CBGB now a festival, could reopen in new location
It’s been six years since the legendary New York club CBGB shut down, but there’s new life in at least the club’s spirit with the announcement of a four-day festival this July. The New York Times reported today that a group of new investors—including some with ties to the original club—will launch the festival this July, featuring film screenings, panels, and over 300 bands performing across dozens of small clubs in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The music portion of the fest, happening July 5 and 6, will culminate in a large concert at Summerstage in Central Park on July 7. The initial lineup includes, of course, plenty of punk (Rocket From The Tombs, Cro-Mags) but also The Baseball Project, Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Craig Finn, and Guided By Voices. If the festival seems a bit like SXSW, well, that’s because the organizers have specifically modeled the new fest after the annual Austin gathering (as well as the annual CMJ fest).