Washington, D.C. NIVA Members

The band R.E.M. can only call themselves R.E.M. because of that 9:30 Club - in 1982 they participated in a Battle of the Bands against another band called Rapid Eye Movement or, R.E.M. The band we know today won, and Mike Mills got renaming rights on the ‘loser’ - Egoslavia.

All Things Go started as a music blog and the name of the company/festival, All Things Go, comes from a lyric in the Sufjan Stevens song "Chicago". Sufjan was one of our favorite artists in the early days of the blogosphere.

All lighting trusses in The Anthem (and PA as well) are hung on motorized traveling trolleys which run along the beams the entire span of the room – this means that the stage, PA and lighting rig can all be moved with the push of a button to make the room different sizes, or the lighting trusses can be brought out into the house for special events.

The 9:30 Club is both a Time and a Place - but before opening on May 30th, 1980, 930 F St was home to another venue: The Atlantis. When The Atlantis opened in 1978 it served as a catalyst for proving that DC could cultivate a thriving music scene, sending reverberations throughout the country that drew bands to the nation’s capital for the first time. As the 9:30 Club enters its 44th year and expands its blueprint on the corner of 9th and V, The Atlantis returns.

The Black Cat has been bringing you the best in live independent music since it opened in the fall of 1993. Located in the heart of the historic U Street Corridor, the Black Cat has seen some remarkable changes as the neighborhood has transformed around it. Since opening its doors, the Black Cat has been a home for local and national talent, thereby playing its own part in the explosion of indie rock that marked the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. We remain committed to our community-oriented atmosphere and our established identity as an alternative/independent music venue.

Theatre-style seating is how most of our shows flow. We don’t serve alcohol so artists don’t have to compete with conversation and clinking glasses. Also opens most of our events for all ages and creates a unique feedback dynamic with the audience in such an intimate space. The sober crowd also appreciates the vibe. We’re proud of the fact that three of our artists in residence have been finalists on The Voice.

Capital Turnaround is a new face on a historic space at the intersection of Capitol Hill, Navy Yard, and the Capitol Riverfront. For nearly a century, the Navy Yard Car Barn served as the last stop on the Red Line, repairing and rerouting streetcars across the nation’s capital for the Capital Transit Company. Now this historic car barn has been turned into a state-of-the-art event venue with a variety of versatile spaces for hosting retreats, corporate meetings, conferences, weddings, parties and other social events.

The DC Improv opened its doors in 1992 under the direction of the late Mark Anderson. Our first show featured Ellen DeGeneres, Dave Chappelle and Brian Regan! In the early days, the club hosted a mix of stand-up shows and small-scale comedy theater productions. Stand-up gradually took over the schedule, and throughout the 1990s and early 2000s the club was a regular destination for many of today's superstars. Thanks to our intimate set-up and Washington's great crowds, the club has become a favorite venue for the comics themselves. The DC Improv is more than just a comedy club. It represents a tradition of excellence and laughter.

DC9 is a live music venue, in business since 2004. The exploding U Street area is bustling with nightlife. Our first floor is a great place to to come for a drink and food after work. Our first floor has a full bar and several booths to socialize. The second floor is our performance space. Most nights we have live bands, DJs or other events on this floor.  Catch emerging artists before they perform at larger venues. The roof deck is a great place to relax on any afternoon or evening. We keep it open year round. In the summer, it’s the best place to be outside. In the winter, we enclose and heat the space so you stay warm.

Flash opened its doors in June of 2013 as a collaboration between long-time lovers of music, former DJs, and music industry vets. Their goal was to present an intimate space where artists can express themselves clearly and fans can hear their favorite artists in an ideal setting. Flash is open every Friday and Saturday night with headlining national and international DJ talents covering a wide spectrum of house music, from deep to techno. Other styles of music are also presented numerous nights per week. Flash will be having its 10-year anniversary this June.

The Hamilton Live is a 700-person capacity music venue located in the lower level of The Hamilton restaurant. Since their grand opening with Mavis Staples in 2010, The Hamilton Live has hosted rising talent like Carly Pearce and The Revivalists, legacy acts including Emmylou Harris & Chubby Checker, and annual events such as The Days Between series: a string of concerts every August between the days Jerry Garcia entered and left this world.

Hill Center is a historical, Civil War-era Naval Hospital that was commissioned by President Lincoln. Hill Center aims to broaden the horizons of all who enter by providing high-quality arts, education and cultural programs and other opportunities to engage more fully in the life of our city. With partner organizations and also on our own, we offer classes and courses for people of all ages and backgrounds, along with space for meetings, lectures, performances, gallery exhibitions and other events.

Before the Apollo, before the Regal, there was The Howard Theatre. At its opening in 1910 it was “the largest colored theatre in the world.” The Howard Theatre was put on the map by Duke Ellington’s run of performances there through the 30s. He played there so much that legend says he had a secret underground passage for getting into the theatre to avoid the crowds. Sadly shuttered and neglected since the early 1980s, the once majestic building with its “trunk of soul” has survived death in order to be reborn in 2012. Today, The Howard Theatre is enjoying a rebirth and is entering a new era in its long and prestigious history.

