Darragh Dandurand
Photographer + Writer
The neighborhood was treated to one hell of a party this weekend at Out in the Streets, the music festival that’s all grown up since its start in 2009 as little more than a small DIY production. The fest began as a block party but was held this year at local watering hole, historic site of a brewery, and huge event space, The Well.
Through and through, Out In The Streets is a music lover’s dream. With an eclectic lineup featuring mostly Brooklyn-based bands, a great deal of loyalty and passion spread like wildfire throughout the supportive crowd that gradually grew throughout each day. Between loud sets and sound checks, cool kids hung out under the brightly colored umbrellas high above a maze of picnic tables in The Well’s expansive backyard. A hot sun beat down, but it was nothing a little shade and a few beers couldn’t fix.
Highlights from Saturday’s lineup included a knock-out performance from Crush Club, a fairly new and incredibly talented group with a lead singer comparable to the likes of Freddie Mercury.
Cuddle Magic played a wonderfully upbeat show including an intimate moment off-stage for a “quiet song,” barely murmured over gentle strums and delicate percussion.
Towards the end of day one, it was a pleasure to hear the enchanting vocals of Buscabulla’s Raquel Berrios. Their live sound was impressive to say the least; hauntingly good by far.
Sunday enjoyed high notes by Bushwick’s Grim Streaker. Their much-anticipated set included moderate head banging and various dolphin noises.
Ela Minus and her stacked gear painted with the words “Bright Music For Dark Times” took the stage not long after. Her soft, soothing voice twisted with the electronic rhythms she pushed out over the crowd who she eventually came out to sing to.
Back-to-back performances by Providence’s What Cheer? Brigade and Brooklyn’s Tall Juan left no opportunities for a break as the evening went on. The Rhode Island brass band exploded with danceable excitement that burst into every corner of the concrete lot. Their magnetic presence and intense, proud sound was perfection.
Similarly hard to take your eyes off of, but for other reasons, was Juan Zaballa, of his eponymously named band, who showed up to take down the house. His stage presence is certainly one to be reckoned with, especially when it came to the more—shall we say—voyeuristic aspects.
A Place To Bury Strangers closed out the weekend and played to a crowd packed to the barricades at the front of the stage. Smoke and strobes made for a riot until the band had climbed into the pit, drum pads and all, to lose themselves in the fog.
Drummer Lia Braswell took over making beats while guitarist Oliver Ackermann made complementary noise across from her. Both were surrounded by a wall of fans with phones trying desperately to capture anything through the haze….and a damn good time was had by all.
In short, the dedicated production team, volunteers, and festival organizers worked together to give us a flawless weekend of music. Check out the rest of Bushwick Daily’s pics below!
