Chairlift @ Capitale, Feb. 2013 (more by Dylan Johnson)

As mentioned, Bear in Heaven are playing short film showcase Tropfest which happens in Prospect Park's "Nethermead" on June 22. Since that post, the full line-up was announced: Chairlift, Bear in Heaven, Ghost Beach and People Get Ready will perform, and Neon Indian will DJ. Free tickets are still available.

Meanwhile, Chairlift will play DJ, strangely enough, also in Prospect Park's Nethermead this Friday for GoogaMooga. between Flaming Lips and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Chairlift's Caroline Polachek provided vocals on Ice Choir's track, "Everything is Spoilt by Use" and you can check out the recent video for that song and more tour dates below.

Continue reading "Chairlift & DJ Neon Indian also playing Tropfest (get free tix)"

Twin Shadow @ Pitchfork 2011 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Twin Shadow is about to kick off a "True Story" tour in California that quickly hits Sasquatch before visting Chicago, Governors Ball in NYC, Texas and many other places before ending back in Cali. Twin Shadow will then take a break before playing a big, free hometown show at Central Park Summerstage with Autre Ne Veut, Elliphant and DJ Million Dollar Mano on 8/17. All dates are listed with the "True Story" explanation below.

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Most of TS's tour is with Pitchfork/Swedish Grammys-approved pop star Elliphant who we mentioned headlines her only upcoming non-Twin Shadow North American date in Brooklyn at Glasslands on June 11. Tickets are still available. Openers are Heartsrevolution and Computer Magic (DJ Set).

"She's actually part of the same production family as Icona Pop, but as Elliphant, she frays Scandinavian pop precision at the edges to join up to a more global patchwork that runs from Mad Decent affiliates M.I.A. and Maluca to the junkheap magpie nest of Staff Benda Bilili." [Pitchfork]

Autre Ne Veut, who recently played Pianos (twice), only has four upcoming shows we know about at the moment. One is with Twin Shadow at Summerstage, one is Pitchfork Festival, one is ACL, and one is in Miami. They're also all listed below...

Continue reading "Twin Shadow touring w/ Elliphant, playing free Central Park show w/ Autre Ne Veut (dates)"

J Mascis with Dinosaur Jr at Coachella (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

One of the best things about summer is all of the free live music, and one of the great series in NYC is Union Pool's Summer Thunder! This year the series is even bigger, going every weekend from early June until September. The shows begin at 2PM, are 21+, and will feature drink specials all afternoon. The shows are FREE, and two of them are presented by BrooklynVegan and Invisible Oranges respectively.

Summer Thunder kicks off the season on June 1 with Rocksteady Yeti DJ Crew. BrooklynVegan will present the second Summer Thunder event set for June 8 featuring Heavy Blanket (featuring J Mascis) and Love as Laughter. Invisible Oranges will present the June 15 Summer Thunder, with Inter Arma and more TBA.

Heavy Blanket released their self-titled debut last year on Outer Battery Records and you can stream that below. Love is Laughter also play Shea Stadium on Saturday (5/18) with Starlight Girls, Honduras, Birthdays and more.

More details on the rest of June's lineup of Summer Thunder, including shows with Jonny Fritz (aka Jonny Corndawg), Endless Boogie and more, is below. See you there!

Continue reading "Union Pool free Summer Thunder June 2013 show lineup (BV show w/ Heavy Blanket, IO show w/ Inter Arma & more)"

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"

Os Mutantes soundchecking at Austin Psych Fest 2013 (more by Tim Griffin)

Brazilian psychedelic pop legends Os Mutantes are still at it (they played Le Poisson Rouge in December and were just at Austin Psych Fest, but were interrupted by rain), and are one of the bands announced for the Celebrate Brooklyn! 2013 season at Prospect Park. Their show happens on June 29 with Brooklyn indie pop band Javelin and Sierra Leonean Bubu King Janka Nabay, and that one's totally free.

The show is one of a few Northeast US dates the Brazilian band will be playing this June, including another in the NYC area happening on June 28 at Maxwell's. Tickets for the Maxwell's show are on sale now.

