The Best Concert Venues in New York City
No matter what type of concert experience you are looking for, New York City has a venue for you! From the hallowed tiers of Carnegie Hall to the graffiti splatter of CBGB’s, it isn’t difficult to fill every night of your calendar with a “must see band”. After all, there is a reason why New York is a music mecca. Every genre of music has found an audience here. Greenwich Village set the stage for the folk scene. Punk first thrashed on some our hole-in-the-wall stages. We have seen The Rolling Stones rock the goliath that is Madison Square Garden and the more intimate Roseland Ballroom – all on the same tour. So, if you want to know where to go to get your groove on – keep on scrolling down for the 411 on some of the best.
The Beacon Theatre, located on the upper westside, could easily be called a faded beauty. The classic molding is decaying rapidly, the plush left the chairs some time ago, but that being said – we wouldn’t have it any other way. What the Beacon does have going for it is that for a mid-sized venue, there isn’t a bad seat in the house and, oh yeah, some of the most hallowed names in music grace its stage every year. The Allman Brothers play a whole slew of dates year after year. Robert Plant, Bob Dylan and Crosby Stills & Nash are just a few of the legends that have played in the last couple of months. The Beacon also hosts gospel events and comedians, but it’s mostly a venue for classic rocks greats. Tickets go fast here and almost every show will sell out so if you want to catch a show here, plan ahead.
Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, The Bitter End is a hold over from the vibrant folk scene of the 1960s. It caters mostly to NYU students now and is primarily a place for new bands to showcase their talent but, It’s still a place with a lot of history. A painted mural over the bar features just a few of the acts that have played there – Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Linda Ronstadt and many, many others. The stage is basically a raised platform, but it makes for one of the more intimate venues in the city. It’s a tiny place and fills up quickly, especially on the weekends. There are a few tables, but the wait staff usually requires a two drink minimum if you want to sit. Grab a drink and mix and mingle!
Bowery Ballroom might be located in the middle of what was once the seedy lower east side, but that never kept concert goers away. It is and always has been one of the heartbeats of the indie music scene. Here is where the young, hip and beautiful gather – both onstage and off. Don’t be surprised if the talent onstage is actually underage though- Bowery Ballroom gets the best and gets them while they’re young. There’s a lounge downstairs with a full-service bar, but if you want to really take in the scene than hit the bar a flight up from the ballroom floor. There’s a wonderful balcony with tiny tables. This is the best spot to watch the on-stage action without getting elbowed on the floor. But, if you want to get in on the action on the floor, grab your spot early. It isn’t unusual to see loyal fans camping out in front of the stage a couple of hours before the headliner plays. Tickets for Bowery are still reasonable and you usually get to see three different bands before the night is out.
Carnegie Hall is one of the most esteemed venues in New York City, but it never seems to have found stable footing with an audience. This gorgeous venue, blocks from Central Park and located on ritzy 57th Street, always seems to be searching for an identity. In the 1960s, Carnegie Hall hosted some of the most famous popular acts of the day. Simon and Garfunkel, Carole King and Joni Mitchell, among many others all played legendary sets there. Once the folkies vacated though, the venue was swallowed up by the classical scene. These days, you’re more likely to see a 12 year old violin virtuoso than someone with a guitar, but this is slowly changing. Carnegie Hall is once again opening up its doors to more popular acts. Beach Boys great Brian Wilson brought his critically-acclaimed Smile Tour to the venue. There truly isn’t a bad seat in the house, so if you’re on a tight budget, don’t hesitate to get an upper tier seat, you’ll still have a great time.
CBGB is probably the most famous/notorious music venue in New York City. CBGB stands for Country Blue Grass Blues, but it is most famous for the punk acts that have exploded off its stage. The Ramones were almost permanent residents. The Talking Heads and Blondie also got their start here. You can argue that CBGB might not get the most talented bands in the city anymore, but the star is really the venue. It may be a hole in the wall at the very end of Bleeker St., but it’s the kind of hole that tourists pose in front of night after night. The crowd is eclectic and can range from uptown chic to downtown punk, but everyone is welcome. The walls are papered with decades worth of flyers and band stickers. The place fills up quickly, but if you’re short and want a better view of the stage, don’t hesitate to stand on a chair – everyone else will be grabbing them. It’s a beautiful mess of a place! The landmark venue is currently in a battle with it’s landlord and faces eviction, but don’t expect this club to go down with out one hell of a bloody fight!
