Backstage with d.c. space

Backstage @ the Sanctuary

d.c. space opened the door to the downtown art and music scene. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at DC music and cultural history!

5200 Cathedral Ave NW

Conversations with some of DC's best musicians.

Before the iconic 9:30 Club opened its doors and our minds to DC’s explosive and groundbreaking music scene , d.c. space was leading the way. As The Washington Post’s Richard Harrington wrote in 1983, space “paved the way for clubs such as the 9:30…by getting people used to the idea of going back downtown at night.”From 1977 to 1991, “space was the place” for punk rock, avant-garde jazz, cult films, and poetry readings.The venue attracted emerging national acts like Sun Ra, Laurie Anderson, and Philip Glass, while providing a home for local legends such as Bad Brains, The Slickee Boys, Minor Threat, and Root Boy Slim to name a few.Join us for an unforgettable evening as we revisit and celebrate the legacy of d.c. space. Hear firsthand stories from artist and co-founder Bill Warrell, along with booking agents Claudia (DePaul) Joseph and Cynthia Connolly, and Dot Steck, waitress, bartender, and cook from 1987-1991. Dot's late husband was the extraordinary photographer Charles Steck who had a studio in the same building.Musical interludes will be provided by local rockers, The Messthetics—anchored by two of the founding members of Fugazi— The Messthetics carry on the spirit of d.c. space blending both the punk history and jazz elements the historic venue once fosteredAdvance reservations are STRONGLY recommended for this one-of-a-kind event.Don’t miss your chance to honor a piece of DC’s cultural history!Tickets $15 in advance; $20 at the door