All dates are listed, along with a video of the band at Le Poisson Rouge, below...

Continue reading "Os Mutantes touring, playing a free Celebrate Brooklyn! show at Prospect Park w/ Javelin & Janka Nabay (dates)"

Guards at the Slipper Room in 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Indie pop crew Guards are playing a hometown show as part of the Downtown Music Festival at Bowery Ballroom tonight (5/10) with Palma Violets and The Orwells (tickets), and they've just announced that they'll play another one next month. The newly-added show happens on June 18 at Brooklyn Bowl, and it's part of that venue's Local x Local series, which means it's totally free as long as you RSVP.

The band have a number of other dates announced too. All of those are listed, along with the video for "Ready to Go" from their debut LP, below...

Continue reading "Guards on tour, playing a free Brooklyn Bowl show (dates)"

The line-up of free lunchtime shows for BAM's 2013 R&B Festival has been announced. The fest happens Thursdays at noon from June 6 - Aug 8 at MetroTech Commons, located at the corner of Flatbush and Myrtle Avenues. This year's performers are:

June 6: Mint Condition
June 13: Bobby Rush
June 20: Zozo Afrobeat Orchestra
June 27: Stooges Brass Band
July 3: Avery*Sunshine
July 11: TBA
July 18: Fatoumata Diawara
July 25: TBA
Aug 1: Sheila E
Aug 8: Shuggie Otis

Oxford, UK's Stornoway are currently in town with Field Report, playing Maxwell's tonight (5/3, tickets) and Music Hall of Williamsburg on Monday (5/6, tickets). On Saturday (5/4), they're going to spend the afternoon on a musical pub crawl, playing acoustic sets at four different drinking establishments in Manhattan and Brooklyn: 2 PM at Jimmys No.43 in the East Village, 3 PM at The Ear Inn in SoHo, then 4:30 PM at The Drink and finally 6 PM at Legion Bar, both of which are in Williamsburg. The pub crawl is free (beverages not included).

The band are out supporting their new album, Tales from Terra Firma, which is out now on 4AD. You can check out the band's new video, "The Bigger Picture," their current tour schedule and a flyer for the pub crawl, below.

Continue reading "Stornoway are here, doing free NYC pub crawl performances between Maxwell's and MHOW shows (updated dates)"

As mentioned, acclaimed ensemble Kronos Quartet are celebrating their ruby anniversary this year with the "Kronos at 40" mini-festival within Lincon Center Out of Doors' 2013 slate. In addition to that, Kronos Quartet will be performing with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus' Concert Chorus and Young Men's Ensemble on May 7 at Roulette in downtown Brooklyn. It will include commissioned works by Julia Wolfe (World Premiere), Aleksandra Vrebalov (New York premiere), the Arcade Fire's Richard Reed Parry (New York premiere), Bryce Dessner and Shara Worden. The event is a BYC benefit and tickets are on sale now. For those with deeper pockets there's a gala reception before the show you can buy tickets to as well.

Brooklyn Youth Chorus, who just performed at Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, is in its 21st season and will be a part of the 2013 Bang on a Can Marathon which happens June 16 at 3 Spruce St. which is near City Hall in downtown Manhattan. The nine-hour event, part of the 2013 River to River Festival, also includes appearances by Asphalt Orchestra, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Maya Beiser with the Provenance Project Band, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Le Cabaret Contemporain, David Cossin & Ben Reimer, Peter Evans, Monica Germino, Hotel Elefant, Yungchen Llamo & Anton Batagov, NYU Steel Pan Ensemble, NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble, Talea Ensemble, Talk Normal, TILT Brass, Shara Worden, and more. Full new press release below.

Watch Glen Hansard, Richard Reed Parry, Little Scream, Shara Worden, Bryce Dessner and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus play Leonard Cohen's "Passing Through" recently at the MusicNOW 2013 fest in Ohio, in the video below....

