15 Can't-Miss Summer Concerts In NYC

New York is synonymous for a number of things: wet, hot summers that will make you wish Geox made underwear; award winning cuisines from all over the world, with nearly every type of food imaginable available to you way past your bedtime; a winning sports tradition, perpetuated by the Yankees and, well, just the Yankees; and this inherent edge – an attitude that permeates all elements of style, fashion, and daily life that makes the city seem formidable, all while making you wish you were a part of it. There is one thing, however, that is arguably more indicative and emblematic of Gotham City’s history – music.

With some of the world's greatest concert venues and more people than you would even want at your shows to play for, New York is the perfect place for music. In fact, some of the world’s most prominent contemporary genres were born in New York. Bands like Sonic Youth, the Ramones, KISS, and Velvet Underground helped rock and roll explode on to the music scene in the '70s and '80s, leading to a new wave of music and the immortalization of rock culture. Hip Hop got its start in New York as well, with groups like Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, and the Wu-Tang clan all playing a formative role in the solidification of hip hop and rap as a legitimate – not to mention ultra-popular – music genre.

That all being said, treat yourself to one of the world’s greatest summer concert queues. With musical acts spanning every genre, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Grab a friend, a beer or five, and bring yo’ dancin’ shoes to one of these 15 must-see summer concerts.

[Photo via @beyonce]