Artists Worth Braving the NYC Winds for this Fall
It’s easy to hide behind the light of a computer screen and a thousand blankets once temperatures start hitting the 40s. Walking with headphones for warmth may be the main mode of music consumption during the -ber months, but the glow of live music can make you forget about the freezing cold trek to the venue. Our writers have compiled a list of concerts that are worth traversing the high-speed winds of rapidly-approaching New York winter in the next few months.
Eileen: After @ Bowery Ballroom 10/21 & 10/22
Performing at Bowery Ballroom this week on Wednesday and Thursday is rising, self-proclaimed trip-pop duo After. After is composed of Justine Dorsey and Graham Epstein; they released their first EP, After, in 2025, where they dusted off their shoegaze-indie background for something more evocative of retro times long gone. Cognizant of their appeal, After’s music is modeled after the feel-good indie soundtracks of the 2000s that typically accompanied girl-who-is-going-to-be-ok main characters in romantic comedies. Their marketing reflects this, with frutiger aero and global village coffeehouse graphics sprinkled all over their album covers, marking a new era of gen z optimism that yearns for simpler millennial times.
Their Fell Asleep in the Sun tour commemorates the release of their album from earlier this fall. The single “Take me to Sunrise” was a personal favorite this summer, blasting on all of my beach trips as Justine’s airy harmonies framed the sunlight. For me, they’re worth braving the cold simply because of how successful they are in emulating the vibe they’re going for. Their music is breezy, fun, and arguably simple, but distinctive in how effectively they’ve managed to capture a past epoch in music. Despite only being active for two years, they’ve managed to build up quite a repertoire of songs; some other favorites include “The Element”, “Ever”, and “Deep Diving.” Their music is perfect for a much needed escape, make sure to catch them live!
Lisa: Show Brain’s Halloween Festival @ Tompkins Square Park 10/31
Looking for an exciting way to celebrate Halloween in New York City? Need alternative plans for those who’d rather go move at a concert than stand around at a party? Show Brain’s Halloween Festival is the perfect pick. From 2-6 p.m., there’s live music from Radio Free Alice, Nabihah Iqbal, First President Of Japan, and more, all at Tompkins Square Park. It’s an amazing event to meet like-minded music lovers and another chance to show off your costume during the day. The best part is that it’s completely free; just show up and enjoy! Show Brain is a grassroots live music hosting collective consistently hosting free all-ages concerts across New York City. With previous performances from Dinosaur Jr., Dogpark, Lambrini Girls, and The Lemon Twigs, each show promises an exciting and unique lineup. Make sure to follow them on Instagram to hear about future shows!
Becca: Ethan Regan @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 11/3
Do you like Caamp, Mt. Joy, Evan Honer, and Lizzy McAlpine? All things indie folk? Then Ethan Regan is most definitely for you. The indie side of Regan’s music feels as if you are sinking into a cloud couch and with the mix of folk, that couch is just placed in North Carolina. Perfect for walking through the city all bundled up, add some Ethan Regan to your queue in preparation for the fifth show of his Young Regan tour coming to Williamsburg, Brooklyn on November 3rd, accompanied by the incredible harf. (check out his songs “For You I’ll Wait,” and “Cruel, Cruel World”). The concert is guaranteed to make you feel a lot of love and maybe text your ex. Inspired by artists like John Mayer and Zach Bryan, Regan’s music is the perfect amount of warmth that may make you want to cry—in a good way? I guarantee Ethan Regan is one of the next big things, so trust me when I say this concert is a must-go. Preceding the concert, Regan is hosting a pre-show meet and greet, so be sure to listen up in advance. Some must-listens are “spring cleaning,” “secrecy,” “remember this,” and “double cup.”
Nyah: Suzy Sheer @ Market Hotel 11/4
I first heard of Suzy Sheer when “The One” shuffled itself into a playlist I was streaming live from Barnard College’s radio station. I panicked upon realizing the show had strayed from my intended setlist and hit the skip button as quickly as I could. Seconds later, I registered the few opening minutes of magic I heard blare from the studio speakers, and went back to let the song play out. If it could sound so magical in a basement studio, I can only dream of how it might sound through a professional soundsystem.
Since the release of “The One,” Suzy has released another full album with the same striking sounds I heard at the radio station: electronic humming and upbeat drumming accompanied by feminine, almost punk vocals. With music living somewhere between that of Snow Strippers and daine with an identity entirely its own, Suzy Sheer is making waves in the electropop community, and she may not be playing smaller, houseparty-adjacent venues like Market Hotel for much longer. Catch her set there this November 4—it’s just off the Myrtle Ave stop in Bushwick, so you’ll survive the briefly chilly walk down the platform stairs into the building. You’ll be greeted by warm pink lights and the thermal energy of 400 bodies jumping up and down. And if you need to dress warmly, you’re sure to fit in at Market Hotel amongst hundreds of fuzzy-hooded jackets and furry knee-length boots.
Melany: RaiNao @ Brooklyn Bowl 11/8
RaiNao, a singer-songwriter from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has skyrocketed in popularity since her hit feature on “Perfumito Nuevo,” a song from Bad Bunny’s Grammy-winning album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. What most people don’t know, however, is that her music is not confined to just reggaeton. The multifaceted artist also works in jazz, R&B, and alternative pop, and at her concerts you are just as likely to see her playing the tenor saxophone or a pair of maracas as you are to hear her sing.
Her musical roots are a coalescence of Puerto Rican culture with many years of formal training. She graduated from the Escuela Libre de Música in San Juan, and later went on to study theater and audiovisual production at the Universidad de Puerto Rico. The accomplished artist has been writing and producing her own music ever since.
