Sunspot Home Artists Concert Lists Other Venues
Music Associations Music Preservation Reference Sites Festivals
Stores Software Radio/Webcasts Music & Dance Schools
Pictures of Other Shows      


Venues in and near Washington

Here are some venues in DC that often host performances similar to those you see at Sunspot.

Here are some venues outside the DC area, but close enough to make the trip for a special show.

A comprehensive list of local venues is available on the web site of the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA). To see who's playing where, check out the Concert Lists page. You can also find venue lists and event calendars on some of the sites listed on the Music Associations page.

Venues in the Washington Area
[top of page]

Institute of Musical Traditions. IMT sponsors a concert series in Rockville. Shows are usually on Monday nights, but special events take place on other nights. They also sponsor the annual Tacoma Folk Festival.

Friday Night Dance at Glen Echo. Contra dances in the Spanish Ballroom every Friday night beginning at 8:30, beginners lessons at 7:30.

Glen Echo Park. Music, dance and classes in the arts. Also home to the annual Washington Fok Festival

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free performances every day of the year at 6 pm. The performances are also broadcast over the web and past performaces are available for viewing from their archives.

Nanny O'Briens. Live music and frequent appearances by Brendan Mulvihill and Brian Gaffney (the owner). Monday night is Irish Seisuin night.

Old Brogue. Regular live music and the Sunday night concert series in the winter and fall.

The Folk Club of Reston-Herndon. Presents open mike showcases every Tuesday at the Torilla Factory in Herndon and occasional special events feature nationally known performers.

Venues near the Washington Area
[top of page]

The Prism. In Charlottesville, about two hours southwest of Washington, the Prism is one of the best rooms in the country, with weekly performances fall, winter and spring.

Ashland Coffee and Tea. In Ashland, just north of Richmond and about two hours south of Washington on I-95, AC&T has quickly become a music hub for central Virginia.

The Loft. In Fredericksburg, Virginia, about an hour south of Washington on I-95, the Loft is a listening room located over Fredericks restaurant in Old Town Fredericksburg.

The Williamsburg Library. In Williamsburg, Virginia, about three hours south of Washington, the Williamsburg Library hosts musical performances as part of its Dewey Decibel Concert Series.

The Lyric Theater. In Blacksburg, Virginia, (home of Viginia Tech), about five hours southwest of Washington on I-81, the Lyric Theater hosts musical events as well as movies. Built in 1929, the Lyric was renovated and reopened in 1996.

The Purple Fiddle. In Thomas, West Virginia, about four hours west of Washington, DC, the Purple Fiddle hosts shows all week long. The Fiddler's Roost Bed and Breakfast, located next door to the Purple Fiddle, has eight guest rooms.

Lucketts Community Center. In Lucketts, Virginia, 30 miles west of the Washington Beltway, the Luckett's Community Center hosts bluegrass shows every Saturday night.

Baldwin's Station. In Sykesville, just west of Baltimore, Maryland, Baldwin's station is a restaurant and listening room that occupies a converted railroad station.

Westside Cafe. In Frederick, Maryland, about half an hour from the Washington Beltway, the Westside Cafe is a relatively new listening room.