In the past, we've written a lot about two start-up music festivals, the Six Points Music Festival and DAM! Fest, which were both organized locally, held in venues around town and highlighted both local musicians as well as acts from elsewhere. We realized that too many press-release-free months had gone by with no mention of anything new, so we checked in with the organizers to see what was afoot. Unfortunately for local music fans, there isn't much good news. more ›

These boys from Baltimore are no bandwagon band. They’ve been around since 2001 and have established themselves as local post punk revivalists from the very beginning. As commercially successful Brit pop sensations like Franz Ferdinand began popping up across the Atlantic, Two If By Sea was making a name for themselves here at home. But home is more than just Baltimore, and they’ve set up a virtual DC residency, frequenting venues such as DC9 and... more ›

You've read about The Vita Ruins on DCist before. You may have even seen them perform at our 4th Unbuckled concert. When all that buzz was going on about the band, they'd only had a few (literally -- Unbuckled was their third show) performances under their belt. Since then they've built up a reputation that's allowed them quite a bit of luck in booking shows and getting people talking. But the Virginia natives are... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Don't forget to check out our guide to the Six Points Music Festival as it takes over the town in its second weekend. We're going to once again heartily recommend you head to Iota to catch Unbuckled alums Middle Distance Runner headline a show that also features Unbuckled alums These United States, plus Pittsburgh's Black Tie Revue. Get there early -- this is going to be a packed house for sure. $10, 9:30... more ›

If we were in the business of judging books by their covers, here's what we would assume about the line-up at last night's installment of the Six Points Music Festival: The Glory and the Majesty are emo, The Jaguar Club are a bunch of car enthusiasts, Life in a Hospital are bleak and brooding and Lejeune are French. Ultimately, only one of these assumptions proved correct; read on to satisfy your curiosity. more ›

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As the warmer technically-spring-but-still-cold-as-hell days arrive, so does a slew of festivals and events. Marking its fourth year, D.C.'s Six Points Music Festival kicks off this week. If the schedule and general planning approach this year are any indicatoin, it looks to be a much more cohesive and promising event than it has been in the past. The young festival has grown from a no-name event looking to champion the local music, to finding... more ›

>> Bad news: The Sex Worker Art Show at the Rock and Roll Hotel has been cancelled due to inclement weather. Check the HIPS website for news of a possible reschedule date. more ›

When Telograph (***) played the Six Points Music Festival back in April, they were easily our favorite band in the festival’s Velvet Lounge lineup. We may have compared them to new-wave hipsters Interpol and The Strokes, but Telograph’s great live show made it difficult to categorize them simply as another “it” band. We’re happy to say that their upcoming EP Little Bits of Plastic justifies our initial impression: Telograph is a band to watch. Over... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Here at DCist we like to pimp scrappy locals and industrious indies who are charging hard against the establishment. When it comes to stand-up comedy however, sometimes we have to make an exception. This isn't to say you shouldn't support up-and-coming local comedic talent. You should. But we'd be the first to admit that there's something particularly distasteful about amateur stand-up done badly -- when a comic punts on stage, you just have... more ›

Good afternoon, boys and girls. We've been talking about the Six Points Music Festival for some time now, and it's finally upon us. Consider it your duty to take advantage of this festival in your own back yard, and pick from one of the many showcases of local talent going on this week. We'll pick out a few of our favorites, but any show on the roster would be worthwhile. MONDAY >> You may have... more ›

This is for all of those musicians out there. You've only got a few more days to get your submission in for the third annual Six Points Music Festival, showcasing live music at venues throughout the D.C. area April 6 - 8. Get those tracks loaded onto MySpace, pony up your $5, and enter for your chance to play at this very cool festival. Participating venues include DC9, Iota, Jammin' Java, Rock N Roll Hotel, Staccato Lounge, The State Theater, Strathmore, Velvet Lounge, Whitlow's, Clarendon Grill, Galaxy Hut and more. You've got until this Sunday (January 15) to send in your submissions. For more information, visit www.sixpointsmusicfestival.com. more ›

FRIDAY: >> The Sixpoints Music Festival, which highlights good local music played at good local venues, continues this weekend. Make sure to check out the schedule here and support your local music scene. >> Ross Douthat, blogger extraordinaire and reporter at The Atlantic Monthly, managed to pull a pretty nifty trick: he attended Harvard, reaped the rewards of the degree, and then got a hefty advance to write "Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the... more ›

Local musicians looking to make a mark in the area, take note: The second annual Six Points Music Festival, scheduled to take place from April 7 through April 11, is accepting submissions to be considered for inclusion in the festival. more ›