Continue reading "Brooklyn Youth Chorus playing stuff by Arcade Fire/National members w/ Kronos Quartet & in Bang on a Can Marathon"

Phosphorescent at Brooklyn Bowl in 2011 (more by Tamara Porras)

As mentioned, the Northside Festival is returning to various Brooklyn venues from June 13 - 16, and like in past years, they'll be doing two free shows in McCarren Park as part of the festival. We already mentioned that The Walkmen are playing one on June 15, and that one just got even better because Phosphorescent (who just played Crossing Brooklyn Ferry) were added! The rest of the bill includes Friend Roulette and Abadabad. The show is free, but tickets are required and still available.

Solange at Bowery Ballroom in 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

The second free McCarren Park show was also just announced. It will be headlined by Solange (who also just played Crossing Brooklyn Ferry) and support comes from Petite Noir, Cable, and My Midnight Heart. Tickets for that one are on sale now too. If you have a Northside bade, you're guaranteed entry for both free shows.

Northside Festival have added other bands, like Braids, too. An updated list of artists playing (and still more TBA) and lists of all Solange and Phosphorescent dates below...

Continue reading "Solange and Phosphorescent playing free McCarren Park shows during Northside (updated lineup & dates)"

Apparently it's NYC Outdoor Free Show Announce Day. Following Hudson River Rocks, Seaport Music Festival and 4Knots updates comes the 2013 River to River Festival line-up. This year's fest runs from June 15 - July 14 and includes music, dance, theater, visual art, film and "unique participatory experiences" across a number of outdoor stages. Among this years' free events:

The annual Bang on a Can Marathon which happens on 6/16 at Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts and features Bang on a Can All-Stars, Asphalt Orchestra, Alarm Will Sound, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Talk Normal, Talea, Shara Worden, Yungchen Llamo, and more.

Laurie Anderson will perform two nights at Rockefeller Park on June 18 & 19 with guests Gerry Leonard, Doug Wieselman, Eyvind Kang and others TBA.

Ecstatic Summer 2013 which happens at Brookfield Place Plaza on June 29 & 30. Members of Bon Iver, Mantra Percussion, the National, yMusic, Plastic Ono Band and more will perform commissioned works by Greg Saunier (Deerhoof), Dave Douglas, Susie Ibarra and Seth Olinsky.

So Percussion and Joshua Light Show team up on July 13 at Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts

The legendary Leon Russell will perform at Rockefeller Park on July 10.

There's also a presentation of of Foetus frontman JG Thirlwell's "cinema for the ears" album, Manorexia: Dinoflagellate Bloom at Tribeca Cinemas on July 11.

Continue reading "2013 River to River Festival lineup announced (Laurie Anderson, Ecstatic Summer, Leon Russell ++ more)"

White Lung @ Bowery Ballroom last weekend (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

As mentioned a few times, the Village Voice's 4Knots Music Festival goes down on June 29 at Pier 17 at South Street Seaport with headliner Kurt Vile & the Violators, plus The Men, Parquet Courts and Marnie Stern. The fest just announced five more acts: Reigning Sound, White Lung (who just played with Parquet Courts at Bowery), The Babies, Fat Tony and Heliotropes. With two stages to fill, there's still more acts to be announced.

Reigning Sound's Greg Cartwright will get to know the Pier 17 stage pretty well by summer's end, as his other band, Oblivians, will play there for the Seaport Music Festival on June 7, which is also free. As mentioned, Reigning Sound recently signed to Merge Records who will release that band's new album at some point this year.

Continue reading "4Knots Music Fest adds Reigning Sound, White Lung, The Babies, Fat Tony and Heliotropes to 2013 line-up"

We reported some Seaport Music Festival news earlier and now the free, annual River Rocks series (for the second year on Pier 84) has announced it's 2013 line-up. The first happens on July 11 with Generationals and Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside. Then the second happens on July 25 with Foxygen (who will hopefully actually play this time) and Thao & the Get Down Stay Down (who just toured with Sallie Ford) and Waxahatchee. And finally, on August 8 it's Titus Andronicus and Ducktails. That explains the absence of a NYC date on Titus' upcoming tour. All River Rocks shows are free and all-ages. Doors open at 6 PM.

