About D.C. Music Download
Over the last five years, D.C. Music Download has been an avid champion and supporter of D.C.'s music community. Through our unwavering in-depth coverage of the music scene and regularly-produced events, we've provided critical exposure for independent artists in the D.C. area. Since we've launched in 2012, D.C. Music Download has:
- Showcased the best of D.C.'s independent music community to over 2 million visitors to our website.
- Brought over 100,000 attendees to our events.
- Written over 3,000 articles profiling hundreds of D.C.-area bands.
D.C. Music Download has taken a leading role in supporting local musicians and the D.C. music community. Our work isn’t driven by clicks, ad sales, or massive ticket sales. It’s driven by a passion for excellent art.
About Sounds of the City
This March, D.C. Music Download is proud to present its biggest effort to-date: the inaugural Sounds of the City festival, where local creatives from all backgrounds and walks of life will come together for this unprecedented event.
The celebration will offer a wide range of events that each offer a completely unique and immersive experience. Best of all, the events are all either free or low cost (under $12), continuing our mission to provide accessible and affordable programming to the public.
Highlights Include:
- The D.C. Record Label Expo on Saturday March 4, the first and only event of its kind that will bring together D.C.'s best record labels for a day of camaraderie, community and celebration. Guests will be able to buy direct from their favorite local labels, with live music, an open mic and guest DJs throughout the afternoon.
- Also on March 4, rising D.C. acts Den-Mate, Nag Champa, Fellow Creatures and Stronger Sex will perform at Sounds of the City's Mainstage showcase at Black Cat. Coinciding with D.C. Music Download's five-year anniversary, we're building a gigantic pop-up art installation that will feature five years-worth of D.C.'s most memorable concert posters. Visual artists from around the city will display their work and also sell prints.
- Following his excellent set at All Things Go's Fall Classic, Maryland emcee Ace Cosgrove (recently featured in BET, Complex, SPIN, The Fader, Pigeons & Planes and more) will perform with his full band for Sounds of the City's kickoff showcase. Maryland's Ciscero (featured on GoldLink's 2016 hit "Fall in Love,") and D.C.'s DJ Ayes Cold will open.
- D.C. Music Download will launch its first local music panel and networking series at WeWork's Wonder Bread Factory on Thursday, March 2. This will be an opportunity for D.C. musicians, venue owners, label heads, bloggers, photographers, entrepreneurs and more creatives in the music scene to connect and exchange ideas. The event kicks off with a panel moderated by Listen Local First and also features a special presentation from Accelerate with Google.
Many of the city's most distinguished organizations and local arts supporters will take part in this massive four-day celebration, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Accelerate with Google, DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music & Entertainment and many more.
What We Need & What You Get
The $3,500 we raise from this campaign will help us fund all of our awesome programming for Sounds of the City. This includes paying for sound tech, food, drinks, performers, security and art installations that we plan to build for this event. Your contribution will also help keep our events free and low cost for the public.
Besides helping to launch an exciting new festival in D.C. and supporting local artists, there are plenty of perks for those who support the cause:
- Limited-edition Sounds of the City swag, including shirts, bags and other cool festival merch that you can only get by contributing to this campaign!
- A special ticket giveaway package to select Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe shows in 2017.
- Chances to win limited-edition records and merch from participating record labels, musicians and bands.
- A chance to win one-of-a-kind concert poster prints from some of D.C.'s best visual artists
- VIP access to all Sounds of the City events, complete with free tickets to all shows, drink tickets and backstage access to all music showcases.
- For local businesses, valuable advertising, editorial and promotional opportunities through D.C. Music Download and Sounds of the City festival
Festival Schedule
Thursday, March 2
D.C. Music Industry Night
A D.C. Music Panel and Networking Event
WeWork Wonder Bread Factory
641 S St NW, Washington, DC 20001
6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
FREE and All-Ages
Friday, March 3
Sounds of the City Kickoff Showcase
Performances by: Ace Cosgrove and bobmoekill/Ciscero/DJ Ayes Cold
Tropicalia
20001 14th St. Washington, D.C. 20009
Doors: 7:30 p.m./Show 8 p.m.
Tickets: $12 DOS only
Saturday, March 4
The First-Ever D.C. Record Label Expo
Buy Direct From Your Favorite D.C.-Area Record Labels!
Featuring: BLIGHT Records, Wedderburn Records, Better Listen Records,
Carpark Records, Babe City Records, Gumbo Records, Windian Records,
Atlantic Rhythms, Proper Vibes, Crooked Beat Records, Local Woman Records, Cuneiform Records and many more!
Plus: Live Music, Open Mic and Guest DJs
Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe
2477 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Time: 12 p.m.-4 p.m.
FREE and All-Ages
Saturday, March 4
Sounds of the City Main Showcase and D.C. Music Download's Five-Year Anniversary Party
Performances by: Den-Mate/Nag Champa/Fellow Creatures/Stronger Sex
Plus: "Five Years of D.C. Music in Concert Posters" pop-up art installation, featuring five years’-worth of D.C.’s best concert posters.
Black Cat (Mainstage)
1811 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
Doors: 8 p.m.
Tickets: $12
All-Ages
Sunday, March 5
Sound Advice: Promoting Yourself in the Digital Age
A D.C. Music Panel and Networking Event
Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th and F Sreets NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
FREE and All-Ages
Other Ways You Can Help
Besides donating money, there are many ways to help make Sounds of the City a success:
- Spread the word about the festival and campaign with friends and family.
- Contribute your time and volunteer at any Sounds of the City event. Email us for more info.
- And, most importantly, coming to the event and supporting the arts!
