fireworks (more by Chris La Putt)

The 35th Annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks returns to the West Side to delight New Yorkers and the nation with an awe-inspiring display of patriotic firepower. This year's extravaganza, "Gift of Freedom," will feature more than 40,000 fireworks expertly synchronized to a dynamic 25-minute score that includes a mix of American standards and the hottest pop favorites!

Not in New York? Check out our entertainment
special on NBC, July 4th at 9 pm EST.

"The Fireworks can be viewed from any area with an unobstructed view of the sky above the Hudson River. For the best views, head to 12th Avenue below 59th Street at the following access points along 11th Avenue." Note that: The Westside Highway will be closed from 22nd Street to 59th Street beginning at 4:00 pm. You can also watch from NJ. I wouldn't recommend trying to see them from Brooklyn, though it may be possible if you get up high enough somewhere. One option for watching the fireworks is aboard a Rocks Off ship.

Unfortunately there will NOT be a free concert in Battery Park this year, not that last year's was anything special (for people over 5 years old anyway). There will not be a free show on Governors Island this year either. Last year they had a free She & Him show and a Rosanne Cash show too. This year the beach on Governors will be occupied by a not-free Pacha-presented dance party (part of the four-day Dance.Here.Now. Festival).

4th of July NYC show options are pretty slim in general this year, though Shea Stadium is hosting Summerjam III with Extreme Animals, Sightings, Liturgy, PC Worship, Hubble, La Otracina, Fuckton, In Buenos Aires, Dubknowdub, Black Ribbons, Future Shuttle, and more. Zebulon, Brooklyn Bowl and Barbes are all also open that day.

July 4th is a Monday though, and it's a Monday you probably have off of work (like Bowery Presents does -- all their clubs are closed that day). That means you can stay up late Sunday, July 3rd which is when Panda Bear plays Music Hall of Williamsburg, Tinsel Teeth are at Death By Audio, The Hairs play a free afternoon show at the South Street Seaport Fulton Market, Jaga Jazzist play Le Poisson Rouge, and the Feelies play their third of three Maxwell's shows.

What else?

people watching Sonic Youth in Battery Park (more by Jason Bergman)

The 2010 River to River series of free summer shows in NYC is slowly being announced. As previously mentioned, Genesis member Steve Hackett is playing Rockefeller Park, the Bang on a Can Marathon returns to the World Financial Center in June, kids will be crowding into Battery Park on 4th of July, The Old 97s play South Street Seaport the same day, and other bands play South Street Seaport on other days. Rockfeller Park is located at the north end of Battery Park City, and will also host free shows by Beth Orton and Burning Spear this summer. Castle Clinton, also located in Battery Park, has so far announced Antibalas. Free movies on "The Elevated Acre" at 55 Water Street so far this year include "The Muppets Take Manhattan". Those and other free Battery Park events announced so far, below...

Continue reading "free shows in Battery Park - intitial summer 2010 schedule (Beth Orton, Burning Spear, Antibalas & more) "

Sunday, July 4
Dan Zanes Jam & Jubilee
The Battery 4th of July Concert and Family Festival
Presented by Alliance for Downtown New York
Come celebrate the Fourth of July family style with Grammy-Award-winning artist Dan Zanes and his incredible array of musical friends. Spend the day dancing to the infectious rhythms of Columbian band La Cumbiamba eNeYe, marching with the parade of 76 Trombones, and singing along to Dan's own brand of Broadway classics like you've never heard them before! Bring a blanket and enjoy the lawn along with jugglers, stilt walkers, and a cast of larger than life characters. Free,
1pm doors
2pm La Cumiamba eNeYé,
3pm Dan Zanes and Friends,
4:30 76 Trombones
Battery Park, State Street and Battery Place. Space is limited and entry is on a first-come, first-served basis

The above-described free concert at NYC's Battery Park is an annual tradition, except usually the bill features indie rock. Jenny Lewis and Conor Oberst were last year.

Janelle Monae @ MHOW 4/17 (more by Tim Griffin)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Les Paul @ Iridium
* Burlesque @ Public Assembly
* Rev. Vince Anderson & His Love Choir @ Union Pool
* Peter Murphy (of Bauhaus), modwheelmood @ Highline Ballroom
* Urban Barnyard, Dufus, John Ludington, Andrea Zvaleko @ Cake Shop
* Right on Dynamite, Deleted Scenes, Deep Sea Diver, Michael Runion @ Union Hall
* Talibam!, Up Died Sound, Fragrant Family, Uncle Woody Sullender @ DbA
* Afro-Punk Fest w/ Saul Williams, Janelle Monae, Dallas Austin, Elevator Fight @ BAM

Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir continue their run of free Monday night shows at Union Pool.

Saul Williams (7:30) and Janelle Monae (6:30) headline the third night of music at BAM's Afro-Punk Festival.

Peter Murphy's "Secret Cover" tour makes the first of two NYC stops at the Highline Ballroom tonight. The Bauhaus singer will be at the venue tomorrow night too.

"Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Hudson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and Brooke Shields are among the celebrities scheduled to be involved in Tuesday's Michael Jackson memorial." [LA Times]

"Despite efforts to keep people from profiting from Tuesday's public memorial service for Michael Jackson, scalpers online Monday were asking as much as $9,000 per ticket to the free event." [CNN]

Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band played a free 4th of July show at NYC's Battery Park (Jenny Lewis was there too.) You can see Conor & Co. on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight playing "Spoiled" off Outer South. A video of "Spoiled" from the 4th, as well as "Sausalito" and a cover of "Handle With Care" with Jenny Lewis, below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

photos by Chris La Putt

"[Jenny Lewis's] hour long set (as the opening act for their good friends, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band) featured Lewis classics such as "Acid Tongue", "The Next Messiah" and Rilo Kiley's "Silver Lining" plus one or two new songs. And of course, they pulled Conor Oberst out to join them on one song, at which point he and Lewis pressed their faces together to share the microphone center stage." [Cassie]

"It was nice being able to just lay down and sun-nap for a little while listening to live music." [Spatula Queen]

"The concert was fabulous. The weather was perfect (clear sky, breezy), and there was a great energy in the park. There were tooons of people there.." [my so-called life]

"conor oberst was great. much better than i thought he would be." [Anonymous | July 4, 2009 10:36 PM]

"Kicked it on a blanket in a park listening to those two for hours. Pretty much one of the best afternoons I had ever had." [Typoscura]

Continue reading "Jenny Lewis & Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band @ Battery Park in NYC (July 4th) - pics & setlists"

Jenny Lewis (on a bill w/ Conor) in Austin (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

As suspected, this year's free 'River to River Festival' concert at Battery Park in NYC on July 4th will be headlined by Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band. Jenny Lewis, who also plays a smaller indoor show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 9th, will be opening the NYC show. "This year this event is not ticketed, but space is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis."

Last year's show was Sonic Youth and The Feelies. The year before that was New Pornographers and Midlake. Before that was Belle & Sebastian. Before that was Stephen Malkmus and Yo La Tengo...

All Conor Oberst dates HERE. All Jenny Lewis dates HERE.

Zelda the Turkey in Battery Park - July 4, 2008 (more by Jason Bergman)

today in NYC
* free stuff
* The Gits movie premiere party
* A tribute to the Band @ Living Room
* Crystal Antlers @ Other Music
* The Chapin Sisters @ Pete's Candy Store

Osbournes to make a variety show.

"GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON" is playing at Angelika.

Noah & The Whale cancels NYC shows.

Radiohead ballet.

Video of Sonic Youth playing Battery Park (including the part where Thurston went nuts on the photographers) below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

photos by Jason Bergman

DOWNLOAD: Sonic Youth - Made in USA theme (MP3)

Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers turned out in a light drizzle Friday night to celebrate the nation's 232nd birthday with the annual Fourth of July fireworks display along the East River.

The nationally-televised Macy's Fourth of July Spactacular began around 9:20 p.m., was co-hosted by former New York Giant Tiki Barber and featured musical performances by artists including country singer Kenny Chesney and American Idol Jordin Sparks...

...Some who watched the Macy's show began their evening with a concert in Manhattan's Battery Park.

Sonic Youth and the Feelies played in front of a sold-out crowd of hundreds of thousands at the park's River to River Festival.

"I'm all about music on Fourth of July," said one concert attendee. "I kind of hate running around, fighting traffic and such. I was here summer for Fourth of July for this show, it's a great hang out for music here down in Battery Park."

"Sonic Youth outside, Fourth of July, it's a fantastic bit of Americana," said another.

"I heard it was free and I was just like, 'Wow, I'm really happy.' I've always wanted to see Sonic Youth," said a third. [NY1]

Continue reading "Sonic Youth @ Battery Park (4th of July), NYC - pics, setlist"

photos by Jason Bergman

The Feelies are a rock band from Haledon, New Jersey. They formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1992 after having released four albums. The band reunited in 2008. [Wikipedia]

Continue reading "The Feelies @ Battery Park (4th of July), NYC - pics"

Thurston Moore In Training, Bonnaroo 2007 (snerko)

Tickets are required and space is limited. The tickets are free and will be available by reservation on this website starting at noon on Thursday, June 12. There's a strict limit of 2 per person. You will need to pick up your reserved tickets at one of the specified Downtown locations and times BEFORE July 4th, so please be prepared to do so. The times and locations for pickup will be given to you when you reserve your tickets.

Gates open at 2:00 pm; concert begins at 3:30 pm.

Friday, July 4, 3:30pm
Battery Park
SONIC YOUTH / THE FEELIES TO OPEN
Sonic Youth came on the music scene in the early '80s and continues to be a major force in the indie genre today. Known to "redefine what rock guitar could do," they have created a new sonic landscape rich in alternate sounds. Bring a blanket and come Downtown to enjoy the hits that have earned them a dedicated decades-long following. The Feelies will reunite to open.
Tickets are required and space is limited. FREE.

