Two Washington, DC-area venues have formed a concert promotion partnership to book shows at each location.
The move to cross-book shows at the 9:30 Club and U Street Music Hall unites two independent concert venues that are facing increased competition from Live Nation to sign acts to play in the area.
Live Nation recently opened the Fillmore Silver Spring in nearby Silver Spring, MD, where the promoter has booked upcoming shows by Widespread Panic, Little Feat and others.
“There is obviously a furor to start grabbing acts at the top level,” promoter Seth Hurwitz, owner of 9:30 Club, said in a November 22 statement. “Our business plan has, and always will be, to develop acts and relationships with strong foundations that will become more than this week’s headline.”
The partnership will cross musical genres, but the two will concentrate on newer acts primarily in electronic music. The alliance calls for U Street Music Hall to book some shows at 9:30 Club’s small, basement “Backbar” area, and for 9:30 to book acts at U Street.
Earlier this month, Billboard named 9:30 Club its top club for 2011, based on attendance.
“We all know the excitement of seeing a band in a small place like the 9:30 Club,” Hurwitz said of the 1,200-capacity venue, “Now we have the opportunity to see them in an even smaller place at U Street,” which holds just 500.
