Living in New York comes with the bonus of free concert series. Perfect for finding new music you’ll love, or lucking out with a favorite group playing in Central Park.
Full of faces both familiar and fresh, and sure to have you dancing until September, keep reading for the shows you should catch this August.
August 1
NPR Music’s Turning the Tables Live (10 Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan)
NPR’s night of music and discussion on women in music returns to the Lincoln Center for the second year.
This year, moderator, Ann Powers, will be joined by an all-star lineup of pop icon, Carly Rae Jepsen, soul groundbreaker, Jamila Woods, DIY poet and indie rocker, Mitski, folk rock up-and-comer, Phoebe Bridgers, and Americana supergroup, I’m With Her.
Admission is free, but first come first served - you’ll want to line up early for this one.
August 2
BADBADNOTGOOD/Charlotte Day Wilson (Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn)
Ya like jazz? Catch these Canadian tastemakers (for free!) at the Prospect Park Bandshell.
Their past collaborators are truly impressive, including such artists of the moment as Kali Uchis, Tyler, the Creator, and Kendrick Lamar.
August 9
Gary Clark Jr./Fiona Silver (Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn)
Gary Clark Jr. has firmly established himself as one of the most important and virtuosic guitarists in contemporary music - and he’s got a great voice to boot!
If blues and soul-tinged stadium rock and guitar solos are your thing, head over to the Prospect Park Bandshell.
August 11
Tokimonsta/Dumbfoundead/Kero One (Central Park SummerStage, Manhattan)
The west coast has become the spot for innovative hip-hop and electronic music, and you can see three central members of this cultural phenomenon all in one space.
The Korean Cultural Center in New York put together this performance as an ode to Korean-American music, and you guessed it - admission is free.
Blues BBQ - August 18, Hudson River Park and W 59th St, Manhattan
It’s all in the title, really.
What better way to enjoy one of the proudest traditions in American music history than with one of the proudest traditions in American culinary history?
We’ll wait.
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival - August 23-26, Marcus Garvey Park/Tompkins Square Park
Jazz has been called America’s greatest export.
This festival offers a unique opportunity to see why, with performances ranging from legends of the genre to new artists carrying the torch.
Four days of jazz performances and related events, including documentary showings. Whether you’re a jazz aficionado or just looking to dive into the storied genre, we recommend you attend the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.
Need more music in your life?
August 1
Tito Nieves/Booma and Garifuna Culture Band (Crotona Park SummerStage, 5th Ave, Manhattan)August 3
Noname/Topaz Jones/Jazze Belle (Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn)August 4
Sister Nancy/Shinehead/DJ Misbehaviour (Crotona Park SummerStage, 5th Ave, Manhattan)August 11
The Breeders/Speedy Ortiz (Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn)
Porches/Sunflower Bean/Crumb (East River Park SummerStage, 5th Ave, Manhattan)
August 12
Dej Loaf (Coney Island SummerStage, Brooklyn)August 18
A Savage/Ryley Walker/Bill Mackay (484 Union Ave, Brooklyn)
August 19
Mura Masa/Jessy Lanza (Crotona Park SummerStage, 5th Ave, Manhattan)
Rapsody (Marcus Garvey Park SummerStage, 5th Ave, Manhattan)