Even her stage name mirrors the philosophy that inspires her work. In an interview, she discussed how there is never truly a “right time” to start, so the most reasonable choice is to start right now. That belief became her stage name, “RaiNao”.
New York City’s freezing temperatures may tempt you to spend the whole day in your dorm wrapped in a blanket, but take RaiNao’s advice: there’s never a right time, only right now. Whatever the weather is outside, the warmth and rhythms of the Caribbean will make up for it at the Brooklyn Bowl. Grab your coat and go to that concert.
Maia: Anais & The Hoops @ Desert 5 Spot 11/12
Envision this: The Mamas & the Papas meets Suki Waterhouse. Anaïs & The Hoops is an up and coming band based in Brooklyn that can be described as similarly eclectic and retro. At first glance, one might see an underground YouTube channel with a few dozen likes sprinkled here and there. There’s something about their low-budget graphics and videos that invite whimsy. At the very least, they exude a quiet energy that reads as unabashedly authentic. So, if you’re seeking an escape from the onset of this autumn chill and instead find yourself longing for beaming sunrays on a dreamy California shore, a set from Anaïs & The Hoops is sure to transport you there. There’s life to their lyrics, there’s soul in their songs: you will sway, you might sing, and tracks like “Growing Pains” might even transport you through time (‘60-70s enthusiasts will likely find themselves especially entertained). If your goal is to rave this fall, or go clubbing, Anaïs and The Hoops is probably not the move, but if you want an experience that feels like a warm cup of coffee and comfort, check out Desert 5 Spot on November 12th!
Lucy: Die Spitz @ Warsaw 11/13
Is punk dead? While bands like Crass have been saying so since 1978—as the genre split and bands went mainstream—the real punk scene may just live below the surface. On November 13th and 14th, Die Spitz will play at Warsaw Concerts in the Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn – if you don’t believe me when I say punk lives, see for yourself next month. They’re an all-female grungy, punk rock group from Austin, Texas. Their debut album, Something to Consume, combines sweet melodic voices with thrashing guitar. The whole album’s freeing, both in style and message. It’s genre-bending, and it’s a rallying cry for all women to speak–or maybe scream–their mind. Their music is frustrated, it’s political, it’s visceral. It’s four 20-somethings angry with the world. Their shows are typically riotous: the bassist playing mid-crowdsurfing, singers growling, and band members climbing onto the rafters. They sound like they came out of Olympia, Washington circa 1995 – and that’s why it’s so refreshing in contrast to how so much of the rebellion punk bands started with now feels packaged and commercial. They even incorporate the Riot Grrrl “girls to the front” philosophy so that female punks can mosh without fear of losing an eye to moshing with men. But they certainly have a high-energy crowd and one should expect to see band-members diving into the throng, a sweaty and emotional mosh, and a diverse mix of older rock-heads and young goths and queers. It’s a punk show worth the wait in the cold.
Thomas: girlsweetvoiced @ Baby’s All Right 11/14
On November 14th, girlsweetvoiced is playing her first sold out headline show at Baby’s All Right. Don’t let “sold out” deter you from getting your hands on a ticket, though: I’ll tell you from personal experience, her performance is worth bundling up and waiting in the NYC chill this winter.
After seeing her open for Ryan Beatty at The Brooklyn Paramount, I can assure you that girlsweetvoiced’s pen name couldn’t be more appropriate. Her voice is nothing short of whipped honey to the ears of any audience it reaches. Her soft yet confident demeanor is exuded through her vocals as well as her crowd interaction. The stories she sings are tender and honest, whether it be over the lush harmonies of her hit single “Tonight” which features a cleared sample of Joni Mitchell’s “California,” or while realizing, as she puts it, “you’re the problem” on her top song “downfall of little me.”
The latter is a hit off her 2026 album Lovesweet that released earlier this year, and the project has skyrocketed her career ever since. Her cosigns from SZA and Frank Ocean have only added fuel to the fire as she steps onto the stage solo for the first time this November. So make the trip out to Brooklyn for this one. This is the sure start of a rise to stardom – you’re not going to want to miss it.
Sebastian: Tyla @ Brooklyn Paramount 11/28 & 11/29
On November 28 and 29, South African singer Tyla brings her A*POP World Tour to Brooklyn Paramount. Best known internationally for “Water,” Tyla has built a distinctive musical identity by blending amapiano with pop and R&B. This will be the 24-year-old Grammy-winning artist’s first global headlining tour, supporting her second album A*POP. The album features the viral hit “Chanel” and collaborations with Liquideep, Zara Larsson, MaWhoo, and Babalwa M. Tyla’s rise also carries significance beyond the dance floor. With this album, she is pushing against narrow expectations of what an international pop star from Africa can be, placing South African musical influences at the center of a global pop project.
Brooklyn Paramount in downtown Brooklyn offers the chance to experience that vision in person, surrounded by a crowd ready to move in a venue with a capacity of around 2,700. There may still be some general admission and balcony tickets available; there’s a chance you could see the boundary-pushing pop star up close and personal. The temperature may be dropping outside, but Tyla’s music is built for a room that feels anything but cold. This tour could be an “I saw her when” moment: Tyla definitely has the potential to go stratospheric in the future. For fans of adventurous, high-energy pop, this is one November night worth bundling up for.
The choice is yours.
Live music is one of the best ways to keep warm, and New York City may be the easiest place to find it. Whether it’s Tyla’s summer afrobeats or After’s electronic optimism, a free festival in the park or a sold-out stadium, or an artist you’ve been dying to see or one you’d never known existed, make sure to use all the city’s venues to your advantage this fall.