A horn section playing outdoors two blocks from the ocean is a very different proposition from the same band in a Manhattan club, and Rockaway Music Live caps these shows at a few hundred people rather than a few thousand. Ripe are a seven-piece built for exactly this: dance-floor funk rock with brass that carries in open air. If you want a concert that starts with a beach afternoon and ends with an A-train ride home, this is the one.
What to expect
You arrive at a boutique hotel a block from the boardwalk and the show is staged outdoors under the sky rather than in a ballroom. The crowd is small enough that sightlines are good almost everywhere. Expect hotel bar service, a beach-town pace before doors, and a rooftop with ocean views on the property.
Good to know
- Take the A to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street, or the NYC Ferry Rockaway route from Manhattan
- The venue is outdoors, so bring a layer for when the ocean breeze picks up after dark
- Capacity is small and these shows sell through, so buy ahead rather than at the door
- Make a day of it; the beach and boardwalk are a block away
- The A train ride from Manhattan is long, so budget more travel time than you think
- It suits groups who want a concert plus a beach afternoon rather than a club night
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Common questions
What is Rockaway Music Live?
It is The Rockaway Hotel's outdoor summer concert series in Rockaway Beach, staging shows for audiences in the hundreds rather than thousands, with acts playing under the open sky.
Who are Ripe?
Ripe are a Boston-formed band built around funk and rock with a prominent horn section, known for high-energy live shows and a heavy touring schedule.
How do I get to The Rockaway Hotel?
The A train to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street is the direct subway route. The NYC Ferry Rockaway route is the scenic alternative from Manhattan and Brooklyn.
