Photos by Rayce Aaronson (Ken Carson); Ebru Yildz (Moor Mother); Louie Perea (Lucrecia Dalt)
There are thousands of shows to see in New York City every month, which makes keeping track of any kind of live show calendar hard and choosing between shows even harder. We here at The FADER are always making note of the upcoming performances we’re excited to catch, and we’re now publishing our picks for the most exciting shows coming up in the city. Ahead, find 14 shows we’re most looking forward to in August 2025, from Detroit techno raves to astral jazz, Blacktronica, and more.
August 1: Lucrecia Dalt selects records (w/special guest) @ Light and Sound Design
If you’ve ever wanted to hang out with one of the world’s most interesting artists as they pick and play their favorite records, now’s your chance. Lucrecia Dalt, the Colombian sound artist turned purveyor of bizarro pop released one of our favorite albums of 2022 and has another captivating record on the way in September.
August 1: RESURRECTION: Kevin Saunderson, Carlos Souffront, Ashley Venom + Ana B, colado @ Paragon
Paragon is back! The two-floor club — three floors counting the mezzanine level from which hundreds of elite DJs have held court — shuttered at the end of April but it’s now returning with the help of an investment from Detroit techno legend Kevin Saunderson, who’ll headline its (re)opening night. He’ll be supported by fellow Detroiter Carlos Souffront and the duo of Haitian-American DJ Ashley Venom and Ukrainian selector Ana B.
August 2: Wolf Eyes & Maria Cávez @ Public Records
John Olson and Nate Young of Wolf Eyes will bring their 30-years-strong psychojazz project to Public Records, supported in their quest to murder your ears by experimental turntablist Maria Chávez. Both acts live at the borders of organized sound and complete chaos, releasing their creations into the world to take on lives of their own.
August 3: Lee Ranaldo, Samara Lubelski, Bill Nace, Sam Weinberg, Jason Nazary, Loren Connors, Henry Fraser @ Pianos
As a teenager waiting in line at Pianos with a fake ID and a dream, I would’ve never imagined that the Lower East Side institution would be hosting one of the hottest experimental lineups of summer 2025. A guitar super-trio of Lee Ranaldo (of Sonic Youth fame), Loren Connors, and Bill Nace will play alongside saxophonist Sam Weinberg, drummer Jason Nazary, and bassist Henry Fraser in what is sure to be one of the strangest, most transcendent confluences of noise you’ll hear all year.
August 8: Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Tashi Dorji @ Pioneer Works
Will Oldham (aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy) has collaborated with just about everyone in the avant-garde and freak-folk communities across a 30-odd-year career. He can be raunchy, shamanic, tragic, or cuttingly clever, but he’s always remained resolutely weird. In Pioneer Works’ massive Red Hook room, he’ll be joined by his Drag City labelmate Tashi Dorji, a guitar contortionist who shares Oldham’s passion for genre agnosticism and creative collaboration.
August 8: Augustus Muller (Boy Harsher DJ Set), WTCHCRFT, Sexorcist (Live), Junior M @ Paragon
August Muller — the darkwave superproducer behind Boy Harsher (with Jae Matthews) and Safe Mind (with Cooper Handy) — and WTCHCRFT, whose elastic style has stretched from acid house to ghetto tech and beyond, were both regulars at Paragon 1.0. The night will also include a live set from Sexorcist and a DJ set from veteran spinner Junior M (fka False Witness).
August 9: Editrix (album release), Landowner, Open Head @ Union Pool
Editrix — the trio fronted by master guitarist Wendy Eisenberg and backed by bassist Steve Cameron and drummer Josh Daniel — just released one of the most engaging albums of the year, a twist of bluesy math rock, proggy punk, and battering tech death. Nervy post-punk outfits Landowner and noisy Kingston, NY, rockers Open Head will support them at their Union Pool record release show.
August 10: Arthur Russell: The Platform on the Ocean feat. Sam Amidon, Zoh Amba, Laurie Anderson, Thomas Bartlett, Oren Bloedow (Elysian Fields), Jennifer Charles (Elysian Fields), Hannah Cohen, Peter Gordon, Smokey Hormel & His Band, Ella Hunt, John Kimrock, M Lamar, Max Moston, Spencer Murphy, DM Stith, Martha Wainwright, Doug Wieselman, and more @ Little Island
Little Island, the surprisingly lovely floating park off of Pier 54 in midtown Manhattan, will be hosting a marathon tribute to the work of Arthur Russell, one of the all-time legends of popular music’s avant garde. Curated by Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), the lineup features too many excellent artists to name, but Zoh Amba — a leader of free jazz’s next generation — and Laurie Anderson, whose colossal catalog of interdisciplinary art stretches across six decades, are standouts.
