Electronic Music 411 - Venues for experimental music

09/07/08 + carlos

We've been real lucky in the Midlands UK with the Rigger letting us have a resident monthly slot for live experimental electronica.

We've had a couple of venue owners freak out and make poor excuses to move us on so they can get a cover band miming to a backing track.

My question is have others had difficulty getting venues for this type of music!

Recent Blog: Let us generate your music

09/07/08 + Bobo

I'm trying to find a venue in the D.C. area for this as well. I know of one in my area but I wouldn't exactly call it a "venue". I mean a place where the people would actually listen to the music. If such a place exists?!!!??

09/07/08 + Bobo

Although we did have a experimental music festival in college park maryland. Never got a chance to check it out. I think it was just people trying to be weird though....lol

09/07/08 + seanh

try more arty bars or freaky hippy bars. (neither are really my scene, but i have had more success with bars like that than i have with rock clubs.

Recent blogs: boston oct 15 - 17, dragon*con, delia and the doctor

09/07/08 + Bobo

I was thinking of trying the black cat club in dc where some big name experimental acts play sometimes. Has anyone ever played there?

09/07/08 + dkarma

coffee houses are usually ok with crazy music in general...try there.

Recent blogs: the most unpopular kid in school...., New copyright restrictions embedded in new MBP, Teh sickest mods...

09/07/08 + Bobo

A lady who I used to work with in Frederick used to throw these huge parties in the summertime. Everyone would be outside, and she would rent a pa and lights and whatnot. She would have local bands play there all the time. Would've loved to play one of her parties , but I moved and lost contact.

edited: Sep 07 2008 + nagrom

We're spoiled in Montreal. I could probably name more experimental venues than 'pop' venues.
The best thing to do is play in people's living rooms though. A friend of mine just saw these guys in a small room with 30 people or so sitting on beanbags: link

Recent blogs: #em411 @ Jaiku, In New York Until Sunday, Momus, Rephlex

09/07/08 + Otterfan

Bobo said: "I was thinking of trying the black cat club in dc where some big name experimental acts play sometimes. Has anyone ever played there?"

I've played there, but it was a really long time ago. The hard part with places like the Black Cat is not that they don't like the genre, but that they get a lot of applicants. Ask around for someone to get you an opening spot.

In the US at least, I've noticed that it's really easy to get shows for oddball music in any town with a decent college or university. Except for dance clubs, there are very few genre-exclusive music places left in college towns. Outside of college towns, of course, is a barren wasteland for that kind of stuff.

Recent blogs: Boston emmeet for seanh?, AOL Data Release

09/07/08 + nagrom

yeah, Montreal is a 'college city'....

Recent blogs: #em411 @ Jaiku, In New York Until Sunday, Momus, Rephlex

09/08/08 + bla

youve done well to get a regular monthly night for experimental stuff- usually its more like 1 off events because venue owners are worried that weirdo music will keep customers away

Recent blogs: how to sell art?, programmers please help, bla live at bitjam at the rigger feb 08

09/08/08 + strangus

Bobo, you might want to hit up the people that run 611 Florida, they can probably point you in the right direction. I've had my eye on that venue, as I used to live in their neighbor hood.

Recent blogs: Arthur Russell Documentary, Mutex Submission, lol nude synth

09/08/08 + craque

i used to live in the DC area and did a great deal of experimental stuff... unfortunately it's true that the venues for such shows are few and far between. however, DC is a perfect place because you have a buttload of art galleries that are all into doing these kinds of things.
you just have to get out there and beat the streets and find something.

Recent blogs: New Craque on Test Tube, Craque: �Tekuchesti� out now on Constanta, New Craque on Kahvi

09/08/08 + azarbayejani

Velvet Lounge is into doing experimental stuff. They're hosting sonic circuits later this month. Warehouse Next Door was good for experimental until it closed.

Recent blogs: Radio show, Put up a new website, Lion King, Laptop, Lolz

09/08/08 + strangus

It's nice to see DC alive and kicking! Anything going on there Sept 21-24th?

Recent blogs: Arthur Russell Documentary, Mutex Submission, lol nude synth