Common — an Oscar, Grammy and Emmy winner who has folded activism into conscious hip-hop for three decades — headlines the Lena Horne Bandshell in a program built around Harry Belafonte, the singer who bankrolled and marched through the civil rights movement. It closes out Celebrate Brooklyn!'s 'Radical Joy' season at a bandshell named for another artist who refused to separate stage from struggle. Proof that a free park concert can outweigh an arena show.
What to expect
The bandshell holds a seated bowl up front and a large standing lawn behind it, with food and drink vendors along the path in from the Prospect Park West entrance. Common's sets pull from the full catalogue and lean heavily on live band arrangements rather than backing tracks, and the Belafonte framing means spoken tributes and guest appearances woven between songs. Arrive early — the free bowl fills long before the headliner.
Good to know
- Closest trains are the F/G to 15th St–Prospect Park or the 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza
- Enter at the 9th Street and Prospect Park West gate for the shortest walk to the bandshell
- Free admission, but a suggested contribution line moves faster than the free line
- Bring a blanket for the lawn; the seated bowl fills first
- Outside food is allowed in the park, and vendors line the walk-in path
- Family-friendly and fully accessible; the bandshell has step-free routes and an accessible viewing area
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Common questions
Is this concert really free?
Yes. Celebrate Brooklyn! keeps most of its bandshell programming free, with an optional suggested contribution at the gate that gets you into a shorter entry line.
How early should I get there?
For a headliner of this size, an hour before the opening act is reasonable if you want a spot in the seated bowl rather than the back lawn.
Where exactly is the Lena Horne Bandshell?
Inside Prospect Park near the Prospect Park West and 9th Street entrance, in Park Slope on the park's western edge.
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