Generationals just played Bowery Ballroom last night (4/22) and are sticking around for another NYC show TONIGHT (4/23) at The Rock Shop with Future of What. Tickets for tonight's show are still available.

Waxahatchee open for The Babies this Saturday (4/27) at Glasslands (sold-out).

Titus Andronicus just released a Record Store Day 12", which included "Still Lie with Hot Deuce and Silver Platter" from last year's Local Business and two previously unreleased tracks, "(I've Got A) Date Tonight" and "The Dog," the latter of which is sung by drummer Eric Harm, rather than frontman Patrick Stickles. Updated Titus dates are listed, along with a stream of "The Dog," below...

Continue reading "River Rocks announces 2013 free show lineup (Titus, Foxygen, Ducktails, Thao, Waxahatchee, Generationals, more)"

The Oblivians @ Knitting Factory, 2010 (more by Andrew Friscano)

The Seaport Music Festival already announced that Unknown Mortal Orchestra would be playing on June 28 and they've recently announced a couple more dates on the schedule. Memphis garage legends The Oblivians will play with their Goner labelmates Ex-Cult on June 7. And then on June 21, jangly UK indie pop quartet Fear of Men will play. No opener has been announced for that show yet. All Seaport Music Festival shows are free and all-ages.

More shows are still to be announced. Also happening at Pier 17 at the Seaport is Village Voice's 4Knots Music Fest which happens June 29 with headliners Kurt Vile & the Violators, plus The Men, Parquet Courts, and Marnie Stern and more TBA.

As you may remember, South Street Seaport was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, taking out most of shops on the brick street area down there which also suffered heavy looting, and most of those storefronts are still empty. (The mall is open, though.) Seaport Music, the label, are putting out a compilation album titled Anchored & Amped and 100% of the sales going to Seaport area businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The record includes exclusive tracks from Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, The Wedding Present, Wire, Savoir Adore and more It will be available on June 4 via local record stores and at Seaport Music Festival shows.

Ex-Cult will also be back in July with Austin's OBN IIIs, playing Mercury Lounge on 7/24. Tickets to that show are still available. Updated Ex-Cult dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Seaport Music Festival announces more shows (Oblivians / Ex-Cult, Fear of Men), releasing Sandy relief benefit LP"

The Underachievers @ BrooklynVegan-SXSW (more by Bruno Simões)

Summerstage presents free shows in parks around NYC each summer. One of those parks is Red Hook Park where 2013 shows will happen on June 4 - 7. Check out the exact schedule below...

Continue reading "free shows in Red Hook Park (2013 schedule includes Rakim, Flatbush Zombies, and Ty Segall)"

by Andrew Sacher

It was pretty exciting earlier this year when baroque pop legends The Zombies (who just released a RSD 12") toured with support from Elephant Stone, and now, as revealed in today's Summerstage 2013 lineup announcement, they'll be playing a show in NYC with another band they've surely influenced, Django Django. That show happens on June 15 at Central Park Summerstage and also includes Adam Green & Binki Shapiro and a DJ set by Modest P. The show is free to the public. It's a day show which runs from 3 to 7 PM so it could be a good one to catch before heading to Brooklyn for Northside Festival that night.

Adam Green & Binki Shapiro will be in the NYC-area even sooner when their tour with Father John Misty and Jessica Pratt hits Maxwell's on May 17 (sold out). UPDATE: We just learned that Adam Green & Binki dropped off the Father John Misty tour.

The Central Park show is part of The Zombies' US spring/summer tour which hits the Bergen Performing Arts Center (6/13) in NJ and Mohegan Sun (6/14) in CT right beforehand. All dates are listed, along with a video of their full Live on KEXP set at SXSW (where they were sounding especially great), below...

Continue reading "The Zombies expand tour, playing Central Park Summerstage w/ Django Django and Adam Green & Binki Shapiro (dates)"

Caveman at Webster Hall, 4/10/2013 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Caveman just wrapped up a lengthy headlining tour, which hit Webster Hall last week. The band, whose eponymous sophomore album came out earlier this month, are catching up on things and going through their junk mail here in their NYC home, but have made time for an acoustic performance tonight (4/18) at Barnes & Noble Union Square. It's part of the bookstore's "Upstairs in the Square" series that pairs musicians with authors, in this case Hemlock Grove's Brian McGreevy. NPR's Katherine Lanpher hosts the event that starts at 7 PM. It's free.

