Carnegie Hall is a delightful, dazzling place, where the arts have traditionally -- and still, currently -- thrive. It's such an important NYC cultural landmark, and I've been deeply fortunate to attend four events there now. If you're reading this review because you're thinking of attending an upcoming performance, and you're on the fence about it, then I hope that this review will persuade you to get off of the fence and into a seat at Carnegie Hall! Trust me, it's so worth it. Most recently, I participated in a wonderful event at Zankel Hall. It was called "The Divine Art of Music," and it was fabulous. It featured much of the best of both "Western" and "Eastern" music; I can confidently assert that it uplifted many souls that evening. Zankel Hall itself, which seats about 600 people, had such an intimate and fresh feeling to it...highly recommend it! The ushers were all focused, kind, attentive and friendly, which also contributed to a positive and memorable experience for everyone in attendance. IMHO, Carnegie Hall is a foretaste of heaven, which makes heaven all the more attractive. : ) In conclusion, it's truly one of those awe-inspiring gems on this side of the veil, so to speak, which brings us not only culture but a sense of God's goodness and loveliness to all who enter it. I hope that it continues to flourish for many years to come. Amen : ) To more joyful musical moments, Kat PS The Ricola Original Herb Cough Drops (complimentary and on demand) -- in its hallowed hallways -- are such a nice touch. : ) Thanks so much ~ read more

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I've been to Carnegie Hall sitting close up in the front rows and also way up top near the ceiling, and honestly, there really are no bad seats. The acoustics are amazing no matter where you sit. Everything sounds clear and powerful. What also stands out is the feeling of the place. While you're there, you can almost forget just how grand and historic it is because it feels so intimate once the performance starts. But then you look around and remember where you are, and it's kind of incredible. Such a beautiful, iconic venue and always a special experience. read more

Carnegie Hall - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

This is a comparison of seats. Last time there we sat second TIER, center. Today, second ROW center in what's called the 'parquet', Carnegie-ese for orchestra. Too close! Moving to an empty seat a couple of rows back, I was able to see some of the chorus and most of the orchestra. We attended a performance of Mozart's Requiem K. 626. In my book, front orchestra isn't optimal although I could see subtle communication between the conductor and his musicians. I prefer mid-orchestra or first and second tier. Let's face it. This is Carnegie Hall. Acoustics are good regardless of where you sit; it's really the view I'm addressing. read more

Carnegie Hall - My vantage after we moved to what is the fourth row. - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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Great night for fundraising! Comic Relief supporting homeless children! Awesome venue! Comfortable seats! Helpful ushers! Clean restrooms! Free cough drops so you don't ruin the show! Steps away from subway! read more

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Carnegie Hall is a historic venue so what more can I say? Security is usually pretty fast. Walking up to the balcony seats may just kill you. But the elevators are always too full. Seats are very tight and crammed in. The view of the stage is pretty good no matter where you sit. Never tried any food or beverage here as the lines are too long. Lots of historical artifacts and history of the building located on the second floor. Not my favorite venue but decent. read more

Carnegie Hall - Fran Lebowitz - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

I watched the Nier Orchestra at Carnegie Hall with my bf and it was truly breathtaking! The music was so beautiful and emotional. J'Nique Nicole and Emi Evans' singing was stunning. Their voices gave me chills. Especially on songs like "Weight of the World". The whole orchestra was incredible, and Yoko Taro's appearing at the end was surprising to me. Even with our not-so-great seats in section EE, the music was so powerful it didn't matter. It was an unforgettable experience and I'm so glad I got to experience it. The seats are tight and there's a column that blocked part of the view from where I was sitting. Overall, very good orchestra concert. read more

