If Music be your favorite food, then New York City is the right place for you.
There are plenty of options for music connoisseurs and while several may not be free you can still manage to get in for a low price.
You just have to keep your ears open to the sounds of music in NYC.
Carnegie Hall
154 Seventh Ave
(At W.57th St)
New York, NY 10019
Ph: 212-247-7800
Carnegie Hall opened its doors in 1891 and is now one of the world’s great concert venues with three halls.
Carnegie Hall offers multiple Discount Programs.
Cheap Public Rush Tickets $10 on day of concert at Box Office but limited quantities. Partial View Tickets: 50% of full ticket price (excludes family concerts and galas)
Read about Carnegie Hall’s various Discount Programs here.
Box Office Hours: Mon-Sat 11AM-6PM Sun 12PM-6PM June 1-Aug 21 Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM
Subway: A, B, C, D, 1 to 59 St-Columbus Circle; N, Q, R to 57 St-7 Ave; B, D, E to 7Ave; F to 57 St-Sixth Ave
Web site: http://www.carnegiehall.org
New York Philharmonic
Avery Fisher Hall
101 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023
Ph: 212-875-5656
Alas, New York Philharmonic has sold its soul to the Devil, anointing the financial services firm Credit Suisse as its Global Sponsor. You can see the infernal name right there on the home page of the New York NY Philharmonic’s web site.
No wonder New York Philharmonic Tickets are expensive.
Cheaper Options:
Open Rehearsals $18. Usually starts at 9:45AM in the Avery Fisher Hall and ends at 12:30PM. There’s a $2 handling fee (whatever that nonsense means) for online and phone orders. So get your ticket in person.
Students can purchase Rush Tickets for $12.50 up to 10-days in advance for select concerts online at the New York Philharmonic web site or at the box office on day of performance. Valid Student ID required.
FREE – Annual memorial concert in late May at the Cathedral Church of St.John is free to the public.
Annual Concerts in the Park series is FREE to the plebeians a.k.a. the 99% public. It includes a total of five outdoor concerts in various parks and one indoor concert. Limited seating for the FREE indoor concert.
Subway To Avery Hall: 1 to 66 St
Web site: http://www.nyphil.org
Juilliard Orchestra Annual Commencement Concert
Juilliard music and dance school’s commencement concert is free, as are most of its 700 dance, drama, and music performances each season.
High demand for the commencement concert, so get your tickets early.
FREE
Date: Late May
Ph: 212-769-7406
Web site: http://events.juilliard.edu
Howl Festival
Tompkins Square Park
East Village
New York, NY
FREE
June 1-3, 2012
Music, Dance, Poetry, Art and More. Outdoor festival inspired by Allen Ginsberg.
Details: http://www.howlfestival.com
4 Knots Music Festival
South Street Seaport, Pier 17
July 14, 2012 1PM-8PM
FREE
Features renowned and emerging artists
Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, M to Fulton St; A, C to Broadway-Nassau
Walk east on Fulton St toward Water Street and East River
Web site: http://microapp.villagevoice.com/4knots/2012/
Great GoogaMooga
Prospect Park
Brooklyn
Free Music
May 19-20, 2012
Subway: Q, S, B to Prospect Park; 2, 3 to Grand Army Plaza
Web site: http://www.googamooga.com
Look and Listen Festival
Ph: 718-622-3005
When: Month of May
Launched in 2002, Look and Listen is now annual event that presents new music in NYC art galleries.
Single ticket $15; All-Festival Pass $35
Web site: http://www.lookandlisten.org
Pete’s Candy Store
709 Lorimer St
(Between Frost St & Richardson St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Ph: 718-302-3770
Eat, drink, live music but cramped place
Hours: Mon-Wed 5PM-2AM; Thu, Sat 5PM-4AM Fri 4PM-4AM Sun 3:30PM-2AM
Subway: L to Lorimer St or Bedford Ave; G to Metropolitan Ave
Web site: http://www.petescandystore.com
Living Room
154 Ludlow St
(Between Rivington St and Stanton St)
New York, NY 10002
Ph: 212-533-7235
Hours: Sun-Thur 4PM-2AM Fri-Sat 4PM-4AM
Subway: F to 2 Ave
Founded by a music lover Jennifer Gilson, Living Room on the lower East Side is a hot favorite of both performers and music fans eager to listen to new talent.
No cover charge for most nights but there’s a one drink minimum per set and a $10 suggested donation to the musicians’ tip jar.
With multiple acts a day, it’s imperative you bookmark their calendar.
Web site: http://www.livingroomny.com/calendar
The National Underground
159 E.Houston St
New York, NY 10003
Ph: 212-475-0611
Hours: 12PM-4AM
Subway: F to 2nd Ave
No cover charges. Multiple shows a day. Open Mic nights Mon 7PM
Web site: http://thenationalunderground.com/newyorkupstairsshows.html
Riverside Park
Upper West Side
New York, NY
A few years back, I stumbled upon a FREE al fresco music ‘concert’ at the park and spent a delightful 45-minutes.
You just have to keep your ears open to the sounds of FREE music in NYC.
Ear Inn
326 Spring St
(Between Greenwich and Washington St)
New York, NY10013
Ph: 212-226-9060
Hours: 12PM-4AM
A designated NYC landmark, this old tavern features live music Mon & Wed Midnight-3AM and Sunday evening 8PM-11PM
Subway: C, E to Spring St 1 to Canal St or Houston St
Web site: http://www.earinn.com