David Byrne at Prospect Park (06/08/09)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Brooklyn loves David Byrne“.

“My job here is simple “” to declare the first day of summer, in the most beautiful park in the world.” So announced Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe to the more than 25,000 fans who gathered to see Talking Heads frontman David Byrne in concert Monday night at the Prospect Park bandstand. “My name is Dave, and I’ll be your waiter tonight,” said Byrne as he took the stage.
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The audience was a record breaker “” the largest in the 30-year history of Celebrate Brooklyn. The summer-long performing arts festival will feature an eclectic series of Brooklyn and international artists at the bandstand through mid August.

A pre-show gala for ticket-holding sponsors, held beneath a tent alongside the stage, raised more than a quarter million dollars. The funds will help keep the concert series free for its audiences, and also support the Celebrate Brooklyn Goes Green! Initiative to lessen the festival’s eco-footprint. Features of this include a bicycle parking lot at each Celebrate Brooklyn concert this summer, which can accommodate 400 bikes, and expanded on-site recycling. The gala itself had a zero-waste goal. Byrne showed off his bike “” white, naturally “” on stage, and it was rumored that he rode the bike home. The series, sponsored by BRIC Performing Arts and co-produced by Jack Walsh and Rachel Chanoff, is entering its fourth decade as a fixture of Brooklyn summers in the park. [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]

Lineup outside the Prospect Park Bandshell for David Byrne‘s Performance (06/08/09)