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4/30/25: We went to Carnegie Hall to see Jazz extraordinaire Samara Joy make her debut at the Stern Auditorium. For those who don't know Samara Joy, she's the new Ella Fitzgerald. It's been a while, since I've been to Carnegie Hall. The venue is beautifully historic. Carnegie Hall has held stage to many worldwide symphonies and performers, including the late great Judy Garland. Always love seeing Samara Joy perform. Besides having a spectacular voice, she's very sweet. During the performance, she introduced her family, friends, and teachers. The CH ushers and security were super friendly, respectful and would go out of their way to assist. The ushers did escort several "latecomers" to their seats. Unfortunately, I need to mention about audience etiquette. We're at Carnegie Hall, not a baseball game. I did notice some male audience members failed to remove their hats/caps. Call me old school, I thought it was out of respect that a gentleman removes their hat inside. *Thought the sound system could use a major upgrade, otherwise, I would've given a five star review. Anyway, I'm looking forward to Samara Joy's return to Carnegie Hall. read more

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What can one say about this iconic, amazing concert hall? Only in recent years have gone to see performances here. Likely go once or so a year. This time was a very special occasion when a friend of mine, now living in LA, came to perform with her chorus and a symphony orchestra in the Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall's main stage. (Clearly, those artists reaching the stage at Carnegie Hall have honed their talents through practice, practice, practice.) What always leaves me dumbfounded, despite the spectacular programs each time, is the number of empty seats. Perhaps many people don't consider Carnegie Hall as an option for musical entertainment versus a Broadway (or off-Broadway) show, a rock concert, or Jazz club. Recommend checking out what's on at Carnegie Hall for a memorable time because what they offer is really special. They have several different performance spaces, and when I've even gotten a seat in the nose-bleeds at the (main) Stern Auditorium the sound is fantastic! Look forward myself to my next visit. read more

Carnegie Hall - Carnegie Hall's (main) Stern Auditorium's Perelman Stage - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

Seeing a concert in Carnegie Hall, especially when it's your favorite band, is a total dream come true! This venue is beautiful, charming, classy, & amazing! The acoustics in this venue provide rich sound & entertainment for the concertgoer. The architecture is absolutely amazing both inside & out with a very classic, elegant look. Air Supply played the BEST show & were very enthralled with this venue, as were us fans. The service by the ushers & venue employees was impeccable & classy. They had everything running smooth, from the merchandise area, clear into the auditorium for the concert. Everyone was very friendly, quite knowledgeable, & super helpful. I highly recommend taking in a show here. It is very well worth a trip to New York. read more

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Came to Zankel Hall inside Carnegie for a weekend concert: Cultural Splendor. Wonderful acoustics. Beautiful performances. I wanted to try the Weill Cafe but it was closed on the weekend. Perhaps next time. read more

Carnegie Hall - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

Carnegie Hall continues to be a place where the artistry onstage and the atmosphere in the room create something truly special. I went to the evening of Hayato Sumino. He delivered an absolutely stunning performance--expressive, virtuosic, and captivating from start to finish. Sumino's artistry made the evening memorable. This was a performance that left the audience stirred, grateful, and reminded of the magic live music can bring. A strong five-star evening--elegant, moving, and beautifully executed. I truly hope Carnegie Hall has him back again in the near future. read more

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Manhattan, NY (midtown) - how do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice! Practice! Practice! Or just take the N/Q/R/W to 57th St-7th Ave and hop right off. This is indisputably one of the most prestigious concert halls in the world, on whose stage many of the finest performers (classical, Broadway, rock, jazz, vocalists, comedians, etc) appear. On any given night during the season, chances are you'll find incredible talents (often globally illustrious) performing here. It is truly a privilege to live in a city that's an epicenter for arts and culture and boasts venues such as this. Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage is the main stage where the major acts perform - the hall is simply and classically appointed in elegant cream and gold. The auditorium is large (~2800 seats) but the acoustics are great no matter where you sit. You may not see the stage as well from "the nosebleeds," but the sound quality is most assuredly excellent up there. Zankel is a more intimate hall that presents concerts of a smaller scope, usually projects that are less commercial or more niche, or with up-and-comers. Weill Recital Hall is like a jewel box, the smallest and prettiest of the three. Often used for private presentations/events and smaller recitals. Even if you're not into music or the performing arts, it's a landmark institution worth checking out. And attending the Vienna Boys Choir's annual Christmas concert here is always a special holiday-time treat! read more

