The best place to catch a show near College Park

9:30 Club

The Diversions desk will be featuring the best new things of the week in weekday afternoon specials. 

For some, the best part of summer is the music. From huge stadium shows to rocking festivals, it can be sad to return to silence in the sleepy autumn months. But around College Park, the music never dies. Here are some picks of the places around campus to catch shows. 

9:30 Club

Many students come to the university hearing about D.C.’s famous 9:30 Club. And not without good reason. Not only does the venue draw in a good variety of big names and lesser-known local acts, but it is also easily accessible from the Metro’s Green Line.

Beyond its relatively close location and notable names, there’s a special charm about the lower-capacity 9:30 Club that sets it apart from other venues.

“I love how intimate it can be. National acts in a small setting,” said Caleb Dorsch, a senior chemistry and secondary education major.

This fall, Willie Nelson, Lily Allen, OK Go and Capital Cities are among the bigger national acts you can get up close to.

“9:30 Club is definitely the king of D.C. venues,” Dorsch said.

Black Cat

The Black Cat is the black sheep of the D.C. music scene, but the variety of acts and themed nights at the concert venue have made it one of the most unique evenings in the city. 

“It’s definitely pretty chill, a good place to hang out if you aren’t looking to go crazy,” said Michael Beron, a senior geographic information systems major.

With multiple rooms, a blend of both national and local musical and comedy acts, DJs for themed dance nights, and even poetry readings, the Black Cat offers inexpensive entertainment for all. Coming up this fall, there are performances by Buzzcocks and the Dandy Warhols, Battlestar Galatica happy hours and the Moon/Bounce Dancing Affair, a ’90s music dance party.

However, while the music and DJs are interesting draws, the best part about the Black Cat is the cool atmosphere, Beron said.

“It is very laid back and vintage,” he said.

Fillmore Silver Spring

Music aficionados might recognize the Fillmore name from the legendary San Francisco venue that hosted some of the most influential artists of the 50’s and 60’s. Now that legacy lives on at the Fillmore Silver Spring.

Seniors at the university might remember when the venue first opened back in 2011, but it has already become an important staple of the local music scene. The standing-room only venue has two floors with which to view the stage, which boasts a tantalizing mix of artists of varying levels of notoriety. This fall, take the Silver Spring Metro to check out big names like Coheed and Cambria, Placebo and Jason Derulo. 

DC9 Nightclub

Those who want a less-flashy concert experience will be at home at the DC9 Nightclub. While the headliners might not necessarily be as well known as other music heavyweights who perform in the area, the venue brings in independent artists of a variety of genres.

“In my experience, DC9 brings in some fantastic acts in the alternative and indie scene,” said Nicholas Gibian, a senior government and politics major. “They’re known for being extremely friendly to indie artists.”

Some of the indie artists coming to DC9 this fall are Lydia Loveless, The Walking Sticks and Avi Buffalo. Gibian notes that while performances at DC9 have solid crowds of loyal fans at the shows, the venue has a unique, “intimate feel.” 

“Both times I went, I was within a yard or two of the artist for most of the show,” Gibian said. 

The venue is a short walk from the Shaw Metro Station in DC, and has both all-ages and over 18 shows for those under 21.

Echostage

One of D.C.’s newest venues was founded by two university alums that definitely know how to put on a show. Though it’s still new compared to places like the 9:30 Club or the Black Cat, Echostage has managed to lure in both local favorites and big name headliners including Sam Smith, the Chainsmokers, and Skrillex.

“The best part of Echostage is that it’s a venue catered to the music I like,” said junior accounting and information systems major Esther Oh.

Echostage has met risen to meet the needs of the emerging EDM scene in D.C. While the venue offers a variety of acts, Echostage boasts a high-tech sound system to treat its audiences’ ears, and, as Oh notes, the spacious venue has another important element to entice EDM fans: “It’s large, so there’s more than enough room to dance,” she said.

While Echostage isn’t the closest to campus, it offers a free shuttle service to and from the New York Avenue Metro station. 

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Merriweather Post Pavilion is perhaps the most legendary concert venue in the state; Animal Collective even named their 2009 album after the place.

Located in the heart of Columbia, Maryland, the venue is a bit of a haul from College Park, but it draws in some of the best-known performers of all genres. It also serves as a hotspot for some of the best festivals and tours; it was formerly the site of the Virgin Free Fest and continually hosts touring music festivals like the annual Vans Warped Tour. This fall, big rock acts like Jack White and Grouplove will take the stage while WPOC’s Sunday in the Country festival will wind down the summer.

The massive pavilion and spacious lawns draw in the crowds from all over Maryland and the D.C. area. Ticket prices vary for seats inside the pavilion and out on the lawn. While the pavilion provides seating and solid views of the stage, those with less to spend can still have an awesome concert experience from the lawn rocking out under the stars.