Webster Hall, one of New York City’s most beloved venues, has officially announced the first scheduled performances of its grand re-opening in 2019. The four-level venue located in the East Village of Manhattan closed its doors for some serious renovations starting back in August 2017 following its acquisition by AEG Live and BSE Global. Now, BSE Global and The Bowery Presents, AEG Presents’ regional partner, are responsible for booking Webster Hall’s artist lineup, and they’ve revealed their initial plans for 2019 today.
Webster Hall will open up its doors in late-April with an unannounced show and date. Then, on May 1st, singer/songwriter/poet Patti Smith and Her Band will kick off the venue’s first month back in action, representing the origins of New York City punk rock movement in the 1970s. The month of May will also feature performances from Troyboi, Sharon Van Etten, FKJ, Lawrence, Royal Trux, Broken Social Scene (x2), Old Dominion, Chromeo with a Live Band, JohnnySwim, MGMT (x3), The Japanese House, and Aaron Tveit. The rest of the summer months will see performances from Empire Of The Sun (x2), Real Estate, City of the Sun, and Emo Nite LA presents Emo Nite at Webster Hall. In the fall, Webster Hall has confirmed shows with HVOB, Tinariwen, Pinegrove, Built To Spill (x2), Mt. Joy, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Big Thief (x2), and Mumiy Troll.
Regarding the legendary venue’s renovations, a press release details:
The renovations at Webster Hall aimed to preserve the iconic features of the venue, while modernizing it to meet today’s entertainment standards and enhance the guest experience. The Lounge (formerly The Marlin Room) has been revamped to serve as a bar and meeting spot for ticketholders both before and after shows in the Grand Ballroom. Design details of The Lounge include elegant gold stenciling on the walls that pays homage to the original historic design, and fluted glass along the bar that mimics the venue’s former windows.
In the Grand Ballroom, the original stage remains, while acoustics were enhanced to create an optimal live event experience. Fans and artists returning to Webster Hall will notice other new features such as central air conditioning, expanded restrooms, additional stairwells for smoother entry and exit, and the venue’s first-ever elevator that will serve guests with disabilities and speed up each show’s load-in and load-out process.
Behind the scenes, an artist compound was built with upgraded amenities to provide direct access to the Ballroom stage, creating a more comfortable and inviting environment for performers and their management. The venue’s basement level, formerly known as The Studio at Webster Hall, will also return, with more details to be announced at a later date.
For a full list of shows scheduled at the newly renovated Webster Hall, see below and head to the venue’s website here for ticketing information.