Washington, DC has a variety of live music clubs featuring a wide range of music including rock, punk, hip-hop, jazz, country, gospel, and alternative. Here's my list of top picks.
815 V St, NW. Washington, DC. 20001 (202) 393-0930. The 9:30 Club features local, national and international live musical performances. Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance. This club is a local favorite with four bars and the largest dance floor in DC.
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA (703) 549-7500. The Birchmere is a 500-seat dinner-theater style Music Hall offering a variety of live musical performances of folk, jazz, rock, gospel or alternative music. Seating is general admission, first come first served. The Birchmere has a full service kitchen & a full bar.
1115A U Street. NW Washington, DC (202) 588-1880. Opened in 2010. The live music and dance club is the newest addition to the U Street entertainment district. The nightclub features a state-of-the-art sound systems, a 1200 square foot dance floor, and two fully stocked bars.
600 14th Street, NW Washington, DC. (202) 787-1000. Opened in December 2011. Located just a few blocks from the White House, the live music venue operated by Clyde’s Restaurant Group features performances by local, national and international musicians. The restaurant is open 24 hours.
2001 Eleventh St., NW Washington, DC (202) 299-0801. This is the largest jazz club in Washington, DC. The list of jazz legends who have played here include Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, and Thelonious Monk. Tickets available in advance.
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC (202) 337-4141. Located in the heart of Georgetown, this jazz supper club is the oldest continuing club in the country. Internationally renowned artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Grover Washington Jr., and Ramsey Lewis, have played here.
1811 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 667-7960. Black Cat is a live music venue featuring local, national, and international independent and alternative music. Tickets are available in advance. There are two performance spaces, the Mainstage and the Backstage, in addition to the no-cover Red Room Bar. Performances are open to all ages.
620 T Street NW Washington, DC (800) 653-8000. The historic theater re-opened in April 2012 after a $29 million renovation and features a wide-range of live musical performances. A full dining menu features American cuisine with classic soul influences.
220 N. Washington St., Falls Church, VA (703) 237-0300. The live music venue is a refurbished cinema featuring blues, reggae and jam bands. Full-service dining is available and the concert hall can be rented out for private events.
227 Maple Avenue East, Vienna, VA (703) 255-1566. This unique coffee shop is a premier music venue presenting live local, regional and nationally touring musical performances. Shows are open to all ages and daytime performances are geared towards kids.
