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From Bryant Park to Hudson Yards, to the return of the New York Philharmonic's "Concert in the Parks" series, there are tons of totally free concerts happening in NYC for the season!
Claire Leaden - Editor
Thanks to all of our fantastic Parks, New Yorkers have plenty of choices for where to spend time outdoors during the warm weather months. And besides enjoying picnics, games or just lounging, you can also hear some incredible music performances in NYC Parks this summer, and all for free.
Many cultural institutions partner with local Parks to bring musical sounds to the public when the weather warms up, and so many have recently been announced that we had to put them all in one, easy-to-read spot so you can start planning out your summer.
Here are all of the free concerts coming to NYC this summer (so far!), outdoors:
Various dates May 27 – September 7 beginning at 7 p.m., the Lawn
See more info on their website here.
This season three different types of musical events will be offered: Sunset on the Hudson, Jazz at Pier 84, and the Blues BBQ Festival.
A free series featuring both established and emerging NYC artists across a broad range of genres. Enjoy this music at 7 p.m. at Pier 45 (West Village) on the following days:
Listen to smooth tunes in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America. Catch the show at 7 p.m. at Pier 84 (Hell’s Kitchen) on the following dates:
Head to the fan-favorite Blues BBQ Festival for beer, BBQ, and blues music. The lineup features artists such as Jackie Venson, Dwayne Dopsie, and Walter Wolfman Washington.
You can find out more specifics on their website here.
Be sure to stick around after each outdoor show for the fireworks that end-cap each performance in a truly spectacular fashion!
Wednesdays at 6 p.m., June 1 – Aug. 3, in the Public Square & Gardens
This two-day music event is filled with performances by 30 women-identified Brooklyn and NYC Americana musicians. They’ll perform original and traditional songs on fiddle, banjo, mandolin, upright bass, ukulele, and more across a range of genres including Country, Folk, Blues, Old Time, Bluegrass, and Jazz. This event will take place the weekend of Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 from 3p.m. – 7p.m. at Pier 6 Liberty Lawn.
For Brooklyn Bridge Park’s 2022 Sounds at Sunset series enjoy music from an exciting and eclectic lineup, where four different music ensembles and acts guide you through genres of folk, jazz, classical, experimental, and luscious spaces in between. Each night at the verdant Pier 3 Greenway Terrace, some of NYC’s finest musical talents share their vision of the present and future in music. Concerts take place on Thursdays at 6 p.m.
This is just a taste! You can see the full schedule on the Summer for the City website here.
Washington Square Park is teaming up with Blue Note to celebrate the ten year tradition of music in the park with the 11th Annual Jazz Festival. The festival will be held at Arch Plaza in WSP on June 1 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. It will feature Grammy-award-winning jazz pianist Robert Glasper, as well as other great talented artists.
Enjoy a mid-week break with performances from singer-songwriters in The Glade.
Enjoy a Friday night out(side) with trivia, drag Bingo, cabaret, piano sing-a-longs and more in The Play Ground.
Saturday nights will be centered around popular music and the American songbook.
Each day will feature multiple free performances throughout the park and be anchored by nightly ticketed performances in The Amph.
The week-long event will culminate with Little Island and the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance co-presenting the Grammy Award Winner Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra: The Cuban Khaleeji Project on Friday, August 19 through Sunday, August 21 for three performances that will transport you to faraway coasts with sounds and rhythms from artists of Afro Latin and Middle Eastern seafaring traditions.
See more here.
Hear Grammy Award-Winning Attacca Quartet perform an instrumental concert inspired by artist Cristina Iglesias’ Landscape and Memory exhibition (the Park’s outdoor art exhibit) on the Oval Lawn.
Sunset Wednesdays, a well-loved series of evening concerts outdoors at Wave Hill, is returning this year. Head to Wave Hill as the sun sets over the Hudson River for a beautiful night of music. Begins July 13.
For the first time ever, Hudson River Park is hosting a series of surprise pop-up music and dance performances for park goers to enjoy!
For over 20 years, the River & Blues series has brought together blues-lovers for an evening of live, soulful music as dusk sets in over the New York Harbor. Learn more here.
This series will happen every Thursday in July at Wagner Park in Battery Park City.