Best Outdoor Concerts in NYC This Summer
It’s Summer in New York City, and even though it can be a tough place to be when the heat sets in, there’s one benefit to sweating it out in the Big Apple: we have some of the best musicians coming through our city to perform outside. NYC has some incredible venues to experience outdoor live music, such as Central Park’s SummerStage, The Rooftop at Pier 17, Jones Beach Amphitheater, and more.
Fans, here are the Best Outdoor Concerts in NYC This Summer. There’s nothing quite like an outdoor concert where the backdrop is New York City. Don’t miss out on when some of the best acts in live music come through this summer.
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Central Park SummerStage
This year Central Park Summerstage is hosting a typically diverse and popular set of artists. The venue’s concert calendar is stellar, a perfect lineup to support one of the most idyllic and vibrant live stages.
Most other Central Park Summerstage concerts will be free to the public. You can check out the entire Central Park Summerstage 2025 concert calendar, here.
Confused as to which SummerStage events are ticketed and which are free? You can find all of the ticketed SummerStage events here. Below, you will find the SummerStage concerts we are most looking forward to.
Bomba Estereo and Rawayana
Global tropical and afrobeats artists Bomba Estereo and Rawayana are linking up for the first time to form the supergroup Astrotropical. The supergroup is also debuting a new collaborative album, a 12-song LP inspired by the sounds off the South American coast. You do not want to miss Rawayana and Bomba Estereo light up Central Park on June 1.
Kes
R&B and Trinidadian soca group Kes will return to Central Park’s most summer venue for two nights, July 5 & 6. These shows are part of Kes’ limited 2025 Summer Tour, “Heat Meh Up,” which promises more dates to be added in the future. Kes’ latest LP was last year’s Man With No Door.
Rilo Kiley
It’s been 17 years since Rilo Kiley last went on tour. It had been so long, in fact, fans stopped anticipating any sort of return. But Rilo Kiley has reunited and will bring their “Sometimes When You’re On You’re Really F**king On” Tour to Central Park Summerstage on Sep. 8.
Wet Leg
Indie rockers Wet Leg will bring their “Moistourizer” Tour to Central Park this summer, on Sep. 17. Touring in support of their forthcoming album, moisturizer, Wet Leg will be slinging recent singles such as “catch these fists,” along with fan favorites “Oh No,” and “Supermarket.”
Forest Hills Stadium
Constructed back in 1923 as a tennis arena, before it became a music venue, Forest Hills Stadium in Queens has been a beacon of live entertainment in the borough for decades. Since the venue’s revitalization in 2013, the performers have gotten better and better. Now, it’s one of New York City’s premier stages. Here are the best concerts happening at Forest Hills Stadium this summer.
Check out the entire Forest Hills Stadium events calendar here. Below, you’ll find some of the best shows scheduled to take place at Forest Hills Stadium this year.
Dr. Dog & Crumb
Back in 2021, Dr. Dog said they were done with touring and commemorated the announcement with a farewell roadtrip. But they didn’t say they were ever breaking up, and have since performed the occasional rock show. Fans can catch one of these this summer, when Dr. Dog & Crumb hit Forest Hills Stadium on June 21.
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
Iconic rockers King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard are getting ready to release their full orchestral album, Phantom Island, and are currently touring in support of it. King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard will be joined by a full orchestra at their upcoming Forest Hills Stadium concert, set for Aug. 1, with a rock set scheduled for the following night.
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Tickets
Leon Bridges & Charley Crockett
This summer, R&B songbird Leon Bridges and country artist Charley Crockett are linking up for “The Crooner & The Cowboy” co-headlining tour. Bridges and Crockett will take their act to Forest Hills Stadium on Sep. 4. The two Texas-bred musicians are an incredible match, and we know they’re about to bring out the best in each other on this tour.
Alabama Shakes
The Alabama Shakes have reunited and will bring their 2025 Reunion Tour to Forest Hills Stadium on Sep. 17. It’s been seven years since the Alabama Shakes last went on tour, then in support of their last LP Sound & Color. We can’t wait to hear Brittany Howard and co. rehash their beloved catalog, and debut some new music as well.
