Pool Parties

Concert series in Brooklyn, New York, USA
Pool Parties
GenreIndie rock, punk rock, hip hop, electronica
FrequencyWeekly during summer
Location(s)Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Years active5
Inaugurated2006
Most recent2010

Pool Parties /ˌpuːlˈpɑːrtiːs/ was a summer series of free outdoor concerts that took place in an abandoned olympic-size swimming pool in McCarren Park in Greenpoint, Brooklyn from 2006 to 2008 and at the East River State Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from 2009 to 2010.[1]

The music festival hosted more than 200,000 people over the summer.[2] The Pool Parties featured a diverse range of artists such as Aesop Rock, Beach House, Black Lips, Blonde Redhead, Cap'n Jazz, Chromeo, Cut Copy, Dan Deacon, Deerhoof, Dirty Projectors, Dr. Dog, Grizzly Bear, The Hold Steady, MGMT, Mission of Burma, Superchunk, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, The Walkmen, and !!!.

History

McCarren Park

McCarren Pool is a swimming pool in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, that opened in 1936.[3] In 1984 the pool was closed due to lack of funding and racial tensions.[4] In 2004 choreographer Noémie Lafrance requested permission from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to use the derelict pool as a performance space.[5] Lafrance chose the space as she resided nearby and wanted "this space for community use for other performances and for it to be used as an experimental space where people can develop site-specific ideas."[6] Lafrance was able get to permission by raising funds and a donation of $200,000 from Live Nation but controversy arose as Lafrance and community activists objected to Live Nation's plans for paid concerts using the public space for private profit.[7]

2006–2007

In response to the controversy the Parks Department permitted a series of free performances.[8] On July 9, 2006 music promoter JellyNYC got involved through Lafrance and hosted Les Savy Fav for a free concert on a makeshift stage to a crowd of 3,000 people.[9] It soon became considered one of the best music series in New York City for its good sight lines and ability to hold 5,500 people.[10] In addition to the music, drinks, and food the Pool Parties activities included dodgeball, Slip 'N Slides, and hula hooping.[11]

2008

In 2008 the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn won a bid to host concerts from the Parks Department and contracted with JellyNYC as they had produced the Pool Parties for two summers.[12] The cost of the 2008 season grew to $750,000 to cover the free shows that was largely covered by corporate sponsorship.[13] After the first summer of their collaboration the Pool Parties had to either end or find a new space as New York City decided to restore the space back to a functional swimming pool which would prevent future summer concerts.[14] The final free show at McCarren was on August 24, 2008, where members of Yo La Tengo symbolically poured five one-gallon jugs of water from the stage into the pool.[15]

Move to East River Park

2009

For the 2009 season the Pool Parties were moved to East River Park, which at the time was a slab of asphalt and grass along the East River next to luxury condominiums.[16] The move brought many challenges to the Pool Parties. JellyNYC stated that the move meant a doubling of their site fees, along with the loss of revenue from beer sales and increased security demands that made the concerts much harder to produce profitably.[17] The economic climate made it more difficult to get enough corporate sponsorships to keep the concert series free.[18] The Slip 'N Slides were replaced with children's wading pools for safety reasons but were eventually also prohibited as there were no lifeguards on duty.[19] The site was administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation that had greater restrictions than the City Parks Department and were hesitant to renew the contract for 2010 until Sen. Chuck Schumer advocated for their continuation.[20] The State Parks Department were concerned about security and safety violations including a partial stage collapse during a Girl Talk set.[21]

2010

In the second season at East River State Park the Open Space Alliance and JellyNYC engaged in a public dispute over $31,000 that threatened to cancel the August 29, 2010 show featuring Delorean and Dominique Young Unique that was resolved by donations from local property owners to the Alliance.[22] The deterioration of the relationship was reported to be because of money, differences of opinion in event management, band choices and weaker attendance after the move.[23][24] For the final show on August 29 there was a series of special guests including Big Freedia, The Cool Kids, Doug E. Fresh, Andrew W.K., D.M.C., Gucci Mane, and the lead singer from the inaugural concert Tim Harrington.[25]

