Pics: Brooklyn Paramount is now open, Damian + Stephen Marley played opening night

After St. Vincent DJ’d the invite-only but packed preview party on Tuesday night (3/26), Brooklyn Paramount hosted its first official show on Wednesday with Damian and Stephen Marley. The former Fort Greene movie palace and home to the Brooklyn Kings basketball team, which is located at the intersection of Flatbush Ave and DeKalb Ave across the street from Junior’s and very close to both BAM and the Barclays Center, has been leased by Live Nation in partnership with Long Island University, and was extensively renovated. It now looks extremely striking inside and out, starting with the marquee outside.

The inside has multiple spacious areas including a big general admission show space (with the option of seats being added for certain shows) with a slanted floor and high stage, ornamented ceiling, wrap around GA balcony, and bars all over the place. References to classic shows that happened throughout the venue’s history are everywhere including “Ella’s” lounge (named after Ella Fitzgerald) that is a small venue within the venue with its own small stage and bar. Show calendars behind the bars also list Fats Domino (August 1956), Buddy Holly (1957), Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry (1958), Sarah Vaughan, Brenda Lee, and Ray Charles (1960), and Etta James (1961). Paintings of those stars and other references are in many places throughout the venue (including backstage). 

St. Vincent also just announced two new shows at the venue with Yves Tumor, and you can get tickets early on BrooklynVegan Presale. See the full calendar of shows — including NOFX, Waxahatchee, Belle & Sebastian, Descendents & Circle Jerks, Hot Water Music & more–  HERE.

Damian and Stephen‘s set included Bob Marley classics as well as their own songs, and you can see their setlist, along with lots more pictures by Ryan Muir of the venue and their set, below…

SETLIST: DAMIAN + STEPHEN MARLEY @ BROOKLYN PARAMOUNT, 3/27/2024
Big Youth – Intro
10,000 Chariots
The Traffic Jam
So Much Trouble in the World
All Night
Pimpa’s Paradise
Still Searchin’
Tight Ship
It Was Written
Cast The First Stone
Jah Army
Medication
The Mission
Love and Inity / Punky Reggae Party
Jamming
Is This Love
Rock Stone
Road to Zion
Welcome to Jamrock
Exodus

Encore:
Could You Be Loved
Old Soul