Berta Indeed's "Let the Music Play" has run every Sunday since May, and it is the most unbothered three hours of live music in Manhattan. Local musicians and vocalists rotate through the plaza at Riverside Drive and 150th Street, playing to a crowd of neighbors, strollers and folding chairs on the bluff above the Hudson. Show up whenever, leave whenever, pay nothing.
What to expect
A community jazz afternoon on a small riverside plaza rather than a stage-and-barricades concert - the band sets up, people drift in, and the music runs a full three hours. The lineup changes weekly and is not announced ahead of time. Bring a chair or a blanket; seating is whatever the plaza offers.
Good to know
- Ralph Ellison Plaza is at Riverside Drive and West 150th Street, in Hamilton Heights - not the Upper West Side.
- Free, no registration, and you can arrive at any point in the 2-5 p.m. window.
- Part of Summer on the Hudson; NYC Parks lists the series as repeating every Sunday through October 25.
- Outdoors with no rain date listed - check with Summer on the Hudson at (212) 870-3089 or soh@riversideparknyc.org.
- The 1 train at 145th Street is the closest subway, and the Hudson River Greenway runs directly below the plaza.
Planning Sep 12–13, 2026 in NYC?
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Common questions
Who is performing?
Berta Indeed programs "Let the Music Play" with a rotating cast of local jazz musicians and vocalists. NYC Parks does not publish the weekly lineup in advance.
Is it really free?
Yes. NYC Parks lists it as a free event with no registration required.
Can I bring a chair or food?
A folding chair or blanket is a good idea, since fixed seating on the plaza is limited. Standard NYC Parks rules apply.
Does the series continue after this weekend?
Yes - NYC Parks lists it as repeating every Sunday through October 25, 2026.
