Every year NYC's Madison Square Park, located at 23rd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues, hosts a series of free "Oval Lawn Series" concerts in the summer. This year is no different...

Continue reading "Madison Square Park 2013 Free Concert Schedule"

Tift Merritt in Madison Square Park 2012 (more by Chris La Putt)

The free 2012 Oval Lawn Series launches in NYC's Madison Square Park (between 5th and Madison Ave and 23rd and 26th St.) tonight (6/20) at 7PM with James Maddock and His Band and will continue every Wednesday through Aug. 8.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of free shows in Madison Square Park (where the Big Apple BBQ also happens). The full schedule with showtimes is listed below...

Continue reading "Madison Square Park 2012 free show schedule (starts tonight)"

Following Ad Rock's lead, Mike D posted a message and picture of his own to the Beastie Boys Facebook and blog...

I know, we should have tweeted and instagrammed every sad, happy and inspired thought, smile or tear by now. But honestly the last few days have just been a blur of deep emotions for our closest friend, band mate and really brother. I miss Adam so much. He really served as a great example for myself and so many of what determination, faith, focus, and humility coupled with a sense of humor can accomplish. The world is in need of many more like him. We love you Adam. BTW this photo sent to me by a friend, (thanks Saslow) is just one awesome example of how NYC is such a unique place that amidst it's huge size and frenetic pace it really opens up it's heart in so many ways and on on so many levels in times like these. And though it makes me cry sometimes, it has been really amazing and moving to see.
Mike

He included the above picture from inside Madison Square Garden which is a nice accompaniment to our previously posted picture from outside MSG.

In related news, someone posted video of the entire benefit show the Beastie Boys played at Hiro Ballroom in 2006. Watch below...

Continue reading "Mike D posted a message too, pic from inside MSG included"

JC Brooks @ BV-SXSW 2012 (more by Nate Igor Smith)

The most non-vegan, free NYC event of the year once again curates a great lineup of rock and soul to accompany the food at Madison Square Park on June 9th and 10th. Bands and set times listed below...

Continue reading "Big Apple BBQ 2012 music lineup announced"

David Wax Museum at B.O.M.B. Fest in May (more by Eric M. Townsend)

"David Wax is a rabbi in New Jersey recently accused of murder, but that's not the David Wax who fronts the David Wax Museum, a Latin folk band! This is all a terrible coincidence. David Wax and the other members play a raucous, Mexican-tinged folk music that also pays homage to indie rock (but without any ironic detachment)."
[Express Night Out]

David Wax Museum kicked off a run of summer dates at Clearwater Festival last month. They've got more scheduled through September including a free NYC show tonight (7/27) in Madison Square Park, before they hit the SOLD OUT Newport Folk Festival this weekend. Tonight's show is part of the Madison Square Music Oval Lawn Series, which presents free music in Madison Square Park every Wednesday through August 10. Doors open at 7 PM.

Wanda Jackson, who also plays Newport, plays a free show in NYC tonight (7/27) too. Hers is at Central Park Summerstage with Imeida May.

The Head and the Heart also play Newport and have more shows coming up including 3 headlining shows in NYC, and one at the Dave Matthews Band Caravan which hits Governors Island for three days (8/26-28). They play Governors Island that Saturday, as do David Wax Museum (don't hold it against them).,

All David Wax tour dates, a video of them performing at NPR's Tiny Desk, and a new live video too, below...

Continue reading "David Wax Museum plays Madison Square Park today before heading to Newport w/ Wanda Jackson & many more (dates)"

photos by Chris La Putt

After a slight rain delay, alt country chanteuse Tift Merritt played a 90 minute free show in NYC's Madison Square Park last night (6/22). Backed by a full band, her setlist included a new song she wrote last week and a lot of songs off 2010's See You On The Moon. There's a picture of the setlist below though they didn't stick exactly to that.

In other Tift news, she has written a song or two to the soundtrack of the upcoming animated Dorothy of Oz movie which stars Lea Michele as Dorothy Gale, Dan Aykroyd as The Scarecrow, James Belushi as The Cowardly Lion, Hugh Dancy as Marshall Mallow, Kelsey Grammer as The Tin Man, Megan Hilty as China Princess, Oliver Platt as Wiser the Owl, Martin Short as The Jester, Patrick Stewart as Tugg, and Robert Nathaniel Bouchard as Munchkin #2. Megan gives Tift a shoutout in a video about the movie you can watch HERE, and there's a Tift mention on the movie's official site too. If you click around enough you'll find it.

Check out more pictures and some videos from the NYC show, and her remaining tour dates, below.

