Live music is back in force on Route 1, with regular shows at hotspots like Maryland Meadworks in Hyattsville and the New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt.
As pandemic restrictions have eased in recent months, venues have started bringing back live music, at times holding events outside or with proof of vaccination required, and there are more options than ever.
At Maryland Meadworks in Hyattsville, owner Ken Carter said they began holding their regular jazz shows with groups like Alex Martin and his trio and the Hyattsville Jazz Collective last summer.
The musicians “were excited to perform in front of live audiences again,” Carter said. “Of course, concerns about playing indoors waxed and waned as we cycled through COVID varients. Older musicians were especially cautious.”
Greenbelt’s New Deal Cafe has a new music coordinator and is holding shows with groups like the folk ensemble Tower Green.
My Dead Aunt’s Books recently started featuring live music on Tuesday nights, including the likes of jazz player Abe Mamet and local sax player Mike Cemprola.
Busboys and Poets holds a regular open mic night with a $5 cover featuring everything from spoken word to live music, with a guest host each week.
Vigilante Coffee in Hyattsville features mid-day jazz concerts on Saturdays, including drummer Joey Antico and his band this weekend.
Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. regularly holds live outdoor shows, and The Spot, a pop-up park off the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail near the Yes! Organic Market in Hyattsville, has already held a few as well. The city of Hyattsville is also holding its Summer Jam series on Fridays this summer with similar city events elsewhere on the Route 1 corridor.
Live music can also be seen at venues such as Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier; miXt Food Hall and the Brentwood Arts Exchange in Brentwood; and the Old Parish House, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and The Hall CP in College Park.
You can also catch the occasional shows at the Mediterranean Cafe in Mount Rainier, Denizen’s Brewing Co., the outdoor stage at outside at the Station at Riverdale Park and The Shed in Riverdale Park.
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