2011

In 2011, JellyNYC tried a rebranded series of concerts in the spirit of the Pool Parties in various locations including Aviator Sports Complex and East Williamsburg but were unable to obtain the sponsorships or crowds to sustain them.[26]

References

  1. ^ Carlson, Jen (16 April 2014). "A Brief History Of Williamsburg's Outdoor Summer Concerts". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018.
  2. ^ Sisario, Ben (1 August 2008). "It's Been Quite a Pool Party, but the Days Grow Short". New York Times.
  3. ^ Foderaro, Lisa (May 26, 2012). "Dive In! The McCarren Pool Is Almost Open". New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  4. ^ Short, Aaron (July 9, 2012). "The Politics Of McCarren Park Pool". The Awl. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  5. ^ Sisario, Ben (30 June 2006). "Dive In, the Music's Fine: New York Rock Shows Move Outdoors". New York Times.
  6. ^ Sommer, Sally (4 September 2005). "DANCE; Everybody Into the Pool (and Dance)". New York Times.
  7. ^ Heinlein, Sabine (July 10, 2006). "Water Fight at McCarren Park Pool". The Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Chronopoulos, Themis (2013). "The Politics of Race and Class and the Changing Spatial Fortunes of the McCarren Pool in Brooklyn, New York, 1936-2010". Space and Culture. Vol. 16, no. 1. pp. 104–122. doi:10.1177/1206331212452364.
  9. ^ Huhn, Mary (29 August 2008). "McCarren Pool Plans Hold Water". New York Post.
  10. ^ Cline, Elizabeth (August 14, 2006). "From Pool to Party". New York. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  11. ^ Del Signore, John (August 3, 2010). "Dodgeball Tom, The Pool Parties' Duke of Dodgeball". Gothamist. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  12. ^ Ganz, Jacob (August 18, 2010). "Jelly NYC's Tough Summer Gets Worse: Final Pool Party Axed". NPR. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  13. ^ Sisario, Ben (1 August 2008). "It's Been Quite a Pool Party, but the Days Grow Short". New York Times.
  14. ^ Ryzik, Melena (August 31, 2008). "Everyone Out of the Pool (Yes, That Means You)". New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  15. ^ Bradley, Bill (August 2008). "Williamsburg Mourns Return of Water to McCarren Pool". Vanity Fair.
  16. ^ Sisario, Ben (July 12, 2009). "Pool Parties Kick Off in the Williamsburg Waterfront". New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  17. ^ Ganz, Jacob (August 11, 2010). "The Real Cost Of A Free Concert". NPR. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  18. ^ Sisario, Ben (July 2, 2009). "Keep the Music, Add the Views". New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  19. ^ Sisario, Ben (July 12, 2009). "Pool Parties Kick Off in the Williamsburg Waterfront". New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  20. ^ Sisario, Ben (November 19, 2009). "Schumer Gives Support to Pool Party Concerts". New York Times.
  21. ^ Sisario, Ben (June 4, 2010). "Brooklyn Concert Series Finds a Fan in Senate". New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  22. ^ Short, Aaron (August 23, 2010). "Pool party saved! JellyNYC and Open Space Alliance reach deal to save Aug. 29 show". New York Post. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  23. ^ Sisario, Ben (August 18, 2010). "Abrupt End For Concert Series In Brooklyn". New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  24. ^ Carlson, Jen (August 22, 2010). "Schumer Saves The Pool Parties... Again". Gothamist. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  25. ^ Singh, Amrit (August 30, 2010). "Gucci Mane, DMC, Andrew W.K., Tim Harrington, Doug E. Fresh, The Cool Kids, Delorean & Dominique Young Unique Close Out The JellyNYC Pool Parties @ Williamsburg Waterfront 8/29/10". Stereogum. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  26. ^ Robbins, Christopher (August 3, 2011). "JellyNYC's Rock Beach Is No More: Meet "Rock Yard"". Gothamist. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.