DOWNLOAD: Spoon - Stay Don't Go (live @ Greek Theatre) (MP3)

Spoon @ Rockefeller Park, NYC - July 11, 2007 (CRED)

After nearly two hours of rain, the skies semi-cleared, allowing for a short window for Spoon to fit in a 45 minute set last night at Rockefeller Park on the Hudson River. [Waved Rumor]

The free NYC Spoon show is Wednesday....

Continue reading "VIDEO: Spoon - 'The Underdog' + FREE SHOW reminder"

DOWNLOAD: The New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour (new MP3)

It started to rain towards the end (CRED)

As advertised, Neko was in the house (CRED)

The played a mix of new and old stuff (CRED)

Midlake opened the show (CRED)

Did anyone have any trouble getting in? More pics by Jonny Leather HERE.

Last year Belle & Sebastian played. Stephen Malkmus and Yo La Tengo did the year before that.

4th of July Ticket Update One Last Chance!

All reserved tickets to the July 4th concert featuring The New Pornographers with Midlake at Battery Park that have not already been picked up have been released.

The good news is there is a second chance to get tickets: any remaining tickets (and supply is limited) will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9 am on July 4th in Battery Park near Castle Clinton. Click HERE for a map with the exact location.

Looking forward to a fun-filled 4th - see you there!

DOWNLOAD: Midlake - Roscoe (Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve remix) (MP3)

Midlake - SXSW 2007 (CRED)

Midlake are opening for The New Pornographers at Battery Park on July 4th. Check out my growing list of NYC's summer concerts.

New Pornographers played outside in Toronto in February (CRED)

The New Pornographers are busy working on their 4th album which should come out some time this year. Billboard talked to Carl Newman. He assured them that Dan Bejar (Destroyer) and Neko Case are still in the (recording) mix

Newman is particularly high on the three Dan Bejar-penned songs tipped for the set, including "Myriad Harbor." Vocalist Neko Case also takes the mic on three songs, one of which, "Go Places," is described by Newman as "kind of like" the early '70s country hit "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden." "Maybe that's just my warped take on it," he offers. "I'm kind of fascinated by that song because it's one of the biggest departures for us. I'm trying to figure out how to Pornografy-it."

New Pornographers, 2007 Tour Dates
4/28 - Indio, CA @ Coachella Music Festival
7/04 - NY, NY @ The Lawn @ Battery Park
7/15 - Chicago IL @ the Pitchfork Music Festival

The July 4th show is the annual free Matador Independence Day show at Battery Park in NYC that last year featured Belle & Sebastian, and had Stephen Malkmus and Yo La Tengo on the bill the year before that.

Add this to the growing list of known free (and not-free) summer concerts happening in NYC this year.

In 2005 The New Ponographers played Prospect Park. In 2006 they played Central Park Summerstage.

I couldn't get a ticket. Luckily Jerry Yeti was there. He wrote this post....

"Maybe I'll read off the sponsors again" the MC joked to the audience yesterday as the rain died off and Belle & Sebastian were about to take the stage. He didn't, but he did quiz us on the founding sponsor of the River to River Festival. Hint: it has the word "American" in it and it's not American Apparel.

Continue reading "Belle & Sebastian played in Battery Park"

Tickets are required and space is limited. Two tickets per person will be distributed free, first come – first served on Tuesday, June 27th at the following Starbucks Coffee locations:

Continue reading "get your Belle & Sebastian tix @ Starbucks"

NYC's River to River Festival just announced the official initial lineup of FREE NYC summer concerts. This includes the shows at South Street Seaport, Battery Park, and the World Financial Center. Previously announced highlights include Hot Chip, Richard Hawley, Okkervil River, The Hold Steady, Eels, Smoosh, Alex Chilton, Super Furry Animals, and Son Volt. All of those are now confirmed. New surprises include 4th of July with Belle & Sebastian, Mates of State at Castle Clinton, and a confirmation that Ted Leo is playing the Seaport for the 5th year in a row.

Keep reading for everything....

Continue reading "2006 River to River Festival Schedule | Belle & Sebastian, etc."

On July 4th, 2005, NYC & Matador Records gave us a free Laura Cantrell, Stephen Malkmus (Pavement), & Yo La Tengo concert in Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.

By the time I got there, Malkmus was half way through his set (he played second). The line was huge. You could hear outside the gated area, but people were crammed into every available spot. Even when headliner Yo La Tengo finished their fourth song, the line to get strip searched and OK'd for entry was still massive. After listening for a bit from across the street, and taking pictures of a turkey that was chillin' in a tree near the entrance, I took off. I had a rooftop to get to anyway.

Continue reading "Stephen Malkmus, Yo La Tengo & Turkey @ Battery Park, NYC | Pics"

MOTHERFUCKER @ SPIRIT (approx. 1am)

STACHE @ 6s & 8s (approx. 3am)

Later today, concert in Battery Park:
3:30 PM Laura Cantrell
4:20 PM Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
6:00 PM Yo La Tengo

Then fireworks