Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best music in New York City on Friday night of Labor Day weekend, Sep 4: 15 picks, refreshed weekly.
15 picks · checked Sep 2
Bryant Park, Midtown, ManhattanBryant Park's first Brass Festival stacks Grammy-nominated New Breed Brass Band, Brooklyn's Aberdeen and the all-female Brass Queens on the lawn.
Bryant Park, Midtown, ManhattanBryant Park's first Brass Festival stacks Grammy-nominated New Breed Brass Band, Brooklyn's Aberdeen and the all-female Brass Queens on the lawn.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhotograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Met throws its Live in HD capture of Bellini's I Puritani onto a giant screen over Josie Robertson Plaza. About 2,500 seats go out, admission is free and no tickets or reservations are issued.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanPhotograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Met throws its Live in HD capture of Bellini's I Puritani onto a giant screen over Josie Robertson Plaza. About 2,500 seats go out, admission is free and no tickets or reservations are issued.
The Amph at Little Island, Meatpacking District, ManhattanLaurie Anderson, Davone Tines and a rotating house band reset Allen Ginsberg's poems as songs on Little Island's amphitheatre stage.
The Amph at Little Island, Meatpacking District, ManhattanLaurie Anderson, Davone Tines and a rotating house band reset Allen Ginsberg's poems as songs on Little Island's amphitheatre stage.
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (regional)Ed Sheeran loops MetLife for two stadium nights with Macklemore, Lukas Graham and BIIRD opening — the fall's biggest pop pilgrimage from NYC.
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (regional)Ed Sheeran loops MetLife for two stadium nights with Macklemore, Lukas Graham and BIIRD opening — the fall's biggest pop pilgrimage from NYC.
Barclays Center, Prospect Heights, BrooklynRobyn brings the sexistential tour to Barclays Center with Yaeji opening, her first Brooklyn arena run in years and a full production.
Barclays Center, Prospect Heights, BrooklynRobyn brings the sexistential tour to Barclays Center with Yaeji opening, her first Brooklyn arena run in years and a full production.
Knockdown Center, Maspeth, QueensThe UK dance legends close their sold-out two-night Labor Day stand at Knockdown Center — two full sets, no opener, their only U.S. headline shows of 2026.
Knockdown Center, Maspeth, QueensThe UK dance legends close their sold-out two-night Labor Day stand at Knockdown Center — two full sets, no opener, their only U.S. headline shows of 2026.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Bedford Park, BronxPrincess Nokia brings her shape-shifting rap catalog to Lehman Center, with a pre-show wine and beer reception for front orchestra ticket holders.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Bedford Park, BronxPrincess Nokia brings her shape-shifting rap catalog to Lehman Center, with a pre-show wine and beer reception for front orchestra ticket holders.
Palladium Times Square, Times Square, ManhattanLatin singer Luis Angel El Flaco headlines Palladium Times Square, a rare Broadway-block marquee for a Spanish-language dance night.
Palladium Times Square, Times Square, ManhattanLatin singer Luis Angel El Flaco headlines Palladium Times Square, a rare Broadway-block marquee for a Spanish-language dance night.
Bowery Ballroom, Lower East Side, ManhattanA two-night punk gathering takes over the Bowery Ballroom, with a combined pass for anyone planning to do both evenings.
Bowery Ballroom, Lower East Side, ManhattanA two-night punk gathering takes over the Bowery Ballroom, with a combined pass for anyone planning to do both evenings.
Blue Note Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, ManhattanFrank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSnarky Puppy drummer Robert Sput Searight leads a percussion-and-horn funk band whose members have backed Prince and Kendrick Lamar.
Blue Note Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, ManhattanFrank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSnarky Puppy drummer Robert Sput Searight leads a percussion-and-horn funk band whose members have backed Prince and Kendrick Lamar.
Gramercy Theatre, Gramercy, ManhattanEmarosa headline the Gramercy on the High Horse Heaven Tour, two decades on from their Kentucky post-hardcore beginnings.
Gramercy Theatre, Gramercy, ManhattanEmarosa headline the Gramercy on the High Horse Heaven Tour, two decades on from their Kentucky post-hardcore beginnings.
Joe's Pub, NoHo, ManhattanDowntown cabaret force Rizo builds a show around charisma and belief, promising a lush room, low lights and absolutely nothing to worry about.
Joe's Pub, NoHo, ManhattanDowntown cabaret force Rizo builds a show around charisma and belief, promising a lush room, low lights and absolutely nothing to worry about.
Mercury Lounge, Lower East Side, ManhattanFour local bands share the Mercury Lounge back room in an early-evening bill that ends in time for whatever you had planned after.
Mercury Lounge, Lower East Side, ManhattanFour local bands share the Mercury Lounge back room in an early-evening bill that ends in time for whatever you had planned after.
Dizzy's Club, Columbus Circle, ManhattanTony-nominated singer Ann Hampton Callaway works through Night and Day and a rare posthumous Cole Porter duet high above Columbus Circle.
Dizzy's Club, Columbus Circle, ManhattanTony-nominated singer Ann Hampton Callaway works through Night and Day and a rare posthumous Cole Porter duet high above Columbus Circle.
Village Vanguard, West Village, ManhattanBassist John Patitucci brings saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Brian Blade into the Vanguard's basement for the last nights of a six-night stand.
Village Vanguard, West Village, ManhattanBassist John Patitucci brings saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Brian Blade into the Vanguard's basement for the last nights of a six-night stand.
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