Live Music Is Electrifying Tompkins Square Park

Live music came to a stop at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. Slowly, by June, musicians started coming out to play for tips in public parks. Many musicians gravitated to Tompkins Square Park, beginning with the Eric Paulin Quintet and Scott Stenten, followed soon by Pinc Louds, Proud Yuma, PANDEMIC!!!, BB Y.T.K., White Claw, Leo Coltrane, SoulCake, Nora Balaban, the [Insert Name Here] Trio, the Meetles and many others. Some of the musicians secured permits, others just plugged into portable battery-powered amplifiers and wailed.

Milder March weather is driving musicians back into the parks. In the past two weeks, the Eric Paulin Quintet, the [Insert Name Here] Trio, BB Y.T.K., and an unnamed duo already have performed in Tompkins Square Park. It will not be long before many other musicians start bringing their instruments to the parks.

The Eric Paulin Quintet at Tompkins Square Park on March 11

The [Insert Name Here] Trio at Tompkins Square Park on March 11

BB Y.T.K. at Tompkins Square Park on March 13

Vocalist Scott Newman of the band Schizopolis and guitarist Slade loaded their amplifiers onto a pickup truck and performed at an Avenue A entrance to Tompkins Square Park on March 14