New York Guitar Festival

The Messthetics are a trio – that much is clear.  Everything else is up for debate.  Guitarist Anthony Pirog has played avant-rock, ambient, and freely improvised music, often in his own projects and in his duo Janel & Anthony.  Bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty were the rhythm section of the famed punk band Fugazi.  When the three of them get together, you can expect to hear all of the above, or none of the above.  

Gyan Riley and David Cossin play guitar and drums, respectively.  Riley is the son of the groundbreaking minimalist composer Terry Riley, and began as the guitarist in his father’s All-Star Band.  Gyan plays all the guitars - electric, classical, and bass– with chamber music elegance and brilliant virtuosity.  David Cossin is the longtime drummer of the Bang On A Can All-Stars, making this an all-star All-Star lineup.

Pierre Bensusan is an Algerian-born French guitarist who first came to attention 40 years ago with his own interpretations of Celtic music, with occasional forays into North African and other forms of global music.  He’s since added improvisation, vocalise, and electronic effects to create his own sonic world.  But he still plays guitar exclusively in the open tuning system known as DADGAD.

Bryant Park lends out hundreds of free blankets on a first come, first served basis, or bring your own cotton or fleece blanket. To protect the lawn, please do not sit on waterproof materials such as plastic tarps, yoga mats, or inflatable chairs. 

Take a seat in one of the pre-set chairs on the lawn or grab a chair from the gravel. You can use a chair anywhere on the lawn except for the center lawn blanket zone. 

Purchase food and drinks from tents on the east side of the lawn or bring your own picnic. Look for Stout NYC and Heaster Street Fair vendors, and be sure to visit the Bryant Park Shop, too!

Visit the Bryant Park Shop tent for exclusive Picnic Performances merchandise and more.

Find a parachute, hula hoops, and more fun on the east side of the lawn at select events. 

Dogs are welcome on the gravel and bluestone, but not on the lawn.

Performances are cancelled when it is unsafe to be outdoors. In some cases, the lawn may be too wet to open but the performance may continue. Follow @bryantparknyc for day-of event updates. You can also check the lawn status on the bryantpark.org homepage.