Best and Worst Venues For Singer Songwriters IN NYC Best and Worst

Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion. They are my favorite places to play and watch singer songwriters in New York.

BEST
1. Bitter End
147 Bleeker St.
A lot more people know about the Bitter End now than a year ago. I believe that is because a clip of Lady Gaga playing there when she was 16 was shown on a Barbara Walters special, and that really gets people's attention. It's right on Bleeker street, and it's basically a must play spot, as well as a great place to stop in random nights and catch your friends shows or a jam.

2.The Living Room
154 Ludlow St.
This is one of my very favorite venues in New York as they have an upstairs and downstairs, and any night you stop by you are gauranteed to see an amazing act playing. Best part is that it's FREE.

3.Piano's
158 Ludlow St.
The neighbor to the Living Room, another quality spot. Also FREE.

4.Canal Room
285 West Broadway
The booking here is selective, but it's upscale, there's a spot for artists to hang out before the show, and the sound and stage set up is fantastic.

5. Arlene's Grocery
95 Stanton
Okay, so this doesn't exactly cater to the sensitive soulful types, it's more of a rock venue, but I have actually played this venue semi acoustic and it was fantastic. I bought a recording of my performance and the sound was excellent.

6. Rockwood
184 Allen St.
You can't really mention singer/songwriters in New York without mentioning Rockwood. And it's FREE.


WORST
169 Bar
This place is no good. They charge a ridiculous cover and capitalize on brand new musicians that don't know any better or people that are not good enough to book other shows. To be fair I haven't been back in about 4 years, so maybe it's better now. I would go back there if you paid me.

Hidden Gems
1.Slane
102 MacDougal St.

2.Lilly Coogans
1st Ave at 6th St.

3. Ten Eleven Bar
1011 Ave C

4.Banjo Jim's
1st Ave at 9th St.

5.Pete's Candy Store
709 Lorimer
Williamsburg, BK

6. The National Underground
169 East Houston