Musicians Open New West Village Concert Hall

Developed by musicians, Le Poisson Rouge is a concert and performance venue with souped-up acoustics, an expandable stage, and a full lighting system. The venue, which has hosted a handful of concerts since June, will officially open to the public in September, with a flexible space suited for private parties and performances as well as business entertaining. Situated in the West Village, Le Poisson Rouge takes over the historic Village Gate space, a theater and nightclub built in the 1950s that hosted legendary acts like John Coltrane and Duke Ellington.

The name—"red fish" in French, of course—is the main influence for the decor, which includes crimson walls, custom carved furniture, a fish-shaped logo, and a large aquarium hanging over the main entrance's stairwell.To improve the 800-capacity site, the owners brought in the Walter Storyk Design Group—the same company that worked on Jazz at Lincoln Center—to update the acoustics. The main room, a performance area equipped with a a 28- by 21-foot expandable corner stage, is soundproof and comes rigged with two projection screens, a high-tech lighting system, and surround sound. In addition to the permanent platform in the corner, the site also has a movable in-the-round stage that is 16 feet in diameter, a bar, and two elevated sections for V.I.P. guests. For the talent, there is a green room with an en suite bathroom and makeup area.

Also on-site are a full catering kitchen, two sets of restrooms, two entrances, and a café and bar area open to the public during the day.