NYC's Concert Inside a Sewer Tunnel

As the founder of Untapped New York, I have been to countless incredible, stranger-than-fiction, off-limits places over the last fifteen years. But there is one event that I will drop everything for and make sure my calendar is clear: any event produced by N.D. Austin. You might remember the speakeasy in the water tower, the wild party in an abandoned trolley tunnel under the Manhattan Bridge, the three-person speakeasy, an extremely socially distanced work desk, or the piano performance on a floating barge on Newtown Creek…Every event captures the undying curiosity and creativity that underlies the denizens of New York City and restores that feeling of wonder and amazement you had when you first arrived in New York City. Or that realization, for native New Yorkers, that there was far more than the eye can see.  

In 2023, N.D. Austin’s Tideland Institute premiered “Drain Bramage,” which transforms a sewage tunnel into an amphitheater with floating barge performances to the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. (Don’t worry, if you’re not like us who hear “sewage tunnel” and immediately go, “I’ll be there”, attendees will be seated on rocky outcroppings outside the tunnel so you will stay perfectly hygienic!). This year's iteration of Drain Bramage was performed last weekend. We attended last year and promise it is a truly unique New York experience.

The adventure starts before you even get to the unusual venue. There is scant information on the event page other than a note to be prepared for "light clambering, slippery boulders, and experimental music." We do not want to give away too much of the magical experience but here’s the gist: Guests receive a text message with meeting instructions the day before the show. Navigating to the concert spot is almost like a scavenger hunt. You will indeed do some light scampering, maybe hold onto a rope at some point, but it’s easy, and friendly people will be there to help.

At the concert location, performers emerged from the sewage tunnel as music reverberated off the walls with an other-worldly sound. Throughout the evening, a parade of musicians traveled through the tunnel on barges dazzling spectators with horns, piano, and vocals.

This year, the annual event featured composer Stefan Zeniuk, N.D. Austin, and more. The Drain Bramage events call attention to the waterways of New York, showing how the water can be integrated into daily life. 

Keep an eye out for next year's performance! Guests are led to the concert location promptly after doors open. If you plan to attend, make sure you are on time. As the website notes, "the tide waits for no one."