The summer concert season is upon us and the Hidden Track staff knows that it’s virtually impossible for us to afford every show we want to hit, and still be able to pay our insanely expensive New York City rents. Luckily for us, there are a plethora of fantastic free concerts throughout the summer that don’t cost a dime. We decided to weed through all the listings and present to you our 4th Annual NYC Free Summer Concert Picks. Let’s take a look…
HT Recommends: Medeski, Martin & Wood / Josh Roseman & The King Froopy All Stars / Jim Black’s AlasNoAxis
Where: Central Park Summerstage
When: Saturday, June 11, 7:00PM
Official Info: The trio’s combination of jazz, funk, “avant-noise” and a million other musical impulses is nearly impossible to classify. Wide open: That’s the phrase that describes Medeski Martin & Wood’s musical sensibilities, attitude, and the spirit of adventure that the band has pursued for over two decades. The trio’s combination of jazz, funk, “avant-noise” and a million other musical impulses is nearly impossible to classify. Although the “jazz spirit” has been ever-present in their songs, the group has won over a substantial audience that is packed with alternative-rock lovers, jam-band aficionados and jazz heads.
The King Froopy All-Stars is an electric 12-piece project from celebrated trombonist and composer Josh Roseman. Featuring some of the edgiest voices harvested from Brooklyn’s new jazz scene, this electro-acoustic supergroup focuses world beat, spontaneous improvisation, dub, satire and psychedelia through Roseman’s unconventional lens. Able to simultaneously compel both your feet and the neocortex, this is what AAJ has called, “jazz-tinged party music with a master’s degree.”
AlasNoAxis is the culmination of famed jazz drummer, Jim Black’s years of experience on stage and in the studio with some of the world’s greatest composers and improvisors. The band’s 2000 self-titled debut, established a new standard for the cross-fertilization of rock, electro-acoustic and jazz, becoming the standard-bearer of “future jazz” and thrilling listeners with its powerhouse combination of virtuosity, rock emotion and noisy catharsis.
Other Free Shows At Central Park Summerstage: 6/22 – Reggie Watts / Natasha Leggero, 6/25 – Lee Fields & The Expressions / Fitz & The Tantrums / Andreya Triana / Rich Medina, 6/26 – Hugh Maskela / Freshly Ground / Somi, 6/29 – Comedy Central Park w. Jim Gaffigan & John Pinette, 7/2 – Everybody Love The Sunshine – Roy Ayers & The Jazz Mafia Symphony, 7/27 – Wanda Jackson / Imelda May, 8/6 – Shelebration! A Tribute To The Words Of Shel Silverstein, 8/7 – Friendly Fires / The Naked & Famous / Cults, 8/20 – Tiken Jah Fakoly / Meta & The Cornerstones / Los Rakas, 8/21 – Rakim / EPMD / Funkmaster Flex
READ ON for the rest of our list of free summer concerts in NYC…
As we continue to shake off today’s Super Bowl stupor, we thought we’d turn to the lovely ladies of Those Darlins to help us get through the day. Last week,
We’re barely a week into 2011 and we’ve already got our first major summer festival line up announcement of the season that has us excited for the warmer months ahead. Earlier today the fine folks behind the Wakarusa Music Festival dropped a monster list of bands that will take to the variety of tents and stages over the weekend of June 2 -5 at Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas.
Now in it’s seventh year, the jam-friendly festival will be headlined by the mighty My Morning Jacket, who are joined at the top of the bill by Ben Harper & Relentless7, Thievery Corporation and STS9.
Other acts set to head to Mulberry Mountain this year will be HT faves Umphrey’s McGee, Mumford & Sons, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Galactic, Dark Star Orchestra, Perpetual Groove, Those Darlins and These United States.
A variety of ticketing options for the four day festival are currently on-sale, which include an early bird full event pass for the low price of $139.
READ ON for the full initial Wakarusa 2011 line up…
Back in 2007, Dispatch shocked the world when they reunited for three benefit shows at Madison Square Garden that sold out within hours of going on sale. The jam-pop trio,
Over the last few years Rilo Kiley has taken a backseat to front woman Jenny Lewis’ solo career. The ever adorable Lewis, who has put out two records on her
It’s going to be a good Spring if you’re a fan of the music of John Prine as you’ll be able to enjoy the legendary singer-songwriters music in two very
The Flaming Lips are no strangers to concert theatrics – an average Lips shows features everything from Wayne in a bubble to hand puppets to confetti cannons. For their upcoming
It’s been a few months since the HT Crew got together for an old fashioned cookout. With the cold weather creeping in and the holiday season upon us we thought we’d get the gang together one last time this year to throw some large hunks of meat on the grill and crack open a few Troeg’s Mad Elf Ale’s for another rousing edition of At The Barbecue.
It’s hard to believe that 2009 is rapidly coming to a close. Since we’re all live music junkies here, we thought we would share our thoughts on our favorite concerts from the last 12 months. The rules were simple: any show that we attended between January 1 through the beginning of this month were game. So, let’s get at it…
Ryan Dembinsky – Phish – Hampton Coliseum – Hampton, VA
Talk about a no-brainer. Much love goes out to Hartford, Camden, JB3, an intimate surprise Avett Brothers release party in front of maybe 100 people, and a whole slew of great bands I saw for the first time this year, but March 6, 2009 will be branded on my brain forever.
[Photo by Jeremy Gordon]
From the beautiful weather, to taking a much needed road trip away from adulthood, to the friends, to the smothered and covered, to of course the music, Hampton Coliseum pretty much made my year. READ ON for more of the Hidden Track Crew’s favorite concerts of 2009…
We’ve already extolled the virtues of former BtN act and NPR’s favorite “smart-rock” band Okkervil River numerous times here on HT. Will Sheff & Co. put on my very favorite
