🎤 Event Overview
Official Name: Afropunk Festival 2024
Dates: August 24–25, 2024
Location: Commodore Barry Park, Brooklyn, New York
Afropunk Festival is more than just a music event—it’s a global movement of Black expression, empowerment, creativity, and radical joy. Held annually in Brooklyn, New York, Afropunk brings together a vibrant community of Black alternative music lovers, artists, activists, and visionaries from around the world. Celebrating the vast spectrum of Black identity, the festival fuses music, art, fashion, politics, and community engagement in one unforgettable weekend.
Afropunk’s core theme is simple: “No Haters. No Homophobes. No Sexists. No Racists. No Transphobes.” It’s a safe, inclusive space that centers Black freedom, creativity, and nonconformity.
📚 History & Background
Founded: 2005
Founders: Matthew Morgan and James Spooner
Afropunk began as an underground documentary by James Spooner, exploring Black punk rockers and their struggles to find belonging in a predominantly white scene. That 2003 film, Afro-Punk, inspired a community—and two years later, the first Afropunk Festival launched in Brooklyn, co-founded by Spooner and Matthew Morgan.
Originally focused on Black punk and rock music, the festival has since evolved into a cultural explosion encompassing hip-hop, soul, afrobeat, alternative, and more—always with a rebellious, unapologetic Black aesthetic.
Global Expansion:
Afropunk has expanded to international cities like Paris, London, Atlanta, Johannesburg, and São Paulo, creating a global platform for Black diasporic creativity.
Notable Moments:
- 2015: Grace Jones’ iconic headlining performance
- 2019: Jill Scott, FKA Twigs, and Anderson .Paak rocked Brooklyn
- 2021: Afropunk partnered with Vice to launch “Black Spring,” a digital experience during the pandemic
- 2023: Featured Flying Lotus, Joey Bada$$, Tobe Nwigwe, and Tierra Whack
🌍 Why You Should Attend
Afropunk is a cultural awakening. It’s for the free thinkers, the outcasts, the creatives, the radicals, the healers, and the lovers of good music and even better energy.
What Makes Afropunk Unique:
- 🎸 Genre-bending Lineups that embrace punk, funk, hip-hop, metal, alt-R&B, and afrobeat
- 🎨 Art installations & DIY fashion that double as activism
- ✊🏾 Activism Row: A platform for grassroots organizations and Black-led movements
- 💼 Spinthrift Market: A curated Black-owned business expo with handmade goods, streetwear, and collectibles
- 🧘🏾♀️ Wellness Zone: Meditation, healing workshops, and plant-based food vendors
- 📸 Street Style Heaven: Afropunk is known worldwide for its Afro-futuristic fashion, elaborate hairstyles, and boundary-breaking self-expression
Afropunk offers more than music—it’s where freedom lives. Whether you’re there to rage to a punk set, heal at a wellness workshop, or vibe with fashion-forward creatives, you’ll leave transformed.
🔥 What to Expect This Year (2024)
Headliners & Performers: (Official lineup TBA)
Past performers include:
- Solange
- D’Angelo
- Lauryn Hill
- Santigold
- Tyler, The Creator
- Erykah Badu
- Burna Boy
- Noname
You can expect a genre-melting lineup across two major stages, plus:
- 🎤 Live Bands, DJ Sets, Poetry Slams
- 🗣️ Panels & Discussions around identity, justice, and liberation
- 🛍️ Black-Owned Pop-Ups and artisan booths
- 🍃 Plant-based food trucks and eco-conscious installations
Tickets:
- 🎟️ General Admission: ~$140 (2-Day Pass)
- 🎟️ VIP: ~$280+ (exclusive access areas, fast entry, lounges)
- 🎟️ Afropunk Army (Volunteer Tickets): Volunteer to earn admission
Buy tickets at: www.afropunk.com
✈️ Travel & Logistics
Closest Airports:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – ~45 minutes by car
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA) – ~30 minutes by car
- Newark Liberty International (EWR) – ~1 hour by car
Getting Around NYC:
- NYC Subway: Take the G train to Clinton–Washington Ave or F to York St for nearby access
- Rideshare apps (Uber/Lyft) work well, but expect surge pricing near festival hours
- Biking is an eco-friendly option (Citi Bike stations nearby)
🏨 Where to Stay
Luxury Options:
- The William Vale (Williamsburg)
- 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
- The Hoxton, Williamsburg
Mid-Range & Boutique:
- Hotel Indigo Brooklyn
- NU Hotel
- Pod Brooklyn
Budget Tips:
- Airbnb and Vrbo options in Fort Greene, Bed-Stuy, or Clinton Hill
- Afropunk sometimes partners with hotels—check the site for updated deals
🍽️ Where to Eat: Black-Owned & Local Favorites
Top Black-Owned Spots Near Commodore Barry Park:
- Peaches (Bed-Stuy): Southern comfort classics
- The Crabby Shack (Crown Heights): Black-woman-owned seafood spot
- BK9 (Park Slope): Caribbean-fusion cocktails and entrees
- Bed-Vyne Brew: Chill Black-owned craft beer bar with live DJs
- Greedi Vegan: Plant-based soul food
Festival Food Vendors Include:
- Afro-Caribbean jerk chicken
- Ethiopian vegan platters
- Street tacos
- Craft lemonade and cold brews
- Sweet treats like beignets and funnel cake
🔑 Tips for First-Timers
👗 Dress Code: None officially—but Afropunk is fashion culture. Come bold, expressive, and unapologetically you. Think Afro-futurism, Black goth, vintage, punk, tribal glam, or minimalist Black cool.
🌞 Weather: August in NYC is hot—temps average mid-80s°F. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and bring a small portable fan if needed.
🎒 Essentials to Bring:
- Clear bag or fanny pack (check bag policy)
- Power bank
- ID
- Refillable water bottle
- Cash for vendors
🤝 Meet People: Use the Afropunk App and join official Facebook and Instagram groups to connect before arrival.
🌐 How to Stay Connected
Website: www.afropunk.com
Instagram: @afropunk
Facebook: facebook.com/afropunk
X (Twitter): @afropunk
TikTok: @afropunk
YouTube: AFROPUNK Official
Hashtag: #AfropunkBrooklyn #Afropunk2024
📝 Final Notes
🎟️ Purchase tickets at www.afropunk.com
🛍️ Vendor applications, performer submissions, and press credentials are available online—apply by July 15, 2024
🦠 Health policies follow NYC guidance—check website for updates in August
📣 Call to Action
Afropunk isn’t just a festival—it’s a freedom zone.
Come for the music, stay for the movement. Whether you’re repping punk, R&B, soul, or afrobeat, Afropunk is the place where all forms of Black genius, rebellion, and creativity take the stage.
📆 August 24–25, 2024 | Brooklyn, NY
🎟️ Visit www.afropunk.com to buy tickets and book your trip.
✨ Be free. Be loud. Be seen.
