East Village Venue DROM Relaunches This Friday

Reopening after a three-month hiatus following major renovations, the newly revitalized Drom has improved far beyond its cosmetic makeover. "The club had lost its magic," says producer Serdar Ilhan, "but with our new redesign we've transformed the space into an exquisite live music hall with an early 20th century European touch. Performances are now intimate affairs; seeing a show at Drom is like inviting the artist inside your living room. "

"When I co-founded Drom in 2007, the goal was to provide a home for eclectic and underrepresented genres of music, a place where the journey was the destination. That's where the name Drom comes from; in the Romani (Gypsy) culture, a drom is both a journey and a road," says Ilhan. In its first two years of operation, an array of prominent artists and bands were drawn to walk Drom's path including Marc Ribot, Bilal, Robert Glasper, Charlie Hunter, Sir James Galway, Hillary Hahn, Cyro Batista, Al di Meola, Dave Weckl, Terrence Howard, Karsh Kale, Boban Markovic, Frank London, Mamadou Diabate, Husnu Senlendirici, Brooklyn Funk Essentials and Cheb-i Sabbah.

Following a series of creative differences regarding artistic direction, Mr. Ilhan ceased to be the venue's primary curator as of 2008. Drom's current relaunch finds Ilhan once again squarely behind the wheel with his new partner, the entrepreneur Ekmel Anda. With an eye towards building on the glories of the venue's past, the new booking strategy will include programming that is both more accessible and more challenging, featuring the international community's finest artists in the fields of pop, soul, jazz, roots and rock music. The diversity of the venue's performers is intentionally designed to attract sophisticated and adventurous listeners. Continues Ilhan, "While the new Drom itself is luxurious, our prices are not. Moderately priced tickets and drinks are part of our strategy to build something bigger than an audience. Our goal is to create a community."

Drom will mark its reopening with a slate of performances celebrating the venue's commitment to contemporary and traditional Gypsy music, including five shows from The 6th Annual NY Gypsy Festival. Doors open once again at Drom on September 24 with the inimitable clarinetist Selim Sesler, called the "Coltrane of the clarinet" by The Guardian UK, performing with The NY Gypsy All-Stars Band. Next, on September 30th, bandleader Arturo Martinez and his band Espiritu Gitano appear for an evening of Flamenco music, song and dance.

Unconventional, international electronic fusion is the order of the night on October 1, as Canada's Delhi 2 Dublin and Mexico's DJ Gadjio and DJ Blacky explore the intersection of bhangra, Celtic, Dub and traditional Gypsy music. Blazing Balkan brass power will overcome your senses and move your feet when heavyweight performers Zlatne Uste Brass Band and Veveritse Brass Band take the stage on October 2. Drom will host the conclusion of The NY Gypsy Festival on October 3 with a tribute to the immortal Django Reinhardt on the centennial of his birth, featuring the outstandingly talented Parisian guitarist Stephane Wrembel and the outré multicultural styling of the explosive Balval.

Drom aims to stake out a unique spot in the New York concert scene, offering a fresh base of operations for urbane New Yorkers with a global mindset. Nomads and locals alike: welcome to your new home on the road. Welcome to the new Drom.

ABOUT THE VENUE: Located at 85 Avenue A between 5th St. and 6th St. (within walking distance from the F train at 2nd Ave.), Drom accommodates a seated crowd of 150 in plush accommodations and a standing crowd of 350. Drom will soon feature live performances six nights a week with late night DJs and bands until 4am. Drom's full-service bar features specialty cocktails while the kitchen offers Mediterranean tapas and meals for purchase throughout the evening. For table reservations, call 212-777-1156. Visit us online at our new website: www.dromnyc.com.

 

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