Thursday, October 2, 2025

OPERATION GIG! PORCH CONCERTS: BRASS ENTROPY, THE ALLISON PHILIPS QUARTET, YI YI UKRAINIAN FOLK TRIO

From Operation Gig!:
 

Fri Oct 3  6-8pm
Brass Entropy
246 Westminster Rd

Neighborhood bass extraordinaire Dan Loomis presents a quartet with two saxophones, bass and drums. According to Loomis, Brass Entropy is "brassier, crazier (more entropic) and funkier" than what you might expect.

Saturday Oct 4  4-6pm
The Allison Philips Quartet
131 Buckingham Rd (The Japanese House!)

Brooklyn based trumpeter and composer Allison Philips brings her quartet back to her favorite neighborhood series in support of Make It Better, a powerful new album shaped by resilience, memory, and creative renewal.
Written during the pandemic and brought to life with longtime collaborators Neta Raanan (tenor sax), Isaac Levien (bass), and Connor Parks (drums), the music blends lyrical depth with dynamic improvisation.
With roots in jazz and a spirit of reflection, the group delivers emotionally charged performances that honor the past while looking forward.


Sunday Oct 5 4-6pm
Yi Yi Ukrainian Folk Trio
284 e16th St

"A Ukrainian folk group composed of Caroline Kuhn, Katie Pawluk, and Zoya Shepko, breathes new life into traditional Ukrainian songs through unconventional arrangements and a diverse mix of instruments, including the bandura, violin, banjo, hutsul drum, cello and accordion. 

 

Their performances are characterized by three-part polyphony, creating rich sonic tapestries that transport audiences from lively party vibes to poignant moments of heartbreak."

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Sometimes, Operation Gig! concerts get canceled because the weather conditions aren't suited to these outdoor activities. Before you go to a concert, check the Operation Gig! website (https://www.operationgig.org/) to see if it's been canceled.
 
Operation Gig! provides live music performances outdoors on weekends.
 
The series, held on the porches of private houses in Ditmas Park, started in July 2020 in order to offer a venue where musicians could perform during the COVID-19 pandemic. The series provides them with a source of income as well as providing a safe space for neighbors to gather to enjoy live music.
 
The performances are free, but the suggested $10 donation, which goes directly to the musicians, is more than welcome. You can donate either at the performance itself or to the tax-deductible Operation Gig Musician Guarantee Fund on GoFundMe.
 

Operation Gig! t-shirts can be purchased here; the proceeds go to the Operation Gig Musician Guarantee Fund.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

LIVE MUSIC: HERITAGE OP, A WORLD BEAT PERCUSSION AND VOCAL ENSEMBLE (FREE)

 
Music in the Plaza: Heritage OP
Thursday, October 2nd
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
 
The Heritage OP Percussion Ensemble will perform for free in the Music in the Plaza series at Kensington Plaza on Thursday, October 2nd, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
 
The musicians are Hasan Bakr, Victor See Yuen, Ron McBee, and Kevin Nathaniel, with special guest Colette Michaan.
 
Heritage O.P. is a world beat percussion and vocal ensemble that fuses the rich cultural traditions and diasporal rhythms of Africa – from South America to the Caribbean – with African American tradition and modern musical trends.
 
Their sound is contemporary with a strong beat and positive lyrics designed to uplift, inspire and move the listener to dance. 
 
They do this, however, using mostly traditional instruments as they share a deep respect for the beauty of acoustical sound and natural resonance.  Hence the O.P. stands for organic percussion. 

Location
Kensington Plaza
114 Beverley Road
between E. 2nd Street and Church Avenue
Kensington, Brooklyn 
(map)