Photo by Jeffrey Dupuis.

Arcade Fire Leads Second Line at NYC Festival with Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Arcade Fire and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band revived their David Bowie tribute on Friday night when the two groups led a second line through the crowd at New York City’s inaugural Panorama Festival Music Festival.

The artists performed unamplified renditions of Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” and “Heroes” as they made their way through audience following the conclusion of Arcade Fire’s 19-song set. Friday’s Panorama set marked the band’s first North American performance since their Reflektor tour wrapped up nearly two years ago. They will return to the stage this October when they headline New Orleans’ own Voodoo Music Experience, so there’s reason to believe this won’t be their last public collaboration with the Preservation Hall guys.

As previously reported, Arcade Fire and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band teamed up for a second line tribute to David Bowie in New Orleans earlier this year. The ensuing parade attracted thousands of revelers, who followed the musicians through the French Quarter a week after Bowie’s death.

The members of Arcade Fire have spent a lot of time in New Orleans since the band performed at Jazz Fest back in 2014., and frontman Win Butler has even been known to spin tunes around town under his DJ Windows 98 moniker.