August 14: Concert Cruise: Eyehategod, Crowbar @ The Liberty Bell
The two undisputed titans of New Orleans sludge metal will be bringing their evil energies on a three-hour boat ride on the East River, sure to be filled to sinking level with some of the stinkiest fans in music. The music will be ear-shatteringly loud and the drinks will flow like water through a bilge. What could go wrong?!
August 17: Blacktronica Festival feat. Moor Mother, Rasheedah Phillips, Vijay Iyer, Shana Redmond, LaFrae Sci, Joy Guidry, Niecy Blues, Sonic Messengers, King Britt
Blacktronica is a movement originating in late-’90s London that honors luminaries of color in electronic music. Its August 2025 festival in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park will feature a Paul Robeson tribute from Shana Redmond, Vijay Iyer, and LaFrae Sci, an exploration of Black Quantum Futurism from Moor Mother and Rasheedah Philips, the debut collaborative performance of Niecy Blues and Joe Guidry, and more.
August 21: TIME:SPANS: Endlings & Yarn/Wire @ The DiMenna Center
Endlings is the mind-blowing collaborative project from Pulitzer-winning experimentalist Raven Chacon and guitar shredder John Dietrich (of Deerhoof). Their combination of otherworldly synthesized sounds and analog guitar creations are like nothing you’ve ever heard. Joining them are New York-based piano and percussion quartet Yarn/Wire, known for their adventurous performances of cutting-edge experimental compositions.
August 22: DJ Stingray 313, DJ Travella, Natural Wonder Beauty Concept, xexexehalfpet @ MoMA PS1
The most exciting Warm Up bill of the summer features mysterious Detroit icon DJ Stingray 313 — a collaborator of such legends as Drexciya and Carl Craig — alongside explosive Tanzanian Singeli experimentalist DJ Travella, Natural Wonder Beauty Concept (the trippy union of DJ Python and Ana Roxanne), and xexexe halfpet.
August 23: Charlie Parker Jazz Festival @ Marcus Garvey Park feat. Branford Marsalis Quartet, Nicholas Payton, Bertha Hope Quintet, Georgia Heers, DJ KulturedChild
According to Nicholas Payton, jazz is a four-letter word, but the ever-inventive trumpeter will be performing at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival at Marcus Garvey Park on August 23. He’ll be joined by fellow New Orleans scene leader Branford Marsalis (and his quartet), as well as Bertha Hope (and her quintet), Georgia Heers, and DJ KulturedChild.
August 24: Sun Ra Arkestra @ Union Pool
As in years past, Union Pool’s free Sunday Summer Thunder series will close with a performance by Sun Ra Arkestra, who continue to bring Ra’s timeless astral jazz to the world under the leadership of 101-year-old sax legend Marshall Allen. It’s always a pleasure to watch them work, but it’s extra-special in the intimate confines of Union Pool’s backyard.
Other shows we recommend
August 1: Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, and more @ Jones Beach Theater
August 1: Jamie xx, Daphni, Carista, EvilGiane, Pageant Queens @ Under the K Bridge Park
August 1: Eric D. Clark, OK Williams, DJ Spanish Fly, Masaaki @ MoMA PS1
August 1: Pleasure Systems, Felt Out, more ease, Zachary Paul @ Cassette
August 1: SALIMATA @ Baby’s All Right
August 1: Doug E. Fresh, Funk Flex, Tara Gardner, Strafe, Fonda Rae, T La Rock, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Scorpio and the Furious 5 @ Crotona Park
August 1: Juliana Huxtable presents: SHOCK VALUE feat. Kilbourne, Tah (1), Sausha, Via App, LOKA, DILUVIA
August 1–2: King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard (w/ Orchestra of St. Lukes)
August 2: Sex Week, Comet, Darla Dean Lewis @ TV EYE
August 3: Sun Araw, Peter Zummo, Bug Bus Piano, Post Geography @ Union Pool
August 3: Big Sexy Noise, Genre Is Death @ TV EYE
August 4: Sun Araw Trio, KG @ Light and Sound Design
August 5: Tim Berne @ Lowlands
August 6: Ken Carson @ Barclays Center
August 6: Eddie Chacon, William Alexander @ Public Records
August 6: Brutus VIII @ TV EYE
August 7: Kelly Moran @ The Underground at Jaffe Drive (Lincoln Center)