Irving Plaza is probably one of the best bets when it comes to getting the most for your dollar. Located a few blocks away from Gramercy Park, it’s a small general admission venue with a balcony for those who don’t want to be in the thick of the crowd. It’s also a 16+ venue so you can bring the younger club goers without a problem. Be sure to check keep an eye on their schedule, because you never know exactly what you’re going to get. Irving Plaza has hosted a whole slew of upcoming indie bands (it’s mostly what they’re known for) but they have also welcomed huge music stars such as Ringo Starr and Dolly Parton onto their tiny stage. If you want to see a “name” musician here, get tickets immediately – they go incredibly fast. Be warned that tickets for some shows can only be gotten the old-fashioned way – i.e. lining up outside the box office on the day of sale.
Lincoln Center is probably best known for its picture-postcard fountain and grand history. If opera and classical music are your thing – look no further. However, Lincoln Center has been trying to branch out these days in search of a younger audience. They’ve recently hosted world and newer acts along with reaching out to the some of the classic folkies who’ll still put on a show once in a while. Tickets for any sort of performance at Lincoln Center will definitely put a dent in your wallet, so plan your trip carefully.
For a full-blown big concert experience, a trip to Madison Square Garden is a must. Besides being one of the most famous arenas in the country, every huge band will stop here. Yes, it is big but there is nothing more exhilarating than a sold-out show at the Garden. The acoustics are good and the energy of the crowds here are legendary. Its one of the reasons why bands always mention New York City as one of their favorite shows. The Garden loves big rock acts and this can also mean extremely pricey floor tickets. Since every show here is almost a “must-see”, grab a top tier ticket and bring your binoculars. They also have screens so you’ll be able to see U2, Madonna or Paul McCartney close-up. When the top tours go on sale here, make sure your ticketmaster account is ready. Madison Square Garden may be huge, but it’s famous for selling out some shows in mere minutes.
If you want to take in the freshest of the fresh and the newest of the new, band-wise than plan a trip to The Mercury Lounge. Tucked away on the lower east side, this is a great place to really support indie music. It’s the type of venue where bands make debuts, but don’t be fooled. You have to be good to be booked at Mercury. The vibe is usually pleasant compared to most music joints. Don’t be surprised to see the bands mixing with their fans at the bar after their sets. Most of them are young kids from out of town, so stop by and say “hi” to them. They really do appreciate it. You can catch a three band set almost any night of the week at Mercury, but things don’t really start happening until about 10:00 p.m. Hit this one on the weekend!
Radio City Music Hall is more than just the home of the Rockettes. In fact, it has undergone a major renaissance in the past few years. Besides being totally remodeled (don’t worry the historical feel is still intact), the venue has worked vigorously to re-establish itself as a first-class music haunt for people of all ages. Don’t be surprised to see a three-night stand by Elton John followed by a night with popular new band Maroon 5. Radio City has done an amazing job at drawing younger fans without tarnishing its reputation with music lovers of a certain age. If you plan to catch a show at Radio City, please be sure to arrive early. They are very thorough when it comes to inspecting purses, shopping bags etc. Long lines are to be expected, but the shows on stage always make it worth the wait.
If you’re looking for an old-school feel than step inside Roseland Ballroom. Yes, it maybe a ballroom in the sense that it is a large general admission open space, but leave your proper dancing shoes at home and put on a pair of hip flip flops instead. You never know quite what you’re going to get at Roseland, but it always seems to be something special. Acts range from the eclectic like Jimmy Eat World to superstars like The Rolling Stone. Granted, you won’t see huge acts like the Stones here too often, but when that blue moon occurs, it will be the place to be. As with all general admission venues, be sure to gauge exactly where you want to be ahead of time. If you absolutely have to be at the front of the stage, make sure you can handle it when people start pushing from behind. It can get aggressive at Roseland, but when Mick Jagger is up on stage egging his worshippers on – it’s to be expected.
Whether you want to see a rock and roll legend or the latest techno kid on the block, New York City is the place. With its wide range of venues, you are sure to find a spot that will suit each and every music-lover in your party. In fact, you could easily plan a trip that would involve just hopping from venue to venue. But even if you only have time to catch one or two show at New York City venues – you’ll probably remember them for a lifetime.
