Arthur Russell’s New York Tour

Though Arthur Russell released very little music in his too-short lifetime (he passed away in 1992 at the age of 40), the wealth of previously unheard material to emerge posthumously has established him as one of the most inventive and significant artists of his time. A classically-trained cellist, he dabbled in punk, folk, disco, minimalism, and techno, and collaborated with a who's who of New York artists - David Byrne, Allen Ginsburg, Philip Glass, Larry Levan, Jennifer Warnes, Rhys Chatham, Walter Gibbons, Laurie Anderson, Gary Lucas, and (believe it or not) Vin Diesel, to name only a handful. His career offer a fascinating lens through which to view the New York music and art scene in the 70's and 80's, as well as the city's LGBTQ+ history and it's changing economic fortunes.

Locations include:
- The studios where Arthur recorded some of his most significant records, including 24-24 Music, Instrumentals, Kiss Me Again, Is It All Over My Face, and portions of World of Echo, Another Thought, and Love Is Overtaking Me
- Arthur's East Village apartment, in a building that also housed Allen Ginsburg and Richard Hell
- The Kitchen, where Arthur debuted some of his most significant works, and booked shows for the Modern Lovers and Talking Heads
- The dance clubs where Arthur discovered disco and met key future collaborators like Nicky Siano and David Mancuso
- The club where Arthur's band the Necessaries headlined over R.E.M.
- Key venues in Arthur's performance history, including Danceteria, the Knitting Factory, Sobossek's, Philip Glass' Bleecker Street Loft, and Experimental Intermedia Foundation
- Some of downtown's most famous discos, including the Loft, the Gallery, and the Saint
- Sites relevant to Arthur's collaborators and members of the greater downtown arts community, including David Byrne, Brian Eno, Philip Glass, Sonic Youth, Klaus Nomi, the Beastie Boys, and Madonna

Details

- Begins in Chelsea and ends in the East Village
- The tour lasts approximately three hours and covers two and a half miles
- Involves one brief subway ride, so make sure to bring a MetroCard
- Comfortable shoes and bottled water are strongly recommended
- There is a bar break approximately halfway through the tour, so bring cash!
- Gratuities are welcome but not mandatory

Check out this Tidal playlist to dive deeper into the music behind the destinations

Rates

$65/person

- two person minimum -
in the event that only one person books a tour, they will be offered the chance to cancel or have a private tour for an additional fee

Offered on Sundays. Private tours and large group rates available by request