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Free music venues

Enjoy jazz, soul, rock and more—without paying a cover charge.

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  • Things to do
  • Literary events
  • Fort Greene
  • price 1 of 4

On most Fridays and Saturdays, kick back at a table with a cocktail and take in sets of envelope-pushing jazz, world music and other buzzed-about fare at BAMcafe Live. During happy hour (5:30–8pm select Fridays), save some dough with $3 beers.

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  • Things to do
  • Event spaces
  • Upper West Side
  • price 2 of 4

Check out the Target Free Thursdays performance series at Lincoln Center, which often features top-tier musicians from all genres in the mix of theater, spoken word and dance programming. Mark your planner for the Unsound Music Festival takeover (Apr 19 at 8:30pm) with LXMP and Peaking Lights.

  • Music
  • Flatiron

Other than the occasional Saturday nights after 11pm (when shows cost a measly $5), performances at this knickknack-laden Bushwick bar are always free (although musicians pass a hat around for donations). Stop by for antifolk, experimental jazz, noise punk, electronic and classical music, and the entertaining Bushwick Book Club series, where bands perform songs inspired by that month's reading assignment.

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Lakeside Lounge
  • Music
  • East Village
  • price 1 of 4

Because this comfortable joint is co-owned by guitarist and producer Eric Ambel, the roadhouse and roots acts that play here tend to be fun. Local country-tinged talents often appear, and bigger names such as Amy Rigby stop by occasionally as well. The bar, the jukebox and the photo booth are all attractions in their own right—and there’s never a cover charge.

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