Blues Alley

Sizzle up your DC nights with an evening at the KC Jazz Club. Located on the roof level of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the KC Jazz Club is one of the areas hottest venues for live jazz. The intimate setting of the club provides the audience with an up close and personal experience with some of today's best jazz musicians, as well as the seasoned veterans of the genre. Sit back and feel the music as you unwind with a cocktail by the glow of lamp lit tables.

An anagram of the DC neighborhood that Madam's Organ calls its home, the vibe at this jazz and blues club reflects the eclecticism that Adams-Morgan has a reputation for. It is a great addition to downtown’s social scene; its patrons would agree that its distinct joie de vivre is key to its fame. Savor a drink and classic grub, shoot some pool, and enjoy nightly live entertainment. If you wish to spend a night that you will remember for days to come, Madam's Organ is surely the place you should explore.

Songbyrd Record is a cafe and an old school music shop . Simply walking in to this eatery, you are welcomed to the sounds of old hit music playing in the background. Add to this, the decor inside with the listening stations having curated playlists and compiled with songs from the mid 20th century onwards, and it is good enough for anyone to brim over with nostalgia. This wonderful place adds its final touches with finesse by putting old java and vinyl records on sale along with a small recording booth in the corner. Order their delicious BLT sandwich with avocado or a chai-spiced and as you wait for your order, listen to some classic music and take a trip down the memory lane in this carefree cafe.

Opera Ultra Lounge isn't only a nightclub, it's an experience. With state-of-the-art electronics, including lighting and sound, you'll feel like you've stepped into another world. Order a cocktail and enjoy the elegant and high tech atmosphere as you listen to live music or a DJ.

Black Cat is the place to come to see the latest local bands. This club features rock, pop and rhythm-and-blues artists and has been known to book some big names, such as Morphine and The Foo Fighters frequently. Live acts perform in the main space while an eclectic mix of young party animals hangs out in the Red Room. Light fare is available, and the bar has microbrews on tap.

Although its physical location makes Tropicalia easy to walk past, its reputation ensures that people search for the staircase beside the subway that leads to this entertaining space. There is none of the dinginess you would normally associate with a basement space; on the contrary, you will find psychedelic lights in pretty much any color you can think of. Situated in the U Street Corridor, this dance hall attempts to bring some Brazilian flavor to the U Street Corridor of Washington, DC. The DJ ensures that you groove to the Brazilian beats on the dance floor, but there's more to come; you can also catch live Brazilian bands on Sunday nights.

Every summer for the past 10 years, Woodrow Wilson Plaza is dedicated to live music for residents and visitors to enjoy from all different musical backgrounds. The series lasts from June 9th to September 24th and is a great way to spend your lunch hour or take a break from seeing the sights. Check timings before visiting.

During the Harlem Renaissance, the U Street neighborhood in DC hosted many jazz greats of the age including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Count Bassie and Washington's favorite son, Duke Ellington. The Lincoln, built in 1921, was renovated and reopened in 1993 as a nonprofit, multicultural arts venue. With a schedule packed with black pop, jazz and soul artists, Hispanic folk music, African dance ensembles, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra series and the Gay Man's Chorus of Washington, this 1225-seat space is rarely quiet and always worth checking out. It was listed on the U.S National Register of Historic Places in the year 1993.