East Village's Webster Hall Shows Return In May

EAST VILLAGE, NY — Nearly two years after Webster Hall closed for renovations, the concert venue is back with a grand opening in late April and shows to begin May 1.

Two years ago, BSE Global and AEG Presents' regional partner Bowery Presents acquired Webster Hall. That summer, the new ownership announced its closure for renovations.

Webster Hall will hold a grand opening in late April, according to the New York Times. On May 1, the concert venue will host performances, starting with Patti Smith and Her Band. TroyBoi on May 3, Sharon Van Etten on May 4, and FKJ on May 7 are among the venue's first week of performances. Chromeo, MGMT, Empire of the Sun and others will perform this season as well.

"It has been an honor to undertake this project with AEG and The Bowery Presents, understanding how much Webster Hall means to the history of New York City and the music community," Brett Yormark, chief executive officer of BSE Global, said in a statement.

The re-opened space will employee 70 people on any given night, according to BSE.

The venue's renovations includes central air conditioning, added restrooms, additional stairwells, and the venue's first elevator to improve accessibility.

BSE and AEG aimed to preserve iconic features, they say, such as preserving gold stenciling on the walls in The Lounge, which was formerly The Marlin Room that has been revamped as a bar and meeting spot for concert-goers. The original stage in the Grand Ballroom remains as well, with improved acoustics.

"Maintaining the integrity of this iconic venue has been of utmost priority throughout the entire renovation process, while ensuring that the enhancements modernize the venue for both the fans and the performers. It has been our intention to create a venue pipeline to our larger arenas and we are looking forward to the opportunities that Webster Hall will provide us," Yormark said.

The space, which first opened as a venue in 1886, has seen artists from Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan to Tony Bennett and Julie Andrews.

"As we honor the rich history this venue holds with fans and artists alike, we are excited to begin this new chapter with artists that we love and respect," John Moore and Jim Glancy, partners at The Bowery Presents, said in a statement.