Vinyl sessions are the purist end of park programming: selectors carrying crates, playing the actual pressings, mixing roots, reggae and soul in a sunken amphitheater that holds the sound. Herbert Von King Park is one of Brooklyn's oldest parks and its bowl has hosted Bed-Stuy's music for generations. There is no ticket, the sound carries across the lawns, and you can arrive at any point in the afternoon and find the floor already moving.
What to expect
Selectors playing records from the amphitheater stage, with dancers in the open space at the front and families on the tiers and lawns behind. Expect long selections rather than fast mixing, a crowd that knows the tunes, and a relaxed, come-and-go flow across the afternoon.
Good to know
- Herbert Von King Park sits between Marcy, Tompkins, Lafayette and Greene Avenues in Bed-Stuy; G to Bedford-Nostrand
- Free and open, with no ticket
- Bring a blanket if the amphitheater's fixed seats are taken
- The park has restrooms, a playground and a cultural arts center on site
- Little shade in the bowl, so carry water on a hot afternoon
- Good for anyone who likes reggae, roots and soul played off records
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Common questions
What does vinyl-only mean?
The selectors play from records rather than digital files, which is the point of the session.
Is there dancing?
Yes. The open space in front of the amphitheater stage functions as the dance floor.
Does it cost anything?
No. It is free on public parkland.