The Lincoln Theatre was built more than 100 years ago, opening in January of 1922 to serve as a segregated first-run movie house for Washington’s Black audiences who had previously been excluded. The theatre quickly established itself as the cultural epicenter of what came to be known as “Black Broadway” - predating and influencing Harlem’s renaissance - earning the title the “Crown Jewel of U”, the street on which it sits.

Listen Local First DC (LLF) is a local music initiative devoted to building awareness and creating opportunities for local musicians and venues in order to raise the profile of DC’s local music scene. LLF was born out of a collaborative effort with Think Local First DC and seeks to partner with local musicians, arts organizations, venues and locally owned businesses to create performance opportunities and new avenues for local music exploration. LLF’s mission is not genre specific. In order to promote the true cultural depth of DC’s music scene LLF seeks to equally represent all local genres, from folk to funk.

The Miracle Theatre is a second-run movie theater and live performance venue, and the oldest movie theater in Washington, DC. The original building, the Meader Theater, opened on December 27, 1909, as a vaudeville theatre with a mix of entertainment, including motion pictures and live performances. In 1962, The People’s Church purchased the building and served the Capitol Hill community for half a century. On March 23, 2011, National Community Church purchased it and embarked on a mission to revive the building’s rich history as a movie house and live entertainment destination.

Launched from an apartment couch with $25k from an Indiegogo campaign, NCF is now the largest ticketed cannabis festival on the East Coast and the largest ticketed independent festival in DC. We are a Black-woman owned and operated event, and our entire team is led by some truly badass women. We’ve grown from a 5,000 person event to a 25,000 person festival that includes a full week of programs: 420 Week, 420 Food Week, the National Cannabis Policy Summit (a free event featuring members of Congress), and of course NCF. Due to the name of the event, we have been denied any federal funding or grants so we are super grateful to still be here fighting the good fight and providing a platform for cannabis advocates, patients, business owners and enthusiasts.

Pearl Street Warehouse is a modern-American music hall with a roadhouse vibe. This music-first DC venue is filled with sounds that span a wide variety of genres. From Americana to Rock n' Roll, from the Blues to IndiePop, from local singer/songwriters to national R&B acts, PSW is the only venue in the area that allows for an indoor/outdoor listening experience with garage doors that open during nice weather. Pearl Street was born in October of 2017, with a 300-person capacity + a seated VIP balcony, two large bars, and a delicious menu to help wash down the extensive list of bourbons. If you're searching for new-to-you artists, or want to check out some seasoned musical acts at a small, independent venue, Pearl Street Warehouse is the place to go.

Pie Shop is woman-owned and has been voted best pie in DC for 13 years. They also won the local DC Wammie Award for Best Music Venue in 2020.

You want pie. We have pie. Problem solved.

To pay homage to its drumming roots, The Pocket is named after the drum term, which is used to describe something or someone playing in such a way that the groove is very solid and has a great feel. When a drummer keeps good time, makes the groove feel really good, and maintains it for an extended period of time while never wavering, it is often referred to as a "deep pocket." It should be noted that it's impossible to have a pocket without also having a groove.

One interesting thing about Rhizome that some show-goers might not know is that we host all kinds of programs, not just music. DIY workshops, poetry readings, film screenings, youth classes and camps, discussion groups, artist residencies, etc! Also---- Rhizome is a non-profit organization, and most events are organized and staffed by volunteers.

Songbyrd Music House is a 200-capacity live music venue, bar, and restaurant where music fans of all stripes can fuel up before, during, or after one of our live shows or events and serves as an every night haunt for music lovers looking for low-key fun. In addition to all the amazing live music, Songbyrd focuses on bringing intimate alternative music events and experiences, such as album release events, listening parties, artists signings and meet & greets, music trivia nights, and more. Songbyrd was named Washington D.C.’s Best New Venue in 2016 and Best Place for Dinner and Live Music by the Washington City Paper in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Washington, DC is the birthplace of many genres of music--one of which includes the electronic/dance genre moombahton created by DC-area-bred DJ and producer Dave Nada. Moombahton has since become a worldwide sensation and has been embraced by many heavy-hitters in dance music. U Street Music Hall proudly served as the home for the genre's legendary Moombahton Massive parties which showcased the music's sound and movement and served as a launchpad for many moombahton DJs and producers. 

Union Stage is a 7500 square foot, 450-capacity music venue and events space set against the backdrop of the Southwest waterfront. World-class sound and lights, three bars, full kitchen, and a welcoming ALL AGES atmosphere, all the time. Concerts can be held any night of the week, featuring emerging artists and old favorites. Outside of being known as a concert venue, Union Stage has gotten plenty of acclaim for its Union Pie Pizza. Demand became so high for it, that they opened a dedicated pizza kiosk right on the South West Waterfront of DC at The Wharf!