Battle of the Outdoor Concert Venues

Photo via Gibson78's flickr

Over the years more and more outdoor venues have sprung up out of the lush park land and the not-so-lush concrete spaces of New York. From Central Park Summerstage to the Seaport to McCarren Pool (RIP), there's no shortage of outdoor music venues during the summer months. But now the NY Post is pitting them against each other! They say that while Summerstage used to be "a magnet for denizens of the five boroughs, as well as hordes of tourists," its reign may be challenged as people are beginning to voice complaints of it "being too hot, too crowded, too greedy."

While the venue does offer some free shows, the big names will cost you. However, over in Prospect Park, the Celebrate Brooklyn! series offers up some major headliners (David Byrne, for instance) for a mere suggested donation. And at the Seaport Music Festival, all of the shows are free, as are the Pool Parties which will likely be relocated to the Williamsburg waterfront. Do we even have a right to complain when there are so many choices?

Where's your favorite place to see outdoor concerts in the summer?(survey)

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on June 1, 2009 2:42 PM

Comments [rss]

Brooklyn

Summerstage is a cattle pen, a ruined venue. I haven't been there in years for that reason.

The Prospect Park bandshell used to have a laid-back vibe to it -- but you've started to see some of the chicken-wire-fencing mentality that did Summerstage in.

I haven't gone to a Coney Island show, but like the baseball stadium, it must be nice to enjoy the show and then enjoy the boardwalk and ocean air.

tingo

I saw thievery corp last year at summer stage. Venue was atrocious...we had to sit on some crappy artificial turf. No real grass? The sound system blew, badly. And security made everyone sit in these confined spaces.

We need to relax with our venues a little.

Outter Burrougher

the coney island concerts are actually my favorite - couple of hours listening to brian wilson followed by a ride on the cyclone was one of my best nights last summer.