Free Daylong Lou Reed Celebration at Lincoln Center to Feature Tai Chi, Tribute Concert

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Calling all Lou Reed fans — get yourselves to Lincoln Center on Saturday, July 30 for a free, daylong celebration of the late artist. The celebration, called "The Bells: A Daylong Celebration of Lou Reed," will feature tai chi demonstrations, a star-studded tribute concert, and art installation and a screening of the concert film "Lou Reed’s Berlin" which documents Reed's 2006 performances in his native Brooklyn.

The daylong tribute to Reed will be held at Damrosch Park just South of Lincoln Center and is being curated by Reed's wife Laurie Anderson and producer Hal Willner. The event is part of the Lincoln Center Out of Doors event series. The event will feature readings and performances from notable artists including Steve Buscemi, Willem Dafoe, Mark Kozelek and Ahnoni. Tai chi expert Master Ren GuangYi will also be in attendance, giving an early morning demonstration of the martial art as well as breaking out some weapons for an afternoon demonstration.

"The Bells offers revelers the chance to join a 360-degree Lou Reed experience," reads the event's website.

Lou Reed was born in Brooklyn in 1942 and cut his teeth in the New York music industry in the '60s and '70s as a founding member of the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as both a member of the band and a solo artist. He died in 2013 at the age of 71.

Here's a complete schedule for the daylong event:

• 10:15 am Tai Chi Lesson
• 11:00 am–4:00 pm Lou Reed DRONES
• 11:30 am Rock & Roll with special guests and house band including Don Fleming, Sal Maida, Kenny Margolis, Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley, Matt Sweeney, and Karen Waltuch
• 12:00 pm–7:00 pm Film screenings and selections of Lou Reed recordings
• 2:00 pm Tai Chi Weapon Demonstrations
• 3:00 pm Pass Thru Fire: Lyrics of Lou Reed
• 7:00 pm Lou Reed’s Love Songs
• 10:30 pm Lou Reed's Berlin

[Photo: Wikimedia commons]