BAM FREE MUSIC (BFM)

With DJ Miss Hap

Philadelphia-born R&B revolutionary Bilal needs no introduction to BAM audiences—This neo-soul revolutionary has rocked our stages before. He returns now to open our newest live-music experience, granting up-close, personal access to his signature mix of emotional directness, spontaneity, and exuberant groove, as heard on his newest album, Adjust Brightness.

With Discolocas

“an incomparable performer”—The New York Times

Since arriving in New York City in 1998, Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martínez
 has collaborated on records and onstage with superstars like Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, and Camila Cabello. Martinez, a consummate master of the batá drum, has played, sung, and danced with dozens of Cuban rumba groups. A founding member of the successful crossover band Yerba Buena, he formed his own group in 2005, winning hearts and topping polls worldwide with concerts and recordings. His vitality, charisma, and megawatt smile onstage never fail to make an impression.

With DJ L3Ni

Trumpeter Dave Guy is well known to music lovers for his soulful, fiery work with hot bands like The Roots, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and the Menahan Street Band, as well as guest shots with such icons as Al Green, Amy Winehouse, and Pharrell. For this BAM outing, the East Village native will lean into charts from Ruby, a sophisticated debut solo album that shows how he brings together his disparate influences and experiences in classic R&B, hip hop, and jazz into a signature sound all his own.

With DJ Laura se Fue

“A spiritual thriller in song”—Spin

Raised in a musical household, Angeleno singer-songwriter Angélica Garcia embraces identity and heritage on her third album, Gemelo, vocalizing in Spanish and English over electronic backing, lush vocal loops, and urgent drums in a style she developed while living in Brooklyn for a year and a half. Earthy, ethereal, and soaked in spirit, Garcia’s music is intoxicating and instantly persuasive.

With Niara Sterling

Formerly active as an Americana artist under his given name, Juwan Elcock turned his keen eye for detail and storytelling prowess toward a new signature sound as Blk Odyssy—a style informed by D'Angelo, Kendrick Lamar, Funkadelic, and swinging jazz. Born in Plainfield, NJ, and now based in Austin, TX, Blk Odyssy reached nearly 290,000 listeners with a January 2024 appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts series, fronting an 11-piece band as he brought to life the urgent messages and relaxed grooves from his 2021 LP, BLK VINTAGE.

With Ayanna Heaven

Botswana-born Brooklynite singer, artist, and fashion designer Lollise sprinkles transfigured play-songs from her childhood with boldly contemporary statements of identity and purpose on her recent debut LP, I hit the water. She teams up here with Loboko, an infectious Brooklyn dance band anchored by Congolese guitar virtuoso and vocalist Yohni Djungu Sungu, for a powerful fusion of trans-African pop styles, featuring original music from both acts.