Graphics by Olivia Angst
CMJ brings some of the most interesting emerging bands into NYC, and unlike most other weeks in the city, a ton of the shows are free! There are so many free shows that it’s very, very easy to get overwhelmed and even shut down. But don’t worry, we’re here for you. We chose the 20 best free shows happening all around the city this CMJ, and boy there are some doozys. Check out our picks below and have an amazing week!
Tuesday
The Syndicate Conflict of Interest Party (7pm) @ Brooklyn Bowl // Free w/ RSVP
Joywave
Oberhofer
Grace Mitchell
Communion Presents (9:15pm) @ Rockwood Music Hall // Free
Johanan
Son Little
Marlon Williams
Ben Abraham
Wednesday
Hillydilly CMJ @ Good Room (7pm) // Free w/ RSVP
Aquilo
Tora
Lauv
Kevin Garrett
Crooked Colors
Safia
Powers
Tapes (DJ Set)
Kanine Records + We Are Collide Day Party – Dr Martens Stand For Something Showcase (12pm-7pm) @ Pianos // Free
Downstairs
Yung (1:00pm)
Carseat Headrest (1:45pm)
Pinact (2:30pm)
Oscar (3:30pm)
Expert Alterations (4:30pm)
Weaves (5:15pm)
Beverly (6:00pm)
Upstairs
Mercury Girls (1:00pm)
Cheatahs (1:45pm)
Wildhoney (2:30pm)
Hin Du (3:30pm)
Hockey Dad (4:30pm)
Eternal Summers (5:15pm)
Shopping (6:00pm)
Breakthru Radio Presents (12pm -7pm) @ Cake Shop // Free
Worriers
Diet Cig
The Ghost Ease
Palehound
Sweet Spirit
Beverly
Gramma’s Boyfriend
Morgan Erina
HBR’s Official CMJ Showcase (5pm)@ Pete’s Candy Store // Free
Twiga
Hamish Kilgour (The Clean, The Mad Scene)
Big Quiet
Thursday
Rough Trade Presents (1pm) @ Rough Trade // Free
John Grant
Ezra Furman
Georgia
Shopping
Hooton Tennis Club
BBC Introducing & PRS for Music Foundation (8pm) @ Rough Trade // Free
Clean Cut Kid
Georgia
Pretty Vicious
The Big Moon
The Jacques
Atypical Beasts & Audio Femme CMJ Day Party (12pm) @ Pianos // Free
Methyl Ethel (5:45pm)
Cheatahs (5:00pm)
Michael Rault (4:45pm)
Landshapes (4:00pm)
Weaves (3:15pm)
Palehound (2:30pm)
Hockey Dad (1:45pm)
Yung (1:00pm)
Harpoon Brewery Presents CMJ Unplugged Day Party (12:30pm) @ Knitting Factory // Free
Holly Miranda (Solo Acoustic)
Morningsiders (Full Band Acoustic)
Frankie Cosmos (Greta Kline Acoustic)
Ben Abraham (Solo Acoustic)
Alice Phoebe Lou (Acoustic Duo)
Mail The Horse (Full Band Acoustic)
NYCTaper (12pm) @ Cake Shop // Free w/ RSVP
Car Seat Headrest
Zachary Cale
Dirty Ghosts
Mothers
Vomitface
WOMPS
Ne-Hi
Dirty Dishes
Friday
Planetary Group Showcase (12pm-6pm) @ Pianos // Free w/ RSVP
Downstairs
The Dirty Nil (12:50pm)
British India (01:30pm)
K’s Choice (02:10pm)
Step-Panther (02:50pm)
Crooked Colours (1:50pm)
Tuka (04:10pm)
Selahphonic (4:50pm)
Pierce Brothers (5:30pm)
Upstairs
Owen Rabbit (12:30pm)
The Babe Rainbow (1:10pm)
Lena Fayre (01:50pm)
Fraser A. Gorman (2:30pm)
Jack + Eliza (3:10pm)
Fufanu (3:50pm)
HIGHS (4:30pm)
Le Galaxie (5:10pm)
Cymbal + Terrible Records (5pm) @ Cameo Gallery // Free w/ RSVP
LE1F
Empress Of
Porches
Kirin J Callinan
Deradoorian
Okay Kaya
Jimmy Whispers
Kaya
Stolen Jars
ATO Presents (3pm) @ Knitting Factory // Free
Caitlin Rose
Jessica Lea Mayfield
Joseph
Margaret Glaspy
The Wild Honey Pie Presents The Beehive (6:00pm – 4:00am) @ The Wick // Free w/ RSVP or $5 At Door
Piers (6:15pm)
Sam Cohen (7:00pm)
Fraser A. Gorman (7:45pm)
Dent May (8:30pm)
Frankie Cosmos (9:30pm)
Lazyeyes (10:30pm)
Phony Ppl (11:30pm)
Stone Cold Fox (12:30am)
The Britanys (1:15am)
Acid Dad (2:00am)
Buffalo Rodeo (2:45am)
GRACELAND (12pm) @ Elvis Guesthouse // Free
Kirin J Callinan
Whitney
Mild High Club
Jimmy Whispers
Sean Nicholas Savage
Joy Again
Saturday
Bowery Presents CMJ Day Party (12:30pm) @ Pianos // Free
Downstairs
Hooton Tennis Club (1:00pm)
Fraser A Gorman (2:00pm)
Mild High Club (3:00pm)
Nico Yaryan (4:00pm)
Methyl Ethel (5:00pm)
Lemon Twigs (6:00pm)
Upstairs
Car Seat Headrest (12:30pm)
Zachary Cale (1:30pm)
Ben Abraham (2:30pm)
Aquilo (3:30pm)
Bayonne (4:30pm)
Whitney (5:30pm)
Riot Act Official CMJ Showcase (4pm) @ Petes Candy Store // Free
Nai Harvest (7:45pm)
Baeb Rxxth (7pm)
Diet Cig (6:15pm)
Hethers (5:30pm)
Light Music (4:45pm)
Last Good Tooth (4pm)
Run For Cover Records Presents (6:30pm) @ Palisades // Free
Pity Sex
Makthaverskan
Crying
Teen Suicide
LVL UP
Petal
Spencer Radcliffe
Pinegrove
