Published: October 02, 2008

Music venues all across New York City are offering a wide variety of concerts for fans of every musical genre this fall. While some upcoming shows have already sold out—such as performances featuring Ben Kweller, Andrew Bird and Girl Talk—tickets are still available for many forthcoming events. Instead of letting a free night go to waste, take advantage of the city’s diverse concert options this season.

Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis will be promoting her newest album, “Acid Tongue,” when she performs at the Apollo Theatre on Oct. 4. With a little luck, perhaps the back-up singer on a number of her new songs—none other than Elvis Costello—will make an appearance. Tickets are $30.

New York Magazine’s 40th Anniversary event at Hammerstein Ballroom on Oct. 10, hosted by comedy group Stella (comprised of VH1’s frequent commentator Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain) features performances by The National—whose fourth album, “The Boxer,” was listed as number one on Paste Magazine’s Best Albums of 2007—and Grizzly Bear. General admission tickets cost $35 and can be purchased exclusively at http://nymag.com/nyxny/40th.

Taking place from Oct. 21 through 25, the city-wide CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival offers not just one concert, but a whole week of events featuring artists like Alina Simone, Broken Social Scene, Everybodyfields, Juliana Hatfield, KaiserCartel, Lykke Li, Margot and the Nuclear So-and-So’s, Talib Kweli, The Virgins and Will Hoge. In addition to musical performances, the festival offers an extensive panel and film schedule. While badges to the festival cost a hefty $450 for the general public, college students can purchase them for a discounted $275 at http://www.cmj.com/marathon.

MGMT, a Brooklyn-based electronic-rock/psychedelic-pop group, has two concerts lined up for New York this fall.  With their newfound popularity, thanks in part to being named one of Rolling Stone’s artists-to-watch in 2008, it’s no surprise that their headlining show on Oct. 30 at Webster Hall is already sold out.  Not to worry, though; at the expense of $20, you can still catch them at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Halloween night.

Also at Webster Hall, French electro-pop singer Yelle will be performing on Oct. 14. Secret Machines, the psychedelic rock band that performed at Fordham University’s Spring Weekend 2008 and can be heard in the movie-musical “Across the Universe,” will be playing on Oct. 18.  Late in the season, on Dec. 5, you can watch Grace Potter, the talented multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, piano and organ, as she performs with her Vermont-based rock band, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

If you’re looking for a cheaper date, check out local bands Locksley and Hymns at Highline Ballroom on Nov. 1 as part of MTV’s “Choose or Lose Tour.” Tickets are only $10.

At larger venues, such as Radio City Music Hall, you can catch Maine’s folk singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne, promoting his newest album, “Gossip in the Grain,” with Leona Naess on Oct. 11.  At Madison Square Garden, two generations of rockers will come together when Wilco opens for Neil Young on Dec. 15 and 16.

Fans of the experimental music-mixer, Girl Talk, can still purchase tickets to see the third show of a three-show schedule (the first two are sold-out) being performed at Terminal 5 on Nov. 18.

Sometimes, the hardest part about being a college student in New York City is having to choose—from a seemingly endless list of events—where to go with your extra time. Buy tickets now to see some of your favorite musicians and bands so that when you can have something to look forward to as you’re trudging through mid-term exams.