WFMU Live Benefits Map

Listener-supported freeform radio station WFMU has been able to survive since 1958 in large part thanks to its relationships with venues and musicians in the New York City-New Jersey area, across genres and music scenes.

This map-in-progress features benefit performances at rock, avant-garde and international music venues such as CBGB’s, Maxwell’s, Lauterbach’s, the Ritz, the Bottom Line, Roulette, PS 122, S.O.B.’s, Wetlands Preserve, ABC No Rio, and others. It lists band and musicians who played alternative rock, hardcore punk, experimental music, reggae, folk, anti-folk & more. It includes links to first-person accounts and/or audio whenever possible.

I color coded venues for my own research purposes.

WFMU Legal Fund, 1990-1992 (complete)

19 venues that held 21 benefit concerts in 1990-1992 to cover WFMU’s legal fees when it was sued by four radio stations. Highlights:

Full audio of the set at Roulette.

Ira Kaplan describes Yo La Tengo playing at the Bottom Line.

Richard Gehr reviews the Ritz show with Sonic Youth, John Zorn, Richard Hell. 

WFMU studio moves, 1989 (in progress)

A Maxwell’s show where every band included a WFMU DJ.