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Absolutely stunning location and performances. Recently saw the New England Symphonic Ensemble. They bring such power and emotion it gave me chills more than once. The musicians are incredibly talented. Special mention to Amani Cole-Felder and Jonathan Patton because whoa. Their voices are so angelic, I literally got chills every performance. Their presence and control on stage were breathtaking. The program was beautifully curated and kept me engaged from start to finish. If you have the chance to see them live, do it. It's the kind of experience that stays with you long after the final bow. 10/10 would attend again. read more

Carnegie Hall - June 2025 Playbill. - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

Carnegie Hall isn't just a venue; it's an institution. I know there's a lot of history here. Still, that doesn't mean I'm going to put on the kid gloves when evaluating my experience. The space is absolutely stunning, and the acoustics are amazing. Great for performances, obviously. But seating was designed to accommodate anyone under 5'2". I am by no means tall, and my seat was incredibly uncomfortable; my legs alternated between cramping up and falling asleep throughout the performance. The upper levels are hard to access, and if you're scared of heights, you should probably spend more to avoid these sections. They're both cramped and steep, not a great combination. Carnegie Hall has some amazing performances, of course. But unless you're high society, the seats for the masses just aren't good. read more

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I don't get here too often, but when I do.... It's magnificent. We attended a Jason Robert Brown concert here and it was nothing less than amazing. coming to Carnegie Hall from Long Island by train is easy... very easy. There is a certain magic when you walk into this building knowing who has performed here. The main theater is magnificent and no matter where you sit, the sound will be magnificent. We sat in the Dress Circle, right in the center, seats were high but view was great. There were many guest performers for our show and it was truly a treat to be here with so many enthusiastic people. Clearly, there is a tremendous amount of electricity in the air. On a side note, while we were in the main theatre watching the show, my friend who conducts the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra was receiving an award for all his philanthropic work. What better place to receive the 2024 MOTIF FINE ARTS MEDAL OF HONOR. Leaving was as easy as getting in. We took the elevator down and just walked out to lots and lots of people who were discussing the great show we just sat through. It's fun to walk these halls and see the pictures of all the people who have performed here. This definitely was a treat. KUDOs to the team at Carnegie Hall read more

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We just had an unusually rough ride to Carnegie. The checkin procedure was unusual - I showed up with the QR code, but that wasn't right, so I had to go to the ticket window. Then back up stairs so my wife could find the bathroom and I could find an elevator. The helper on the 2nd floor ignored my question. Eventually, I found my way to an elevator to the dress circle. Then we were told that we had to walk one floor up. The upstairs ticket taker said, no, we have to go down the stairs again. By the time I got to my seat, I felt like a side of beef. ADA was passed 30 years ago, but you wouldn't know it here. Then we had the concert which was beyond amazing. Had an easy time getting down to the streets. I really wish they'd give more thought to the human processing in this building. read more

Carnegie Hall - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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Carnegie Hall is a beautiful NYC institution. I recently went there twice to see two of my favorite stars. It is very convenient to the subways. That being said, I had a balcony ticket, which apparently was not good for me mentally as I am prone to vertigo. I didn't realize buying this ticket would trigger my vertigo, and I didn't want to leave a performance I paid money for, so I sat and panicked quietly until it was over. If you have vertigo, don't buy balcony tickets. Carnegie Hall balcony seats are on a slope and it feels scary if you have this condition. I want to recommend that maybe Carnegie Hall install some kind of barrier in these seats to make the audience members feel more secure because I felt like I was going to tumble out of them, even though I probably wasn't. Other than that, I like Carnegie Hall a lot. Good staff, clean bathrooms, free throat lozenges if you need them, nice assortment of food and drink. read more

