Live Music Reigns in Greenwich Village, Then and Now

Jawbox at le Poisson Rouge on July 22

A little more than a half century ago, Greenwich Village was the heartbeat of New York City’s live music scene. While budding artists are now appearing in hundreds of clubs throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, the beat has not stopped in Greenwich Village. Even after the music has stopped everywhere else in the city, bands continue rocking way past midnight at clubs like Groove, the Red Lion and Terra Blues.

The Bitter End received landmark status in 1992 and last year celebrated 60 years as a rock club. Excluding the pandemic shutdown, the Bitter End is perhaps the longest continuously-running music club in New York City – maybe even in the world! The venue introduced Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Neil Young, Lady Gaga, Kris Kristofferson, Carly Simon, Woody Allen, Billy Crystal and others to the local club circuit. The venue hosts up to four different showcases almost every night.

Cafe Wha? opened earlier, in 1959, but paused on rock music for a time. Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, The Velvet Underground, Kool & the Gang, Peter, Paul and Mary, Woody Allen, Lenny Bruce, Joan Rivers, Bill Cosby, and Richard Pryor are among the artists who launched their careers there. The venue hosts a house band playing high-energy covers of popular songs four nights each week, and also books musicians playing original music a few times each month.

Le Poisson Rouge now lives at the site of the Village Gate. As the Village Gate, the basement space was known mostly as a jazz club, yet also introduced pop artists including Aretha Franklin, the Velvet Underground and Rickie Lee Jones. Le Poisson Rouge books a variety of shows several nights each week.

In addition to the above mentioned nightclubs, Arthur’s Tavern, the Cellar Dog, Mezzrow, S.O,B.’s, and the Village Vanguard feature live music nightly. Baby Brasa, Cowgirl, the Corner Bistro, Fiddlesticks Pub, Groove, Haswell Green, the Knickerbocker, the Olive Tree Cafe are among the bars and restaurants that present live music at least one night each week.

Gerde’s Folk City, Kenny’s Castaways and some of the other key music clubs from the past now house popular nightclubs that seldom book live music. Commercial outlets or new construction have replaced the Bells of Hell, Cafe Au Go Go, Reno Sweeney, the Village Gaslight and other pivotal clubs. The 55 Bar recently closed.

Washington Square Park is the centerpiece of Greenwich Village. Historically, the park has been one of New York City’s most popular busking spots. David Peel and the Lower East Side used to perform on the lawn every weekend in the late 1960s, for instance. In more recent times, the 16-piece Eyal Vilner Big Band performed on Sunday afternoons. In the past year, however, the local police precinct and parks personnel have been asking musicians with amplification to unplug. This has greatly reduced the number of musicians playing around the park’s fountain area. Some musicians have moved a few blocks away to the West 4th St. subway station, where moderate amplification is permitted.

All the following photographs were taken on a short walking tour from the Bitter End to the Blue Note on Friday night, July 22. A longer walk would have included many other Greenwich Village nightclubs.

Ted Leo at le Poisson Rouge on July 22

The Bad Plus at the Blue Note on July 22

Solomon Hicks at the Blue Note on July 22

The Jr. Mack Band at Terra Blues on July 22

SaRon Crenshaw at Terra Blues on July 22

Galdort Gumbo & His Righteous Cats at the Bitter End on July 22

Nappo at the Bitter End on July 22

1Five1 at the Bitter End on July 22

The Cafe Wha? House Band at Cafe Wha? on July 22

Butch Phelps at the Red Lion on July 22

The November Beat at Groove on July 22

Revelry at Wicked Willy's on July 22

Related Past Articles in The Manhattan Beat

Where to Go for Live Music on a Friday Night

A Guide to Friday Night Live Music in Greenwich Village

Live Music Returns Again to Greenwich Village

Live Music Returns to Greenwich Village

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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music circuit. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right of the home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's July calendar.