The Manhattan Beat: No Vacancy: Live Music Fills Empty NYC Storefront

Chrystal E. Williams, mezzo soprano, and Felipe Hostins, accordion

Matt Doyle, vocalist, and Will Van Dyke, piano

Over the past year, governmental restrictions limited the presentation of live music in most settings. Nevertheless, the Kaufman Music Center discovered a safe formula for presenting free concerts to New Yorkers almost every day since January 21. The recital hall has hosted Musical Storefronts, a series of pop-up concerts in which musicians play in an empty Upper West Side storefront. The series was due to end on March 31 but has just been extended to the end of April.

The JACK Quartet

More than 100 New York City musicians are participating in the program, playing to a socially-distanced public on the sidewalk. The performers have included chamber musicians, soloists, Broadway singers from the casts of Hamilton, Tootsie and Company, and musicians who have appeared on the stage at the Merkin Concert Hall. The concerts happen nearly every day, sometimes twice a day. The musicians often perform three brief sets over three hours. The audience watches through glass windows and listens via an exterior sound system.

Big Dog Little Dog

To limit crowd size and ensure social distancing, artists and programs are announced on the day of performances. To view the day's program, visit the Kaufman Music Center website. The exact location is a secret, but check Broadway around West 62nd Street.

Sunday, March 28 at 11 a.m., 12 noon & 1 p.m.

Neel Murgai, Sitar, Overtone Singing, Percussion & Looping
Aaron Shragge, Trumpet, Shakuhachi, Looping & Electronics

Sunday, March 28 at 4, 5 & 6 p.m.

Daniel Khalikov, Violin & Milan Milisavljević, Viola

Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony

Musical Storefronts is presented in partnership with the Alphadyne Foundation to provide work to artists severely impacted by the cancellation of live performances in a format that takes into account all necessary health and safety measures for both artists and audiences.