CITYist

Everyone knows music is much better outdoors. So, we’ve rounded up the best concerts happening outside in NYC—with the beginning and end of the summer predominantly at the beach at Governors Island and the middle at Central Park’s summerstage—so you can better plan your musical outings. From CITY favorite Passion Pit to modern day hippies Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, there’s something for every musically inclined urban taste maker.

June 30th

Passion Pit (along with with Tokyo Police Club, We Were Promised Jetpacks and Suckers) treats Governors Island to its pixie stick-sweet electro pop tunes. Be prepared to dance.

July 4th

Get your slice of Americana with She & Him’s folk and Motown-inflected tunes (they’re also the only band offering their show for FREE). If you aren’t already enchanted by Zoe Deschanel and M. Ward, just listen to the above. Just listen.

July 17th

The first of our hippie examples, Philly band Dr. Dog, will make the island’s beach feel like 1967.

July 21st

A week later, keep the peace and love going with LA group Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

July 24th

If MIA hasn’t been stirring up enough controversy for you, what with her whole New York Times debacle, perhaps she will in person.

July 28th

If you think you were already foiled by The Black Keys, whose first Central Park date sold out, take a deep breath: a second night on the Wednesday is still available, as the blues-rock band plays with The Morning Benders.

August 4th

Hot Chip headlines a concert along with Hercules and Love Affair and Holy Ghost! at the summerstage.

August 8th

We’ve kind of got a thing for the xx. So you can bet we’ll be there when they take Central Park with Chairlift and Jack Peñate.

August 12th

Brooklyn-based Grizzly Bear gives us major incentive to head back to Governors Island.

September 7th

Silver Lake buzz band Local Natives continues its upward ascension in the indie world as they come to the beach with We Barbarians.

September 14th

We can’t think of a better way to end the season than with Neon Indian’s quintessentially summer-sounding psychedelic pop tunes. “Dead Beat Summer,” anyone?