Introduction

If you’re coming to Washington University and you’re into music, you’re coming to the right place. Not only is Seattle a huge city with lots of interesting things to do, it has also got one of the most lively music scenes in the entire US. There is always some band touring, some live act going on, some concert to be going to. Whichever style you are into, there are bands active in the area, venues that you will love, and acts that you won’t want to miss for the world.

Punk Rock, Alternative and Grunge Music

Obviously, a style that’s huge in Seattle is Grunge, a kind of punk rock music, since it originated there – it was born in Seattle in the mid – eighties and is kept well alive by many artists. Nirvana actually lived there during their good years, and well-known bands in the scene like The Rejectors or Solger also established themselves in the Seattle Punk scene. Quite a few good bands left Seattle after Cobain’s tragic suicide, but the scene is just as active as ever now. Today, rock, punk rock and alternative music in Seattle is represented by huge names such as the Foo Fighters, Indigo Girls, and Pearl Jam. Punk Labels based in Seattle include CIZ Records and Kill Rockstars.

Heavy Metal

The Metal scene was most represented in the 1980’s, when big names like Metal Church or Fifth Angel, or even Nevermore, formerly called Sanctuary, were active in the Seattle area. Today, Seattle’s metal scene can proudly present acts by bands as well-known as Three Inches of Blood, H.M.P., or Vigilance. If you’re into metal, there will always be a band performing, and always an act to go to, and since some bands are still relatively unknown, you will always find reasonable prices, as well. The music venue to be at for heavy metal is now definitely El Corazon, a bar with lots of live acts to choose from that you can see on their online calendar.

Hip-Hop and Rap

The hip-hop scene in Seattle is growing fast at the moment, and there are always new names and acts to be on the lookout for. Names worth mentioning include Seattle-based rapper No Clue , who holds the current world record for fastest rapper, and new MCs Steelo and Lone 1. A good record shop where you can find hip-hop and rap records is Respect Records on East Pine Street, you’ll find new as well as old tracks and you can keep an eye on newcomers in the business. For great hip hop venues and acts, there’s Saturday Nights at the War Room on Pike Street, as well as Vera Project on 4th Ave.

Other Styles

Obviously, the aforementioned are just a few of the thriving and very present styles of music in Seattle. Other styles represented are jazz, with acts at, for instance, Jazz Alley, or Tula’s Jazz Club, or pop, with bands such as JMinus representing the style. For house, dance, and chart music, look no further than the huge nightclub scene Seattle has to offer, with clubs such as Club Medusa and Fenix Underground. Of course, the city is regularly toured by internationally renowned mainstream artists and bands as well, such as Alanis Morisette, Jason Mraz, OneRepublic, or Noah and the Whale.

In Short…

You will have noticed through these tips of where to go that there will rarely be a reason to be bored in your time at Washington University. In such a big city, there will always be some gig going on, whatever your musical preferences might be, and what with the many up-and-coming artists and bands looking to establish their names, you will find more than just a few acts that are quite affordable and worth going to as well. So, if good live music is important to you, you will certainly enjoy your time as a student of Washington University!