Bowery Ballroom + Mercury Lounge and Live Nation form Mercury East Presents

Earlier this year, the AEG-owned Bowery Presents confirmed that they were parting ways with NYC venues Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge, and we heard that Live Nation would be taking over the two Lower East Side venues. Today, Bowery Ballroom/Mercury Lounge co-owner Michael Swier and Live Nation confirmed the news as well, and revealed that they formed a new promotions and booking venture called Mercury East Presents.

Much like all AEG NYC club shows are now booked as “Bowery Presents”, all Live Nation NYC club shows are “Mercury East Presents” (Bowery was obviously already taken). The “East” also seems to imply that this could expand past NYC, much like the Bowery Presents brand now does. Via press release:

Michael Swier, co-owner of Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge and an original founder of the Bowery Presents, and Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company, have joined forces to create a new promotions and booking venture called “Mercury East Presents.”

Focused on the coveted live music market in New York City, the alliance creates a nexus of current and future independently-owned and operated venues within the five boroughs while capitalizing on shared expertise and industry strength to serve artists and fans alike. Mercury East unites iconic venues throughout the city under one umbrella, establishing a network of clubs and theaters, including Swier’s Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom, Live Nation’s Irving Plaza, Gramercy Theatre, Warsaw and Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk. The group will continue to expand this portfolio and will assist in growing artists by bringing acts to NYC’s most venerable open rooms, including Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, The Beacon Theater and Radio City Music Hall. Mercury East will also collaborate with Founders Entertainment, who have introduced hundreds of new artists to the New York market through appearances at their Governors Ball, Meadows Music & Arts Festival and festival after parties.

Both parties have a proven track record in the New York live entertainment scene. Live Nation remains the leader in live entertainment for the region, producing 2,000 events for more than 5.5 million fans in the NYC area in 2016. And Swier’s Bowery Ballroom has hosted thousands of events since its opening in 1998, and is nationally recognized as one of the premier live music venues in the countrry thanks to its talent bookings and intimate performance atmosphere. Well known to music lovers, The Mercury Lounge continues to offer a boutique vibe, welcoming crowds of 250 since its opening in 1994.

[…] Mercury East will be based out of Live Nation’s new east coast headquarters on 15th street in the Meatpacking District.

More info and a show calendar that includes events at Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, Irving Plaza, Gramercy Theatre and Warsaw can be found at MercuryEastPresents.com.

Tonight (12/18), Bowery Ballroom hosts the second to last show in Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah run.