Michaël Brun just wrapped one of the most expansive chapters of his career. The Grammy-winning, platinum-selling producer used the 10th anniversary of BAYO — his platform celebrating Haitian and Afro-Caribbean culture — to stage a month-long run of events spanning live music, film, sport, and cultural advocacy across May and June.
The centerpiece was BAYO’s first-ever three-night sold-out residency at Brooklyn Paramount in New York City, preceded by a stop at Boston’s Agganis Arena. Night 1 of the NYC run reunited the original lineup from BAYO’s inaugural edition a decade ago. Over the course of the weekend, the stage welcomed performances from Troubleboy, Riva, Baky, Plezi RARA, Lakou Mizik, and Paul Beaubrun. In the crowd: Fédération Haïtienne World Cup scorer Wilson Isidor, Lil Nas X, and producer duo Take A Daytrip.
BAYO started as an impromptu street-party concept and has grown steadily into one of the more visible platforms for Haitian diaspora connection in the US. The 10th anniversary timing aligned with Haiti’s historic return to the FIFA World Cup, which gave Brun an additional thread to pull on throughout the season.
Ahead of the residency, Brun released a short film in collaboration with the Fédération Haïtienne, directed by Leo Volcy and executive produced by Brun alongside Haitian soccer figure Jozy Altidore. He also performed a warm-up DJ set for the national team before their tournament return and was present on the sidelines during matches in Boston, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.
During Haitian Heritage Month, Brun launched BAYO Sessions, a new live performance series. The inaugural run featured sets from Steves J. Bryan, J Perry, and Andybeatz. He also connected with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Councilwoman Rita Joseph as part of his ongoing push to elevate Haitian culture across the city.
On the closing night of the Brooklyn Paramount residency, Brun received an official citation from President of the Borough of Brooklyn Antonio Reynoso, recognizing BAYO’s cultural impact and his contributions to the local Haitian community.
With the anniversary run now behind him, Brun is taking BAYO into its second decade — with the Sessions series, continued advocacy work, and live experiences all in the pipeline.
