Washington, DC – The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) recognizes SONGBYRD MUSIC HOUSE (aka SONGBYRD) as the JUNE 2022 Location of the Month.
Songbyrd is DC’s home for music lovers. Its 200-capacity live music venue, bar, and restaurant are nestled at the northern edge of the iconic Union Market District. In addition to Songbyrd’s primary function as a showcase for national and local musical acts, the space also provides a unique location opportunity for media productions.
Songbyrd opened its doors in Adams Morgan in 2015. Co-owners Joe Lapan and Alisha Edmonson long dreamt of a sacred but approachable music space that was welcoming and comfortable for music fans of all stripes. Alisha is the great-niece of Arizona Music Hall of Fame inductee Travis Edmonson, one-half of famed mid-century folk-comedy duo Bud & Travis, while Lapan was simply that kid who camped outside of record stores so he could be the first to grab the new album from his favorite bands.
In 2021, Songbyrd moved from Adams Morgan to the Union Market District in Northeast DC. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and in response to and anticipation of ongoing trends in the independent music industry, the Songbyrd team sought to transition to a more spacious venue that was also located near Byrdland Records. Songbyrd is extremely excited about its new location and looking forward to writing the next chapters of the Songbyrd story.
“We are honored to be featured as the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment’s Location of the Month. Songbyrd has been a film location in the past and is excited to provide a location for future media productions and creative outlets,” said Songbyrd co-owner Joe Lapan.
In addition to all the amazing live music, Songbyrd focuses on bringing intimate alternative music events and experiences to Washington DC, such as album release events, listening parties, artists signings and meet & greets, music trivia nights, and more. Songbyrd has proven itself an incubator and launchpad for an eclectic mix of up-and-coming local and national bands looking to gain a foothold in the Washington, DC region.
Songbyrd has been the Washington D.C. outpost for the worldwide album listening and appreciation platform Classic Album Sundays since 2016 and has hosted artist signing events with Charli XCX, All Time Low, ODESZA, and others. Songbyrd's regular alternative music event programming includes hip hop x kung fu film mashup series "Can I Kick It?" from the Shaolin Jazz team, renowned vintage vinyl dance party Ritmos Raros, and classic R&B listening series The R&B Club.
Songbyrd was named Washington DC's Best New Venue in 2016 and Best Place for Dinner and Live Music by the Washington City Paper in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and is rapidly growing market share and building interest from music-forward Washingtonians and beyond.
Songbird offers a distinctive media production location option for narrative and non-fiction film producers looking to capture a unique slice of the District’s diverse landscape and panoramic views. Located in the heart of the vibrant Union Market District, it offers a unique space for events and any type of production or affair.
To learn more about Songbryd and to inquire about its availability for events, tours, and as an exceptional filming location, go to: www.songbyrddc.com. For information about past locations of the month, visit: https://entertainment.dc.gov/page/location-months.
Website: www.songbyrddc.com
Twitter: @songbyrddc
Instagram: @songbyrddc
Facebook: Songbyrd Music House; @SongbyrdDC
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About Location of the Month
The "Location of the Month" initiative is part of the agency's mission to market and support District locales as media production locations and bring attention to the wide range of cinematically compelling locations available to film and television productions.
If you have a suggestion for a future OCTFME "Location of the Month," we would love to hear from you. If you own or manage a business, venue, or location you would like to be featured as a "Location of the Month," or if you are a filmmaker or a fan of local filmmaking with a suggestion for a unique DC location, OCTFME could feature in the future "Location of the Month" please use this nomination form and tell us all about it.
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About OCTFME
The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) produces and broadcasts programming for the District of Columbia's public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable television channels and digital radio station; regulates the District of Columbia’s cable television service providers; provides customer service for cable subscribers; and supports a sustainable film, music, and entertainment creative economy and labor market in the District of Columbia.
OCTFME award-winning content provides resourceful information on government activity, education, current events, history, music, arts, and entertainment. OCTFME operates and manages the District’s government television access channels: the District Council Channel (DCC), the District of Columbia Network (DCN), and the District Knowledge Network (DKN).
OCTFME owns, manages, operates, and programs the District of Columbia Entertainment Network (DCE). This 24-hour on-demand streaming network delivers diverse and inclusive – FREE – lifestyle, music, live events, sports, arts, variety shows, talk shows, educational and entertainment programming from the nation's capital into homes via ROKU, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV as well as iPhone and Android mobile devices by downloading the DCE Network App or at DCENetwork.com.
OCTFME also owns, operates, manages, and programs DC Radio 96.3 HD4 digital radio station, the District of Columbia’s first government radio station, in partnership with Howard University’s WHUR. It is one of only two full-power, city-owned, managed and programmed radio stations in the country.
OCTFME provides production support services that advance film, television, video, entertainment, interactive, multimedia, and digital media content creators. These services include permitting, location scouting, production support; job placement assistance; workforce development; and the DC Film, Television, and Entertainment Rebate Fund.
OCTFME provides additional support to the Creative community through the Creative Affairs Office (CAO), and Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: 202Creates initiative. CAO showcases and preserves the District of Columbia’s rich creative communities throughout all 8 Wards. CAO builds sustainability in the creative community through policy, programming, and education, further expanding the middle-class pathway for the creative workforce. CAO coordinates public, private, and community partners to accomplish all goals and create equitable and inclusive opportunities for the District’s creatives. Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: 202Creates initiative, administers programs that support the growth and sustainability of the creative industries throughout the District.
For more information, contact the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment at (202) 671-0066, visit us online at: entertainment.dc.gov, and follow us on Facebook.com/entertaindc, Instagram.com/entertain_dc, and Twitter.com/entertain_dc.
