One Brooklyn
April 4, 2016
BROOKLYN, NY, April 4, 2016: Yesterday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams hit the mic for the launch of BK Sings, his first-of-its-kind borough-wide karaoke competition to find Brooklyn’s best amateur singers. Bars and restaurants across the borough will offer Brooklynites the opportunity to perform their favorite songs and compete to represent their neighborhood, leading into a final musical showdown that will crown the best karaoke singer in Brooklyn. Joined by participating venue owners and competitors at The Way Station, a popular Prospect Heights hangout that will serve as one of the local sites for BK Sings, Borough President Adams provided details about the competition and its prizes, as well as speak about the borough’s love of karaoke.
“So you think you can sing…well, we’re about to find out!” said Borough President Adams. “Karaoke gives amateur singers near and far a shot at stardom; a few have even become famous through American Idol, The Voice, and YouTube. More than anything, karaoke is a community — a chance to gather at a neighborhood joint and cheer on friends old and new as they take on the greats. Here in Brooklyn, we sing with many voices — we are the home of Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond, of Maxwell and Norah Jones. I look forward to crowning the first champion of BK Sings and adding their name to our borough’s first-rate musical marquee.”
Participants must be Brooklyn residents who are 18 years of age or older and are not engaged in a professional singing career. Judges will evaluate based on their execution of the song, which cannot contain any explicit lyrical content, as well as their stage presence and audience appeal. Champions at local contests will move on to compete in regional semifinals, which will determine the singers for the final round that will be held at Hill Country Barbecue Market in Downtown Brooklyn on Sunday, May 1st. The first prize winner will receive a karaoke machine as well as the opportunity to sing at an upcoming public event at MCU Park in Coney Island. Additionally, the second prize winner will win a tablet computer, and the third prize winner will earn a gift card good for dinner for two at Suede Restaurant in East Flatbush.
“On behalf of the Brooklyn Cyclones, we are happy to team up with Borough President Adams and the thousands of karaoke lovers in Brooklyn!” said Gary Perone, assistant general manager for the Brooklyn Cyclones. “We are happy to host the winners and look forward to hosting karaoke nights this summer at MCU Park!
“Hill Country Brooklyn is pleased and humbled to be hosting the BK Sings finals!” said Chris Stark, general manager of Hill Country Barbecue Market. “Karaoke has long been a tradition within the walls of all of the Hill Country Barbecue Market locations, and we look forward to a helping crown a borough-wide champion on May 1st!”
Other participating locations in the inaugural run of BK Sings include Three Jolly Pigeons in Bay Ridge; Brooklyn Beso and Therapy Wine Bar in Bedford-Stuyvesant; Blue Agave Restaurant Bar in Bensonhurst; Mi Sueno Restaurant in Bushwick; Chloe’s Restaurant and Lounge in Canarsie; Brooklyn Wine Yard, Rustik Tavern, and Two Steps Down in Clinton Hill; 40 Knots Bar on the Columbia Street Waterfront; Essence Bar & Restaurant in Crown Heights; Footprints Café in Coney Island; Amarachi Restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn; Footprints Café and Round 2 Café in East Flatbush; Fusion East in East New York; D’Savannah Bar & Lounge in Flatbush; Lagos Lounge and NY Tracks Café in Flatlands; Mo’s Fort Greene in Fort Greene; Saint Vitus Bar in Greenpoint; Shenanigans in Kensington; Ooh La La Lounge and Bar in Ocean Hill; Woodland Bar and Grill in Park Slope; Eve’s Lounge in Prospect Heights; Red Karaoke Lounge in Sheepshead Bay, Freddy’s Bar and Backroom in South Slope; and Alligator Lounge in Williamsburg.
“Watch out Brooklyn!” said Nicki Humphrey, owner of 40 Knots Bar. “The 40 Knots karaoke crew aren’t afraid of getting scrappy. Bring it on!”
“The best things in life are free…free will, free pizza, free karaoke,” said Lisa Graziano, manager of Alligator Lounge. “No free bird.”
“Amarachi is very excited to take part in this karaoke contest,” said Joseph Adewumi, owner of Amarachi Restaurant. “It’s a great way to bring the great people of these historic Brooklyn neighborhoods together in a fun way.”
“Don’t be nervous in the least,” said Andrew Walcott, owner of Fusion East. “Come be a star at Fusion East.”
Those interested in signing up for BK Sings are asked to visit brooklyn-usa.org/karaoke, where they can see a full list of rules and schedule of upcoming local contests.
PHOTOS
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams hit the mic for the launch of BK Sings, his first-of-its-kind borough-wide karaoke competition to find Brooklyn’s best amateur singers; he joined a number of karaoke enthusiasts to make the announcement at The Way Station, a popular Prospect Heights hangout that will serve as one of the local contest sites.
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
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