With sun-kissed June days, Rockaway summer is finally here. Time for beach days, flip flops and as RT Publisher Emeritus Kevin Boyle aptly coined it, “The Rockaway Groan.” So, no need to leave our shores, map out your summer crawl with our entertainment roundup below!
LIVE MUSIC
THURSDAY, June 4
5 p.m.
Make a beeline to The Wharf for a sweet bayside jam with Ricky Diffendale, a.k.a. Acoustic Rick.
416 Beach 116th Street
THURSDAY, June 4
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Don’t miss acoustic guitarist/vocalist Barry Waller playing at Bungalow Bar, recently crowned: “2026 #1 Beach Bar in America by USA Today!”
377 Beach 92nd Street
THURSDAY, June 4
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Margie’s at The Rockaway Hotel serves up a heavenly dining experience, accompanied by live music with pianist, Phil Kadet.
108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive
THURSDAY, June 4
10 p.m.
Get an early kickoff to the weekend at Jamesons with DJ Matt Finley!
421 Beach 129th Street
FRIDAY, June 5
5 p.m.
Grab your crew, kick back, and let the good times roll with classic rock tribute band, Anthem Acoustic at The Wharf.
416 Beach 116th Street
FRIDAY, June 5
6 p.m.
Savor the summer of squidaliciousness with big band, Big Squid on the boards!
Beach 97th Concession
FRIDAY, June 5
The GrassLighters light up Kennedy’s with good ol’ fashioned rock ’n’ roll! For showtime and reservations, call: (718) 945-0202.
406 Bayside, Breezy Point
SATURDAY, June 6
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Caracas-born, Brooklyn-based Grammy award-winning artist, Luis “Cheo” Pardo aka DJ Afro, blows in with a soulful, Latin-fusion of dance music.
Caracas, Beach 106th Concession
SATURDAY, June 6
5 p.m.
Lookin’ for good tunes, chased with bay-rrific vibes and live acoustic music? Look no further than The Wharf starring Danny Riordan!
416 Beach 116th Street
SATURDAY, June 6
6 p.m.
Rock Soup is back bringing their viral summer jam to Connolly’s!
155 Beach 95th Street
SATURDAY, June 6
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Eighties tribute alternative rock band, The Knobs make their debut at bayside Thai spot, Similan On The Bay.
375 Beach 92nd Street
SATURDAY, June 6
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Papa Lou & Bugsy reprise what the Grayriders do best—your favorite rock classics at Jamo’s!
421 Beach 129th Street
SATURDAY, June 6
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
With balmy temps and over 30 self-pour brews on tap—Wine With Sue gets you in the summer groove at Tap That!
111-04 Rockaway Beach Blvd
SATURDAY, June 6
9:30 p.m.
Continue your Rockaway/Breezy Point Irish Festival craic with rock cover band, Cherry & The Gunnz at Rogers.
203 Beach 116th Street
SATURDAY, June 6
Make it a Kennedy’s night with fine food, stunning sunset views and music by Frank O’Sullivan. For showtime and reservations, call: (718) 945-0202.
406 Bayside, Breezy Poin t
SUNDAY, June 7
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Giddy up for a Sunday Fun Day with Bill Fleming jammin’ rock classics, “a la finger-style guitar,” at Bungalow Bar.
377 Beach 92nd Street
SUNDAY, June 7
1 p.m.
Every Sunday, Adrienne’s serves up Evan Kuriga’s acoustic tunes.
25 Van Brunt Road, Broad Channel
SUNDAY, June 7
2:30 p.m. / 5:30 p.m.
Similan On The Bay sweetens your Sunday with first up at 2:30 p.m., award-winning multi-instrumentalist, Chris Tedesco on violin, followed by Japanese jazz pianist/vocalist, Miho Nobuzane.
375 Beach 92nd Street
SUNDAY, June 7
3 p.m.
Paul Woody Wade & Friends usher in a neighborhood outdoor jam at Callie’s.
