Pitchfork

David Bowie's reign as Coolest Dude in the Universe continues with the announcement of the lineup for the High Line Festival, which he curated.

According to Bowie's website, the fest, taking place May 9-19 at various venues in New York City, includes performances by such indie faves as the Arcade Fire, Air, Deerhoof, the Polyphonic Spree, and the Secret Machines, avant garde types Laurie Anderson and Ken Nordine, comedian Ricky Gervais, and "outsider" artists Daniel Johnston and the Legendary Stardust Cowboy (whose song "I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship" Bowie covered on Heathen). There will also be art exhibitions and film screenings, all curated by Bowie.

According to BowieNet, Bowie had the following to say about curating the festival:

"I thought it a very cool deal to be asked to curate the High Line Festival. The request was for me to choose artists and acts that I myself would go out of my way to see. Although this inaugural year will be modest in scale we've been pretty lucky in that many whom I asked have accepted.

"I'm also pleased that many emerging artists are participating alongside more established talents that represent a fairly wide cross section of disciplines within the arts community. I would really hope that the exposure this festival affords will help these folk get the attention they deserve."

The High Line Festival events:

05-09 Arcade Fire - Radio City Music Hall
05-10 Air - Theatre at Madison Square Garden
05-11 The Polyphonic Spree - Hammerstein Ballroom
05-15 Deerhoof - Irving Plaza
05-16 Daniel Johnston, Bang on a Can All Stars, the Legendary Stardust Cowboy - High Line Ballroom
05-16-17 Ken Nordine - The Kitchen
05-17-18 Laurie Anderson - High Line Ballroom
05-19 The Secret Machines - High Line Ballroom
05-19 Ricky Gervais - Theatre at Madison Square Garden