Greenwich Village’s Best Folk Music Venues
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Greenwich Village is a mecca for folk music lovers. Check out our list of the best places to enjoy folk music in the Village.
The Bitter End
The Bitter End is one of the most iconic music venues in Greenwich Village. It’s been around since 1961 and has hosted some of the biggest names in folk music. Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Woody Guthrie are just a few of the legends who have graced its stage. If you’re a fan of folk music, then the Bitter End is a must-visit.
Location
The Bitter End is a club located at 147 Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, New York City. The club takes its name from the fact that it is located on the site of the former Old Bitter End nightclub. The oldest continuing nightclub in Greenwich Village, it started as a coffeehouse on the second floor of 161 Waverly Place in 1961. It has been home to many renowned musicians over the years including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Woody Guthrie, John Sebastian, Simon & Garfunkel, Barbra Streisand, Bill Cosby and Nina Simone. The club is currently owned by Bernadette Kreitler and is run by General Managercles Denis McKeown.
History
In the fall of 1961, four young men--Harry Pileggi, Paul Colby, Steve Paxton, and Howie Richmond--decided to open a coffeehouse in New York City’s Greenwich Village. They found the perfect location at 177 Bleecker Street, a former Chinese laundry with a tiny stage in the back room. They named their club The Bitter End and opened its doors on October 1st.
The Bitter End quickly became the premier folk music club in New York, hosting such legendary performers as Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Bill Cosby, and Woody Allen. In the early days, many of the artists performed for free or for a very small fee just to have the opportunity to play at this famed club.
The Bitter End has changed hands several times over the years, but it remains one of the best places to see live folk music in Greenwich Village. If you’re a fan of folk music, be sure to check out The Bitter End when you’re in New York City!
Notable Performances
The Bitter End has hosted a wide variety of notable performers over the years. Singer-songwriter Bill Withers played his first New York City gig at The Bitter End in 1971. Withers was an overnight success with his first single, “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Bob Dylan also played The Bitter End in the early 1970s, around the same time he recorded Blood on the Tracks. In 1975, future punk icon Patti Smith made her New York City debut at The Bitter End, performing with her then-husband Fred “Sonic” Smith. Bruce Springsteen played The Bitter End several times in the early 1970s, including a now-famous 72-hour marathon set in 1973.
The Gaslight Cafe
The Gaslight Cafe was a coffeehouse in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. The coffeehouse was opened in 1958 by Bob Dylan and became an important venue for the American folk music scene. Many important folk musicians played at the Gaslight, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Phil Ochs.
Location
The Gaslight Cafe was a coffeehouse in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. It was opened in 1958 by Izzy Young and was originally located at 116 Macdougal Street. The Gaslight was one of the key folk music venues of the early 1960s, hosting Bob Dylan’s first public performances of “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” and “Blowin’ in the Wind”.
History
The Gaslight Cafe was a Greenwich Village coffeehouse located at 116 Macdougal Street, New York City, which became famous as a folk music venue in the 1960s.
The cafe was opened in 1958 by Dan and Lillian Rothstein. It quickly became a popular hang-out for beatniks, poets and musicians. In the early 1960s, the cafe began to feature folk music, and soon became one of the most important folk music venues in New York City. Among the many artists who performed at the Gaslight were Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Woody Guthrie, Richie Havens and Peter, Paul and Mary.
The Gaslight Cafe closed its doors in 1971, but its legacy as one of the most important folk music venues of the 1960s continues to this day.
Notable Performances
The Gaslight Cafe was a music club located in the heart of the Greenwich Village neighborhood in New York City. The club was opened in 1958 by owner Bob infante who ran it until his death in 1972. It was then taken over by his daughter Lillian and remained open until its closing in 1971.
The Gaslight Cafe was one of the most influential music venues of its time and helped to launch the careers of many famous folk musicians. Notable performers at the club included Bob Dylan, who played there numerous times between 1961 and 1963, and Joan Baez, who recorded a live album at the Gaslight Cafe in 1963. Other artists who performed at the club include Peter, Paul and Mary, Woody Guthrie, Joni Mitchell, and Donovan.
Cafe Wha?
Cafe Wha? is one of the most popular folk music venues in Greenwich Village. It has been around since the 1950s and has hosted many great folk musicians over the years. Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen are just a few of the big names that have graced the stage at Cafe Wha?. If you’re a fan of folk music, then this is definitely a venue you need to check out.
Location
Cafe Wha? is located in the heart of Greenwich Village on MacDougal Street. For over fifty years, some of the biggest names in Folk, Rock, and Blues have graced the stage here. Many of them got their start right here in the Village. Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen all played here early in their careers.
The Cafe has a long and rich history. It was originally opened in 1959 by Manny Roth, who also owned the pivotal Folk music club The Gaslight Cafe. Manny’s nephew, David Lee Roth (of Van Halen fame), also got his start performing at the Cafe Wha?.
If you’re looking for a truly authentic Greenwich Village experience, add Cafe Wha? to your list of must-visit spots. You never know who might be playing on any given night!
History
Cafe Wha? has been a staple in the Greenwich Village music scene since the early 1960s. The cafe is known for its folk music roots and has been the launching pad for many famous musicians, including Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen.
The cafe was originally opened in 1959 by Manny Roth, a Greenwich Village native. Roth had previously owned a jazz club in the area, but he wanted to create a venue that would showcase up-and-coming folk musicians. He named the cafe after a popular saying at the time, “Where’d ya go? What’s’a matter?”
The cafe quickly became a hot spot for both local and touring folk musicians. Many famous musicians got their start at Cafe Wha?, including Bob Dylan, who played his first gig at the cafe in 1961. Other notable performers include Jimi Hendrix, who played at the cafe in 1964 before he was famous, and Bruce Springsteen, who played his first gig there in 1972.
Cafe Wha? is still open today and continues to showcase local and upcoming folk musicians. If you’re ever in Greenwich Village, be sure to stop by and check out some of the best live music in New York City!
Notable Performances
Cafe Wha? has been a staple of the Greenwich Village music scene since the early 1960s, hosting some of the best folk music performers of the time. Notable performances include Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen.
