See Green —without spending any.
Cee Lo Green, the charismatic crooner behind the hit track “Forget You” (which also goes by a better name we can’t print here) and one half of the hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley headlines the Afro-Punk Festival, a jam-packed music event at Commodore Barry Park on Aug. 27 and 28 — and it’s all free.
The festival boasts some top alternative and hip-hop talent over the course of the two days, though Cee Lo, who performs on the second night, will certainly be the big draw.
“We’ve admired Cee Lo from afar,” said festival co-founder Matthew Morgan. “Since we’ve been able to get bigger sponsors interested this year and could afford acts we couldn’t book in the past, why wouldn’t we do Cee Lo?”
Indeed, Morgan’s annual summer gig, which initially started as a platform for up-and-coming bands from the afro-punk scene, has grown so much over the past seven years that he can book such a top commercial act like Cee Lo. Other big names performing this year include Reggie Watts, Gym Class Heroes, Toro Y Moi, Das Racist, and festival veterans Santigold and Janelle Monae.
Still, the festival hasn’t forgotten its mission, and you can check out brand new acts that aren’t on the radio yet, including The Jersey Klain and Radkey, who are so fresh, all the members are under the age of 18.
“I’m excited about the Janelles and Cee Los, and for these new acts to get an audience,” said Morgan. “You can come and see what’s familiar, and leave with something new. That’s why we do this.”
Afro-Punk Festival at Commodore Barry Park (Flushing Avenue and Navy Street in Fort Greene), Aug. 27 and 28 starting at 11 am. Free. For info, visit www.afropunk.com.
