Just when you need a break from family 4th of
July holiday gatherings, here comes a new event to remind New Yorkers about the rich
history that once existed in the Bowery.
CBGBs was a haven for breaking punk and new waves bands under the
devoted tutelage of owner Hilly Kristal.
He launched the careers of such stalwarts as Television, the Patti Smith
Group, Blondie, The B-52s, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and the Talking
Heads. The name stands for the genre
Kristal had originally planned on booking for the club, Country, Bluegrass and
Blues, and the addendum OMUG stood for "Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers." Rather than food, Kristal had rabid music
consumption in mind yet it became a bastion for the new music of the day.
Seeking to rekindle this spirit and rejuvenate the brand that is CBGBs
-- beyond T-shirts and the awning that exists in Cleveland at the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame -- the festival will feature rock and roll film screenings, band
showcases (300 artists in 30 venues), music business conferences and industry
panel discussions. To stamp an attitude
on the proceedings, Nirvana’s Kris Novoselic will be the Keynote Speaker on
noon, July 5. Along with the usual music industry subjects
of marketing and record deals, there will also be a panel on “CBGB – Tales From
the Club.” Film subjects include bands
such as The Clash, The Replacements, and the Ramones, along with Wilco and Kurt
Cobain. Many screenings include Q &
A sessions with those in the film or behind the scenes. A few of the artists appearing during the
festival are Superchunk, David Johansen, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Reggie Watts
and The Virgins. Saturday afternoon
brings together Guided by Voices, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The War on
Drugs and Cloud Nothings at the SummerStage at Central Park. A Spirits Festival on Sunday, July 8 highlights artisan whiskey distilleries across town.
Pricing is on a sliding scale according to how many offerings are of interest. Pass categories are defined as Music Showcases, Film
Screenings + Film Conference, Music Showcases + Music Conference, Music/Film
Combo, and the Spirits Festival. Costs
range from $79 to $379 with increases for walk-up purchases after July 3rd. For
further information, visit cgbg.com.