Thursday, July 17
The influence of Pete Seeger (1919–2014) cannot be underestimated. As a songwriter, he penned “If I Had a Hammer" and “Turn! Turn! Turn!” As a singer and cultural historian, he did more than anyone to propagate “We Shall Overcome” — the anthem of the 1960s American civil rights movement — and he inspired generations of up-and-coming musicians, including Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
Seegerfest is dedicated to Seeger and his longtime partner Toshi-Aline Ohta Seeger (who died in 2013). The five-day festival kicks off tonight with a screening of “Pete Seeger: The Power of Song,” at 7:30 p.m. at Hudson River Park's Pier 46 in the West Village.
There will be two free memorial concerts in Manhattan: Sunday’s Memorial Concert at the Lincoln Center, featuring Judy Collins, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary and Fred Hellerman of The Weavers, 4 p.m., free and Monday evening’s City Parks Foundation presented multi-genre show, “New Songs of Justice: An Evening Honoring Pete Seeger” starring DJ Kool Herc, Amanda Palmer and Steve Earle. 6 p.m., free.
Havoc and Prodigy, the duo that make up Mobb Deep, delayed the creation of their new album “The Infamous Mobb Deep” because of a feud in 2012. "At the end of the day,” Prodigy said in an interview with Hiphopdx.com that “the music is the most important thing." The album is an attempt to capture their gritty New York sound with Prodigy described as “a dark, sinister-type of sound." 7 p.m., Queensbridge Park Greenway, Long Island City, Queens. Free.
U.K.-based electronic music producer Jon Hopkins’s 2013 album “Immunity” — described as “bold, brilliant and beautiful” by Mixmag — deservedly topped many of that year’s best-of lists. Catch him playing tonight from 10 p.m. at (Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St., Greenwich Village. $15/$17.
Friday, July 18
Noisey, the music arm of the counter-cultural Vice media empire is curating this evening’s in-your-face hardcore selection at Brooklyn Night Bazaar. Playing are Philidelphia’s Ceremony, who recently signed with Matador Records, Reno’s road warriors Iron Lung and the “hardcore-pedigreed-but-firmly-shoegaze” NOTHING. From 8 p.m. 165 Banker St., Greenpoint. Free.
The Seaport Music Festival, a free weekly summer festival continuing this evening, features indie rockers on the rise. This evening, catch Calvin Love and Las Rosas. Seaport Music Festival, every Friday 7 p.m., through August 29 at South Street Seaport. Free.
Saturday, July 19
NYC natives Ava Luna’s music is infused with the wiry energy of post-punk. Catch them tonight alongside Oneida’s drummer Kid Millions' project Man Forever and Warehouse at Rough Trade NYC. 8 p.m. 64 N. 9th St., Williamsburg. $12.
Cool East Village record store Other Music has teamed up with the folks at Union Pool for Summer Thunder 2014, an ongoing series of free backyard parties every Saturday afternoon during the summer. This week catch Obits, Biblical and VBA. From 2 p.m., 484 Union Ave., Williamsburg. Free.
Sunday, July 20
Japanese OOIOO’s new album “Gamel” explores the textures of percussive Javanese gamelan. Catch them at (Le) Poisson Rouge with Man Forever in support. 158 Bleecker St., Greenwich Village. $18/$20.
Monday, July 21
“He was a great bass player. But he was hard to get along with, especially about music, because he had his own definite ideas about what was good and what was bad, and he didn’t mind telling anybody what he had on his mind,” Miles Davis once said about Charles Mingus. Mingus’s widow Sue Mingus is the artistic director of The Mingus Big Band, a 14-piece band dedicated to preserving the legacy of the jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader. Catch one of two shows this evening, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St., Midtown. $25
Tuesday, July 22
Although Arto Lindsay was born in the United States, he spent many years in Brazil with his missionary parents and came of age during the influential Tropicália movement of Brazilian culture. The genre's gentle, percussive ambience infuses much of his work, which has included collaborations with Laurie Anderson, Animal Collective, Marc Ribot and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Presented as part of Brasil Summerfest. From 8 p.m. at (le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St., Greenwich Village, $15.
Wednesday, July 23
Eclectic psychedelic rockers Neutral Milk Hotel are playing their second Celebrate Brooklyn! benefit show this evening (the first was Tuesday night) at 7 p.m. Prospect Park Bandshell, 62 West Dr., Prospect Park. $45.
The cruisy vibe of 60’s and 70’s guitar pop infuses the sound of Vancouver’s The Shilohs. The band formed in 2008, determined to explore different flavors to the Vancouver prevailing stoner rock scene. Their debut album “So Wild” was praised by Spin as a “delicious bit of Big Star-informed, Feelies-indebted pop.” Their second album (self-titled) has just been released. Catch them tonight with San Francisco garage/psych rock quartet The Fresh & Onlys, who are touring behind their fifth album “House of Spirits.” 8:30 p.m. at Glasslands, 289 Kent Ave., Williamsburg. $12/$14.