You’ve probably heard this by now, but boo anyway! The Brooklyn Paper says:

Aretha Franklin’s two free shows here [this] week  — first on Aug. 9 at Wingate Field in Crown Heights, and then again on Aug. 12 at Asser Levy Seaside Park in Coney Island — have been canceled due to an unspecified injury that the singer claims to have suffered on Sunday [later revealed to be fractured ribs].

I’m personally a little indifferent – Aretha’s heyday is a little before my time and I had no plans to go to the show this week – but she was the biggest star on either slate, so I imagine this news was met with a great deal of disappointment.

I’d be sorely disappointed if anything happened to the B-52s/Belinda Carlisle concert on August 19. I’ve had my heart set on it for weeks. I’ll be there, even if it rains. Especially if it rains. Noah could be on the other side of the Boardwalk, packing them in two-by-two, and I’ll still be dancing to Love Shack in the mud (which I hear is pretty much how the B-52s last appearance at Asser-Levy went down). Sounds like Heaven On Earth to me.

So here’s hoping for no unfortunate incidents to beehive haircuts.

If you’re still looking for something to do tomorrow night, check out the outdoor movie at the Narrows Botanical Garden in Bay Ridge. This week’s movie – the last of the season – is The Blind Side, an obscure indie flick with an up-and-coming cast that’s become something of a cult classic an Academy Award-nominated film starring Sandra Bullock that everyone who sees it raves about. As usual, you’ll need to bring your own blanket or lawn chair. Popcorn and other refreshments will be sold, and you can bring your own snacks! (Sorry, no boozeamohol.)

Note: in the event of rain, the movie will be played on Friday. Current forecast calls for a chance of rain on Thursday, but a dry Friday evening. Check the Botanical Gardens web site for up-to-date information.

 

Don’t make the B-52s angry. You won’t like them when they’re angry! Photo: United States Air Force

The Village Voice has filled out the 14-band lineup for the 2010 Siren Festival with Holy Fuck and more. For the uninitiated: yes, Holy Fuck is a real band name. OK, so it isn’t the most popular or revered band in the lineup, but it is the most fun to say. (Go ahead – give it a try.) The Siren Festival takes place all day on Saturday, July 17, on two stages (W. 10th Street between the Cyclone and Luna Park, and Stillwell Avenue) near the Boardwalk. The full lineup is posted below and at the Village Voice.

In related news, The B-52s will be playing at the Thursday night concert series at Asser-Levy Seaside Park this August, but the Borough President’s office doesn’t want you to know that.

Marty Markowitz announced a Seaside Summer Concert Series lineup that includes Aretha Franklin, Belinda Carlisle, Brenda Lee, and George Thorogood & The Destroyers to a crowd at the YM-YWHA Israel festival last week. The full schedule is below, and the full details are available at news blog Sheepshead Bites.

As stated in the article, Markowitz asked Bites not to include the B-52s in the published lineup, for fear that the announcement may negatively impact sales of their July 6 appearance at the Highline Ballroom, a Manhattan music venue. But thanks to an “anonymous” commenter on Sheepshead Bites and “another” source contacted by BK Southie – “both” attendees of the YM-YWHA event – that information is now freely available.

On a personal note, I am glad to see Markowitz sees news bloggers such as Ned Berke at Sheepshead Bites as being on par with traditional media such as newspaper and TV reporters, and therefore expects bloggers to keep his secrets (especially publicly-announced secrets) from their readership, just like a traditional media reporter would.

Siren Festival Lineup (July 17)

  • Matt & Kim
  • Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
  • The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
  • Holy Fuck
  • Night Marchers
  • Surfer Blood
  • Harlem
  • Cymbals Eat Guitars
  • Earl Greyhound
  • Ponytail
  • Screaming Females
  • Wye Oak
  • Dom
  • Apache Beat

Seaside Concert Series Lineup

  • July 15 – Neil Sedaka, Brenda Lee
  • July 22 – The Beach Boys, The Happy Together Tour
  • July 29 – George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
  • August 5 – John Legend
  • August 12 – Aretha Franklin
  • August 19 – Belinda Carlisle, The B-52s
  • August 26 – Salsa By The Sea (Lineup TBD)

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