Folk Venues in Brooklyn, NY

An annual three-day roots gathering at St. Ann's Church (800 cap) in Downtown Brooklyn, curated by the Jalopy Theatre community. Pokey LaFarge, Bonnie Prince Billy, and R. Crumb's East River String Band have all appeared. Workshops, jams, and square dances round out the calendar.

A 74-cap indie recording studio, venue, and livestream space giving local and global acts a platform to perform and get heard. Recording, streaming, and live shows all happen under one roof, making BMK a strong choice for artists who want their Brooklyn performance documented and shared.

A Gowanus craft beer bar and neighborhood oasis since 2011, with rotating local and national taps, seasonal food, and an amazing backyard. Live music on Monday and Tuesday nights keeps the week going for the growing Gowanus crowd who have made this their local.

A Brooklyn live music room with a flexible booking calendar welcoming acts any night of the week. No-frills and community-focused, it suits emerging artists looking for stage time in a relaxed, neighborhood-bar setting.

Twelve cheap taps and an amazing backyard in Gowanus, with live music on Monday and Tuesday nights. Lowlands is the kind of bar artists play because they love it, not because it pays. A genuine neighborhood room for sets that feel more like house parties than gigs.

An independent instrument shop, repair space, and 200-cap event venue in Williamsburg that doubles as a creative community hub. Main Drag hosts live events in a room where musicians come to hang as much as to play. Great acoustics, great crowd, zero attitude.

A 25,000 sq ft 1866 iron works factory in Red Hook, reimagined in 2012 as a cultural center for art, science, and music. Arca, FKA twigs, Blood Orange, and Laurie Anderson have performed here. Free public events, residencies, and a space unlike any other in NYC.

A 200-cap Gowanus bar, cafe, and live music room with shows Wednesday through Sunday in a dedicated sound room, plus Sunday outdoor sessions in The Nursery garden. A high-fidelity system and a crowd of serious music fans make this one of Brooklyn's best new rooms.

Women and queer-owned since 2019, Purgatory is a Bushwick venue built on kindness and inclusivity, featuring live music, DJ nights, and community events in a room where the people behind the bar genuinely care who plays on their stage.

A 40-cap bar, restaurant, and music venue by night, cafe by day in Bed-Stuy. Simple New American food, a close-listening crowd, and a small stage that makes every performance feel like a house show. Perfect for solo or duo artists who want to be truly heard.

A private liberal arts college in Clinton Hill with an active campus events program and student booking board. College concerts draw 400+ students per show and offer touring and local artists a captive audience in one of Brooklyn's quieter, more residential neighborhoods.

The foxy sister of Frog Wine Bar and Frog Wine Shop in Prospect Heights, Tadpole books live music Thursday and Sunday nights and DJs Friday and Saturday. A wine-forward crowd in a room that supports original music and doesn't ask you to be famous to get on stage.

A hidden speakeasy in Bushwick with a pool table, full bar, and a flexible 60-cap room for comedy, DJs, live music, and private events. A true underground room for artists who want a crowd that feels like they've stumbled onto something secret.

A 300-cap independently owned music venue in the heart of Williamsburg, the Meadows programs Wednesday through Sunday with an emphasis on emerging acts and Brooklyn-rooted sounds. Tight production, friendly staff, and a crowd that actually pays attention.

A Red Hook coffee shop and event space running a wide variety of programming Monday through Saturday. A flexible room for artists comfortable in a listening-room setting where coffee and community take center stage alongside the performance.

A Gowanus brewery, bar, and event space open 7 days a week with a food program, rotating taps, and a 60-cap room for live music. The crowd is casual, craft-curious, and neighborhood-loyal. A solid low-pressure room for acoustic or small ensemble sets midweek.

A Williamsburg institution with a 150-cap live room, a photobooth, a taco truck outside, and a loyal crowd that's been showing up for local and touring acts 7 nights a week for over two decades. Mondays are reserved for a regular performer, making every other night available for booking.

Bay Ridge's top live entertainment spot, with a 300-cap room, live music Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, and a loyal neighborhood crowd that shows up ready to have a good time. The Monk books cover and tribute acts but welcomes original artists who can hold a room.