New York City, New York story
A Floating Concert Hall
For decades, if you wanted to hear intimate chamber music on the East River, you had to step onto a boat. Bargemusic was founded in 1977, originally operating out of a converted c…
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For decades, if you wanted to hear intimate chamber music on the East River, you had to step onto a boat. Bargemusic was founded in 1977, originally operating out of a converted coffee barge moored near the Brooklyn Bridge. Since its inception, it has presented close to 9,000 concerts, offering a small stage with stunning views of the lower Manhattan skyline.
In 2025, the organization moved its performances to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, an architectural jewel at Pier 5. Though the venue has changed from a floating barge to a riverside building, the mission remains the same: enhancing the city's cultural life through intimate, free performances.
Updated June 2026