The Iridium New York is “The House of Les Paul,” a guitar house designed as both a performance and recording space. It was one of the first clubs designed this way. It seats 180 in Manhattan’s Times Square Theater District.
The Iridium Concerts
SEPTEMBER
Latin Jazz & Salsa
The Spanish Harlem Orchestra with Oscar Hernández celebrates their new album release “Swing Forever” featuring Puerto Rican salsa legend Gilberto Santa Rosa, at The Iridium rock, blues, and jazz club in the Times Square Theater District; on September 27, 2024; at 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). From $39. 🇵🇷
Santa Rosa is on the album. We don’t know if he is joining the album release party. There are many salsa orchestras in New York City, but the Spanish Harlem Orchestra is one of the very best.
OCTOBER
Mexican American Rock Tribute
The Linda Ronstadt Experience starring Tristan McIntosh (American Idol); tributes one of the most popular Mexican American singers of all time, at The Iridium rock, blues, and jazz club in Manhattan’s Times Square Theater District; on October 18, 2024, at 8:30pm (7:30pm doors). From $45. 🇲🇽
The Iridium Tickets
Iridium New York
1650 Broadway
(at 51st St)
Times Square Theater District, Manhattan
Subways
(1)(2) to 50th St and walk 1 block
(B)(D)(E) to Seventh Avenue and walk 3 blocks
Social Media
X @IridiumNYC
Facebook @TheIridium
Instagram @theiridium
About The Iridium
The Iridium is really a guitar house. Electric guitar pioneer Les Paul (Gibson guitars) played a weekly gig there from 1996 to his death in 2009. The best of the best came to perform and record with the master, so it will forever be the House of Les Paul.
The club’s curation ties nicely into music history. Blues is from the American South around New Orleans, but its roots are Caribbean and North African. The blues (with gospel and ragtime) evolved into jazz which defined American culture since the 1920s-1930s and influenced music and youth culture around the world. Jazz and swing evolved into rock and roll which also influenced music and youth culture around world since the 1950s. In the 1960s-1970s, rhythm and blues, in its soul and funk forms, influenced the entire world again with its social consciousness. That social consciousness became part of reggae, afrobeat, and many other influential world musics. This is all music with soul.
The Iridium is not a Latin club, but the guitar came to the Americas from Spain where it is related to the vihuela and lutes. The lute tradition runs throughout Asia from the Arab oud, to the Indian sitar, to the Japanese samisen and the Indonesian rebab. The Mexican vihuela is part of the Regional Mexican ranchera/mariachi tradition. The Iridium is also a supper club with its own cellar and an outstanding wine list. With guitar and wine, all we need is love.
Latin Artists
Pedro Giraudo, Argentine tango 🇦🇷
Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Puerto Rican salsa 🇵🇷