and beyond. Schumer, a Brooklyn native who attended two of the Pool Parties this past summer, was struck by the quality and popularity of the concerts and the enthusiasm of the crowd. Schumer has already met with the NYS Parks Department and OSA and has pledged to do whatever it takes to see the Pool Parties return 2010.

“Summer in Brooklyn without the JELLY Pool Parties simply would not be the same and I will do everything in my power to see that they return in 2010,” Schumer said. “As I was riding my bike through Williamsburg this summer, I came upon the Pool Parties and was inspired and energized by the huge crowds who came to see the concerts. People came from far and wide to enjoy the Brooklyn concert series, and when I heard they were in danger I just could not sit idly by and let the JELLY Parties get cancelled. Events such as the JELLY Pool Parties are what New York’s parks are made for – they are lively and exciting and build energy and enthusiasm for people to stay and live and play in NYC – and I will fight to ensure they are back in action in 2010.”

"The Brooklyn music scene exploded over the last decade, drawing hordes of new bands and artists to the borough and making Williamsburg the epicenter of some of the best new music in the world. The recent East River events have been the culmination of it all, showcasing VICE bands and other artists to thousands of music junkies across New York. VICE salutes Brooklyn native Chuck Schumer – a man who clearly knows his music – for going to bat for countless New York City concert -goers," said VICE founder Suroosh Alvi.

JELLY NYC is the biggest summer concert series to hit New York City in decades. The Pool Parties were originally held at the McCarren Park Pool but were recently moved to the East River State Park due to construction. Within just a few years, the concert series experienced a huge jump in popularity, with audience traveling from across the country, and even the world, to attend the concerts. The 2009 season featured 8 weeks of free performances featuring Mission of Burma, Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, Dan Deacon, Deerhunter, Simian Mobile Disco, The Black Lips, and Girl Talk.

But the future of the concerts was put in jeopardy as the New York State Parks Department and the Open Space Alliance indicated that the East River State Park may not be available for the 2010 season. In August, Schumer, took the stage on the last night of the Pool Parties and pledged to the cheering crowd that they would be back on the waterfront in 2010.

Since Schumer spoke to the excited audience, he has led the fight to save the JELLY Pool Parties. Schumer is meeting with the New York State Parks Department, the Open Space Alliance, and local elected officials to work on a deal to ensure the Pool Parties return to the East River State Park next year. Schumer and JELLY NYC hope to have all the necessary papers signed in the near future so the Pool Parties will be back in Brooklyn for a 5th year.

Schumer’s office has received over 200 e-mails from concerned constituents urging him to help bring back the JELLY Pool Parties.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"

It's been a pretty amazing series, but alas the 2009 Pool Parties come to a close this Sunday with Beach House and Grizzly Bear. Uh, wow! After last week's dance party with Girl Talk—8500 people attended—the line-up for Sunday promises to be a much more mellow scene, but that doesn't mean it won't be packed. Get there early if you want to get in without the hassle of waiting in a ridiculously long line.

4pm - Vega
5pm - Beach House
6:15pm - Grizzly Bear

More information at http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/h2oshows.

Beach House - "Master of None"

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Girl Talk

Everybody and their brother has already written us requesting details about this show. All we can say is get there early. Crowds are going to be wrapping the block. Doors open at 2. See you there.

2:00 - 3:45 - DJs Gavin Royce + Stephen Pandolfi
4:00 - 4:45 - Max Tundra
5:00 - 5:45 - Wiz Khalifa
6:15 - 7:45 - Girl Talk

More information at http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/h2oshows.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Del the Funky Homosapien

He doesn't perform very frequently on this coast, so seeing Del the Funky Homosapien perform this weekend should be a treat. Doors open at 2. See you there.

Del the Funky Homosapien | Prince Paul (DJ set) | DD/MM/YYYY | Gravytrain!!! | Kenan Bell

More information at http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/h2oshows.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Fiery Furnaces - Charmaine Champagne

We're pretty excited about Sunday's show. Fiery Furnaces are playing and their latest, I'm Going Away, is the strongest of their career. Hopefully the weather will hold. Last week's Dan Deacon show had to be moved to Brooklyn Bowl, so we're keeping our fingers crossed. Doors open at 2. See you there.

Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set) | Fiery Furnaces | Dark Meat | The Netherlands

More information at http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/h2oshows/.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Dirty Projectors headlined a packed show last Sunday

It's going to be hard to top last week, but this week's line-up looks pretty good too:

And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead | The Black Lips | Health | Grupo Fantasma

Doors open at 2 and the headliners have been playing between 5:30 and 6. Lots more information at www.freewilliamsburg.com/h2oshows

If Flyswatter dude shows up, send us pictures!

The Black Lips - Short Fuse Video

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 04:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you weren't at yesterday's Pool Party, you could have fooled us. It was packed. It was a great time all around with Dirty Projectors proving they warrant the hype and Magnolia Electric Co. demonstrating why they're one of the best alt country acts to come along since Son Volt. Next week, And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Black Lips, Health, and Grupo Fantasmo.

Hopefully, that dancing dude with the fly swatter in his shorts will be there too (check him out after the jump).

Dirty Projectors

Magnolia Electric Co.

