Live Music
Long Island's live-music scene runs from Jones Beach amphitheaters to dive-bar Tuesdays. The Editors track what's worth your night out — concerts at the Paramount, Mulcahy's locals, Bay Street acts, lawn shows on the East End.
Editor's Pick Billy Joel at Jones Beach Theater — Hometown Show
Billy Joel's annual Jones Beach Theater hometown show — the most-sacred concert ritual on the Long Island calendar. The Hicksville-raised, Cold Spring Harbor-resident Billboard Hall of Fame inductee returns to the 15,000-seat amphitheater on the Atlantic for a single summer night. The LI deep-cuts come out. The crowd is the most-LI crowd you'll see at any concert. The sunset over Bay Parkway during the opener is structurally perfect. Forty years of LI summer history in one show.
- When
- Where
- Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh
- Price
- See ticket page
Editor's Pick Open Mic Night w/ General George @ Nautilus Roasting
General George hosts an open mic every other Wednesday at this Huntington Station coffee shop—bring your acoustic set, poetry, or whatever you're working on. Free entry, 7 PM start, and you're fueled by actual good coffee instead of dive bar beer. New York Avenue has street parking, but it fills up fast on weeknights.
- When
- Where
- Nautilus Roasting Co - Coffee Shop and Cafe, Huntington Station
Editor's Pick Open Mic Night w/ General George @ Nautilus Roasting
General George hosts this bi-weekly open mic at Nautilus Roasting in Huntington Station—free entry, coffee shop setting, happens every other Thursday at 7 PM. The cafe's on New York Avenue with its own lot, easy in and out.
- When
- Where
- Nautilus Roasting Co - Coffee Shop and Cafe, Huntington Station
Editor's Pick Big Shot — The Ultimate Billy Joel Tribute at the Argyle
Big Shot — the touring Billy Joel tribute that's been performing the catalog since 2007 — lands at the Argyle Theater Babylon for a Saturday-night show. 499 seats, restored 1920s movie palace, intimate Babylon Village venue. Pair with Argyle Lake walk + village dinner.
- When
- Where
- Argyle Theater, Babylon
- Price
- See ticket page
Editor's Pick Open Mic At Roots Kava Bar
Weekly open mic at Roots Kava Bar in Port Jefferson welcomes singers, acoustic players, and poets every Sunday at 7PM. No cover, and the kava bar vibe means it's more chill coffeehouse than rowdy bar scene. 250 East Main Street, right in the walkable part of Port Jeff.
- When
- Where
- Roots Kava Bar, Port Jefferson
Editor's Pick Rumours: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
The premier Fleetwood Mac tribute act lands at NYCB Theatre at Westbury for a Saturday-night show in the venue's in-the-round indoor format. Every Stevie Nicks anthem + Lindsey Buckingham guitar moment + Christine McVie vocal in a 2,870-seat room designed for the audience that bought the original albums.
- When
- Where
- NYCB Theatre at Westbury, Westbury
- Price
- See ticket page
Editor's Pick FRIDAY KOMPA VYBEZ
Prime on the Mile throws a weekly Kompa night every Friday starting at 5 PM—Haitian dance music, waterfront views, and free entry. Woodcleft Avenue is the canal strip in Freeport, so you've got parking lots and a whole lineup of bars if you're making a night of it.
- When
- Where
- Prime on the Mile, Freeport
Editor's Pick Nautilus 1 Year Anniversary Party
Nautilus is throwing a party for their first year in business, and they're promising live music, deals, and the kind of turnout that'll have New York Avenue feeling like a block party. Free to show up, starts at 2 PM on Saturday. Swing by early if you want a seat—this spot's smaller than you think.
- When
- Where
- Nautilus Roasting Co - Coffee Shop and Cafe, Huntington Station
Editor's Pick 'Greenport Concert Series', featuring : TAL NACCARATO, LIVE!
Guitarist Tal Naccarato plays an afternoon set of Americana, folk, and blues at Floyd Memorial Library—original songs mixed with traditional covers. It's free, starts at 3 PM, and the library's right in downtown Greenport if you want to walk around after.
