Winter Guide to Downtown's Live Music Circuit

"Baby, it's cold outside!" When Frank Loesser wrote that song in 1944, he could not have known that it would describe the live music scene in the winter of 2021. With indoor dining prohibited in New York, musicians will continue to perform for outdoor audiences. For the brave, here is your winter guide to downtown Manhattan's live music options.

The Anyway Café

34 East Second Street

Diana Gitesha Hernandez sang jazz standards at the Anyway Café on January 21

Barynya performed Russian folk songs at the Anyway Café on January 22.

The Anyway Café serves Russian and French cuisine along with vodka-infused specialty drinks. The musical range is eclectic, with folk, jazz, rock and world music artists playing nightly from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Musicians perform inside for the people seated at tables outside.

Baby Brasa

173 Seventh Avenue South

Chino Pons sang Latin music at Baby Brasa on January 16

Edo Ferragano sang pop songs in English and Italian at Baby Brasa on January 19

Baby Brasa is a Peruvian restaurant popular with the twenty-something demographic. The live music happens five or six nights each week, plus brunch music on weekend afternoon, with the fare ranging from pop to indie-rock to Latin music. The musicians perform in a curbside cabana alongside the audience.

Marshall Stack

66 Rivington Street

Leah Tash at Marshall Stack on January 16

Rob Mastrianni at Marshall Stack on January 17

Marshall Stack frequently has pop-up chefs serve burgers and other American food. The musicians play indoors by an open window for the audience at sidewalk tables and curbside stools. The live music happens on most Wednesdays through Sundays, but the venue will close temporarily for renovations beginning February 1.

Rue-B

118 Avenue B

The Benny Benack-Stacy Dillard Ensemble performs jazz at Rue-B on Tuesdays and Fridays

Erica Mancini performs accordion-rooted jazz at Rue-B on alternate Thursdays

Rue-B has been serving jazz along with an American menu for more than 20 years. Live bands perform Tuesdays through Saturdays. The musicians are inside, playing by open windows for the audience seated at tables outside.

Other venues have less frequent music programs. The Underground Harmony plays classic rock at Caravan of Dreams on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Chris Campion performs 1980s pop at the Corner Bistro on Tuesday evenings and Sunday afternoons. The Negah Santos Trio plays Brazilian music at Joey Bats Café on Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons. The Theater for the New City has an hour-long variety show every Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Finally, musicians still perform in Tompkins Square Park, weather permitting.