CBGB, the legendary New York club that birthed punk rock, is coming back to life, at least in spirit. On September 27, 2025, Under the K Bridge Park in Brooklyn is hosting the CBGB Festival, a one-day celebration that unites punk pioneers with the genre’s fiercest new voices.
Headlining the event are three icons who helped shape punk’s DNA: Iggy Pop, the Sex Pistols, and Jack White. Joining them are Johnny Marr of The Smiths, hardcore agitators Soul Glo, experimental noise outfit YHWH Nailgun, and rising stars like the Linda Lindas, Lip Critic, and Lambrini Girls.
The festival’s mission is clear: to answer the question, “Who would be playing at CBGB today?” It’s a curated collision of eras, honoring the club’s legacy as a launchpad for boundary-pushing artists. From the Ramones and Patti Smith to Blondie and Talking Heads, CBGB was the crucible of punk, new wave, and hardcore.
This new iteration isn’t affiliated with the earlier CBGB Music & Film Festival of the 2010s. Instead, it’s a raw, focused homage to the club’s original ethos: original music, no frills, and a stage for the misfits. The venue, Under the K Bridge Park – offers a gritty, industrial backdrop worthy of the Bowery’s heyday.
Tickets for CBGB Fest go on sale Friday, May 16 at 10 AM EST, and sign ups are open now for a presale starting Thursday, May 15 at 10 AM EST. There are also discounted “Young Punk” GA tickets that will be available for residents of NYC under 25. Those will be sold on Saturday, May 17 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg box office starting at 12 PM. There are 350 “Young Punk” tickets available, a nod to CBGB’s official capacity, and they sell for $73 (another nod, for 1973, the year the club opened).
To keep up with all things CBGB Fest keep a close eye on their official website. www.cbgbfest.com
