Between October 21 and October 25, over 1,300 artists will perform at more than 80 venues during CMJ 2014. You could pay to experience the whole thing, with a $549 full badge or a $140 show pass (that gets you into the week’s concerts), but there are so many free shows during the week, why bother? It can be tricky and time consuming to pick the best shows to go to, and while we can’t help you with that, we can help you by at least pointing to all of the free shows the festival offers.
Monday, October 20
Unofficial CMJ Kickoff Party
Pianos, 158 Ludlow Street
7:30pm
Uncommon Nasa, Cakes da Killa, White Reaper, Oscar, Machine Girl, Sharpless
Tuesday, October 21
Tell All Your Friends CMJ Party
Baby’s All Right 146 Broadway
12:00pm /21+
Peter Matthew Bauer, Bo Ningen, Happyness, Money, Spires, Slothrust, Strange Names
M for Montreal CMJ Party
Baby’s All Right, 146 Broadway
Midnight
Mystery Lights, Calvin Love, Homeshake, Honey
The Syndicate Presents: Conflict of Interest
Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue
6:00pm/ 21+/ Free with RSVP
Cold War Kids, Aurora, Chief Scout
Free CMJ Show
Niagara, 112 Avenue A
9:00 PM / 21+
Prospector, The Bowery Riots, Sharkmuffin
Riot Act 2014 CMJ Pete’s Candy Store Happy Hour Party
Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St
5pm
TBA, Beautiful Ground, Sorcha Richardson, Conveyor, Benjamin Verdoes, Meleana Cadiz, Hundreds, Monomyth
Pianos CMJ Kickoff Day Party
Pianos, 158 Ludlow Street
1pm/ 21+
Baby Alpaca, Baby In Vain, Casual Sex, Heat, Mighty Oaks, High Highs, Saskwatch
Music Is Great/Ben Sherman present
Rough Trade, 64 N 9th Street
7pm/21+
The Crookes, Money, Spring King, Longfellow
Gingercore Kills CMJ
Silent Barn, 603 Bushwick Avenue
8pm/All Ages/Free before 8pm
PC Worship, Broken Water, Dream Police, Survival, Sediment Club, Yvette, Psychic Blood, Natural Velvet, Chimes
L Rock Entertainment Presents
The Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery
5pm / 21+
The Singularity, Shirley House, Hey Anna, Beecher’s Fault, Sons of Origin, Slim Wray, Air for Ants, Lisa Bianco, Meghan Wright (and The Wrongs), Craig Greenberg, Ravens & Chimes
EiPR and the Outlet Collective Presents
The Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery
5pm / 21+
Jesus on the Mainline, Nuf Said, Midnight High, Dough Rollers, Butcher Knives, menage, Thee Idea Man, Sleepy Hahas, Nick D and The Believers, Red Oblivion, The Grayces, Memoir, Kalen Lister and The Sky Thieves
Rockethub Presents
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen Street / STAGE 1
12pm/ 21+
The WilHelmus.! Trio at Large, Illitry, 10 String Symphony, Michael Daves, Shayna Steele, The Reign of Kindo, Matthew Santos, Shayfer James, BAILEN, 2/3 Goat, Mariachi Flor De Toloache, Buffalo Stack, Niall Connolly, Kelley Swindall
WFUV & Squarespace Present
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen Street / STAGE 2
5pm
Horse Thief, Elle King, Son Little, Happyness
Communion & Squarespace Present:
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen Street / STAGE 2
9:30pm
Honey Wild, Fractures, Little May, Monica Heldal
CMJ Music Marathon
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen Street / STAGE 3
5pm
Watching for Foxes, Akie Bermiss & Lynette Williams, Amy Vachal, Joseph, Dan Mills, Owen Beverly, Matt Walters, Tom West
Wednesday, October 22
Never Better CMJ Party
Arlene’s Grocery, 95 Stanton Street
2:00pm/Free with RSVP/ 21+
Tweens, PINS, Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, PAWS
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No Shame and Cameo Gallery CMJ Showcase
Cameo Gallery, 93 N 6th St
6:00pm/21+
Walking Shapes, Mother Feather, Teen Commandments, Loveskills, Conveyor, Joseph King, Wild Pink, Desert Stars
Holy Underground Official Music Showcase
Niagara, 112 Avenue A
4:00pm/21+
Gringo Star, tba, Little Racer, Walker Lukens, Pageantry, Featherface, Oko Tygra, Holiday
CMJ
Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St
10pm
Luke Sweeney, The Hunting Party
Karina Records, Collide Magazine Slumberland, Insound, SESAC, The Berrics present
Pianos, 158 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
1:00 PM / 21+
The Ocean Blue, Flowers, September Girls, PAWS, Girlpool, Splashh, Pinact
