You’ve recovered from Memorial Day weekend and survived the long return trip home. Now it’s time to rock out to some awesome summer shows this year. Quite honestly, it just wouldn’t be summer here in the Big Apple without some live music, and there’s plenty of it this season for both the sophisticated and casual music fan. The noticeable difference this time around is the absence of Brooklyn’s Northside Festival, which had been a steady presence for about a decade. Fortunately, one can always count on Celebrate Brooklyn!, which this year marks its 40th anniversary of offering the best in (mostly free) live music: The National, Courtney Barnett, Jason Isbell, Patti LaBelle, and Liz Phair are just some of the marquee acts who will be appearing on stage at Prospect Park.
But Celebrate Brooklyn! is not the only game in town for summer music. Another long-running institution is BAM R&B Festival at MetroTech, which highlights both old school R&B and emerging artists—among them Nona Hendryx, Roy Ayers, Van Hunt and Ruthie Foster. The Summer Series at Industry City, curated by the team behind the Bell House, CityFarm Presents, has a particularly incredible lineup this year, with Lion Babe, Blonde Redhead, Lee Scratch Perry, Antibalas and more on the calendar. And the Afropunk Festival has established itself as the preeminent showcase for cutting-edge and empowering R&B/hip-hop—this year’s killer lineup features jazz great Kamasi Washington, blues star Gary Clark, and R&B powerhouse Jill Scott. Meanwhile Coney Island is not just about the beach, the Cyclone and Nathan’s—the Ford Amphitheater on the boardwalk features a diverse program of shows that appeals to generations of music listeners, from Lost ‘80s Live to hip-hop royalty Wu-Tang Clan. And for a few dollars more, both Forest Hills Stadium and Governors Ball boast superstar names, including the reunited Strokes, Kacey Musgraves and Morrissey.
Here’s a partial list of notable performers who should be on your summer live music radar.
Photo: Governors Ball
The Governors Ball Music Festival, Randall’s Island, May 31-June 2
Performers include Tyler the Creator, Lil Wayne, The Strokes, Nas, Soccer Mommy, Lily Allen, Charli XCX, Florence + the Machine, Kacey Musgraves, Mitski and more.
The National (Graham Macindoe)
Celebrate Brooklyn, Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn
Below are select shows, visit the site for the full lineup.
June 12-13
The National/Courtney Barnett
June 19
Father John Misty/Jason Isbell
June 20
Tank and the Bangas
June 29
Liz Phair
July 12
Gaby Moreno & Friends / Enjambre / El David Aguilar
July 13
Salif Keita
Blonde Redhead.
CityFarm Presents Summer Series, Industry City, 238 36th St., Brooklyn
Below are select shows, visit the site for the full lineup.
June 1
Everyday People
June 5
Lion Babe
June 7
Lady Wray
June 8
Frankie Cosmos
June 13
Bombino
June 14
Blonde Redhead
June 15
Fleetmac Wood Gold Dust Disco
June 21
Slothrust
July 14
Kid Koala
July 19
Nick Hakim
Sept 21
Lee Scratch Perry
Sept 27
Guided by Voices
Sept 28
Antibalas
Morrissey. Photo: Monika Stolarska
Forest Hills Stadium, 1 Tennis Place, Queens
Below are select shows, visit the site for the full lineup.
June 15
Death Cab for Cutie/Jenny Lewis
July 24
Elvis Costello/Blondie
August 1
Chemical Brothers
August 2
August 17
Beck/Cage the Elephant
Sept 7
Morrissey
The Specials. Photo: Granstand Media
Brooklyn Steel, 319 Frost Street, Brooklyn
Below are select shows, visit the site for the full lineup.
June 14
The Specials
July 31
Snail Mail
August 3
Bad Religion
Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 North 6th Street, Brooklyn
Below are select shows, visit the site for the full lineup.
July 17
Aimee Mann/Jonathan Coulton
July 19
Mekons
The Regrettes. Photo: Claire Marie Vogel
Rough Trade, 64 North 9th Street, Brooklyn
Below are select shows, visit the site for the full lineup.
June 21
Titus Andronicus
July 11
Pronoun
August 9
The Regrettes
Fantastic Negrito. Photo: DeAndre Forks
BAM R&B Festival at MetroTech, 304 Bridge Street, Brooklyn
June 6
Nona Hendryx with Vernon Reid
June 20
Roy Ayers
July 18
Fantastic Negrito
August 1
Ruthie Foster
August 15
Van Hunt
Wu-Tang Clan. Photo: Napalm filled tires via Wikimedia Commons
Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk,Coney Island, Brooklyn
June 16
Wu-Tang Clan
July 19
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
July 20
Saturday Night Fever
Featuring Thelma Houston, the Delfonics, Tavares, the Trammps, and others.
August 2
Lost ‘80s Live
Featuring A Flock of Seagulls, the Motels, the Vapors, Dramarama and others.
August 10
One Africa Music Festival
August 22
Boyz II Men
Patty Griffin. Photo: Michael Wilson
Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center, Manhattan
Below are select shows, visit the site for the full lineup.
July 26
Jeff Tweedy
July 27
Look at My Soul: The Latin Shade of Texas Soul
July 28
Caribbean Cultural Center
August 8
OkayAfrica: Gold and Soul
August 10
Patty Griffin
August 11
Roots of American Music Weekend: Americanafest NYC
Bikini Kill. Photo: Jonathan Charles / CC BY-SA 2.0
Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Avenue
Below are select shows, visit the site for the full lineup.
June 4 and June 5
Bikini Kill
June 8
RBRM-4 the Love of It Tour
(featuring members of New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe)
Sept. 17
Andrew Bird
Kurt Vile. Photo: Matador Records
SummerStage, Central Park, Rumsey Playfield, Manhattan
Below are select shows, visit the site for the full lineup.
June 4
One Nation Under a Groove Farewell Tour with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
June 15
DeJohnette-Coltrane-Garrison Trio
June 24
Japanese Breakfast
June 26
Alvvays
July 25
Kurt Vile
July 31
Fela! The Concert
August 3
Taiwanese Waves (showcasing women of contemporary Taiwanese music)
August 4
Corinne Bailey Rae/Jose James
Brasil Summerfest, July 21-August 3, various venues throughout NYC
The contemporary Brazilian music and culture festival is marking its ninth year this summer.
Afropunk Brooklyn 2018 Photo: Edna Holifield
Afropunk Fest, Commodore Barry Park, August 24-25
Acts include Jill Scott, FKA Twigs, Kamasi Washington, Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr., Santigold, Toro Y Moi, and more.
Amazing and fun. Keep me posted http://rockyvibes.com