Jones Beach Amphitheater
This summer, all genres of music are stopping at Jones Beach Amphitheater. This year, some of the best, premier contemporary country artists will be stopping in. The Jones Beach Amphitheater will simply be packed with musical talent this summer and into the fall. Here are some of the upcoming concerts at Jones Beach Amphitheater, the best artists coming to New York this summer.
Luke Bryan
This summer, Luke Bryan will bring his massive “Country Song Came On” Tour to Jones Beach Amphitheater. The country icon will be touching down in the Big Apple on May 31 and will be bringing George Birge, Avery Anna, Ashland Craft, Mae Estes, Cole Goodwin, and more, along for the show.
Dave Matthews Band
No summer is complete without a Dave Matthews Band tour. The Spring/ Summer 2025 Tour will arrive at Jones Beach on June 11. Looking to dance and enjoy outdoor live music for three hours straight? Truly, nobody does it like Dave. Don’t miss your chance to jam with the maestro this summer.
Thomas Rhett, Tucker Wetmore, and Dasha
This summer, Thomas Rhett, along with Tucker Wetmore and Dasha, will perform Jones Beach Amphitheater on July 12. Not only will Thomas Rhett be on tour this year, he’s also promised new music to debut all summer long. Want to hear some of his best work yet, live? Don’t miss out when the “Better In Boots” Tour hits Jones Beach this summer.
Neil Young
Beloved rocker and philanthropist Neil Young will bring his new band, The Chrome Hearts, to Northwell at Jones Beach this summer as part of his “Love Earth” Tour. Neil Young is set to perform Aug. 23 with his band featuring guitarist Micah Nelson, bassist Corey McCormick, drummer Anthony Logerfo, and organist Spooner Oldham.
Pier 17
The Rooftop at Pier 17 should be on your radar for live music here forward. Located in the Seaport District, in beautiful view of the Brooklyn Bridge, Pier 17 is rapidly on its way to becoming one of the city’s premier live music venues. Taking the classic, NYC rooftop party to new levels, Pier 17 is where you want to be, at least once, this summer.
The 2025 Pier 17 concert schedule is stout. This summer, the calendar is a dreamy mix of vintage emo rock, rap, acoustic folk, and pop performers.
If you’ve never gone downtown to South Street Seaport, right on the edge of the Financial District, you’ve now found another reason to go. Along with incredible views and food, there is some of the best outdoor music the city has to offer. You can find the full 2025 Pier 17 concert schedule, and tickets, here.
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Alternative and blues rock musician Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals will touch down at The Rooftop at Pier 17 as part of their 2025 summer tour. Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, recently out with their new single “Before the Rain Dried,” will perform May 31.
Jack’s Mannequin
The Andrew McMahon-led alt-rock band Jack’s Mannequin is reuniting this year for their 20th anniversary since their debut LP. The Rooftop at Pier 17 will see Jack’s Mannequin’s “MFEO” Tour near the beginning, on June 7. We can’t wait for the nostalgic high of hearing songs such as “La La Lie” and “Dark Blue” after all these years.
Electronic artist Dispatch has announced a massive, 35-date tour for this summer which includes a stop at NYC’s Pier 17. Dispatch will perform Pier 17 on July 1 be joined by special guests John Butler (with band), G. Love & Special Sauce, and Donavon Frankenreiter.
The Fray
The aptly named “The Fray Is Back” Tour will bring The Fray to The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Aug. 5. Not only is the band ready to ignite stadiums and arenas nationwide with their catalog of older, beloved hits, The Fray is making new music as well. We can’t wait to celebrate their legacy, and new material, this summer at “The Fray Is Back” Tour.
Rob Thomas & A Great Big World
Former Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas will embark on a solo headlining tour this summer, with a Rooftop at Pier 17 performance plotted for Aug. 12. “The All Night Days” Tour comes in support of Thomas’ upcoming sixth studio album, All Night Days. A Great Big World will serve as the tour opener for this date.
