U Street Music Hall

U Street Music Hall
Public transit Washington Metro
at U Street

U Street Music Hall is a dance club and live music venue founded in 2010 and located in the U Street Corridor of Washington, DC. Artists and DJs booked at U Street Music Hall span the spectrum of electronic music, including house, disco, techno, bass and electro. It's often referred to as "U Hall".

Overview

Opened March 17, 2010, U Street Music Hall is a DJ-owned and operated basement dance club and live music venue. Its 500-person capacity room features a state-of-the-art Martin Audio sound system,[1] a 1200 square foot cork-cushioned dance floor and two bars.[2] Of its atmosphere, a 2010 Washington Post review states, U Street Music Hall -- U Hall to its friends -- ditches most of the trappings associated with D.C. nightclubs. No dress code. No bottle service. No party photographers. No VIP areas, or seating more complex than bar stools. Just a huge room with a DJ booth at one end, a stage at the other and bars along the sides. It's a black box theater that lets DJs focus on the music.[3]

Tennyson performing at U Street Music Hall in Washington, DC

U Street Music Hall has hosted the Washington D.C. debuts of Disclosure, Hudson Mohawke, Rudimental, Flume, RL Grime, Aeroplane, Joy Orbison, Fred Falke, Kiesza, Sam Smith, Jess Glynne, Rita Ora and Nina Kraviz, among many others. The venue has also hosted several underplays, including Kaskade during his 2013 Redux Tour,[4] two back-to-back nights with Swedish Pop singer Robyn[5] and two surprise club appearances from Skrillex.[6]

Club nights

Red Friday nights at the club are a tribute to the former D.C. afterhours venue Red, featuring artists who frequented that club. U Street Music Hall is also the birthplace of the first Moombahton Massive, and Massives are held every month at the club. Residents Nadastrom and Sabo spin every Massive, alongside special guests including Tittsworth, Craze and Munchi. In January 2012, Moombahton pioneer Dave Nada proposed marriage to his wife, fellow DJ Jen Lasher, in the DJ booth at Moombahton Massive[7] XI.

Will Eastman, principal owner and music director of U Street Music Hall, heads up emerging electronic music monthly party Bliss,[8] featuring forward-looking international and local guests such as Green Velvet, Tiga, Danny Daze, and Orchard Lounge. Founded in 2000 and first held at the now defunct Metro Cafe,[9] then for eight years at the Black Cat, Bliss moved to U Street Music Hall upon its opening in March 2010 and is one of Washington D.C.'s longest standing dance parties.[10]

In November 2011, U Street Music Hall and 9:30 club formed a booking alliance, resulting in the 9:30 Club hosting live early shows at U Street Music Hall, while U Street Music Hall books weekends at Backbar (located in the basement of 9:30 Club) and larger acts in the 9:30 Club main room.[11]

U Street Music Hall founded the U Street Music Foundation in 2011, supporting music education programs and events for Ward 1 and Washington D.C. area youth.[12]

Awards

  • "Best Place to go Dancing" (Washington Post Express, 2010)[13]
  • "6th Best Dance Club" (Club Planet, 2011)[14]
  • "Best Dance Club" (Washington City Paper Reader's Choice, 2012)[15]
  • "Second Best Sound System in America" (Beatport, 2012[16])
  • "Best Underground Music Venue" (Washington City Paper Reader's Choice, 2013[17])
  • "Best Dance Floor" (Washington City Paper Reader's Choice, 2013)[18]
  • "Best Place to Find an Underground Dance Party" (Washington City Paper Reader's Choice, 2013)[19]
  • "#10 Best Club in America" (Rolling Stone Magazine, 2013)[20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Beatport Names U Street Music Hall the #2 Sound System in the Country". ITI Audio.
  2. ↑ "U Street Music Hall About". Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Hahn, Fritz. "U Street Music Hall is Washington, D.C., area's top nightspot for dancing". The Washington Post. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Kaskade at U Street Music Hall".
  5. ↑ Malitz, David. "Robyn adds second DJ set at U Street Music Hall on July 8". The Washington Post.
  6. ↑ Yenigun, Sami. "Dance Music Looks Beyond EDM And Hopes The Crowd Will Follow". NPR.
  7. ↑ Dowling, Marcus. "February 2013 Moombahton Massive Preview". Brightest Young Things.
  8. ↑ "Blisspop".
  9. ↑ Brace, Eric. "Metro Cafe". The Washington Post.
  10. ↑ "Blisspop About". Blisspop.
  11. ↑ Malitz, David. "U Street Music Hall and 9:30 Club partnership brings more bands to U Hall, more DJs to 9:30 Backbar". The Washington Post.
  12. ↑ "U Street Music Hall About".
  13. ↑ Greenberg, Rudi. "Best Place to Go Dancing: U Street Music Hall". The Washington Post Express.
  14. ↑ "Top 10 Dance Music Clubs of 2011". Clubplanet.
  15. ↑ "Best Dance Club 2012". Washington City Paper.
  16. ↑ Bernard, Travis. "The 10 Best Soundsystems in America". Beatport.
  17. ↑ "Best Underground Music Venue 2013". Washington City Paper.
  18. ↑ "Best Dance Floor 2013". Washington City Paper.
  19. ↑ "Best Place to Find an Underground Dance Party 2013". Washington City Paper.
  20. ↑ Knopper, Steve. "The Best Dance Clubs in America". Rolling Stone.

Coordinates: 38°55′1.9″N 77°1′39.8″W / 38.917194°N 77.027722°W / 38.917194; -77.027722

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