410 Beach 129th Street
SUNDAY, June 7
5 p.m.
Oh my rockness! Don’t miss local music man, Chris Solo jammin’ The Wharf.
416 Beach 116th Street
SUNDAY, June 7
9 p.m.
Close out the weekend with DJ Kill-A-Watt at Jamesons!
421 Beach 129th Street
CONNOLLY’S OPEN MIC NIGHT
Every TUESDAY!
8 p.m.
Mike drop! Professa Squid is back with Connollystock, the show-stopping open mic night at Connolly’s. Sign up: 7 p.m., 8 p.m. start.
155 Beach 95th Street
FILM
RFF PRESENTS SCREENING OF “RHYTHM THIEF”
SATURDAY, June 6
8:30 p.m.
The Rockaway Film Festival re-opens outdoor Arverne Cinema with Sundance Festival’s award-winning film, “Rhythm Thief,” a jagged snapshot of ’90s Lower East Side, where a cassette tape bootlegger sells stolen music and gets into trouble when an all-girl punk band comes after him, escaping to Rockaway on the A train. Food by Brothers. Admission: $10. For tickets and more info, visit: https://www.rockawayfilmfestival.org/
72-02 Gouverneur Ave
THEATER
RTC PRESENTS:
“THE CRUCIBLE”
Opens this Friday!
Don’t miss The Rockaway Theatre’s production of playwright, Arthur Miller’s critically acclaimed 1953 play, “The Crucible.” This gripping drama showcases the historical Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. Show dates: June 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14. For tickets and more info, visit: https://www.rockawaytheatrecompany.org/
The John Gilleece Theater, Building T-4, Fort Tilden, Breezy Point
SPORTS WATCH PARTIES
KNICKS VS. SPURS—
GAMES 2 & 3
FRIDAY, June 5 &
MONDAY, June 8
8 p.m.
With the NBA Finals making the Big Apple feeling like a pressure cooker about to pop—will this “David vs Goliath” epic match-up between MVPs: Bronson and Wemby—result with the Knicks in six? Watch all the action unfold at the following venues. For drink and food specials inquire within.
Adrienne’s: 25 Van Brunt Road, Broad Channel
Bungalow Bar: 377 Beach 92nd Street
Callie’s: 410 Beach 129th Street
Harbor Light: 129-18 Newport Ave
Jamesons: 421 Beach 129th Street
Pilot House: 190 Beach 69th Street
Rogers: 205 Beach 116th Street
The BayHouse: 500 Bayside Drive, Breezy Point
The Blarney 2.0: 202-24 Rockaway Point Blvd, Breezy Point
The Wharf: 416 Beach 116th Street
SPECIAL MENTIONS
ANNUAL ROCKAWAY BEACH-BREEZY POINT IRISH FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, June 6 & SUNDAY, June 7
11 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Ancient Order of the Hibernians is back with the Annual Rockaway Beach/Breezy Point Irish Festival at St. Camillus’ parking lot! This year’s pot of gold is chock-full of fun: Children’s bouncy castle, face painting, food and drink vendors, live music and more! Daily admission: adults $20 / kids 12 and under FREE! Tickets sold at the gate. For more info, including daily entertainment lineup, visit: irishfest21.com
Beach 100th Street & Shore Front Parkway
EDGEMERE FARM IS BACK WITH “DOMINGO WORLD”
SUNDAY, June 7
3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Edgemere Farm’s Domingo World kicks off the season with an eclectic entertainment lineup including: Latin Grammy award-winning flutist, Domenica; choreographer Kashia Kancey; South Indian classical musicians, Sriram Raman and Siddharth Ashokkumar; and local artist, Saara Untracht-Oakner, presenting a site-specific sculptural installation. To RSVP and for more info, follow: domingo.world on Instagram.
385 Beach 45th Street
Got info on local live music, arts and more? Email: editor@rockawaytimes.com