Sierra Ferrell
Most fans know about the songwriting and singing talent of country artist Sierra Ferrell, especially after she joined artists Post Malone and Jelly Roll on their “Big Ass Stadium” Tour. But later this summer, on Sep. 6, Ferrell will drop in on Pier 17 as part of her “Shoot For The Moon” Tour. Don’t miss out on her solo headlining tour dates, when her set will really be able to spread its wings.
Citi Field
Did you know there were concerts happening, each year, at Citi field? What better place to catch an outdoor concert, in the summer, than at a baseball field? This year, Flushing’s own Citi Field will be holding a couple of huge concerts.
Citi Field is getting ready to host yet another lineup of large-scale performances, the kind of show only stars can bring. The 2025 Citi Field concerts include
With several incredible concerts lined up for this summer, Citi Field is on its way to becoming one of the best outdoor music venues the city has to offer.
Post Malone
This summer, Post Malone and Jelly Roll will co-headline Citi Field on June 4. The “Big Ass Stadium Tour,” one of the most talked about concert tours of the year, will feature a range of genres and hits from both artists. From country, to pop, to R&B, Post Malone and Jelly Roll are warning fans: get ready to have the time of your lives.
Stray Kids
Another feature of Citi Field’s K-Pop heavy summer lineup will be Stray Kids. Currently making their way across several U.S stadiums and amphitheaters, Stray Kids’ “dominATE” World Tour will arrive at Citi Field on June 18 for two, back-to-back nights of shows.
The Lumineers
“Ho Hey” singers The Lumineers are getting ready for a massive world tour in support of their forthcoming LP, Automatic. We can’t wait to hear more of their new album live, in concert. For their Citi Field performance, on July 11, The Lumineers will be joined by opening acts Young the Giant and Hippo Campus.
BlackPink
The fourth concert tour from South Korean girl group Blackpink is very limited but will include two nights, July 26 & 27, at Citi Field. The all stadium, “Deadline” World Tour will be their first since the Born Pink World Tour, which ran from 2022 to 2023. We know fans are going to be eager to see JENNIE, ROSÉ, JISOO and LISA, live, at Citi Field this summer.
NYC Music Festivals
New York City music fans, do not sleep on the amount of music festivals—the biggest outdoor concerts there are—this summer. There’s nothing like attending one in, arguably, the greatest city on earth. Here are the NYC Music Festivals you must attend this year.
All Things Go
September 26- 28
The alt and indie rock driven All Things Go Festival will return to Forest Hills Stadium this year with an even dreamier lineup than years prior. The 2025 All Things Go Festival will be headlined by Lucy Dacus, Doechii, and Clairo.
Other performers fans can look forward to seeing are The Marías, Remi Wolf, DJO, Lola Young, The Last Dinner Party, and others. You can find the entire All Things Go Festival Lineup here.
Governors Ball
June 6-8
Gov Ball NYC is returning to Flushing Meadows Corona Park with an incredible lineup. This year, the main festival headliners are Tyler, the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, and Hozier. The rest of the lineup will be complete with performances from Benson Boone, Feid, Glass Animals, Mt. Joy, T-Pain, and Clairo.
We’re stoked for this year’s festival and a lineup that will keep us dancing all night long. Don’t sleep on getting your Gov Ball tickets, as they are only going to increase in price as the festival approaches.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!
The Prospect Park Bandshell is getting ready for yet another year of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Unlike Central Park’s Summerstage, which is spread across all five boroughs, Celebrate Brooklyn resides at the Bandshell. The festival, which runs all summer long, is known to be one of the easiest and low-key to attend.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn’s 2025 lineup will include Men I Trust, Dinosaur Jr., Gogol Bordello, and others. You can find the entire list of performers here.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Tickets
Ladyland
June 27-28
This summer, Under the K Bridge Park, fans can gather to witness the two-day music festival Ladyland. This year, the Ladyland Music Festival will be headlined by Cardi B and FKA Twigs. The rest of the 2025 Ladyland lineup will include Sofia Kourtesis, Sukihana, Uniiqu3, Boris, Pabllo Vittar, Eartheater, Isabella Lovestory, Chippy Nonstop, and Cortisa Star.
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