Original and traditional Americana, Folk, Country, Old time, Roots Blues, and Bluegrass music for all ages.

 

'If you hear twangs of mandolin or fiddle wafting across the East River, it’s not carrying up the coast from Nashville — it’s the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival, taking place on several stages in Dumbo.' NY Times Critics Pick.

 

Fifty FREE Shows at nine locations from Dumbo to Red Hook along the Brooklyn Waterfront. Outdoor stages in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the Dumbo Archway under the Manhattan Bridge.

Indoor venues pioneer artist owned and operated Sunnys Bar, Superfine, 68 Jay St Bar, Jalopy Theatre, Jalopy Tavern, Powerhouse Arena - and new in 2019 the brand new Time Out Market Roof Top Stage. 

Winner of the 'DUMBO Dozen Award' presented by Dumbo Bid in recognition of innovative and impactful work in the community.

 

BKAMF is supported by NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs, NY State Council on the Arts, the Office of Councilman Stephen Levin, and fiscally sponsored by Brooklyn Arts Council.

Made possible by Coney Island Brewery, Red Hook Star Revue, and many local business, individuals, and friends from near and far. 

 

 

In the New York Times!

 

Festival plans are in full swing year round, with the support of local organizations DUMBO BID, Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, and Brooklyn Arts Council. The festival brings together the best of Brooklyn's original and traditional Americana, Folk, Country, Roots Blues and singer songwriters. The Jalopy Theatre in Red Hook; 68 Jay St Bar and Superfine in DUMBO host evening concerts Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. Live music outdoors Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn Bridge Park; and Saturday and Sunday in The Archway under the Manhattan Bridge. Sunday Bluegrass Country Brunch at Superfine with the closing party there that night.

 

Twenty Years ago at the invitation of Dumbo art under the bridge festival we produced our first stage in the Main St Loading Dock in the year 2000. Thirty bands over three days including The Nervous Cabaret, The Mammals, Myshkin,  Jesse Harris, The WIYOS, Julia Joseph, Pyeng Threadgill, Jesse Lenat, Luminescent Orchestrii,and The Be Good Tanyas. We now present more than 300 live music events year round including a stage at the DUMBO Arts Festival until 2014 when the visual arts aspect folded. The Brooklyn Americana Music Festival was born and keeping the torch burning bright bringing an annual celebration of the year round  live music along the waterfront. 

 

The Brooklyn Americana Music Festival celebrates a steadfast commitment to grass roots music in the neighborhoods known as DUMBO and Red Hook, presenting local and internationally touring artists. Many artists who played their first show in DUMBO on our stage have gone onto play legendary venues Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Radio City The Royal Albert Hall, and The Louvre.

 

2019 the Fifth Annual saw over 8,000 attendees over four days and added two new stages at Powerhouse Arena, and Time Out Market Rooftop Stage. 

 

Jan Bell takes charge with graceful stride. Working with Jan was like handing over the church keys.  Her focused attention to detail and rounded handling of all aspects of a production, pre and post coupled with a level headedness made the interaction dreamy! If there ever were a request for the mounting of a sound stage or launching of a new prospective talent, Jan would be a sure call.

Much as a lot of New York clubs exploit musicians, there are other venues that actually support and nurture scenes: Barbes, with its global talent base; the Jalopy’s oldtime Americana roots crew; punk rock at ABC No Rio; jazz at Smalls. Count 68 Jay St. Bar in Dumbo on this short but crucial list. If Jan Bell (a poignant and potent Americana singer and tunesmith herself) has booked a band for one of the bar’s Wednesday and Saturday night shows, that’s a guarantee that the music will be good. New York Music Daily

It can be argued that ‘The Be Good Tanyas’ entire career was kicked off at Folk Alliance 2000 in the Little Red Hen room. That was officially where and when the ‘buzz’ began, thanks to Jan Bell and the other “hens” (and roosters) creating such a magical vibe.  We played our first DUMBO Arts Festival on The Little Red Hen stage, and a house concert at Jan’s led us to Lincoln Center. Little red hen rooms are the place to be!!! Founding member, The Be Good Tanyas – Samantha Parton

DUMBO Pioneer venue 'Superfine' cited Little Red Hen Productions when they won NYC Mayor Bloomberg's coveted Award for 'Women in Business'.

The same year Jan was inducted into the Brooklyn Country Music Hall of Fame for 'Unending Support of Country Music in New York City'. Matt Winters of WKCR-FM also received the award for presenting his Sunday morning Moonshine Radio Show for 11 years.