By Charlie Maybee
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It’s been just a little under a month since D.C.’s newest downtown music venue, Twelve After Twelve, has been open for business. Given the overwhelming number of closures that occurred for local music venues across the country in response to the ongoing pandemic, this is a welcome breath of fresh air for musicians in the DMV, particularly those who are part of the jazz, funk, and reggae communities.
Featuring five bars and an outdoor deck with a retractable roof, the new Babylon Group owned venue is “the perfect blend of intimate and lively,” with a custom sound system designed by iDesign Productions “catered to a variety of DJ sets and live artist performances.” The leading designer, John Fiorito, shared: “Each room is designed to provide the utmost clarity, ability to feel the music and still be able to hold a conversation.”
With the local reggae-soul band SEE-I on retainer at the venue (and running the wonderful and recurring Reggae Wednesdays), this is a venue that holds unique promise for Black and Latin musicians who utilize specific vernacular musical genres. Plus, as previously mentioned, this is also a space that prioritizes world-class DJs, which will fill an important role in maintaining the electronic music scene considering the famous U Street Music Hall’s recent closure.
Twelve After Twelve is located at 1212 18th Street NW, Washington, D.C. For updates on the DJ schedule and events, be sure to follow @twelveaftertwelve on Instagram and Facebook. Bottle service and valet are available.
Charlie Maybee is a dancer, musician, educator, and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina who currently teaches with the Dance Program at the College of Charleston. His primary work as an artist is with his performing collective, Polymath Performance Project, through which he makes interdisciplinary performance art that centers tap dance as the primary medium of expression and research. He also currently plays rhythm guitar for the Charleston-based punk band, Anergy, and releases music as a solo artist under the name Nox Eterna.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
