An All Day Celebration!
Lou Reed’s art drew its energy from the worlds of poetry, pop music, experimental composition, and much more—so naturally Lincoln Center’s all-day celebration of this New York icon will be inspired by a diverse range of creative fields. Curated by two of Reed’s closest collaborators, musician and wife Laurie Anderson and producer Hal Willner, The Bells offers revelers the chance to join a 360-degree Lou Reed experience. Begin the day as Reed would have, with an open class led by Reed’s tai chi instructor, Master Ren Guangyi, who will also offer an advanced weapons demonstration later in the afternoon. The commemoration then continues with live performances of Reed’s music by notable bands, an immersive installation of his six-guitar drone music, and readings of his lyrics by noted authors and actors.
When night falls, friends and admirers come together for a set of Reed’s love songs, given fresh voice by a cross-genre cast of musicians who are keen to pay tribute to this visionary solo artist and founding member of The Velvet Underground. To close out the evening, grab a pair of headphones for a late-night screening of Julian Schnabel’s Berlin, a critically acclaimed film documenting Reed’s 2006 performances at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn.