Bob Dylan | photo by John Vettese for WXPN // Kurt Vile | photo by Noah Silvestry for WXPN // Amos Lee | photo by Wendy McCardle for WXPN
Bob Dylan, Kurt Vile and Amos Lee are on the initial lineup for The Met Philly
Singer-songwriter icon Bob Dylan will be the first artist to take the stage at the newly renovated venue The Met Philly, which opens on December 3rd. The initial lineup was announced this afternoon in a press conference from promoters Live Nation, and it also features Philly son Kurt Vile playing his hometown album release for his new Bottle It In LP on December 29th, and fellow hometown hero Amos Lee headlining on April 6, 2019.
The initial run of shows also includes Toto tribute band Weezer headlining on December 12th, cerebral Bucks County alt-popsters Ween on December 13th, violinist Lindsey Stirling on December 18th, and Germantown rapper PnB Rock on December 28th.
The press conference also featured an overview of the renovated historic building, which was built in 1908 by theater producer Oscar Hammerstien; over the course of the 20th century, it served as an opera hall, a recording space for the Philadelphia Orchestra, a movie theater, a ballroom, a circus venue, and most recently, a church.
“This music venue will continue the revitalization of North Broad Street, which is in the middle of a renaissance right now,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said at the press conference, noting that it brings the arts to North Philly via “a major, world-class venue.”
Developer Eric Blumenfeld headed up the restoration of the building; he was also responsible for the work done to The Divine Lorraine Hotel, where the press conference took place, just a few blocks away from The Met. “When I think about Philadelphia, and all of the culture, all of these wonderful buildings, and the fact that nobody ever saw this corridor…it’s just mind blowing,” said Blumenfeld.
City Council President Darrell Clarke echoed those sentiments, saying projects like the Divine Lorraine and The Met are “bringing life to North Broad like I’ve never seen before. This is truly a godsend.”
Below, listen to music from some of the initially-announced artists, and view the full schedule. For more information, visit the venue’s website.
Mon Dec 3rd, 2018
Bob Dylan & His Band
Opening Night!
Wed Dec 12th, 2018
Weezer
Fri Dec 14th, 2018
Ween
A Night at The Opera… House
Tue Dec 18th, 2018
Lindsey Stirling
Sat Dec 22nd, 2018
WDAS Holiday Jam with Charlie Wilson
Stokley
Fri Dec 28th, 2018
PnB Rock
Sat Dec 29th, 2018
Kurt Vile & The Violators
The Feelies
Sun Dec 30th, 2018
John Oliver
Mon Dec 31st, 2018
John Oliver
Fri Jan 11th, 2019
Greensky Bluegrass
Sat Jan 19th, 2019
Impractical Jokers
Starring The Tenderloins
Sat Feb 9th, 2019
Jim Gaffigan
Sun Feb 24th, 2019
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
Sat Mar 9th, 2019
James Bay
Sat Apr 6th, 2019
Amos Lee
Ethan Gruska
Sat Apr 27th, 2019
Brian Regan
Fri Jun 14th, 2019
Derek Hough