Bargemusic

Bargemusic began as a humble working vessel that hauled sacks of coffee across New York Harbor. Built in 1899, the iron-hulled barge spent most of the twentieth century in utilitarian service for the Erie Lackawanna Railroad. Its transformation into a concert hall occurred in 1977, when violinist Olga Bloom purchased the barge and spent years refurbishing it. She salvaged interior materials from a retired Staten Island Ferry, including mahogany stripping and wooden benches, to give the industrial space a warm, acoustic-friendly atmosphere. Over the decades, this floating venue became a landmark for chamber music, known for an intimate setting where audiences can feel the subtle sway of the East River beneath their feet.