New Orleans To Become Home To The Next Fillmore Venue

– Fillmore New Orleans
Rendering

New Orleans will be the next home city for a Fillmore-branded live music venue, which will be built at Harrah’s in the Big Easy and expected to open in early 2019.

The June 21 announcement by Live Nation coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Fillmore West, the famed San Francisco venue opened by the late Bill Graham. To that end, officials announced the under-construction, 2,000-capacity will showcase state-of-the-art production, vintage poster art, VIP amenities, dining options and hospitality that “celebrates the live concert experience,” according to a statement.

“New Orleans is a city with a proud musical heritage, and we could not be more excited that The Fillmore will join the host of great live music that this city has to offer,” said Ron Bension, president of Live Nation’s Club & Theatre group. “The venue’s industry-leading amenities and intimate 2,000-person capacity fill a gap in the market and will attract performers that often bypass the city, which will ultimately give audiences an even wider array of concert experiences to enjoy.”

Dan Real, Caesars Entertainment regions president-South and Harrah’s New Orleans GM, added: “It was important to Harrah’s New Orleans that we find the right partner to help us transform our second-floor space into a destination. In a city where live music abounds from street corners to the stage, The Fillmore is a perfect addition to Harrah’s New Orleans and will create memorable experiences for both locals and guests.”

The original Fillmore West was one of this country’s landmark performing stages and first opened in San Francisco in the summer of 1968. That Fillmore was a focal point of the psychedelic music scene during the 1960s and ’70s helping to launch the careers of iconic rock acts such as Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Santana, The Doors, The Allman Brothers Band and many others. Fillmore-branded venues around the United States now include: Charlotte, N.C.; Miami, Fla., Silver Spring, Md.; Detroit and Philadelphia.

Design details of the New Orleans outpost will reflect the unique qualities of local architecture and material such as wrought iron gate segments and clapboard sidings used throughout the venue alongside local influences such as gas street lanterns and hints of Mardi Gras, according to the statement.

The venue will include a Lobby Bar that reflect the local musical history with a hand-painted sousaphone rotating from the center with its flared bell jutting into the room and greeting the crowd as it rotates. The bar will feature small-batch liquors, local and national craft beers, a varied wine selection, and a full menu of local favorites like popcorn Creole shrimp, Louisiana hot chicken tenders and charcuterie Bento boxes.

The VIP room, called BG’s Lounge in a nod to original Fillmore founder Bill Graham, also pays tribute to New Orleans, celebrating its sultry side with hints of black magic, voodoo and masquerade balls. It will be an intimate and upscale lounge and bar where guests can enjoy personalized service and enhanced benefits as part of their concert event as well as before and after the performance. VIP experiences include the opportunity to enjoy the show from elevated areas near the stage and first-class amenities: dedicated bar service with top-tier selections, reserve seating and private restrooms.

The Fillmore is not only a state-of-the-art concert hall but also features a colorful array of distinctive private event spaces for hosting corporate events, private concerts, social gatherings, weddings, receptions or private dinners.