Continue reading "Tift Merritt played Madison Square Park (pics & video), contributed music to Dorothy Of Oz"

David Bazan @ ACL 2010 (more by Tim Griffin)

New York, NY-WFUV will celebrate the June launch of The Alternate Side on WNYE (91.5 FM) with an acoustic performance by songwriter (and driving force behind the acclaimed indie band Pedro the Lion) David Bazan in Madison Square Park (Madison Avenue at 23rd Street) on Wednesday, June 22nd at 2:00 PM. The Alternate Side DJs Russ Borris and Alisa Ali will be on-hand to host. The concert is free and open to the general public. As of June 1st, The Alternate Side, the independent music service produced by WFUV, has been airing weekday mornings from 6:00 AM to Noon on the NYC Media-owned WNYE. The service will also continue to be available around the clock at thealternateside.org and 90.7FM HD3, as well as weeknights from 10:00 PM. to midnight on WFUV (90.7FM, wfuv.org).

Take a late lunch or something and head to Madison Square Park for this free concert by the great David Bazan who also headlines Bowery Ballroom tonight (6/22). Tickets for the Bowery show are still on sale.

Tift Merritt also plays Madison Square Park, just a few hours after David, at 6pm 7pm.

Opening the Bowery show and a bunch of David Bazan dates, is S Carey aka Sean Carey of Bon Iver's band who spent the last two days appearing on Colbert and Fallon with Justin. Hopefully Justin returns the favor and shows up at Bowery Ballroom (honestly no clue if he will though).

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "David Bazan playing Madison Square Park before Bowery to celebrate The Alternate Side on WNYE (updated dates)"

photos by Lori Baily & Ted Barron

DOWNLOAD: Tift Merritt & Norman Blake - Thirteen (Big Star) (MP3)

Tift Merritt w/ Matthew Sweet & friends @ the Big Star Tribute in March (by Lori)

Tift Merritt's is now on tour with Stephen Kellogg, and though tickets are unfotunately sold-out for their show at City Winery (May 6th), she has added another NYC show and this time it's FREE. Tift Merritt will play Madison Square Park on June 22nd at 6PM after her tour with Kellogg, but before she heads out on a string of UK dates with Greg Allman. All tour dates are below.

Add the June 22nd free show to the growing list of free shows happening Madison Square Park this summer. Another is the music portion of the Big Apple BBQ.

Tift Merritt joined an all-star cast that stood up in praise of the late great Alex Chilton (of Big Star) at Baruch College on March 26th, a shade more than one year after he suffered a fatal heart attack. Big Star's Third was the focus of the show, and it featured a revolving cast of musicians on vocals....

"Stipe's performance of "Kanga Roo" was at once fragile and unbowed, while his R.E.M. cohort, singer-bassist Mike Mills, found the holiday in the Christmas song "Jesus Christ." Alternative-country singer Tift Merritt was a vital female addition, showing that the vengeful kick of "You Can't Have Me" could go both ways. Other voices included Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo ("O, Dana," "Take Care"), Norman Blake of the Scottish band Teenage Fanclub ("Nightime"), Matthew Sweet ("Big Black Car") and Django Haskins of the group The Old Ceremony, who carried the bleak weight of "Holocaust" with a wise plain poise." [Rolling Stone]

During the encore Tift performed "Thirteen" with Norman Blake. A recording of that cover from the show is avaialble for download above. A set of pictures from the show are in this post. More of them, with all of Tift's tour dates, are below...

Continue reading "Tift Merritt covered Big Star w/ Norman Blake, Michael Stipe & more (MP3 & belated pics), touring (playing free NYC show)"

Black Joe Lewis @ Outside Lands 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and Those Darlins just cant get enough of each other! After they toured through NYC and towards Coachella together, and then announced that they were each playing Maxwell's within a day of each other, we asked if there might be a free NYC show in their future, and there is...

Both bands will play the second day of the annual (and free) Big Apple BBQ Block Party which happens in Madison Square Park on June 11th and 12th. Doug Wamble rounds out the June 12th lineup. Dale Watson (who plays Maxwell's on 6/10), Guitar Shorty and Bambi Kino all play the free outdoor stage on June 11th.

Tickets are also still on sale for Those Darlins at Maxwell's on 6/11 and Black Joe Lewis at Maxwell's on 6/12. Updated tour dates for both bands, and more, below....