It's an iconic hall for sure, but now it just looks like Trump decorated the stage. It serves an older, crotchety clientele and it smells like farts and Chanel #5. The staff aren't all pleasant. Woman with a laser gun yelled at me that my tickets were out of her eyeline (huh?) and....despite tickets for a recital being $125 each, and there were two of us, we were refused two programs "because there aren't enough." But how can two people share one program and read 15 pages about the performance in the 15 minutes leading up to it? (Maybe Carnegie Hall needs to s*ck more billionaire donor d*ck? What venue doesn't have enough programs, or know their own capacity? Why does their staff come across so rude and untrained?) When I asked a different staff member, I got a second program. We were a gay couple and I DID notice all the older hetero couples were holding two programs... I've been here a number of times, and it's always felt like a big whatever. Long lines for un-renovated bathrooms (with broken facilities). Even for the men! read more

Loved visiting this historic venue! I opted to take a tour and it was fabulous! The tour guide was so kind, accommodating, and informative. I really liked that we got to see every level of the hall and learned so much about its history, some of the performers, and its architecture. I highly recommend taking the tour. It also ends in their museum, which has some terrific items on display, including Gene Krupa's drumsticks, Benny Goodman's clarinet, Ella Fitzgerald's glasses, and more. read more

I remember visiting this iconic place on my first trip to Manhattan with my girlfriend years ago. We grabbed a bite at the old Carnegie Deli across the street and then came here afterwards. Carnegie Hall is such a beautiful venue. The building is designed in a modified Italian Renaissance style. Since it opened in 1891, Carnegie Hall has been one of the top destinations to see some of the world's finest musicians and artists. It presents a wide range of exceptional musical performances each season from jazz to orchestral performances to popular music in its three great concert halls. The Beatles, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Judy Garland, Béla Bartók and Antonín Dvořák are just some of the famous artists that have made appearances here. If you can get tickets, a great time to come here is during the holidays. An annual holiday tradition here at Carnegie Hall is an evening of Christmas music with the New York Pops. I found the staff to be really nice and helpful here. My only gripe is how tight the seats can be for someone over 6 foot like myself. I highly recommend getting tickets in advance to a show at his historic venue if you are planning on being in New York City. It is worth the visit! read more

Carnegie Hall - Entrance - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

I've been here a few times already and it's always been a different experience. I'm usually here for concerts, but recently went for the NY comedy festival to see Jimmy O'Yang. I believe all the seats would have optimal views. There's different auditoriums and the one I went to for the comedy show was for the Stern/ Perelman Stage. I sat in the Parquet or aka Orchestra area. It's a good stage for a comedy show. I just wish there were more bathrooms available. The only one I knew of was on the way left on the parquet floor. They need to do a better job of directing people to the bathroom too. Overall it was a nice experience. read more

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We visited Carnegie Hall for the first time as my brother was making his debut at Carnegie Hall. Everything about it was wonderful. It was very clean, huge bathrooms, the staff could not be more friendlier. read more

Carnegie Hall is the best. The absolute best. You walk in and immediately feel the greatness. The history, the energy, the elegance. You look around and it's just beautiful. The ceilings, the chandeliers, the walls -- everything screams culture, success, achievement. This isn't some little concert hall in the back of a hotel. This is the big leagues. The acoustics are unbelievable. You sit down, not even that close, and you hear everything. Every note, every breath, every detail. The sound bounces off the walls like it was designed by a genius. Which, honestly, it probably was. Maybe even multiple geniuses. Some people say it's the best-sounding room in the world. I agree. Tremendous sound. You don't get this at just any venue. The crowd was sharp. Respectful. Sophisticated. People who understand what they're hearing. Nobody on their phones. Nobody talking through the performance. Just pure focus. That's how it should be. You come to Carnegie Hall to listen, to absorb, to be part of something incredible. The staff was wonderful. Very polite. Very professional. Doors opened on time, seating was smooth, ushers were friendly and knew exactly where to point. They run this place like a Swiss watch. Tight operation. Very classy people. The performance itself was flawless. Could have been a symphony, an opera, a piano solo. Doesn't matter. At Carnegie Hall, it all sounds like perfection. You could put a kazoo on that stage and it would sound like a Grammy-winning performance. That's the magic of the room. It elevates everything. Five stars. Easily. Carnegie Hall is the gold standard. It's what every other venue wishes it could be. If you haven't been, you're missing something very special. Ronnie Rump approved. I'd go again tonight if I could. Maybe I will. Tremendous experience. Beautiful place. Historic. Perfect. read more

