4 awesome New York music festivals that won’t rip you off (or force you to go to an island)

It’s day party season in New York City! Not to mention outdoor drinking season, day drinking season and the season of free outdoor movies. I guess it’s just everything season. The point is, there are plenty of excuses to party in the outdoors with a drink in your hand this summer. But none of those excuses are as notorious, or as consummate, as the Music Festival Experience™. What is the M.F.E.? It’s paying upwards of $200 to gain entry to an open field of music and skunk haze where you will spend another $200 on food and alcohol in the course of three days. It’s hating everyone while you’re sober and loving everyone once you’re not. It’s something you’ll swear never to do again, until you do.

Now, I love music as much festivals as the next person. But am I really trying to spend hundreds for GA tickets or thousands for VIP tickets to see them? All things considered, probably not. Sure, Governor’s Ball and the Panorama Festival always look great if you have that kind of cash, but 2016 is the summer of woke wallets and mine is telling me to sit this one out.

That said, it’s summer and we all want to party. So, here’s a list of far more affordable festivals and day parties worth checking out. They’re mostly in Manhattan, but their ticket prices are Brokelyn-approved. Besides, you were going to go all the way to Randall’s Island or Battery Park for those other festivals anyway, right?

Henny Palooza
May 28, 2016
Webster Hall (125 E 11th St.), Manhattan
Ticket price: $50 >>

It started as a house party… that’s all you really need to know if you want to put it in perspective. A small gathering of Hennessy-loving friends has become one of the biggest parties in New York City, now with an added nationwide tour in Houston, Atlanta, DC, Los Angeles, Miami and even Bermuda. Henny Palooza has a no-bullshit party attitude. The ticket price covers an open bar (Hennessey only), and the cost of the ticket is roughly the same as the cost of an actual bottle of Hennessy. So you’re getting way more for your money. The only cash you’ll really need to have on you is in tips for the bartenders. The events team is approachable and will actually party with you, lead by “God Father” Kam, @KoolestKidOut. Expect the city’s top DJ’s playing the best hip-hop, R&B and Reggae. Hennypalooza tends to surprise New York during the summers too, so stay tuned. Follow @HennyPalooza or Kam on Twitter for updates.

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Brunch Bounce
May 30, 2016
La Marina (348 Dyckman St), Manhattan
Ticket price: $20 >>

Brunch Bounce, too, was once a small gathering among friends in Washington Heights. Started in 2012, it’s still going strong in 2016. I first stumbled into a Brunch Bounce at La Marina in Dykman during 2013, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I think that might have been the best party I’ve ever been to in my life; I’ve been in attendance ever since. Warm weather, cold drinks, up-tempo House, Disco, Hip-Hop, R&B and Reggae music… what else could you ask for? Brunch bounce is just a unique New York experience I feel like everybody should enjoy at least once in his or her lifetime. This year, Brunch Bounce is teaming up with Feel Up for Chicken and Beer and Fool’s Gold for Day Off in Brooklyn. All of the dates and locations for the summer series are listed below. FYI, there’s Brunch Bounce all year round — Brunch Bounce Halloween, Brunch Bounce Ugly Christmas sweater party, etc — but in order to fully appreciate the experience, you’ve got to check out a Brunch Bounce in the summer.

Brunch Bounce x Feel Up: July 2 at La Marina (348 Dyckman St), $15
Brunch Bounce: September 10, 2016 at La Marina (348 Dyckman St), $15
Brunch Bounce x Fool’s Gold Records: August 20, 2016 at secret location, $20

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The Greatest Day Ever
July 9, 2016
140 Stewart Ave., Brooklyn
Ticket price: $35-$50 >>

Greatest Day Ever has been known to pack out Williamsburg with thousands of attendees at this huge music festival. #GDE started in 2014 as a day party but today, it’s more than that. I’d call it more of a social experience en masse, full of beer, music, food truck and amusement park rides. Last year they even brought in a ferris wheel. How can you beat drinking in the sky? Group packages are available if you want to go with friends, but you can definitely go it alone and still have a good time. It’s a great way to get out there, meet new people and possibly bump into a friend you haven’t seen in 15 years. I’ve done that once or twice here.

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Trap Karaoke
June 2, 2016
SOB’s (204 Varick St), Manhattan
Ticket price: $20-$30 >>

Like every other great new thing in the world, Trap Karaoke first caught my attention on Twitter. Hosted by @LowKeyUHTN of You Heard That New, Trap Karaoke is not your typical karaoke-going experience. This is Karaoke on steroids, using trap music. You’re not just on stage singing horribly in front of a couple of people; you’re performing the concert, you have an audience, you have the screaming, dancing fans, and you’re living out the dream of being a Hip-Hop/R&B legend (if only for five minutes) in front of hundreds of people. I know, it sounds intimidating. Just have a drink, swallow your pride and do it. Follow @TrapKaraoke on twitter for updates, as they are always on the move.

Follow Pascal on Twitter for more updates: @p_cal

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