August 7–8: Clipse, Earthgang @ Terminal 5
August 8: Marie Davidson (DJ), LOKA, Fred Moten & Brandon Lopez, Concrete Husband @ MoMA PS1
August 8: Stevie Nicks @ Barclays Center
August 8: Adrian Quesada, Trish Toledo @ Lena Horne Bandshell (Prospect Park)
August 8–9: Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson, Sam Wilkes @ Public Records
August 9: Lizz Wright, Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Roy Hargrove Big Band, and more @ Madison Square Garden
August 9: My Chemical Romance, Death Cab For Cutie, Thursday @ MetLife Stadium
August 9: Rakim, Positive K, Sweet Tee, Joe Ski Love, Nice & Smooth, Ralph McDaniels, DJ Chubby Chub @ Stapleton Waterfront Park
August 9: Thor & Friends, more ease, Wendy Eisenberg, Lumberob @ The Sultan Room
August 10: Gunn-Truscinski Duo, Special Guests @ Union Pool
August 10: Deradoorian @ Union Pool
August 11: voeyeur, Holidays in the United States @ Elsewhere Rooftop
August 12: Tim Berne @ Lowlands
August 12: Death Cab For Cutie (Plans 20th Anniversary), American Analog Set @ Brooklyn Paramount
August 12: Ozomatli @ Sony Hall
August 12: La Pregunta?, Ces Cadácares, TAZ, Factory City Children @ TV EYE
August 13: Titus Andronicus, Teenage Halloween @ Elsewhere
August 14: Gun Boat, Pink Mexico, Aux Blood @ ALPHAVILLE
August 14: Will Stratton, Jessica Risker, Gabriel Birnbaum @ Cassette
August 14: clipping., Counterfeit Madison, Fatboi Sharif @ Elsewhere
August 14: Silver Synthetic, The Josephine Network, Danny Arakaki @ Union Pool
August 15: Special Request, Nguzunguzu, Authentically Plastic, NEW YORK @ MoMA PS1
August 15: Safety Trance, SoFTT, TYGAPAW, JOSELO & Sissies of Mercy @ Paragon
August 15: Eli Escobar, Mike Simonetti @ Bossa Nova Civic Club
August 15: Hiatus Kaiyote @ Brooklyn Paramount
August 15: William Parker, Nikara and Black Wall Street @ Lena Horne Bandshell (Prospect Park)
August 15: The Armed, Prostitute @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
August 16: Laraaji, Saapato @ Stone Circle Theater
August 16: Nick Hakim, Karriem Riggins (DJ) @ Lena Horne Bandshell (Prospect Park)
August 16: Marissa Nadler @ Rough Trade NYC
August 17: POW Fest: Cleo Reed, Rocki Ozai, Laraaji, Roselle, and more @ Herbert Von King Park
August 17: Funk Flex R&B Birthday Picnic feat. Honey Baby, Girlfriend, Babyswag, Lomiiel, N T G, Kocky Ka, DJ M U @ Central Park SummerStage
August 17: Avalon Emerson, Eamon Harkin @ Nowadays
August 17: The Hard Quartet @ Union Pool
August 19: d4vd, Laundry Day @ Terminal 5
August 20: Jake Muir, Anastasia Cope, Special Guest @ Public Records
August 20: Bloomsday, Why Bonnie @ Union Pool
August 20: d4vd, Laudry Day @ Brooklyn Steel
August 21: Omni, Grumpy @ Baby’s All Right
August 22: Arturo O’Farrill, Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra @ Bryant Park
August 22: The Starting Line, Oso Iso, Macseal @ Irving Plaza
August 22: Ron Carter, April May Webb @ Marcus Garvey Park
August 22: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic @ Palladium Times Square
August 23: MUTHA @ Brooklyn Paramount feat. LUDMILLA, CupcakKe, Junglepussy, Mykki Blanco, Cakes Da Killa, bbymutha, Dada Cosmic, Matt Louis, Prosperity Room, Boston Chery, Bodega Party, Gia Love
August 23: Neil Young (and the chrome hearts) @ Jones Beach Theater
August 23: Bushwig 2025 @ Knockdown Center
August 24: John Oates @ The Rockaway Hotel
August 25: LSD And The Search For God @ Baby’s All Right
August 26: Glom, Sid Simons, Thesaurus Rex, Meyru @ Sony Hall
August 26: LSD And The Search Fro God, Zeruel @ Mercury Lounge
August 28: The Who, Feist @ Jones Beach
August 28: Body Hack @ Nowadays
August 29: UNiiQU3, Byrell the Great, DJ Miss Parker & Eli Escobar @ Paragon
August 29: A.G. Cook @ Brooklyn Mirage
August 29: Hotline TNT @ Massapequa VFW Hall
August 30: 3l3d3p @ Elsewhere
August 30: The Who, Feist @ Madison Square Garden
August 31: IZA, Ilê Aiyê, Evandro Fióti @ Central Park SummerStage
August 31: Horse Meat Disco, Kim Anh @ Knockdown Center
August 31: Oasis, Cage the Elephant @ MetLife Stadium
August 31: Badfish @ The Rockaway Hotel
