Irving Plaza
Courtesy of Live NationAfter two years of renovations, New York’s Irving Plaza is ready to welcome fans back. On Aug. 17, Live Nation will reopen the historic venue with a performance from Ashley McBryde.
Irving Plaza was named a NYC landmark in 1978 and Live Nation spent millions of dollars renovating the space to enhance the experience for fans and artists. The promotion giant has also revealed a slate of 40 shows between August 2021 and May 2022.
"We are excited to reveal our grand reopening series of shows and look forward to reopening our doors and bringing live music back to New York City. It will be great to finally be able to reconnect music fans with their favorite artists, especially here in this beautifully restored room,” said Live Nation regional president Geoff Gordon in a release. “Irving Plaza is filled with incredible music memories and these spectacular renovations will allow us to host even more amazing concerts.”
New additions include an upscale VIP Lounge with private bar and balcony level boxes that offer unobstructed views of the stage enabling fans the best seats in the house. The expanded lobby and bar area provide a new space for multifunctional use, including artist merchandise, meet-and-greets, or for individually curated events.
For artists, two fully renovated balcony level dressing rooms feature direct stage access and an adjacent green room with a private bathroom and amenities.
The venue can adjust its configuration from a 1,200 standing-room only experience to an intimate 400-seat theater to accommodate a wide-variety of performances. Irving Plaza now boasts next-generation Cisco Wifi 6 for faster and more reliable social connectivity for fans who want to share their experience with their friends and followers during a performance.
Artists scheduled to play the renovated venue include Middle Kids, Lotus, Kevin Gates, Ruston Kelly, The Lemonheads, Guided By Voices, Ben Folds and more. Over the past 50 years, Irving Plaza has hosted big names including Sir Paul McCartney, The Foo Fighters, U2, Green Day, Ariana Grande, The Ramones, Nine Inch Nails, Childish Gambino, Katy Perry, Eminem and Nas.
Tickets for the newly announced shows go on sale Thursday and Friday, with additional events going on sale at later dates.
Busta Rhymes is honoring his late friend D’Angelo in a truly moving way. The rapper released a heartfelt tribute track titled “Magic,” marking one of his most emotional releases in years. The song celebrates the neo-soul legend D’Angelo, who sadly passed away earlier this month after a private battle with cancer. Over the smooth, soulful backdrop of D’Angelo’s “One Mo’ Gin” from his 2000 classic Voodoo, Busta reflects deeply, sharing raw and powerful emotions through his storytelling.
Throughout the seven-minute piece, Busta takes listeners on a journey through his 34-year friendship with D’Angelo. He recalls their early sessions with A Tribe Called Quest and describes the lasting connection they built over the decades. Instead of simply celebrating the music, Busta pays homage to the person behind it. He describes D’Angelo as a rare, once-in-a-generation artist who “never needed a co-sign” and “touched the souls of the people and everything between.”
During an interview with Okayplayer, Busta called D’Angelo “a godsend,” reflecting on his influence across R&B and hip-hop. “The Earth shifted when D came to do music,” he said, a statement that perfectly sums up D’Angelo’s impact. Anyone familiar with Brown Sugar, Voodoo, or Black Messiah knows his legacy speaks volumes.
“Magic” feels like a conversation between two lifelong friends. Busta Rhymes gives fans an intimate look at a bond that helped shape decades of soul-infused hip-hop. The tributes pouring in since D’Angelo’s passing highlight not only his extraordinary artistry but also the love and respect he inspired among peers. Lauryn Hill expressed it beautifully, writing, “Thank you for being a beacon of light to a generation and beyond who had no remembrance of the legacy that preceded us.”