Deli Magazine Presents
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 1
5:00pm
Laura Cole Band, Invisible Familiars, Motopony, Sons of an Illustrious Father, The Nepotist, Inland Traveler, Margaret Glaspy, Bridget Davis & The Viking Kings, Cariad Harmon
Deli Magazine Presents
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 2
5:00pm
HITS, Lazer Cake, Stone Cold Fox, Secret Someones, Animal Years, Darlingside, She Keeps Bees, The Family Crest, ABSTRAKTO
Deli Magazine Presents
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 3
6:15pm
Totara Jack, Jack & Eliza, Anthony D’Amato, Caitlin Canty, Maggie Rogers, Guthrie Brown
Siren Sounds + Pancakes & Whiskey day party
The Delancey, 168 Delancey St
11:30 AM / 21+
Canon Logic, Zerbin, Adios Ghost, Highs, Rocket and the Ghost, Jack and Eliza, The Teen Age, The Peach Kings, Frances Cone, Charly Bliss, Everest Cale, Goodbyemotel, Whiskey Bitches
Thursday, October 23
Bella Union Official CMJ Showcase
(le) poisson rouge 158 Bleecker St
10:00pm/18+
Ballet School, Money, Marissa Nadler, PINS, Wild Nothing (DJ Set), Simon Raymonde (DJ Set)
Captured Tracks x Omnian Music Group
Baby’s All Right, 146 Broadway
1pm / All Ages
Widowspeak, Juan Wauters, Dinner, Homeshake, Mega Bog, Alex Calder, Girl Tears
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FLOOD PRESENTS: NY Launch Party and CMJ Showcase
Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue
7:00pm/Free with RSVP/ 21+
Beach Fossils, Small Black,Wardell, Fiance
Communion CMJ Party
Glasslands, 289 Kent Ave
8:30pm/21+
Twin Peaks, Bear’s Den, Gossling, Colony House, Lia Ices, Marian Hill
The Bowery Presents CMJ Showcase
Mercury Lounge, 217 E Houston St
Door at 11:59pm / 21 +
The Big Sleep, Heaven
Free CMJ Show
Niagara, 112 Avenue A
9:00pm/21+
Paul Collins’ Beat, Twin Guns, The Johnny’s
Tinderbox Showcase
Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St
9:00 PM – 12:00 AM
The Looking, Janna Pelle, Alyson Greenfield, Fiona Silver, Sylvana Joyce & The Moment, Shayna Leigh
Arlene’s Favorites CMJ Showcase
Arlene’s Grocery, 95 Stanton Street
1:30pm/21+
The Rooks, Great Caesar, La La Lush, Heavy Lights, King Holiday, Fictionist, Loose Buttons, Walking Sticks
Chris Burden’s CMJ 2014 Daytime Showcase
The Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery
12pm / 21+
Hamish Kilgour, Honduras, Sunflower Bean, ONWE, Mirror Kisses, Napoleon, Haybaby, Life Size Maps, The Veda Rays, Sam Kogon, Malatese, Heavy Birds, Teen Body, Bodega Bay, Quasi
Sixpoint Presents
The Rock Shop, 249 4th Ave
7:00pm/21+
Somebody’s Darling, Fictionist, Roll the Tanks, Blacklist Royals
Flux Studios Presents
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 1
12pm
Go Wolf, Honey Wild, Plastic Cannons, Rocket & the Ghost, Handsome Ghost, Son Little, Emily Wolfe, Loren Benjamin, Smoke Season, Banda Magda, Wakey!Wakey!, Jay Stolar, Bridge City Hustle, The Liza Colby Sound, Andrea Wood
CMJ Music Marathon
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 2
6pm/ 21+
SugarBad, Urban Sun, ELAPHANT, King Holiday, Mother Feather, Elle King, Mighty Oaks, Nabiha
CMJ Music Marathon
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 3
5pm
Ryan Shaw, Max Jury, Simian Ghost, Fairtytales for the Fatherless, Avid Dancer, Daniella Mason, Kate Davis, Allman Brown
Friday, October 24
Never Better CMJ Party
Arlene’s Grocery, 95 Stanton Street
2pm/Free with RSVP/21+
Concord America, CYMBALS, Wampire, White Fence
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Topshelf Records CMJ Showcase
Cameo Gallery, 93 N 6th St
8pm/21+
The World is a Beautiful Place & I’m No Longer Afraid To Die, Empire Empire, Field Mouse, Wildhoney, Sorority Noise
Aussie Showcase
Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St
4pm
Little Radar, Big Harp, Immigrant Union (Featuring Brent DeBoer of the Dandy Warhols), Setting Sun, Oxford and Co., Caitlin Harnett, Tom West, Demi Louise
Fieldhouse Presents
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 1
12:00pm / 21+
Buggaboo, HIGHS, Margo Price & the Pricetags, Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band, paris_monster, TAT, Nova & the Experience, Matt Sucich, The Field Effect, The Yells, The Bandoleros (feat.Jerry Fuentes & Derek James), Chris Cubeta & the Liars Club, Chris Ayer, Mieka Pauley, Jago Thorne, Olivia Millerschin
