New music series set to air on PBS

Launching nationwide on public television this April is the new series “Live At 9:30” – a modern-day music variety show.

Located in Washington, D.C., the 9:30 Club is among the most-attended music clubs of its size in the world – a 1200-person venue where world-famous artists have started their careers, refined their sounds, and played legendary shows.

Each one-hour episode of “Live At 9:30” will feature a collection of acts from different genres, interspersed with insightful and entertaining interviews, short films, and comedic bits.

It is filmed with more than a dozen cameras, including hidden GoPros and an airborne cable-cam.

The first three episodes of the 12-episode premiere season will feature performances by Garbage, The Arcs, Tove Lo, Ibeyi, El Vy, MisterWives, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Frank Turner, MS MR, Cold War Kids, Youth Lagoon, and Jess Glynne.

Wayne White, of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” fame, will be “Live At 9:30’s” art director. Episodes will feature different contributors and hosts, including Henry Rollins, NPR Music’s Bob Boilen, Hannibal Buress, Jill Kargman, Ralphie May, and others.

Squarespace will host the digital destination of the show on www.LiveAt930.com. The first "Live At 9:30" teaser reel and show stills can be viewed on the site. This spring, fans will have the opportunity to view full episodes and access exclusive content.

“We’ve been approached countless times to do a TV show here, and we’ve always passed,” said Seth Hurwitz, chairman of I.M.P. and co-owner of the 9:30 Club. “But ‘Live At 9:30’ is a great opportunity to work with people we trust to bring music variety to life in a way no one has even attempted. When I said we had no interest in just another concert program, they totally got it. They have come up with a truly entertaining bunch of new ideas on how to change the way people watch live concert shows.”

“I’ve been going to the 9:30 Club for 20 years, and my favorite concert memories are from here,” said Michael Holstein, executive producer of ‘Live At 9:30’. “This club is pure magic. Seeing how the community has rallied around this show – artists, managers, the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment and more – that really drives home that this is much more than just a music club. For the 9:30 Club to trust us to make a TV show about this amazing institution is an awesome opportunity and responsibility.”

Contributing hosts include:

Henry Rollins – former front man for seminal punk band Black Flag, actor, spoken word artist, radio host, columnist, author
Bob Boilen – host and creator of NPR Music’s “All Songs Considered” and creator of Tiny Desk Concert
Hannibal Buress – comedian, writer, star of Comedy Central’s “Why? With Hannibal Buress” and “Broad City”
Jill Kargman – creator, star of Bravo’s “Odd Mom Out,” novelist, writer for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Interview
Ralphie May – stand up comedian, “Last Comic Standing” and “Unruly”