New Yorkers love to be busy all the time, and it is hard not to notice, especially when it comes to the arts and, in particular, concerts. Live music is one of New York City’s best offerings — between Aug. 24 and Aug. 29 alone, there is a wealth of concerts worth seeing.
Whether it is at smaller venues such as Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, Gramercy Theatre and the Mercury Lounge, or larger ones like Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center, city-dwellers never encounter difficulty when searching for a concert.
Several worthwhile live music events will happen simultaneously today. For those looking to go to big concerts, Grammy Award-winning indie pop-rock band Arcade Fire will conclude its three-day takeover of the Barclays Center. Also tonight, at Tompkins Square Park, the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival will finish its free two-day festival and feature up-and-coming East Village talent. Meanwhile, at a more intimate setting, the 250-person capacity Mercury Lounge will be hosting indie folk band Parsonsfield — formerly Poor Old Shine — and Steamboats.
On Aug. 25, Arlene’s Grocery will host Bootleg Glory and She Said Fire. For She Said Fire, the performance is a continuation of the rock band’s free shows at Arlene’s Grocery on every Monday throughout August.
As for the following night, pop-rock indie bands Reckless Serenade and Marina City will surely captivate the crowd at Arlene’s Grocery. Meanwhile, Rubblebucket will take over the Mercury Lounge and Sarah Darling will play before Joe’s Pub’s audience. For the self-described “wild art-pop band” Rubblebucket, its performance on Aug. 26 follows the band’s release of their album “Survival Sounds,” which is due out Aug. 25.
The next night, Aug. 27, the Mercury Lounge will remain a hot spot as British electropop band Fenech Soler will be performing at the venue’s early show, only for British alt-pop duo THUMPERS to play the venue’s later show.
On Aug. 29, rounding off an eventful week, various venues, including The Studio at Webster Hall, Joe’s Pub, Arlene’s Grocery and the Mercury Lounge, will host shows worthy of checking out. Most notably, Emily’s Army, an emerging rock band currently signed to Rise Records, will perform in The Studio at Webster Hall. Competing with that show will be British alt-rock band Runaway Saints at the Mercury Lounge, soulful hip-hop singer Carolyn Malachi at Joe’s Pub and Brooklynite folk singer Brett Saxon at Arlene’s Grocery.
There will never be a night without exciting, fresh live music so be sure to check out one of these great venues.
Alexa Spieler is music editor. Email her at [email protected].
