By bringing Arcade Fire, The Secret Machines, Air, Polyphonic Spree and Ricky Gervais to New York City as part of mid May's High Line Festival, curator David Bowie has done his job of creating a distinctive slate of artists to promote and celebrate the impending opening of the High Line, an elevated park located on Manhattan's West side. In addition to the park, the festival will also see the opening of a new concert space: The High Line Ballroom.

Consecrating the new venue will be New York's own resident poet and urban legend Lou Reed, who will play the High Line's first show on April 30 with guitarist Mike Rathke and cellist Jane Scarpantoni, the same pair who assisted Reed at last month's celebration of the "Old Knit." Following Reed into the new concert space will be jamband emeritus moe. for four sold-out shows and the tempestuous Amy Winehouse for a pair of sellouts of her own.

In a tried and true case of the new boss being the same as the old boss, Irving Plaza will be renamed The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. More an extension of Live Nation's corporate brand (extending also to Philadelphia where the longstanding TLA will be dubbed "The Fillmore Philadelphia") than a broadening of Bill Graham's legacy, Irving Plaza's new identity will come complete with gradual renovations to the balconies, bathrooms, sound and lighting systems. The first show at "Fillmore East" will take place on April 11 as yet another British brat, Lily Allen, will christen the renamed venue.

Labels: David Bowie, Fillmore New York, High Line Ballroom, Lily Allen, Lou Reed