Pages

▼

Thursday, July 16, 2026

10 Free Live Music Events x 10 Summer Days in NYC

Mavis Staples, photographed above at Love Rocks NYC in 2025, will headline a free concert tonight at SummerStage in Central Park
Mavis Staples, photographed above at Love Rocks NYC in 2025, will headline a free concert tonight at SummerStage in Central Park

The Manhattan Beat regularly lists the best live music events coming to the New York City area. The guides also celebrate via photography a broad array of the musicians who have performed recently in local venues.

Today, Everynight Charley recommends the following 100 free live music performances over the next 10 days. The list is a broad kaleidoscope of mostly under-the-radar music. All shows are in Manhattan unless otherwise stated. 

Note that some free events require advance tickets for entry. Consult the web site or social media of the venue for more information about a show, including ticket availability, show times, location, directions, parking, age restrictions, and COVID compliance.

Hilary Hawke (right) performed at Sunny's Bar on July 9 (photograph by David Sussman)
Hilary Hawke (right) performed at Sunny's Bar on July 9 (photograph by David Sussman)
Jan Bell & the Maybelles at Superfine on July 12 (photograph by Daid Sussman)
Jan Bell & the Maybelles at Superfine on July 12 (photograph by David Sussman)
The weekly Monday Night Bluegrass Session at Mona's on July 13 (photograph by David Sussman)
The duo of Christian and Cole at the weekly Monday Night Bluegrass Session at Mona's on July 13 (photograph by David Sussman)
The weekly Bluegrass Wednesdays at Mathilde on July 8 (photograph by David Sussman)
The weekly Bluegrass Wednesdays at Mathilde on July 8 (photograph by David Sussman)

Thursday, July 16

  1. Mavis Staples, Brother Wallace at SummerStage Central Park*

  2. The War and Treaty at Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park*

  3. Parks Department, Talon, Kira Metcalf at Greeley Square Park

  4. The American Quartet at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center

  5. Ricky Stein at Sunny's, Brooklyn

  6. Cat Casual and the Final Word, the Midnight Confessions at Mama Tried, Brooklyn

  7. Vincent Herring & Steve Turre: Coltrane @ 100 at Baisley Pond Park, Queens 

  8. Crystal Ship at George Seuffert, Sr. Bandshell, Forest Park, Queens*

  9. CC & the Boys at Astoria Park Lawn, Queens

  10. The Slide Stops at Wild Horses

*Editor's Note: Several concerts were canceled post-press time on Thursday evening due to the worsening air quality in the New York City area.


Friday, July 17

  1. De La Soul, Pete Rock at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens

  2. Joe Bataan at the Dance Floor at Lincoln Center

  3. Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas at Bryant Park

  4. Zacchae’us Paul, Tris10, Vanessa Camacho at the Abrons Art Center

  5. Jackson and the Janks at Jalopy Tavern, Brooklyn

  6. Amanda Cross at Skinny Dennis, Brooklyn

  7. Brian Halloran at Wild Horses

  8. Kyle Lacy Band at Wild Horses

  9. The Psychedelicats, Von Ghouls, Limbo Baby at Otto's Shrunken Head

  10. 4untillate, Check Partner, Fork Soup, Corduroy Dancers at Baker Falls


Saturday, July 18

  1. Boyfriend Network, French Kissed, Tuf, Ruby Joan at Baby's All Right, Brooklyn

  2. Kristin Flammio & the Pretty Bitchin, Sad Pageant, Eldest Son, Heliconia at Mama Tried, Brooklyn

  3. 95 Bulls, Firstsex, Ice Balloons, OBOY! at Maria Hernandez Park, Brooklyn

  4. The Slim Kings at 96th Street Tennis Courts, Riverside Park

  5. Lorraine Leckie at Pete's Candy Store, Brooklyn

  6. Mojo & the Mayhem at Sour Mouse NYC

  7. Bedpan Fight, Recreational Outrage, Deadly Skies at Otto’s Shrunken Head

  8. Sam Brown Band at Sunny's, Brooklyn

  9. All the Living and the Dead, Tim Heap & the Buybacks, Dan Montgomery, the New York Rats at Parkside Lounge

  10. Jeannie Skelly, Bread and Roses Revival, Ross Daisomont & Friends, Steven Blane, Chip Degaard with Gina Healy at the 11th Street Community Garden

E.W. Harris at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on July 12
E.W. Harris at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on July 12
Jeannie Skelly at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on July 12
Jeannie Skelly at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on July 12
Eena at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on July 12
Eena at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on July 12
Andy Sydor at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on July 12
Andy Sydor at the weekly Songwriter's Open Mic at Lucinda's on July 12

