You already know about Hayley Williams, La La Land in Concert and Lady Gaga’s final MSG show. Those are the headliners everyone is talking about. But NYC’s live music scene runs way deeper than arena tours — and this weekend, the city’s smaller stages are putting on some absolutely incredible shows you do NOT want to sleep on.
Don’t Miss: Music in the Crypt — Experiential Orchestra at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
This is the kind of thing that only happens in New York. The Grammy-winning Experiential Orchestra, led by conductor James Blachly, is performing Music in the Crypt: Out of the Shadows inside the rarely opened Crypt beneath the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Ave., Morningside Heights). Three performances are scheduled: Friday, April 10 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, April 11 at 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM. The program features works by Caroline Shaw, Jessie Montgomery and Beethoven’s Heiliger Dankgesang — all chosen specifically for the crypt’s haunting acoustics. This is a once-a-year experience in a space most New Yorkers have never seen. Go.
Talib Kweli — Live with Full Band at Brooklyn Bowl
One of hip-hop’s most lyrically gifted MCs returns to Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg) on Friday, April 10. Doors open at 6:00 PM, show starts at 8:00 PM. The Brooklyn-born rapper — half of Black Star alongside Mos Def, and one of the defining voices of conscious hip-hop — brings his full band for a night that promises deep cuts and the kind of energy only a hometown crowd can generate. This is a 21+ show. If you grew up on Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star or Quality, this is non-negotiable.
Snow Tha Product — BEFORE I CRASHOUT Tour at Palladium Times Square
Mexican-American rapper Snow Tha Product brings her BEFORE I CRASHOUT tour to the Palladium Times Square on Saturday, April 11 at 8:00 PM. Known for her rapid-fire bilingual flow and massive social media following, Snow has built one of the most devoted fanbases in independent hip-hop. The Palladium is a solid mid-size venue right in the heart of Midtown — expect the crowd to be loud. Tickets available via Ticketmaster.
Sullivan Fortner — Final Weekend at the Village Vanguard
Pianist Sullivan Fortner wraps up his weeklong residency at the legendary Village Vanguard (178 7th Ave. S., West Village) this weekend with shows through Sunday, April 12. The Vanguard is the most hallowed jazz room in the world, and Fortner — a protege of the late jazz masters who has collaborated with Cecile McLorin Salvant and performed at the highest levels of the art form — is exactly the kind of artist who belongs on that stage. Sets typically at 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM. Cover is generally around $40. No reservations — just show up and get in line.
Arthur’s Tavern — Free Live Music Every Night in the West Village
If you want live music tonight — or any night — Arthur’s Tavern (57 Grove St., West Village) has been delivering since 1937. No cover, no minimum, just walk in and hear live jazz, blues and funk in one of the Village’s most intimate rooms. Shows run nightly starting around 7:00 PM. It’s the kind of place where you might wander in for one drink and stay for three hours. Enough said.
Looking Ahead: Next Week’s Big Tickets
Mark your calendar now: Slaughter to Prevail (with Attila and Whitechapel) hits Hammerstein Ballroom on Tuesday, April 14 for a night of heavy metal mayhem. DaBaby rolls into Irving Plaza on Wednesday, April 15. And Lewis Capaldi plays Madison Square Garden on April 16. That’s a week that covers every corner of the musical spectrum — plan accordingly.
For more live music coverage and weekly roundups, check out our full NYC Live Music This Week guide.
