Celebrate Brooklyn! Season Kicks Off with Chaka Khan

Celebrate Brooklyn! is one of the most popular summer series in New York City and the 2015 season kicked off on a nice evening with a gala for all the beneficiaries and a musical performance from the legendary Chaka Khan.

As the Amsterdam News reported, “What seemed like a never-ending line last night stretched from the Prospect Park Bandshell entrance to around the corner and down Prospect Park SW. Thousands of people waited hours for Chaka Khan as she kicked off “Celebrate Brooklyn!” Performing Arts Festival on June 3. “The Queen of Funk” stepped on stage in all-black attire with big hair and an even bigger voice. She performed top hits including “I’m Every Woman,” “Tell Me Something Good,” and “Ain’t Nobody,” among other chart toppers.”

The full Celebrate Brooklyn! schedule can be found here. But here are some of the notable highlights, including a couple of benefit shows.

6/17 7:30 pm – DAMIEN RICE | JOSH RITTER [Benefit]

6/18 7:30 pm – EIGHTH BLACKBIRD WITH SPECIAL GUEST WILL OLDHAM | BILL FRISELL & SAM AMIDON

7/9 7:30 pm – PUNCH BROTHERS | SARAH JAROSZ

7/16 7:30 pm – VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ | TAMIKREST | DJ DAKAR

7/24 7:30 pm – JASON ISBELL | DAWN LANDES

8/1 7:30 pm – TAYLOR MAC: THE 20TH CENTURY ABRIDGED

8/12 7:30 pm – WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY | OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW [Benefit]