- When
- Where
- Floyd Memorial Library, Greenport
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy: The Ultimate Rod Stewart Tribute
NYCB Theatre at Westbury hosts a touring Rod Stewart tribute act in the venue's signature in-the-round format. 2,870 seats, indoor, accessible, free abundant parking, and the boomer-friendly evening rhythm — 8 PM show, out by 10:30, home in time for the late local news.
- When
- Where
- NYCB Theatre at Westbury, Westbury
- Price
- See ticket page
The Suffolk — Blues Night
Touring blues + soul lineup at the restored 1933 Art Deco theater. 600-seat hall, table service in the orchestra, traditional rows in the balcony. Dinner at Tweed's first (5-min walk), nightcap at North Fork Roasting Co. after.
- When
- Where
- The Suffolk, Riverhead
- Price
- See ticket page
Editor's Pick Mic Check The Live Sessions Homecoming
Battle rap legend Charlie Clips hosts this live music showcase at Stereo Garden, bringing hip-hop culture and performance to Patchogue's Railroad Avenue strip. Doors at 6:30 PM on a Saturday night, so you can grab dinner at one of the nearby spots beforehand.
- When
- Where
- Stereo Garden, Patchogue
- Price
- See ticket page
Long Beach Boardwalk Concert Series — Thursday Free Show
Free outdoor concert series on the Long Beach boardwalk, Thursdays in August. Bring a beach chair or blanket — the stage is mid-boardwalk near Riverside Blvd. LIRR direct from Penn, 50 min door to boardwalk.
- When
- Where
- Long Beach Boardwalk, Long Beach
Emo Night Karaoke Long Island
Sing Dashboard, Taking Back Sunday, and whatever else got you through high school with a live band backing you up. It's karaoke for people who still have their Warped Tour tees, happening at Sand City in Lindenhurst at 8 PM. Wellwood Avenue parking is decent on weekends.
- When
- Where
- Sand City Brewing, Lindenhurst
- Price
- See ticket page
Peace Frog Music festival!
Two tribute bands hit Stereo Garden's outdoor stage: The Soft Parade channels Jim Morrison and The Doors, followed by Let it Bleed doing Stones classics. Doors at 6pm, with Patchogue's Railroad Avenue walkable to bars and restaurants before or after. Bring a blanket or grab one of the picnic tables early.
- When
- Where
- Stereo Garden, Patchogue
- Price
- See ticket page
Tiny Toes & The Jazz Crew at Southampton History Museum
The 11:45AM session of Tiny Toes and the Jazz Crew at Southampton History Museum—same live jazz experience as the 10AM show, just later in the morning. Good for families who don't do early weekend wake-ups but still want kids exposed to real musicians playing real instruments.
- When
- Where
- Southampton History Museum, Southampton
- Price
- See ticket page
Long Island Dead Collective Presents: Let It Grow - The Allmost Bros Band
The Allmost Bros Band plays an afternoon set at Cassidy Hill Farm as part of the Let It Grow series. This is the Allman Brothers tribute show, so expect long jams and a crowd that knows the catalog. Same farm venue as their other shows — bring your own seating.
- When
- Where
- Cassidy Hill Farm Ventures LLC, Manorville
- Price
- See ticket page
LI Dead Collective Presents: Let It Grow - Shakedown Citi
Shakedown Citi brings their Grateful Dead tribute to Cassidy Hill Farm for an afternoon show in Manorville. The farm setting means lawn chairs and coolers are probably your move here. North Street is off the beaten path, so GPS it.
- When
- Where
- Cassidy Hill Farm Ventures LLC, Manorville
- Price
- See ticket page
Club 30+ : PATCHOGUE NY (Stereo Garden)
Daytime dance party for the over-30 crowd at Stereo Garden, right off Railroad Avenue in Patchogue. Doors at 5 PM on Saturday, so you can be home at a reasonable hour.
- When
- Where
- Stereo Garden, Patchogue
- Price
- See ticket page
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