As mentioned, Caveman will soon be on the road again, this time opening for Rogue Wave whose new album, Nightengale Floors, is out in June. Those dates include two in NYC: June 21 at Music Hall of Williamsburg and June 22 and Bowery Ballroom. Tickets to both are currently on AmEx presale with the regular on-sale happening Friday (4/19) at noon.

All Caveman dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Caveman playing free acoustic show at Barnes & Noble Union Square tonight (updated dates)"

Kurt Vile at Coachella, 4/14/2013 (more by Dana [distortion] Yavin)

We already knew that The Men would be playing this year's 4 Knots Music Festival, but the Village Voice have just announced a few more acts: Kurt Vile, Parquet Courts, and Marnie Stern. With two stages and seven hours for each, there are lots more bands still be be announced. Village Voice's 4Knots Music Festival goes down June 29 at South Street Seaport from 1 - 8 PM. It's free and all-ages. Flyer is below.

Continue reading "Kurt Vile, Parquet Courts and Marnie Stern added to 4Knots Fest 2013 line-up"

The Men at Bowery Ballroom in March (more by David Andrako)

We just told you about a bunch of Record Store Day releases that we're excited for, and here's one more that should be pretty great. Sacred Bones is releasing the third installment of their Todo Muere series, and this one features tracks from The Men, Moon Duo, a Psychic Ills remix of Follakzoid, Jozef Van Wissem & Jim Jarmusch, Zola Jesus, The Holydrug Couple, Wymond Miles, and Case Studies. Check out the album art and stream The Men's contribution, "B Minor," a track from their New Moon sessions, below.

The Men are on tour now and will be back in NYC for a Northside Festival show on June 14 at Warsaw with the Greg Ginn/Ron Reyes incarnation of Black Flag, Ginn's other project Good For You, and Netherlands (sold out). They're also playing 4Knots Festival at the South Street Seaport on June 29, though that lineup has not been announced in full yet. Stay tuned.

Jozef Van Wissem and Jim Jarmusch also have a NYC show coming up which happens at Mercury Lounge on May 7 with drone guitar great Noveller. Tickets for that show go on sale today (4/12) at noon. It's Jozef & Jim's only US date before heading overseas for Primavera Sound and other shows.

All Jozef Van Wissem and The Men dates are listed, along with The Men song stream, below...

Continue reading "Sacred Bones releasing RSD comp; The Men playing 4Knots; a new Jozef Van Wissem & Jim Jarmusch show (dates/stream)"

by Fred Pessaro

As discussed, The Dillinger Escape Plan is proclaiming One of Us is the Killer with a brand new LP, celebrating it with a set of new dates with The Faceless and Royal Thunder. Brooklyn's date at Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 27th will also feature a set by Converse Rubber Tracks recording artists Primitive Weapons and a DJ set by yours truly. The Brooklyn show is totally free/open to the public, but you need to RSVP aka grab a free ticket. They become available at noon on Wednesday (4/10),

The Brooklyn show is part of the ongoing Converse Rubber Tracks Live series. The last one was with Vivian Girls, Widowspeak, Heliotropes and Eternal Summers.

DEP recently dropped a new tour promo, as well as a snippet from their forthcoming LP. Check them both out below along with all tour dates and a short documentary on Primitive Weapons and Saint Vitus...

Continue reading "The Dillinger Escape Plan announce RSVP for free Brooklyn show, part of Converse Rubber Tracks Live"

Danny Brown @ SXSW 2013 (more by Dylan Johnson)

Uniqulo's UT Truckshop will be parked in Gansevoort Plaza every Saturday in April. "Live performances will feature Danny Brown, actor Michael K Williams," and more. Saturday, 4/6, is rapper Danny Brown who you can see modeling in Uniqlo posters, and who maybe you caught at Knitting Factory recently and whose upcoming tour has him headlining Irving Plaza. Uniqulo poster and video below...

