David Bowie To Curate New York Festival

David Bowie is set to curate a festival in New York later this spring and has already drafted in an impressive line-up.

The music legend takes over the reins of the High Line Festival which takes place at a variety of venues in the Big Apple from May 9-19.

Arcade Fire will open proceedings at the Radio City Hall on May 9, with performances from Deerhoof, Air, The Polyphonic Spree and The Secret Machines also confirmed.

Comedian Ricky Gervais will also perform a night of stand up, and the festival will also play host to art exhibitions and film screenings.

Bowie says of 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 line-up looks like this:

Arcade Fire @ Radio City Music Hall – May 9
Air @ Theatre at Madison Square Garden – 10
The Polyphonic Spree @ Hammerstein Ballroom - 11
Deerhoof @ Irving Plaza 15
Daniel Johnston, Bang on a Can All Stars, the Legendary Stardust Cowboy @ High Line Ballroom - 16
Ken Nordine @ The Kitchen 16/17
Laurie Anderson @ High Line Ballroom – 17/18
The Secret Machines @ High Line Ballroom - 18
Ricky Gervais @ Theatre at Madison Square Garden - 19