The Best Live Music for Memorial Day Weekend in the NYC Area

Bleachers, photographed above at the Ally Coalition Talent Show in December, will perform before live audiences this morning at Rockefeller Center for the Today show and this evening as a solo acoustic set at Rough Trade Below,

The Manhattan Beat regularly lists the best live music events coming to the New York City area. The twice-weekly guide also celebrates via photographs some of the musicians who have performed locally in the past few days.

Everynight Charley recommends the following 50+ live music events in the New York City area this holiday weekend. Contact the venue or the artists' social media to confirm ticket availability, show times, location and directions, age restrictions, COVID compliance, and other updates.

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band headlined at Madison Square Garden on May 16

Chance the Rapper with the Anthony Morgan Inspirational Choir of Harlem at the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner and Auction 2026 at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 19 (photograph by Noam Galai/Getty Images)

Dave Guy of the Roots at the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner and Auction 2026 at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 19 (photograph by Noam Galai/Getty Images)

Jason Moran at the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner and Auction 2026 at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 19 (photograph by Getty Images)

Stéphane Wrembel presented Django à Gogo at Barbès on May 17 (photograph by David Sussman)

Friday, May 22

• Bleachers at Rockefeller Plaza (Today show)

• Bleachers (solo, acoustic) at Rough Trade Below

• Harry Connick Jr. at Carnegie Hall

• Belle & Sebastian, Ladybug Transistor at the Rooftop at Pier 17

• Vision of Disorder, Madball, Killing Time, Raw Brigade, Subterfuge, Life’s End, Grael at the Brooklyn Monarch

• Conjurer, Snooze, Sadness, Pains, Leylines at the Meadows

• Napalm Death, Primitive Man aboard the Liberty Belle

• Feelies at White Eagle Hall

• Teen Suicide, Cloud Nothings, University, Coolant at the Music Hall of Williamsburg

• Buckethead at Sony Hall

• Frankie Cosmos at the Bowery Ballroom

• The Black Queen, Ghost Cop, Trace Amount at le Poisson Rouge

• Leire at the Gramercy Theatre

• Mike D at Xanadu

• Ratfang at Catalyst Records

• The Christine Santelli Band at the Bitter End

• Kolker at the Bitter End

• Psych-O-Positive, the James Rocket, Flock of Indifference, Manager at Baker Falls

• LOUD LOVE, the Lousekateers, GIFTSHOP, Italian Blood at Otto's Shrunken Head

• Adjua Ajamu Trio at Terra Blues

• SaRon Crenshaw Band at Terra Blues

Muna at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 19

Bilmuri at the Rooftop at Pier 17 on May 15 (photograph by Ryan Muir/The Rooftop at Pier 17)

The Home Team at the Rooftop at Pier 17 on May 15 (photograph by Ryan Muir/The Rooftop at Pier 17)

Gang! at the Rooftop at Pier 17 on May 15 (photograph by Ryan Muir/The Rooftop at Pier 17)

Saturday, May 23

• Harry Connick Jr. at Carnegie Hall

• Belle & Sebastian, Joanna Sternberg at the Rooftop at Pier 17

• Baky at Brooklyn Paramount

• Feelies at White Eagle Hall

• Esteman & Daniela Spalla at Irving Plaza

• Terror, Pain of Truth, End It, Cruel Hand, Start Today, Negative Force, Frothing Mad at the Brooklyn Monarch

• Mike D at Xanadu

• Sakhe at Racket NYC

• Oranssi Pazuzu, Wayfarer at le Poisson Rouge

• Duke Robillard at the Iridium

• Bleach, John Reuben, Keep Warm, Dirk at Mercury Lounge

• YUVEES, Balaclava, Pippy at TV Eye

• Mephiskapheles, Incendiary Device, the Phoenix Within, Star Carr at Tompkins Square Park

• Doug Gillard, Cathedral Ceilings, Guyscrapers at Mama Tried

• Steve Chelliah Trio at Pangea

• Nick and the Old Sport, NY Grim, Ottava at Otto's Shrunken Head

• Mojo & the Mayhem at Sour Mouse NYC

• Jeff Slate & Friends at City Winery NYC

• Hubby Jenkins at Terra Blues

• Junior Mack Band at Terra Blues

• Noé Socha at Arthur’s Tavern

• Joe Taino & Blueflames at Arthur's Tavern

Steve Krebs & the Maynard G's at the monthly Endless Party at Parkside Lounge on May 16 (photograph by Alan Rand)

Joy Buzzer at the monthly Endless Party at Parkside Lounge on May 16 (photograph by Alan Rand)

The Rover Boys Trio at the monthly Endless Party at Parkside Lounge on May 16 (photograph by Alan Rand)

Hudson City Rats at the monthly Endless Party at Parkside Lounge on May 16 (photograph by Alan Rand)

Sunday, May 24

• Skillibeng, Moliy at Terminal 5

• Stéphane Wrembel at barbès

• Pinc Louds, Grooblen, Tea Eater at Night Club 101

• Seth Goldart, Phil Gammage at the Ribbon

• Guhts, Blak Emoji, Laryssa Birdseye at Berlin

• Ricanstruction, Honeychild & Biz, Call You Out, Carlos and the Chords at Berlin

• W70, Spike Polite & SewAge, Thirsty Pirates, Panic Squad Redux, Sherry Lewis at Otto's Shrunken Head

• Traditional Irish Seisiún at the 11th St. Bar

• The Pioneers at Terra Blues

• Gary Wright at Terra Blues

• Noé Socha at Arthur’s Tavern

Michael G. Potter at the 11th Street Community Garden on May 17

Gina Healy at the 11th Street Community Garden on May 17

Lipstick Driver at Mama Tried on May 17

Lawrence Kim at Mama Tried on May 17

Monday, May 25 Memorial Day

• The Baxbys at Bowery Palace

• The Dang-It Bobbys at Skinny Dennis

• Half Step, Patton Magee, Michael Karson, Quartz Casino at Lucinda's

• Hubby Jenkins at Terra Blues

• T Blues Band w. Junior Mack & Adjua Ajamu at Terra Blues

• The 11th St. Bar Quintet at the 11th St. Bar

• Big Ed's Blues Jam at the Red Lion

• Monday Night Bluegrass Session at Mona's

• Anti-Hoot Open Mic at Baker Falls

• Richie Cannata's Monday Night Jam at the Bitter End

Kelley Swindall at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on May 17

E.W. Harris at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on May 17

The weekly Monday Night Bluegrass Session at Mona's on May 18

Fast Forward at the Kettle Black on May 16

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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 more complete listing of upcoming performances in the New York City area, visit The Manhattan Beat's May and June calendars.