The Picnic vol. 1

Come to The Picnic!

The live music industry is at an unprecedented juncture. While many artists and fans are eager to return to shows just as they were before, others find it difficult to return to the crowds, exertion, and late-night drinking that often seem to be requirements of enjoying live music. But while we don’t want to risk our comfort, we certainly don’t want to be isolated from our communities or separated from the great joys in life. So what can we do?

Enter: The Picnic. The Picnic is an indoor concert series that creates a more grounding, more inclusive listening experience for a diverse audience. It fulfills a need for comfort, inclusivity, and personal space in live music. By providing lighting and aromatherapy, inviting audience members to make themselves comfortable on blankets we provide, and curating showcases with excellent musicians, The Picnic establishes a more grounding sensory experience within traditional music venues. The Picnic is a haven for live music goers who might find the current status quo uncomfortable, overwhelming, and even unsafe.

What to Know:

• Doors are 6:30, music starts at 7:00 sharp.
• Blanket space is limited and first-come-first-serve upon arrival. If you would like to attend The Picnic with your friends, we highly recommend arriving when doors open to secure a blanket.
• We have an elevator and ADA-approved restrooms! If you have any accessibility requirements or requests please email us at [email protected] preferably at least 24 hours before your arrival to ensure we can best accommodate you.
• We will be selling snacks, bottled water, and hot tea! If you would like to purchase concessions from us, cash is preferred.
• There will be 2 live performances (45 minutes each) beginning on the hour, followed by a deep listening session to a curated selection of music.
• We ask that late arrivals come in quietly and respectfully.
• The event will last approximately 2.5-3 hours.
• For any questions, email us at [email protected].

The Artists:

Jocelyn Mackenzie is a Brooklyn-based musician, maker, and medium who creates intimate pop songs for a generation of seekers. A "hyper-creative" according to Broadway World, her diverse yet integrated skills inherently inform one another and are inextricably intermingled in her creative process. Mackenzie released her debut full length solo album PUSH on Ani DiFranco's label Righteous Babe Records in 2021, which Under the Radar described as "triumphant, spirited, powerful, and jubilant." She now has several releases on Righteous Babe, including latest single EP "Wake" released in 2023. Joined on stage by her husband, bandmate, and collaborator Harry Bolles, their shape-shifting sound is at once personal and universal. At her core, Mackenzie's extra-sensory skills inform her songwriting and visual art, integrating media and meaning to create work that is both sensual and personal.

Joanna Schubert, the Brooklyn-based musician behind Oropendola, creates open-hearted, eclectic alt-pop and winding piano-based singer-songwriter compositions. Her debut full-length album - Waiting for the Sky to Speak, released in March 2023 - is a kaleidoscopic ride partly influenced by Kate Bush, Alice in Wonderland, and deep limbo states. Her music has been called "at the meeting point between arms in the air pop perfection and something altogether more jarring and intriguing." Joanna also sings and plays with a handful of NYC peers, including Beccs, Stephen Becker, Nicomo, and Samir Langus. She has also been a touring member of Half Waif and Barrie.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

538 Johnson Ave, 538 Johnson Avenue, Brooklyn, United States