Continue reading "Big Apple BBQ 2011 free music lineup announced, includes Those Darlins and Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears"

The 2010 lineup for Madison Square Park's annual Oval Lawn series of free Wednesday shows is below. Held in the same NYC location that the Big Apple BBQ occupies this weekend (June 12-13), the series will offer eight free concerts this summer. The Big Apple BBQ features three bands on Saturday, and three on Sunday including Daptone Records' Charles Bradley. Full schedule below...

Continue reading "free shows in Madison Square Park (Big Apple BBQ this wknd)"

"Madison Square is probably best known around the world for lending its name to Madison Square Garden, which was a sports arena located just northeast of the park until 1925. The current Madison Square Garden, the fourth such building, is not in the area. Notable buildings around Madison Square include the Flatiron Building, the Met Life Tower, and the New York Life Building. A new exclusive luxury high-rise condominium tower, "One Madison Park", will rival the Met Life Tower in height." [Wikipedia]

The lineup for Madison Square Park's annual Oval Lawn series of free Wednesday shows has been announced. Held in the same NYC location that Lucero and others are playing in June for the Big Apple BBQ, the series will offer eight free concerts this summer, ending with the previously reported John Scofield Trio show on August 5th.

Its opening show on June 17th will be "A Wainwright Family Concert" with Loudon Wainwright III, Sloan Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche all sharing the bill.

Kicking off the 2009 season with a real "family affair," this triple bill features three uniquely talented voices of the highly acclaimed Wainwright family. Loudon Wainwright III headlines with his trademark self-effacing wit and broad humor. Sloan Wainwright, Loudon's sister, is known for a musical style blending pop, folk, jazz and blues. Lucy Wainwright Roche, Loudon's daughter, opens the show with her own bittersweet songwriting style, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Patty Griffith.

The Wainwrights all have individual upcoming dates across the country, listed below. Lucy Wainwright Roche's schedule includes a NYC solo show at Joe's Pub on June 20th, a few days after the family show. Tickets are on sale. If you're wondering how these Wainwrights are related to each other and the rest, Sloan's website features a helpful family tree.

We also just posted a whole bunch of other free shows taking place in NYC parks this summer, and you can browse our Free Shows tag for even more than that.

Full Madison Square Park Oval schedule + directions, and all Wainwright dates, below...

Continue reading "Madison Square Park - 2009 free show schedule ++ other Wainwright (Loudon, Lucy & Sloan) tour dates"

The Sadies @ Big Apple BBQ 2008 (more by Chris La Putt)

The Seventh Annual Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party returns to Madison Square Park June 13-14, 2009, from 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM...Admission to the event is free.

Remember how Lucero is touring and will be in the area with a show at Maxwell's on June 12th? Ends up there's also a NYC date. Lucero is headlining the Big Apple BBQ's first day on Saturday, June 13th (one day after the Maxwell's show). The show is free, but if you prefer Maxwell's, tickets for that one are still on sale.

The Sunday headliner for the Big Apple BBQ will be country guitarist and singer Junior Brown. Full lineup and all of Junior's summer tour dates are below.

The lineup for last year's Big Apple BBQ included Alex Battles & the Whisky Rebellion, Eli "Paper Boy" Reed, and the Sadies.

This year's fest will also have panel discussions scheduled throughout the day. Presentations include "What is it About Men and Meat and Midnight and a Pit?" and "Mutton: The Movie." OK, we really only like this festival for the music.

Full BBQ fest lineup details (Howard Tate included), and all Junior Brown tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Big Apple BBQ Block Party - 2009 music lineup includes Lucero (after Maxwell's) & Junior Brown (all tour dates) "

words & photos by Chris La Putt

Alex Battles and the Whiskey Rebellion, Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves, and The Sadies were the free entertainment at the second day of the Big Apple BBQ in Madison Square Park on Sunday (June 8, 2008). Yes, the main focus at the "block party" was food, but we were there for the music.

Alex Battles and the Whiskey Rebellion (pictured above) played first, and they showed Manhattan some impressive Brooklyn country music with a tinge of humor. They were clever enough to write a song about bbq and tea in just a day, and ballsy enough to pull it off on stage. Sadly, this was my first time seeing this band, but it will definitely be not the last. Check them out on Friday as they record a live show at Hill Country.

Continue reading "The Sadies, Eli Paperboy Reed & Alex Battles in a park - pics"

Madison Square Park is located in the Flatiron District, between Fifth and Madison Avenues and 23rd and 26th Streets, just 8 blocks south of the Empire State Building. To get there by subway, take the R, W or 6 train to 23rd Street. On weekends only you can also take the N train to 23rd street.

Not too exciting, but free....

Continue reading "free 2008 concerts in Madison Square Park, NYC"