Machel Montano Set to Headline Planet Brooklyn Festival at Barclays Center on Aug. 24
Jun 24, 2025Two-day event on Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 to celebrate Brooklyn’s cultural and creative diversity will feature additional performances at Brooklyn Paramount and BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)
BROOKLYN (June 24, 2025) – Planet Brooklyn, a first-of-its-kind two-day music festival and experience, is coming to Brooklyn this August with a slate of both free and ticketed musical performances across three iconic entertainment venues in the borough – Barclays Center, Brooklyn Paramount and BAM – on Saturday, Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24. Founded by BSE Global, Planet Brooklyn seeks to celebrate and highlight artists who represent the cultural and creative diversity found within the borough of Brooklyn and the varied genres of music they represent.
Stars of soca, dancehall, chutney, zess and afrobeats will align at Planet Brooklyn, with Trinidadian soca recording artist Machel Montano headlining Barclays Center on Sunday, Aug. 24, joined by Ayetian, Bunji Garlin, Lady Lava, Problem Child, Ravi B, Skillibeng, Skinny Fabulous and DJ Travis World in a show hosted by Majah Hype. On Saturday Aug. 23, Brooklyn Paramount will showcase MUTHA – a Live Nation created and produced micro-festival that will be headlined by Afro-Brazilian superstar Ludmilla, and feature a full lineup of BIPOC queer talent, including CupcakKe, Junglepussy and Mykki Blanco. BAM will feature a special edition of their BAM Free Music Series over both days and additional performances across the three venues will be announced in the coming weeks. The current festival lineup can be found online at planetbrooklynfest.com.
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Access will be available for individual performances across all three venues, allowing fans to customize their experience. Presale tickets are available now for Barclays Center with the public on-sale for all venues beginning at 9 a.m. EST tomorrow, Wednesday, June 25. All tickets can be purchased at planetbrooklynfest.com where fans can also RSVP to performances at BAM.
Machel Montano is a Trinidadian soca legend whose electrifying performances and genre-defining sound have made him a global ambassador for Caribbean music. Known as the “King of Soca,” Montano has a long-standing connection with New York, where his high-energy shows have become a staple of the city’s Caribbean cultural scene. His return to Brooklyn marks another powerful moment in his decades-long mission to unite the world through the spirit of soca.
“I’m beyond excited to be part of Planet Brooklyn — it’s an honor to bring the energy of soca back to the borough and to the iconic Barclays Center. Brooklyn has always felt like a second home to me. The vibes, the culture, the people — there’s nothing like it. Every time I step on that stage in New York, especially in a place as electric as Barclays Center it’s a celebration of Caribbean spirit and unity. I can’t wait to feel that energy again and share this moment with everyone who knows what it means to ‘come alive’ through music.” - Machel Montano.
With more than 150 distinct cultural identities in Brooklyn, the borough stands as one of the most culturally diverse communities in the world. Planet Brooklyn will reflect the unique role Brooklyn plays to influence music and culture globally, while fostering togetherness and uplifting local artists and businesses that make up the heart of the borough.
“When putting together the lineup for Planet Brooklyn, it was paramount that our performers reflected the incredible diversity of Brooklyn itself — a true mosaic of cultures, sounds, and stories,” said DeJuan Wilson, Chief Products and Experiences Officer at BSE. “Our goal is that Planet Brooklyn will further elevate and celebrate those unique voices, bringing together artists who represent the heartbeat of this borough, and we are excited for everyone to experience a festival that’s as vibrant and dynamic as Brooklyn itself.”
In addition to musical performances, Planet Brooklyn will include a free two-day block party in the streets near the three participating venues, designed to connect the festival’s flagship venues with a continuous flow of music, movement, and culture through the streets of Downtown Brooklyn. The block party will be comprised of local food vendors and merchants that also reflect the diversity and creativity of the borough. Open both Aug. 23 and Aug. 24, the block party will also feature multiple stages where attendees can enjoy free performances from musical talent including:
- TFA Presents Menasa Sound System, hosted by Anik Khan: Sango, Zeemuffin, Waseel, Priyanka
- Quench Presents: Run P., Epic B, Uproot Andy, Dre Ngozi, Foreigner, NativeSun
- St James Joy x Xanadu Skate Crew: DJ Chill, DJ Jo Vill, Stonie Blue, Mike Nasty, Big Bob (Xanadu)
- Afro-Latino Festival NYC Block Party: Earthruler Sound System, Sounds of Reality, Papi Weli, Tony Touch
- Everyday People Presents: DJ Moma and Friends
- Dos Flakos featuring Mundo Sound System: DJ Guari
Local businesses and vendors interested in participating in the Planet Brooklyn block party can find more information here. A full list of activations, location and timing will be announced closer to the festival.
Planet Brooklyn is produced alongside Multiply Creative, a cultural marketing and experiential agency founded in Brooklyn with a mission to create meaning and evoke emotion through narrative and creative expression, designing moments that have a profound cultural impact. Planet Brooklyn is part of series of year-long events, programs and partnerships participating in New York City Tourism + Conventions’ Founded By NYC campaign, marking the 400th anniversary of New York City. BKMag is the supporting media partner of Planet Brooklyn.
Visit www.planetbrooklynfest.com or follow Planet Brooklyn on all social media platforms at @planetbkfest to learn more.