"Resting on their laurels" What a disorganized mess. Went on a Saturday night to see Jimmy O. Security couldn't figure out which door to tell people to go in, the guy scanning the tickets last used technology with Windows 95, and the seats weren't even labeled so no idea where your tickets were . It really sucks - 1 mile high balcony seats - drinks you can buy but can bring them back to your seat and have to consume standing in a little small room like a cheap bar in Tijuana - rude people I wouldn't go to a concert here again read more

First time coming to Carnegie Hall having been living in NY for quite a while. I came here for the Christmas Carols. I'd say the Hall is magnificent, the view was astounding, the sound was crispy clear. The seating was kinda tight, but alright. I would definitely come back to Carnegie Hall for a much more interesting musical and more flavorful than Christmas Carols... read more

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I was here last night for the Orpheus. The concert was spectacular. The sound in the Stern theater carried really well. Also, it's just stunning to look at. If anyone has bever been to carnegie hall, highly recommend coming at least once to try it. read more

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My first time coming here for the Vienna Boys Choir this month. I bought tickets at the ticket office which I would recommend doing if you can to avoid the unnecessary fees online. The box attendant was helpful with choosing seats. The theatre was clean and organized, but the seats are really cramped. I'm around 5 ft 4 inches and my knees were pushing into the seat in front of me that my husband had even a more difficult time sitting there. It doesn't seem like there are mics or speakers, when the conductor spoke we had no idea what he was saying because it was so hard to hear. read more

Carnegie Hall - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

Came here to see Final Fantasy Distant Worlds yesterday. The venue was amazing! Beautiful architecture inside and out. Comfortable seating. The only thing I wasn't a fan about were the $14 sandwiches and $5 chips. Also, $16 for a glass of wine? Bit pricey. Also, you weren't allowed to eat inside the hall. Luckily, they let us bring in our waters from the outside, so I do appreciate them for that. read more

Carnegie Hall - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

I cannot believe this building's beauty. And where it is located is just magnificent because it's just so prime the feels.

Excellent place, great ambience, service was under expectations specially in the bar area, they need to sell real and good cocktails, I will recommend to drink a bottle of wine at home before you go to any performance due to low quality of drinks here. read more

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Enjoyed a behind the scenes tour of Carnegie Hall. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We saw lobby areas, went to three seating levels (parquet, dress circle, etc.), saw lots of memorabilia on the walls, and ended in the "museum." As a local, I haven't been in CH for many years but I made lots of mental notes during this visit as to which seats (or at least levels) would be decent because sometimes you just don't know.... read more

This was our first visit to this concert hall built in 1891 and well known for its amazing acoustics and vast history of musical performers of all genres (The Beatles, Judy Garland, Tchaikovsky, Benny Goodman, pianists, orchestras and more). Carnegie Hall boasts 3 concert halls and we had tickets for the Stern auditorium/ Perlman stage for the Tibet House benefit concert of 2024. Entry into the venue was relatively quick with the cursory bag check and metal detector. The elevator brought us to the balcony area. The seats were connected (other floors had individual seats) and were a bit cramped, but the view and acoustics were marvelous. The decor is intricate and classic, with red velvet seats and couches and red carpeting. We very much enjoyed the experience of this historic venue, however, we found the staff to be rather rude and even unnecessarily aggressive to many while trying to exit after the show, showing no patience or consideration or class. The hall also offers in person public or private tours. read more

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Best sound . Very consistent selection of performers from all over the world . We can sit anywhere and it still sounds great .

