Webster Hall Past Shows
Webster Hall Past Shows
Webster Hall is a music venue in the heart of the East Village of New York City. It’s one of the city’s most beloved and most iconic venues, and has played host to some of the most legendary rock acts of the last century. With a four-story, 40,000 square foot space, Webster Hall features a main stage, a 1500-capacity performance hall on the second floor, and balcony space on either end.
Originally a hall for hire, Webster Hall grew into a hotspot for cultural progressivism. The hall served as a social gathering for New York’s political and labor elite. In addition to masquerades and balls, Webster Hall was used for political meetings, private gatherings, sporting events, and more. From the 1930s to the 1970s, Webster Hall played host to a variety of musical genres, including jazz, blues, classical, and folk. A coterie of celebrities such as Langston Hughes, Joseph Stella, and Man Ray visited the venue.
Although the venue has hosted a variety of music, it’s best known for its concerts. Webster Hall has presented a wide range of artists, from big-name stars like The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney to more indie acts. This venue is also a great place to see award shows and charity fundraisers.
As the decades passed, Webster Hall evolved from a social gathering for New York’s social and political elite to a safe haven for the LGBTQ community. At the time, Webster Hall was also popular with the Lower East Side’s working class. For that reason, it was often a place for debauched bacchanals. During Prohibition, the venue was a fun center. Local politicians and police were allowed to turn a blind eye to the sale of alcohol at the event. However, as the years went by, the older generation started to worry about drug use and violence.
Webster Hall is also an excellent location for corporate meetings. Located on 125 E 11th Street between 4th Ave and 3rd Ave, the venue is a prime location for businesses and organizations. You can find out more about the venue and upcoming events on the Webster Hall website.
Despite the changes in Webster Hall’s layout, it’s still a popular destination for live music. In fact, RCA Records bought the building in 1953, and it began operating the Webster Hall studios. Several albums were recorded at the studio, including Handel’s Giulio Cesare and Harry Belafonte’s Midnight Special. Other artists who have played the venue include the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and Mick Jagger.
Webster Hall’s history is filled with some of the most iconic moments in the history of New York. From the 1920s, when Webster Hall hosted parties for the downtown fashion elite, to the 1990s, when it was a hotspot for grunge nightlife, to the present day, when the venue is used as a nightclub, the venue has been an integral part of New York’s culture.
After being closed for over a decade, the venue is reopening in 2020. The Ballinger brothers, who are Toronto residents, have restored the building with state-of-the-art technology, preserving some of the most iconic features of the venue. They also updated the acoustics, adding air conditioning and expanded restrooms.