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Last updated February 27, 2008

Well, summer is finally over, but the nice weather continues and there is still music to be found.. Central Park SummerStage will host the New York World Festival on Sunday, September 16th, with workshops and performances beginnig at 1:30 PM.

Madison Square Studio continues on Saturday afternoons into October, finishing up with Sloan Wainwright on Sept. 29th and Cephas & Wiggins on Oct. 3rd. River to River Festival will keep going into September as well.

The Public Theater will present Joe's Pub in the Park, an assortment of free and paid shows at Delacorte Theater that will include a 40th Anniversary concert performance of Hair on September 22nd, 23rd and 24th, as well as Michelle Shocked with Toshi Reagon on September 28th.

Trinity Concerts, those great folks who brought us Folks on the Island , will end the summer on September 16th with free music and BBQ in Trinity Churchyard. Click here for more info.

As always, we will keep you up-to-date with any concerts that are announced. Visit us here often, and sign up for our mailing list to keep informed!

Summer overview:

Central Park SummerStage gets underway June 8th with a benefit show starring Joss Stone. There's a solid list of free shows this year, along with some benefits to help foot the bill. The free highlights include Cassandra Wilson and Olu Dara (June 15th), Television (June 16th), Rodrigo y Gabriela (July 1), Neko Case (July 20th), the Wild Style 25th Anniversary Reunion (July 29th) and (my favorite!) the annual New Orleans show with Galactic, Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians and the Soul Rebels Brass Band (saw them at Jazz Fest - amazing!).

Celebrate Brooklyn opens with the Neville Brothers on June 14th (love that N'awlins music!), and rolls on with Joan Osborne on June 16th and the legendary Richard Thompson on June 21st. The (also legendary) Ralph Stanley brings bluegrass to Brooklyn on June 22nd. The summer will also bring Bobby Blue Bland, The Hold Steady, Dan Zanes (bring the kiddies!), and a Doc Pomus tribute that will include Ben E. King and Shannon McNally.

The River to River Festival (which includes South Street Seaport, World Financial Center, Battery Park, Battery Park City and Castle Clinton) has another great season coming up. Alexandro Escoveda and Roky Erickson open at Castle Clinton on June 2nd, with Booker T. & the MGs on June 13th, Susan McKeown on June 26th, John Pizzarelli (June 27th), The New Pornographers (July 4th) and many, many more. Something new this year is the American Folk Music Festival on Governors Island, which will feature Odetta, Richie Havens and tributes to Harry Chapin and Woody Guthrie.

Staying on the waterfront, the Hudson River Park hosts Take Me to the River, with shows including Joan Jett (June 28th), the Blind Boys of Alabama and Trombone Shorty (July 12th) and the Blues BBQ on August 19th (always a highlight of my summer!).

Are you free in the daytime? If so, there are great shows at lunchtime at the BAM Concerts at MetroTech (downtown Brooklyn). Incredible music - just don't let the boss catch you sneaking off for a long lunch!

Still have some free time? J & R Music World sponsors the Downtown Summerfest in City Hall Park in June. They will have free shows at various times during the summer, including the J & R Jazz Fest in August. There are 7 AM shows in Bryant Park, along with Broadway showcases at lunchtime. The Today Show Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza is another opportunity for earlybirds (7 AM).

If your tastes tend toward the indie scene, the Siren Music Festival takes place in Coney Island on July 21st, and has been described as an indie Woodstock in the shadow of the Cyclone. (Don't forget the Mermaid Parade on June 24th!) Just added - Pool Parties - free concerts on Sundays at McCarren Park in Williamsburg.

Long Islanders aren't left out. Check out the great shows at Heckscher Park in Huntington which include Eric Lindell on June 23rd, Average White Band on July 28th and Steve Forbet highlighting the Huntington Folk Festival on August 11th. If that sounds good, there is also the Long Island Bluegrass Festival on August 18th with Ricky Skaggs, and the LI Traditional Music Association will host Molly Mason and Jay Unger at their Fiddle Fest on August 26th. (Not free, but worth the few bucks!) Lincoln Center Out of Doors has announced this year's lineup, which includes David Brubeck, Arlo Guthrie, Tom Paxton and much, much more throughout August. My favorite is always the Roots of American Music Festival on August 18th and 19th.. Also, don't forget the Town Of Hempstead's concerts, Town of North Hempstead, Town of Oyster Bay and B103 Radio.

Summer in the city is not complete without the Philharmonic in the Park. For you real high brows, there is always the Metropolitan Opera in the Parks .

Speaking of summer traditions in New York, we can't leave out Shakespeare in the Park. This year they will be presenting Romeo and Juliet; opening June 5th and running thru July 8th, and A Midsummer Night's Dream runs from August 7th to September 9th. Other park traditions include the Washington Square Music Festival, Naumberg Concerts, and the Jazzmobile all over town. The city's parks are great all over town - check out CityParks Concerts for links in all the boroughs. And Madison Square Park has free music on Wednesday evenings June 20th to August 8th, opening with Lucy Kaplansky and including James Hunter (July 18th) and the Wood Brothers (August 8th). (Don't forget to hit the Shake Shack!)

Check the WFUV website for concerts and venues - the best music radio in New York!

Make Music New York will take place for the first time soon June 21st. This event, based on France's Fete de la Musique, will take place in over 300 cities worldwide and brings free music to public spaces throughout the city.

Most importantly, sign up for our email list so you can stay informed of upcoming concerts.

Free is good!

Last updated
February 27, 2008

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