Missing Piece Group Presents
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 2
12:00pm / 21+
Aurora, Skyes, the Collection, Matthew Fowler, Happyness, Colony House
Fleming Artists Presents
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 2
7:00pm
The Suffers, Manicanparty, The Stationary Set, Kawehi, Knox Hamilton, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, Baby Bee
Green Room Music Source and JetPack Promotions Present
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 3
12:00pm
City of the Sun, Jay Stolar, Odessa, Elizabeth & The Catapult, Marco Foster, Vita & the Woolf, Ron Gallo & Jordan Hull, Shawn Fogel (of Golden Bloom), Jon Dee Graham, Jack Grace, Brett Harris, Brett Newski, Ann Klein, MaryLeigh Roohan
Free CMJ Show
Rough Trade, 64 N 9th St
12:00pm/21+
Special Guest, Oscar, Pinact, September Girls
Distiller Promo CMJ Showcase
Union Pool, 484 Union Ave
5pm / 21+
Dead Stars, Penicillin Baby, Nude Beach, Ages and Ages, Cheerleader, Mainland, Iska Dhaaf, Laura Gibson
Rocker Stalker Presents
Spike Hill, 186 Bedford Ave
Doors: 12pm / Show: 12:30pm
Cadaver Dogs, The Wans, Tesla Rossa, The Grayces, The Grizzles Mighty, Menage, Isle of Rhodes, Dan Abraham, Black Wing Halo
Siren PR Presents
Spike Hill, 186 Bedford Ave
Doors: 6:30pm / Show: 7pm
goodbymotel, Northern American, Ron Gallo, The Teen Age, Camden, The Rooks, The Foreign Resort, Max Juyr
Saturday, October 25
Silver Point Records and Madhouse Management CMJ Showcase
Arlene’s Grocery, 95 Stanton Street
11:30am/21+
The Wans, Concord America, Turf War, Tesla Rossa, Penicillin Baby, Ugly Kids Club, Tetherball
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The Wild Honey Pie Presents: The Bee Hive and 5th Anniversary Bash
Brooklyn Night Bazaar, 165 Banker Street
12pm/ Free with RSVP / 21+
Little Daylight, Zella Day, Modern Rivals, Sun Club, Jack and Eliza, Yellerkin, Fort Lean, Echo Friendly, Salt Catherdral, BORNS, Neighbors, Twin Wave, Turf War, Highs
Greenroom Showcase
Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St
3pm
Fictionist, Belle Mare, Golden Alphabet, Gabe Kubanda, Party Boat, Alannah McCreedy, Brett Harris, Patrick McGrath, Loose Buttons
Bowery Presents CMJ Party
Pianos, 158 Ludlow St
12:00 PM / 21+
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard (downstairs), The Wytches (upstairs), Circa Waves (downstairs), Water Liars (upstairs), DMA’s (downstairs), Springtime Carnivore (upstairs), Public Access TV (downstairs), Spookyland (upstairs), Amason (downstairs), Little May (upstairs), Bright Light Social Hour (downstairs), Ryley Walker (upstairs)
EiPR Presents… The Weekend Bender
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 1
12:00pm / 21+
Kwame Binea Shakedown, And The Kids, Goodbye Picasso, Douglas & the Goodharts, Nicky Egan, King Washington, HOWARD, Fife & Drom, yOya, Beliefs, Shanaz Dorsett, Late Guest at the Party, Stereo Off, The Modern Electric, The Henry Millers, Mount Sharp
CMJ Music Marathon
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 2
12pm / 21+
EMEFE, Mosco Rosco, Locksley, Aabaraki, City of the Sun, Tall Heights, Penicillin Baby, Zerbin, Fictionist, goodbymotel, The Delta Rigga, Go Back to the Zoo, Ranjit & The Ambassadors
CMJ Music Marathon
Rockwood Music Hall 196 Allen St. / Stage 3
5pm / 21+
Julia Weldon, Bird Courage, House of Waters, Adam Day, Jacob Jeffries, Henry Jamison, Donna Missal, The Canon Logic (Acoustic)
Trouble In Mind Records presents
Rough Trade, 64 N 9th Street
1pm/21+
Paperhead, Ultimate Painting, Doug Tuttle, The Estrogen Highs, Negative Scanner
Aussie BBQ Showcase
168 Delancey Street
7pm/ 21+
Luluc, Dune Rats, Bad//Dreems
OfficialL CMJ showcase: car2go, doNYC, FreeWilliamsburg & Cameo present
Cameo Gallery, 93 North 6th Street
7pm/21+/Free with RSVP
Porcelain Raft, Dave Harrington Group, Excepter, Lydia Ainsworth, Buscabulla
Sunday, October 26
Panache CMJ Hangover Brunch
Baby’s All Right, 146 Broadway
11am/All Ages
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Juan Wauters, Tiny Ruins, Guy Blakeslee (of Entrance Band), Christian Peslak (Saint Rich & Delicate Steve), White Fence