Continue reading "Uniqlo hosting Saturday events in Gansevoort Plaza; Danny Brown today, Michael K Williams later"

photos by Andrew St. Clair, words by Bill Pearis

Xray Eyeballs @ Bumble and Bumble 3/26/2013

Kanine Records, current home of Eternal Summers, Zambri, Fear of Men and more, are turning ten years old this year, quite an accomplishment for any label born post-Napster. To celebrate, they're throwing a birthday party at Union Pool on Wednesday (4/10) with live entertainment from Xray Eyeballs, Royal Baths side project LODRO, and Montreal's Valleys. The new album from Valleys isn't out till the end of the month, but you can pick up early vinyl at the merch booth that night. You can also pick up free Kanine cassettes and fanzines there too.

The party, which also celebrates 10 years of The L Magazine, is free with open bar but you need to RSVP.

XRay Eyeballs open for Yeah Yeah Yeahs' sold-out show at Webster Hall on Sunday (4/7). A few weeks ago (3/26) they played played an event at Bumble and Bumble's downtown salon and pictures from their performance are in this post.

LODRO, meanwhile, play Death by Audio on Saturday (4/6) with Far-Out Fangtooth, Psychic Blood, and Dont.

Flyer for the Kanine party and more pictures from that Xray Eyeballs show below...

Continue reading "Xray Eyeballs opening for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, playing w/ LODRO & Valleys at Kanine & 'L Mag' party, played Bumble & Bumble (pics, dates)"

Waxahatchee @ Permanent Records in Chicago (more by Zach Pollack)

Waxahatchee @ SXSW in Austin (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Brooklyn resident Waxahatchee, who we recently caught in Austin and Chicago, has previously announced shows coming up in Brooklyn (TONIGHT, 4/3, at 285 Kent), Austin, and Chicago. Today we found out about a fourth concert on her/their schedule, and that's the WBAR Barnard College Radio's 20th Annual FREE WBAR-B-Q in NYC with Wax, Twin Sister, Roomrunner, Swearin', Speedy Ortiz, and more. Full lineup and dates below...

Continue reading "WBAR-B-Q 2013 lineup includes Twin Sister, Roomrunner, Swearin' & Waxahatchee (who plays 285 Kent tonight)"

UPDATE: RSVP NOW

As usual, we're not getting much sleep right around now because we're crazy busy preparing to represent down at SXSW with four full days of two-stage parties, in addition to a couple of nighttime showcases. And though SXSW is just two weeks away, we can't announce our lineups yet. Meanwhile, follow @bvSXSW on Twitter, sign up for our brand new BrooklynVegan SXSW Email Newsletter, pray for us and SAVE THE DATES....

As the flyer above says, BrooklynVegan Day Parties will be at the 6th & Red River location formerly known as Emo's. We couldn't be more excited to be back in one of our favorite old Austin venues (even if it no longer carries the "Emo's" name). The two stage club has been closed for two years but is reopening for the week of SXSW as "The Main" and "The Jr". We'll have the daytime portion on both stages (noon-6pm each day, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday --- March 13-16, 2013). All FREE. Complimentary beverage and food options to be announced as well. Stay tuuuuned.

P.S. We did announce one band.

DOWNLOAD: Chelsea Light Moving - "Empire of Time" (MP3)

Chelsea Light Moving at Sled Island in 2012 (more by Zach Pollack)

As mentioned a few times, Thurston Moore's new band Chelsea Light Moving are releasing their self titled debut on March 5 via Mataor (stream it) and supporting it with a tour that hits the NYC area on March 2 at Maxwell's with Talk Normal (tickets) and April 5 at Bowery Ballroom (tickets). They've also just added a free in-store at Other Music (3/3), happening the day after the Maxwell's show at 7:30 PM. Show flyer below.

As you may know, Chelsea Light Moving are also planning to detonate some house parties and you can pitch your house to the band in the BrooklynVegan comments.

A list of updated dates and the Other Music show flyer below...

Continue reading "Chelsea Light Moving adds free Other Music in-store to tour"