Sunday, July 19

  1. The Hipp Pipps, Goatroper, Rover Boys Trio at Otto's Shrunken Head

  2. Aurora Nealand at Superfine, Brooklyn

  3. Alan Lee & the Whiskey Bumps at Skinny Dennis, Brooklyn

  4. Low Roller at Skinny Dennis, Brooklyn

  5. Traditional Irish Seisiun at the 11th St. Bar

  6. Songwriter’s Open Mic at Lucinda’s

  7. Lightning Will at Wild Horses

  8. Jorei Jazz at Sour Mouse NYC

  9. Sunday Bluegrass Jam at the Irish Whiskey Bar, Queens

  10. NY Blues Rocket and Jam at Sugar Mouse NYC


Monday, July 20

  1. Niall Connolly at Greeley Square Park

  2. Rev. Vince Anderson & the Love Choir at Union Pool, Brooklyn

  3. Allison Kelly, Disterbenz, Kelley Swindall, Sam Brown at Lucinda's

  4. D. Treut at Pete’s Candy Store, Brooklyn

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

  6. Big Ed's Blues Jam at the Red Lion

  7. Monday Night Bluegrass Session at Mona's

  8. Anti-Hoot Open Mic at Baker Falls

  9. Kromer at Stuyvesant Cove Park

  10. The Olive Tree Madmen at the Olive Tree


Tuesday, July 21

  1. Orchestra of St. Luke's at Naumberg Bandshell, Central Park

  2. Jack Grace Band at the 11th St. Bar

  3. Tuesday Night Hot Jazz at Mona's

  4. Live Bluegrass at Lucinda's

  5. Jorei Jazz & Jam Session at Sugar Mouse

  6. Van Hayride at the 11th St. Bar

  7. Joe Rutowski, Ilana Meredith and Miles Dhalwala at Stuyvesant Cove Park

  8. Joey Ama Dio at Cowgirl Seahorse

  9. Jeff Weiss at the Red Lion

  10. Silver Arrow Band at Drom

Amira B at Perelman Performing Arts Center, Lobby Stage on July 8
Amira B at Perelman Performing Arts Center, Lobby Stage on July 8
Zohar & Adam with Ben Mizrach at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, Lobby Stage on July 9
Zohar & Adam with Ben Mizrach at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, Lobby Stage on July 9
J.M. Clifford at Pete's Candy Store on July 14 (photograph by David Sussman)
J.M. Clifford at Pete's Candy Store on July 14 (photograph by David Sussman)
Karen Schoemer’s “August” Band at Mama Tried on July 9
Karen Schoemer’s “August” Band at Mama Tried on July 9

Wednesday, July 22

  1. Greg Banks at Broadway Pedestrian Plaza

  2. Bluegrass Wednesdays at Mathilde, Brooklyn

  3. Otto’s Wednesday Open Mic at Otto’s Shrunken Head

  4. Jazz Trio and Jam with Russ Nolan at Sour Mouse NYC

  5. Cerus Quartet at the Oval Lawn, Madison Square Park

  6. Kyle Lacy at the Red Lion

  7. Your Dad at the 11th St. Bar

  8. James Sheppard at Club Cumming

  9. Ian Chang at the David Rubenstein Atrium, Lincoln Center

  10. Bobana, Mango Safari at Mama Tried, Brooklyn


Thursday, July 23

  1. Allen Stone at Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park

  2. Arturo O'Farrill at George Seuffert, Sr. Bandshell, Forest Park, Queens

  3. Forever Ray at Astoria Park Lawn, Astoria Park, Queens 

  4. The TarantinosNYC at Silvana

  5. Bastards of Fine Arts at the 11th St. Bar

  6. Headfooter, HIT, Pastel Hell at Mama Tried, Brooklyn

  7. The Lovestruck Balladeers at Sunny's, Brooklyn

  8. Jazz House All-Stars at the Perelman Performing Arts Center Lobby Stage

  9. Alex Miller Band at Prohibition

  10. Permanent Moves at Pete’s Candy Store, Brooklyn


Friday, July 24

  1. Tyla at Rockefeller Plaza, Today show

  2. Cindy Blackman Santana, Patricia Brennan (Septet), Lucia at the Lena Horne Bandshell, Prospect Park

  3. NYC Ska Orchestra at Bryant Park

  4. Drew Stone & Will Romeo at Catalyst Records

  5. The Oystermen at Pete’s Candy Store, Brooklyn

  6. Charlie Sub & Sound Dogs at Silvana

  7. Noshows, so Impartial at Broadway Pedestrian Plaza

  8. Title Holder, Horizon Point, Analog Daydream, the Schwegs at Otto’s Shrunken Head

  9. Alex McMurray Trio at Sunny’s Bar, Brooklyn

  10. Sirintip at the Perelman Performing Arts Center Lobby Stage


Saturday, July 25

  1. Dallas Wax, Star's Revenge, T!LT at Tompkins Square Park

  2. The MGP Experience, Jennifer Blowdryer & the Exits, Exit 99, the Ross Byron Project at Parkside Lounge

  3. Melissa Mary Ahern at Pete’s Candy Store, Brooklyn

  4. Hanggai at the Dance Floor at Lincoln Center

  5. Dan Manjovi at Pangea Front Lounge

  6. Sunju Park, Peter Gordon, & Mustafa Khaliq Ahmed at the Perelman Performing Arts Center Lobby Stage

  7. CS Cleaners, Marathon 77, Van Goth at Mama Tried, Brooklyn

  8. Mala Vista, SUO, Bad Guy Network at Rippers, Queens

  9. Pink Lightning at the Red Lion

  10. Emily Beck at the Red Lion

Avery Wilson at Bryant Park on July 10
Avery Wilson at Bryant Park on July 10
Pons at Tompkins Square Park on July 12
Pons at Tompkins Square Park on July 12
Diary at Tompkins Square Park on July 12
Diary at Tompkins Square Park on July 12
Midnight Stroll at Stuyvesant Cove Park on July 13 (photograph by Seth Okrend)
Midnight Stroll at Stuyvesant Cove Park on July 13 (photograph by Seth Okrend)

***

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 July calendar.

at

No comments:

Post a Comment