NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — Knitting Factory Entertainment has signed an exclusive agreement booking agreement with Blue Note Entertainment to Book NYC’s Highline Ballroom, effective August 3rd.
The landmark 700 capacity boutique venue located in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York has hosted shows by a list of artists including Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Lily Allen, Lady Gaga and the Killers, as well as a providing space for a weekly residency by The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon’s house band, The Roots.
KFE has hired industry vet Dave Poe to serve as their New York talent buyer, focusing on The Highline, while handling business development for their Knitting Factory Presents (KFP) division. Poe is a ten-year music industry veteran, having cut his teeth at The Agency Group—starting in 2004 as an intern and serving stints as assistant to Steve Martin and Seth Rappaport—before becoming an agent there in 2010.
In 2014, Poe moved to the talent acquisition side of the business, serving as a talent buyer for Nederlander Concerts in Los Angeles, booking talent at many California venues including The Greek Theatre, The Forum, The Pantages Theatre, Vina Robles Amphitheatre, the San Jose Civic Center, the Orpheum Theatre and the Regent Theatre. Poe will relocate to New York to assume this position and his first day at KFE will be Monday, August 10th.
AEG’s existing promotion agreement with the Highline will not be affected and the booking teams will continue to collaborate.
“Adding both Dave Poe and The Highline to the Knitting Factory Presents stable in one week is a great step forward for the company,” said KFP President Mark Dinerstein. “While KFE has a strong national reach, it always feels good to increase our presence in our original home city. We’re looking forward to working with Steve and his folks at The Highline and, with Dave’s help, continuing that venue’s reputation for excellence.”
“We’re thrilled to be able to partner with Knitting Factory Entertainment,” said Steve Bensusan, president of Blue Note Entertainment Group, which owns and operates The Highline Ballroom. “I’m looking forward to working with the KFE team to continue bringing world class acts to the Highline, both independent artists and artists consistent with the Blue Note roster and philosophy. Dave will work closely with our current Blue Note talent buyers who will continue to book the Blue Note Jazz Club, BB King Blues Club & Grill, Subrosa, Howard Theatre and other Blue Note-owned and operated venues around the world. ” – Staff Writers
