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In sad news for D.C. music lovers, free thinkers, and neck-beard sporting weirdos, 611 Florida Ave.—-a house which has hosted countless psychedelic rock and punk shows over the years as well as the annual Free Folk Phantasmagory fest—-will cease operation come September.
“It is with great sadness that I have to report that we got hit with a 90-day notice to vacate the premises. By the end of September, 611 Florida will no longer be hosting the finest experimental music from around the globe,” wrote longtime resident and booker Scott Verrastro in a mass e-mail. “We might have one last blowout in September—-perhaps a final Free Folk Phantasmagory—-before we leave, but we do have these two last shows in July. Some of the best shows I’ve ever seen have occurred in these living rooms, so join me in mourning and celebrating the passing of this narrow row house as a venue that has presented some of the best music in the world.”
In addition to hosting a lot of great musicians, 611 Florida excelled in creating unique and often bizarre bills—-teaming up evil Brooklyn drone band Double Leopards with guitar legend Richard Bishop for instance. The close quarters of the 611 living room also forced an intimacy that couldn’t exist in professional venues. Sometimes that meant that you got to hang out with Lungfish’s Dan Higgs. Other times that meant you had to share a seat with Little Howlin’ Wolf—-whether you wanted to or not.
At any rate, the venue will be sorely missed. There’s at least one more 611 show coming up on July 18th. Details below.
Friday, July 18
9pm, $5 suggested donation
Kuschty Rye Ergot (DC improv psych, mem. of Kohoutek, ex-Redeemers/Promise Breakers)
Noa Babayof (Israel folk-psych, Language of Stone)
Sharon van Etten (NYC solo folk, Language of Stone)
Ilya Monosov