As the seasons change, Yo La Tengo are looking forward to the holidays. Today, Sept. 25, the storied indie rock outfit has announced its Hanukkah 2025 run, set to return to its longtime venue of New York’s Bowery Ballroom from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1. In keeping with tradition, the band’s Hanukkah run will feature eight expansive, high concept performances, including nightly comics and a litany of high-profile special guests
Since debuting in the band’s hometown of Hoboken, N.J. in 2001 (and moving to The Bowery Ballroom shortly after), Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah celebration has become an annual institution for the New York indie scene. The band’s format has remained relatively stable since that outset, though the acclaim for its performances and awe at its guests has only increased with time.
In an announcement post for last year’s series–copied from its announcement from 2022–frontman Ira Kaplan wrote: “If you’ve celebrated the holiday with us before, you already know that we’ll duct tape the electric menorah to the bass amp, and every night Yo La Tengo will play a set (if history repeats itself, no song will be repeated during the run). There’ll be a comic and an opening band that will be unannounced until doors open each night. And if we can convince anyone else to join in, they’ll be there too. The proceeds will be go to charity.”
In 2023, Yo La Tengo brought out an unbelievable cohort of its contemporaries, including The Aislers Set, Beach House, The Bangles‘ Vicki Peterson, Lambchop, The Feelies, The Frogs’ Jimmy Flemion, Benjamin Gibbard, Damon & Naomi (formerly of Galaxie 500), Meg Baird and longtime Hannukah guests Sun Ra Arkestra. John Early, David Cross, Mia Jackson, Janeane Garofalo, Todd Barry and returning feature David Sedaris were among the comics to take the stage. Other high-profile sit-ins and appearances from previous years include Ray Davies, David Byrne, Syl Johnson, Lucinda Williams, and Graham Nash.
Tickets for Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah 2025 series at The Bowery Ballroom will go on sale Monday, Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. ET. For more information, visit yolatengo.com.
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