Whether you’re a guitarist, singer, actor, comedian, saxophonist, dancer, or . . . well, you name it, if you’re a performer, New York City is where the lights shine brightest. It’s where everyone dreams of taking the stage or headlining a show, and it’s full of incredible venues—big, small, old, new, and everything in between—which means those of us who love to watch greatness unfold live before our eyes are in business!
One of the many outstanding things about catching live acts when visiting New York City is the diversity of options available to the public here. No matter what type of performance you’re in the mood for, or the sort of show you’d like to catch, there’s a place that’s tailor made for your tastes located right around the corner from where you’re planning to be. Keep reading for the mixture of iconic venues, hallowed stages, and popular clubs that make up our rundown of ten great places to see live music and more in New York City.
Radio City Music Hall
A centerpiece of Midtown Manhattan’s expansive Rockefeller Center complex, Radio City Music Hall is one of the more legendary music venues you’ll come across in your travels. Home to the one-and-only Rockettes, Radio City Music Hall has hosted events as varied as the NFL Draft and the Emmy Awards, and it routinely stages musicals, comedy shows, orchestra productions, and a whole lot more. If you don’t have time to take in a show, the Stage Door Tour is a great way of experiencing this fabled attraction.
Terminal 5
Located in Hell’s Kitchen, not far from popular daytime destinations such as the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and Pier 83 (where Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises have their operations), Terminal 5 is a classic night-out-on-the-town venue with not one, not two, but five distinct performance spaces. Its spacious layout and mid-level crowd capacity makes it the sort of place where one night you might be able to catch a rising act on their way to the top of the music business, while the next night the headliner could be a music legend playing a rare (somewhat) intimate gig.
Madison Square Garden
Though not necessarily everyone will agree with its self-satisfied slogan of “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” it’s certainly the case that there can be no list of great New York City live music venues without storied Madison Square Garden. A Madison Square Garden has stood somewhere in the city since 1879 (there have been four of them in total thus far), and MSG continues to deliver the goods year in and year out.
Music Hall of Williamsburg
The Music Hall of Williamsburg has become a beloved destination in the heart of Brooklyn. Operated by the same folks responsible for such other well-regarded regional venues as Forest Hills Stadium and Starland Ballroom (The Bowery Presents—they also run top-notch venues in Baltimore, Boston, Norfolk, and Portland, Maine), the Music Hall of Williamsburg holds roughly 650 people and can be found near one of the neighborhood’s other significant draws, the scenic East River State Park.
Apollo Theater
One of New York’s greatest venues for live shows is, was, and remains the incomparable Apollo Theater. This landmark opened its doors in 1914, and leading lights like Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Marvin Gaye have played here, along with thousands of other fantastic performers—amateurs and icons alike. Dreaming of the perfect New York City night out? It’s hard to beat an evening that combines seeing a show at the Apollo with sampling some of Harlem’s best food.
Beacon Theatre
Don’t let the somewhat understated, old-fashioned exterior of Beacon Theatre fool you: once inside, this roughly 95-year-old gem is as elegant and ornate a space for live music as you’re liable to encounter anywhere in New York City. Situated along Broadway on the Upper West Side just a couple blocks from the American Museum of Natural History and Central Park, Beacon Theatre seats about 3,000 people. Famous in its day for vaudeville acts, today the gilded setting mainly hosts big-name comedians, traveling productions, theater, and legacy musical acts.
Carnegie Hall
Another New York City music venue with a resume that proceeds itself, concerts held at Carnegie Hall have long been considered one of the pinnacles of live music in America. Dating to the late 19th Century, Carnegie Hall has been the site of performances by such musical luminaries as Billie Holliday, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, and The Beatles, just to name a few. Its concert programming is still going strong today, as it hosts over 250 events each and every year.
Village Vanguard
We dare you to name a legend of jazz music—whether they were active nearly 80 years ago or they’re just hitting their stride today—who hasn’t headlined a gig at the iconic Village Vanguard. The venerable stage at this West Village jazz club has been graced by everyone from timeless greats like John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, and Cecil Taylor to contemporary big-names such as Christian McBride and Vijay Iyer, and it’s still a highly sought gig after all this time. For anyone with a passion for live jazz, this is a can’t-miss destination.
Saint Vitus
Brooklyn’s hip Greenpoint neighborhood is where you’ll find one of New York City’s best spots for heavy music. For over a decade now, Saint Vitus has staged live shows from a who’s who of up-and-coming metal, punk, hardcore, post-punk, industrial, and experimental bands. It’s a terrific place to discover new music or hear rock legends in an intimate space. Bring your ear plugs, because the bands here get loud, but you’ll find few places in the city with as powerful a reputation for riffs and polyrhythms. Plus, Saint Vitus regularly stages art exhibits, film screenings, and dance parties, too.
Blue Note
Given the city’s rich past—and, it should be said, fertile present—as an incubator of some of the biggest talents in jazz history, it wouldn’t be right to compile ten great places for live music in New York and include just a single jazz club. So if you’re in the mood for live jazz and you’ve already checked out the Village Vanguard, head over to Blue Note. This jazz brand has gone global, but its Greenwich Village location remains a stone-cold New York City live music institution.