It was packed!

LOTS of pix after the jump

Continue reading "Williamsburg Waterfront: Pool Party Two; Also Flyswatter Dude" »

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 08:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The weather looks good for Sunday which is great news since Pool Party #2 is set to be a good one. Excluding the upcoming Grizzly Bear/Beach House show, this is our favorite line-up of the series and it will undoubtedly be packed. The space is large, so we don't expect people will be turned away, but it's probably best to get there early. No booze allowed, but last week security was allowing people to bring in water and non-alcoholic beverages. Umbrellas were even being permitted for the sun-averse. Food and beer are available inside.

Doors are at 2pm and these are the set times:

4pm: Crystal Antlers
5pm: Magnolia Electric Co.
6pm: Dirty Projectors

More information at www.freewilliamsburg.com/h2oshows

Magnolia Electric Co. - "What Comes After The Blues" Live at Cafè del Teatre Escorxador 19-06-2007

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 11:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The consensus is in: the new Williamsburg waterfront venue is far superior to McCarren Park Pool. It's more spacious, there's a breeze, the view is better, the sound far superior, and yesterday, even the weather behaved.

Still, we must confess to one major gripe. Namely, what's up with the fence? Those who decided to drink found themselves cordoned off, away from the music like protesters at a peace rally. (While we're complaining, why no Brooklyn beers or veggie food options?) Still, we didn't let these minor grievances ruin our day.

The weather was perfect and, though we missed the opening act, Ponytail, Fucked Up, and Mission of Burma all delivered the goods. Our personal highlight was hearing Marty Markowitz forgo cursing by thanking "Effed Up" for performing. Also, we were happy to see the indie icons David Cross and Ira Kaplan enjoying the show.

It was a great kick-off party for the new venue and we are looking forward to next week's show featuring Dirty Projectors and Magnolia Electric Co. It finally feels like summer has arrived in Williamsburg!

More pix after the jump.

Continue reading "Williamsburg's 'Pool Parties' Debut" »

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 08:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today, JellyNYC's Pool Parties debut at their new location on the Williamsburg waterfront. Food and beer will be sold inside, but like last year they won't be allowing you to bring your own booze or food.

Here are the set times:

Mission of Burma - 6pm
Fucked Up - 5pm
Ponytail - 4pm
Jemina Pearl - 3pm

More details and directions here.

Fucked Up - "Crooked Head"

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ponytail

This Sunday, JellyNYC's Pool Parties debut at their new location on the Williamsburg waterfront. Here's the line-up:

Mission of Burma | Fucked Up | Ponytail | Jemina Pearl of Be your Own Pet

Gates open at 2pm and best of all it's FREE. We've got directions and the full schedule for all the pool parties at www.freewilliamsburg.com/h2oshows.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I know I certainly am! And I don't want to get ahead of myself here, but with the announcement of GravyTrain!!!! at the closing show, I nearly wet myself. Here's why:

In 2002, I headed West. And where did this newly free New Yorker end up? Well, Oakland, CA! And as I sped down the I-80 across the Bay Bridge, with my equally annoying high-pitched roommate in tow, I would belt out the racket hook of "Hella Nervous" as my only exception to uttering the meaningless adjective(?) that is... hella.

GravyTrain!!!! will always have a special place in my heart. So when this year's "Pool Parties" come to a close, think of me and my personal Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl, no matter how stupid they, or I, might have been.

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Under about 15-feet of water out in the East River, somewhere between Brooklyn's North 10th St. and Manhattan's E. 14th, lies an old dining room table "with a Formica top and the grooved metal bands around the edge." I learned that this morning, along with the term "Hudson River Alligator" and that there are these nightmarish worms, "nearly four feet long, with little triangular teeth" that are gnawing away at our bridges.

Basically, this Secrets of the Deep feature over at NYMag is fantastic.

[Illustration by Mark Nerys, c/o of NYMag]

Posted by Brian Ries at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

image via

July 12: Mission of Burma + Fucked Up + Ponytail.

And yes, it's free. We're really going to miss the McCarren Park shows, but this almost makes it alright. [via]

In case you missed it, here's the dealio on shows this summer. From NY Times:

McCarren Park Pool, the crumbling, Depression-era public swimming pool on the border between Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn, is set to become a swimming spot again, but the concerts that put it on the rock map over the last three summers are set to move to the Williamsburg waterfront. Stephanie Thayer, executive director of the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn, a nonprofit group that coordinated last year’s concerts, said that a strip along the East River between North Eighth and North Ninth Streets that was designated a New York State park a few years ago will have concerts this summer, with room for 6,000 fans. The news was confirmed by the office of State Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, who represents Greenpoint and Williamsburg. “This is the continuation of McCarren Park Pool,” Ms. Thayer said. “It’s different, but it has its own exquisite beauty, with the waterfront and the skyline of Manhattan.” She added that she plans to work with many of the promoters who put on events at the pool, but that if enough sponsorship money comes through, she hopes to also put on classical and opera concerts as well. Ms. Thayer, who in addition to her role with the Open Space Alliance is an administrator with the City Parks Department, said that renovations on McCarren Pool were set to begin on schedule this summer.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)