We had the pleasure of attending a concert of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in the Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall. The acoustics were incredible. Seating was comfortable. The ushers were very helpful. I highly recommend seeing an event at this amazing and historic venue. read more

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last night i attended carnegie hall for a performance at zankel hall of michael feinstein and three chinese women who barely spoke english were pushing flyers for a horrible performance of acrobats. by the way, this performance group, shin yuen, was the cause of an audience member being hurt in the past. one of their male performers slipped and fell right on him. disgraceful. in addition, these 3 women were littering the sidewalk as patrons walked around them. something must be done to remove these chinese pests from all ch entrances before someone else is poked! they poked my husband! once inside zankel hall, i was not safe. i walked up to the cashier to ask a simple question: are there any feinstein cd's? she didn't answer me but a rude man in front of her did. he told me to "go to hell" he also yelled an obscenity at me as i was walking to my seat!!! i will not be renewing my subscription and will be telling my friends to stay away. far too much money to be yelled at with foul language. i also wonder why mr. feinstein was 15 minutes late and left 10 minutes early. performance was supposed to be at 7:30pm but he arrived on stage with his musicians at 7:45pm and left at 8:50 pm an announcement by the house should have been made that he would be late. for shame. lois zierler read more

One of the best places for classical and other genres, in the world. I found $20 parking for 4 hours nearby through SpotHero and drove in from Queens. I hadn't seen a classical concert since 2019! Mozart's Requiem and more with two intermissions. I was deeply moved by the music and plan to go to more concerts. read more

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With its iconic status in American history and fame around the world, Carnegie Hall has no reason not to get resounding 5 stars from each and every visitor! The music hall has amazing acoustics! The interior is beautiful! And if you are a classical music lover and lucky enough to attend a concert by top notch musicians (which happens very frequently... like almost every night!) you just might have a feast of sound that leaves you with a once-in-a-life-time kind of experience! I wanted so much to give them a 5-star.... Our hotel was right next door so when I found out one of the world's most famous venue was next door, I quickly went online and bought a pair of expensive tickets for me and my daughter. It was the Cleveland Orchestra and we were blown away by the quality of their sound and their beautiful interpretation of Schubert. While on their web site, I saw an ad about their same-day $10 ticket - even on sold out events. So when one of our evening's plan got cancelled, I went to their ticket office to ask about the $10 deal. The first answer I got was : "they are obstructed view seats". I then asked: "are there better view seats?" They then replied " we have full price tickets ". So I asked again: "can I get a $10 ticket on the main floor?" They replied: "we have full price tickets!" You can certainly push full price tickets, but there's no need to make customers drawn to the $10 deal feel bad. This encounter with the ticketing office was a small disappointing note in an otherwise impressive experience in this grandiose hall. read more

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Watched New York Youth Symphony here today, and it was a wonderful experience! Easy to find seats, seats are comfy, sound quality is excellent, and hall seems intimate. Great view from left/back seats. Long line for restroom but goes quickly. Cafe looked really fancy and a nice place to get a quick snack during intermission. read more

I was there for a concert, all was well, except for not being able to use flash camera and not being told and when I wad confronted, I stopped, however others were not approached as I. read more

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. A lost tourist wouldn't appreciate those directions, but anyone talented & esteemed enough to grace the stage at Carnegie Hall knows practice is the way to get there. I've been to several exciting performances here throughout the years; this past Saturday, I saw Joey McIntyre's monumental three-hour debut on the Carnegie stage. His guests, those important in his personal and/or professional life, made the night extra special, but the entire auditorium exploded in applause & standing ovation when his New Kids bandmates joined him in singing a couple of their top 10 hits. An unforgettable evening for Blockheads, specifically for JoeyGirls #iykyk read more

Carnegie Hall - 1/14/23: waiting to see Joey McIntyre - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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