Outernet Live, the brand new 2000 capacity live events venue coming to central London today revealed its name and operating partners as bookings officially open ahead of a full launch in the Summer. In addition, the team will operate the reborn and revamped former 12 Bar Club which will now have an increased 350 capacity.

Robert Butters and Karrie Goldberg (founders of Green Light Development) have been hand selected as Joint Venture partners to manage and operate the venue.  Robert and Karrie have worked across major live music venues, award-winning nightclubs, global touring theatre shows and blue-chip corporate clients and bring a creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to this unique space. Prior to Green Light, Robert was the CFO and Vice President for Business Development for the Really Useful Group and SVP of business development for SFX (now Live Nation) before starting his own production and apparel printing and distribution company. In 2016 Robert sold a majority share in Green Distribution to Falfurrias Capital (a private equity company based in Charlotte, North Carolina)

Karrie, the founder and CEO of venue and talent booking agency The Kagency is one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in the live event and entertainment space.  Karrie has had a continuation of her decades long career that has seen her program and manage unique spaces around the world delivering creative value and engagement contracts for artists such as Madonna, Lady Gaga, Brian Eno, The Estate of Basquiat and Beyoncé, as well as supporting the creative endeavours of mega brands including Nike, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and Cartier. 

Providing a much-needed central London venue for the global live music industry Outernet Live is an integral part of Outernet London, a billion pound immersive media, music and culture district fully opening later this year and located on the corner of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road. The venue will sit beneath The Now Building - the most advanced experiential public space in the world – which features 23,000sq foot of floor to ceiling 16K screens. 

With the venue and The Now Building at the epicentre of the wider Outernet campus in addition to traditional shows the opportunities to combine both the physical and the digital on the giant screens are simply epic. From major movie premieres staged in way that has never before been possible to intimate artist showcases that could then be broadcast across the screens, the launch of Outernet Live is a game changing moment.  It will play host to a broad array of live music, dance, immersive theatre, awards shows, brand experiences and beyond.  

To deliver the internationally renowned performers and first-class events, for Outernet Live, Robert and Karrie have assembled a senior management team with a broad range of international experience.  

Tristan Hoffman – Chief Operating Officer 

Tristan joins as COO, following a 20 year career in London and New York conceiving and operating multi-faceted, high profile hospitality and entertainment venues (BB Kings Blues Club in Times Square and the Highline Ballroom in Chelsea). The artists he worked with included BB King, Etta James, Lou Reed, Adele, The Roots, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, LCD Soundsystem, 50 Cent, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. 

Leo Green - Artistic Director 

Leo is a concert promoter, musician and broadcaster who has previously worked at London venues The 02 and Ronnie Scott’s Club as well as having toured and recorded as a saxophonist, with a huge range of artists, including Paul McCartney, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jeff Beck, Ronnie Wood, Paul Weller and spent many years touring and recording with Van Morrison. Leo founded BluesFest in 2011 which has featured artists including BB King, Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, Robert Plant, Sheryl Crow, Bobby Womack, The Doobie Brothers, Chaka Khan, John Legend, Mary J. Blige and many others. BluesFest was acquired by Live Nation, where Leo spent more than a decade, most recently serving as Live Nation’s Director of Live Events.

Octavia Harwood - Operations Manager

Octavia joins the team straight from a five year stand out run at the O2 Arena as Head of Venue Management. Previously at Wembley Stadium and Brixton Academy, Octavia has over ten years’ experience running entertainment venues that deliver extraordinary customer service and experience.

Shannon Tebay - Beverage Director 

Shannon’s experience in the hospitality industry spans more than a decade. The French Culinary Institute alum has applied her training in pastry arts to craft cocktails, incorporating various techniques and developing uniquely creative flavour profiles to her lengthy list of original drinks. Her personal cocktail-writing style is best described as dynamic minimalism, defined by left-of-centre combinations that harmonize in unexpected ways. Included in her list of esteemed NYC bars, Shannon held the role of Head Bartender at Manhattan’s Death & Company where she worked for seven years. She most recently moved to London in 2021 to take on the position of Head Bartender at The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel.  

Music lies at the heart of Outernet London. Situated on Denmark Street, the area is often described as the birthplace of the British music industry where iconic artists such as Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols and David Bowie hung out, made music and lived. Outernet Live whilst being thoroughly modern is proud to be driving the revitalisation of this part of the city, adding to and celebrating the musical lineage and heritage of what will once again be a mecca for music lovers and performers.

Philip O’Ferrall, CEO and President Outernet Global said “This area of London has an amazing tradition of brilliant venues but many of them have sadly gone. To open Outernet Live as part of our wider culture and music district makes us all immensely proud. It is absolutely vital that artists and fans have a place to go in the centre of our city to perform and enjoy live music and we will welcome many other types of events to our venue as well. When you factor in the incredible things we can do with the Outernet screens we move to another level and our offering is something that really can’t be found anywhere else in the world. We love the history of Denmark Street and embrace what the future holds." 

Robert Butters and Karrie Goldberg said “We have two amazing venues that sit at the heart of London’s first music, media and culture district. Launching Outernet Live is going to be very special as we combine a world class venue with the power of the wider Outernet campus.”