The New York City music scene is booming again. Touring musicians perform in spaces both large and small, making the city a must-see. Among local acts, veteran performers are returning to the stage and new acts continue to inspire the community. Fans of live music have also resumed supporting the scene, buying tickets, merchandise, dinners and drinks at more than 100 of his venues around the city.
The first “Top Original Music Acts to Catch Live in NYC” article was Aquarius The purpose of the annual list was to honor and celebrate hardworking local musicians who deserved applause for their contributions to the concert circuit, and to increase the popularity of the region. The criteria for this list has always been that artists should be based in New York City, perform mostly original material, and perform in front of local live audiences throughout most of the year, as opposed to just tour stops. That’s what it means.
The 2021 and 2022 listings specifically honored the brave local musicians who performed in front of live audiences during the worst of the COVID pandemic. These heroic winners are revisited below in alphabetical order.For more information on these musicians, see their respective hyperlinked dates.
- 2022
- Jill Fiore
- hip pips
- Seth Kessel
- Robert Leslie
- Jesse Marin
- Adam Masterson
- Willie Nile
- Oz Noi
- Rachel & Villeray
- strange magic
- 2021
- cansion franklin
- Diane Gentile
- James Maddock
- Rob Mastriani
- Pink Crouse
- rebellious
- Dina Regine
- michelle shock
- soul cake
- Leni Stern
All of the artists above continue to put on great shows through 2023, but to spotlight more musicians, the 2023 list features additional local artists who deserve greater recognition . In ‘Top Original Music Acts To Catch Live In NYC In 2023’, we’ve listed in alphabetical order the best acts currently playing on your local music circuit. Whether or not these musicians find widespread success in his 2023, he deserves a round of applause and support just for overcoming this one-year challenge of playing good music live relentlessly. increase.
bush tetra (funk)
Bush Tetras have been on this list repeatedly since the early 1980s, when the punk-funk band hit underground and college playlists with “Too Many Creeps” and “Cowboys in Africa.” The band continues to create new and solid alternative rock with a funk twist and always puts on electrifying concerts.In recent months the band has performed at He Elsewhere, Lincoln Center and TV Eye.
emily duff band (Country)
Emily Duff is a prolific singer-songwriter. A total New Yorker, Queens native and Greenwich his Village resident, he might be wearing his T-his shirt of the Ramones while playing his songs of country his rock originals . She most often performs with Cowgirl and the Loft at City Winery.
fantastic cat (Americana)
Fantastic Cat is made up of four singer-songwriters who have been performing independently on local circuits for years. Anthony D’Amato, Don Dirego, Brian Dunn and Mike Montari joined forces to become a local Americana his style rock supergroup. The band played at the Bowery Ballroom and Lockwood Music Hall.
“King” Solomon Hicks (Blues)
“King” Solomon Hicks has been headlining at Blue Note and other high-ticket venues, but has made frequent unannounced cameos at Terra Blues and other venues. When this blues guitar master takes the stage, he plays and plays. His original songs are very similar to the blues classics he covers.
hazmat modin (experimental/fork)
Hazmat Modine formed in the 1990s as an eclectic band rooted in blues and linked with folk, jazz and world music. Led by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Wade Schumann, Hazmat Modine plays mostly Terra Blues every other Saturday night.
Eugene H.utz/Gogol Bordello (Rock ‘n’ roll)
Gogol Bordello, who has toured internationally for many years, would not have been on this list except for vocalist Eugene H.utz has had simplified solo exhibitions at Niagara and Lower East Side events at Tompkins Square Park. He also performed with members of Gogol Bordello at the Ukrainian charity at City Winery NYC. Gogol Bordello started his 2022 with a show at Brooklyn Steel and ended with a show at the Brooklyn Bowl.
murphy’s law (punk)
A staple of local punk shows since 1982, Murphy’s Law Concerts is a punk rock party. James “Jimmy G” Drescher’s band’s solid performances are sometimes overshadowed by the participation of its dedicated fans. The band recently played New Year’s Eve shows at the Bowery Electric, The Rocks Off River Cruise and the Brooklyn Bowl.
Tash Neal & MJT (stone)
Former London Souls member Tash Neil is based in Harlem and his new band MJT is made up of three brothers from Long Island. The music is a blend of almost all rock, including hard rock, funk, punk, progressive rock, and rhythm and blues. The group regularly performs on Bitter End.
princess goes to the butterfly museum (art rock/alternative
Vocalist/Actor Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under), keyboardist Matt Katz Bowen (Blondie), and drummer Peter Yanowitz (ex-Wallflowers) joined Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum in 2018 after working together in a Broadway production. was formed. Hedwig and the Angry InchThe experimental art rock group recently played at (le) Poisson Rouge and the Bowery Ballroom.
Trixie Whitley (stone)
Trixie Whitley was born in Belgium but now lives and works in New York. She presents strong and passionate vocals with a full band. Recently she performed at Pete’s Candy in her store and in the Sultan Room.
Under the Radar: 40 New York Music Acts You Must See in 2023
- bayaz (rock)
- Bobby Blue (rockabilly, ranchero, country)
- Christine Santelli Trio (Americana, Blues)
- Coil Girelli (singer-songwriter)
- Cumgirl8 (Indie Rock)
- Michael Daves (bluegrass)
- DonBlackCat & Friends (Rock and Roll)
- dropper (pop)
- Edwin Vasquez (singer-songwriter)
- Gardot Gumbo and the Righteous Cats (Mardi Gras)
- Phil Gammage Quartet (Americana)
- gold standard band (pop)
- Gustav (art rock)
- Rebecca Haviland & Whiskey Heart (Americana)
- heat death (psychedelic)
- Hudson City Rats (Rock and Roll)
- Greg Humphries Electric Trio (Blues Rock)
- InCircles (alternative rock)
- kill code (lock)
- colker (blues rock)
- Steve Krebs & The Maynard G’s (Punk)
- Kyle Lacey Band (Rhythm & Blues, Pops)
- Lizzie & The Makers (Blues Rock)
- Miranda and the Beat (Indie Rock)
- National Reserve (Country Rock)
- Hugh Poole Band (Blues Rock)
- Puma, Joe & Dave (poetry, experiments)
- Recreational Outrage (Punk)
- Ricky Stein (singer-songwriter)
- The Ritualist (Glam Rock)
- Rogers & Butler (singer-songwriter, pop)
- Rover Boys Trio (Americana)
- sea monster (punk)
- Snake Canyon (rock)
- Kelly Swindal (Country)
- The TarantinosNYC (surf, instrumental)
- Leah Tash (singer-songwriter)
- ten ton mojo (rock)
- Tilden (Indie Pop)
- urban waste (punk)
