This weekend the “Brooklyn Beat Music and Arts Festival” will feature some really awesome performance art curated by Caridad Sola of NYC. With artist Meghann Snow performing Friday night, you might catch her making out on stage, or out in the art garden with a playful, interactive piece where the audience can get involved!

Saturday will bring both magic and dance elements to performance art, with world-class magician Thomas Solomon performing on stage, where you will experience the illusion of the impossible in a performance not to be forgotten. Out in the art garden, Caridad Sola’s performance, “Deliver Us from Eve-il” is one you will not want to miss. Involving apples and razor blades, she brings an edge to the festival that will leave the audience speechless. Performance artist Sherry Aliberti will merge dance with art along with 4 dancers in “The Green Cocoon,” a very special, thought-provoking piece. The cocoon comes to life in a spellbinding performance.

Sunday, our all-ages day, will bring life to the art garden, with water guns, balloons and paint. Artist Ryan Hawk will perform “Inside/Out” where he speaks to our identity, voids and holes. Then a creative, interactive piece by Caridad Sola will leave the audience thinking, and possibly a little wet, with a water-gun installation where the power of creating and destroying is transferred from the artist to the audience. On the stage, artist Sindy Butz will bring a transforming performance to the audience. Then Thomas Solomon will be back at the festival, where we’ll witness more astonishing magic!

About the artists:  We are happy to have such talented artists performing with us this weekend. Curator and performer Caridad Sola is a Cuban-American multi-media artist and licensed architect. She has performed in a variety of cities, most recently at the Fountain Art Fair in New York City. Artist Meghann Snow of NYC has performed internationally from Paris to Stockholm and New York, where she incorporates her experience as a classically trained ballet dancer and figure skater into  her visual and performance art.

Sherry Aliberti brings Cocoons to life with her mesmerizing performances. With experience in yoga and architecture, she morphs the two worlds into a single space where dance and life come forth. Thomas Solomon is an award-winning magician and escape artist, who has performed internationally, including the White House. His work has been featured on BBC and the History Channel.

Ryan Hawk of Boston is emerging as a compelling performance artist. With a residency at the New York Studio Artist Program this year, Ryan has recently performed at the Fountain Art Fair in NYC, and is currently pursuing his BFA at Tufts University. Artist Sindy Butz of Berlin resides in NYC, and has served as an international scholar at ITP Tisch/NYU. She brings sculpture and installation art together in her performances.

With such a variety of great performances, come out to celebrate with us at “Brooklyn Beat!”

As we approach AFP’s big festival this coming weekend at the Paper Box, here is more info and site links for the live music you will be hearing. Sponsor eMusic will be there with up-to-the-minute tweets and social media reporting from their Editor in Chief, Joe Edward Keyes. You can see their Youtube channel for the fest HERE. The Paper Box will also be streaming the event live through their site. As we will be hosting some of the best emerging musical talent to be found in NYC, we will also have the honor of hosting some esteemed, well-established bands that you do not want to miss!

Kicking off the 3-day festival on Friday, NYC’s El Pueblo will perform their reggae, soul-infused music. Redheadphone will follow, with their funky, positive vibe. As the evening gets into full swing, School ov Thought will perform their blend of hip hop/reggae/acoustic, thought provoking sounds. Later in the evening, Push Method will take to the stage with their high energy level. Just after midnight, the last live music performance on Friday is by Brooklyn-based Argotec, with a heavy hitting blend of rap, techno, and rock. The evening will continue to the wee hours, when the DJs take to the decks.

Saturday’s live music will begin with the chilled-out sounds of Minnie and Aya, with Lachi taking to the stage at 9pm with her cathartic, not-to-be-missed performance. Electro-funk duo Comandante Zero and artist Oh10m1ke will also play a set that is sure to get the crowd moving! Just after 11:30, the final live musical act of the evening, Apollo Heights, will bring us a performance to remember with their loud, colorful, and sensual sound. Like Friday night, after the live music, DJs will continue the dance party until 3am.

Sunday will bring together a unique blend of musicians. As the all-ages day of the festival, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. At 2pm Jon Samson of CoCreative Music will perform a set that is not only kid-friendly, but fun for the rest of us! Following Jon’s performance, Inky Glass will bring her mix of blues and folk to the crowd. The last live music performance for the festival will be very special, where the accomplished, Grammy-nominated Ze Luis Quartet will play some of the best Brazilian jazz you will ever hear! Closing out the festival on Sunday, Gashouse Films will present a curated selection of short films from some of the best emerging film talent in NYC.

Stay tuned to our blog this week, as we will feature all of the artists participating in the festival! Check out the full schedule HERE.

We are very excited about our upcoming festival, and the abundance of talented musicians, DJs and artists will make it a remarkable weekend! To see what’s going on, check out the schedule HERE. With three days of live music, performance art, installations, and DJs, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Note that Sunday is for all ages so families can come out and enjoy the festivities together, with kids 12 and under getting in free. For those who don’t venture into Brooklyn much, the Paper Box is a very short ride on the L train (Grand Street stop) from Manhattan in East Williamsburg. To get a taste of some of the bands and musicians, here is the link for eMusic’s Youtube channel featuring some of their music. Joe Edward Keyes, the Editor In Chief of eMusic will be there reporting on the event with live Twittering as well. For details on hours and general info about the festival, here is the link on our site. We look forward to seeing all of you next weekend!

Friday, 6/1: 8pm-3am; Saturday, 6/2: 5pm-3am; Sunday, 6/3: 1pm-8pm

$5 admission; $8 after 11pm Fri and after 9pm Sat. Sun free for kids 12 and under.

$3 PBR’s all weekend, Bomb Beer sponsored open bar daily. Francescacake sponsored organic cupcakes Sunday. Food available for sale all weekend.

Bomb Beer is the perfect sponsor for AFP’s Brooklyn Beat Festival because Bomb Beer supports the arts, and their beer cans promote the artwork of Billy The Artist, a local East Village artist who’s work appears on each can of Bomb Beer.  But Bomb Beer is not just another company supporting the arts, they have a quality product and we were lucky to sample it at Fountain Art Fair in Miami and New York. We’re very happy to have them on board.

Bomb Beer is just one of our sponsors which is focused on supporting the arts and artists. Our promotional sponsor, eMusic has created this awesome YouTube channel featuring videos from some of our featured music acts. We’re thankful for their support.

Stay tuned. The full schedule of events and performances will be posted this week.