Tribeca Festival Amplifies Its Musical Presence with Record-Breaking Lineup

The Tribeca Festival this month showcases a diverse group of music icons including Metallica, Billy Idol, Miley Cyrus, and Depeche Mode. The lineup also features the Korean rock band The Rose, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Wizkid, and Anderson .Paak, highlighting the festival’s broad musical appeal.

These artists are either the focus of documentaries or involved in films premiering at the festival, which runs from Wednesday through June 15. After screenings, some musicians such as Billy Idol and Eddie Vedder will perform intimate concerts, offering a rare, close-up experience. Others, including Depeche Mode and Metallica, will engage audiences in conversations.

Music has been integral to the Tribeca Festival since its launch, explained Cara Cusumano, the festival’s director and senior vice president of programming. The inaugural 2002 event included a free community concert in Battery Park City in partnership with MTV, featuring Sheryl Crow, Counting Crows, Wyclef Jean, and David Bowie. Cusumano emphasized that Tribeca is fundamentally a storytelling festival, where music complements other narrative forms like games, immersive experiences, television, podcasts, and especially film.

Over the years, the festival’s musical offerings have expanded significantly, driven by growing audience enthusiasm. Cusumano noted that music events attract the largest attendance compared to other festival segments. This year, Tribeca is presenting more than 20 music-related events — a new record — encompassing documentaries, music videos, and podcasts.

Cusumano also shared that attendees often remark on the uniqueness of the experience, having just watched documentaries that provide deeper insight into the artists, adding a special context to the live performances.

A notable milestone occurred in 2011 when Tribeca opened with “The Union,” a documentary chronicling the creation of an album by Leon Russell and Elton John. Following the screening, John performed a concert and dedicated his classic ballad “Your Song” to New York City. This event established the tradition of opening the festival with a music documentary whenever possible.