WASHINGTON — In 2008, Arlington musician Justin Trawick sat at a desk in D.C., thinking of ways to host shows for fellow indie artists who couldn’t sell out and play big nightclubs. In theory, the region was pretty large, but its music scene was relatively small and there weren’t enough performance opportunities for upstart indie acts.
So Trawick had this idea to create a show where singer-songwriters could perform at spots like DC9 and the 9:30 Club to crowds that wouldn’t normally listen to their work.
Officially dubbed “the 9,” the series puts nine solo acts on one bill. Each musician is allowed to play three songs and is encouraged to collaborate with other artists on the schedule.
Individually, the artists selected have limited drawing power. But by performing together, they bring their respective crowds into one place and are able to fill larger venues.
Musicians are asked to show up solo — without a band — and play three sets. The last set is an “encore” of sorts, allowing musicians who performed earlier to sit in with others later in the lineup.
That thinking debunks the long-standing knock against the regional scene — that local musicians don’t collaborate or support the area’s breakout stars. If they did, the theory goes, the scene would be bigger nationally and seen as a go-to place to find music’s next great artist.
“Here in D.C., it seemed like every man was for himself,” said Trawick, 33. “It’s really tough for any of us locally to play a great venue to a packed house of people who really care.”
“The 9” series launched at the DC9 nightclub in the U Street corridor. It’s moved from venue to venue since then. On Saturday, Trawick and others played Headquarters Live in Salisbury, Maryland.
Over the years, the series has gone to the 9:30 Club, Rock and Roll Hotel and Artisphere. On Saturday, “the 9” ventures to New Orleans to play the Howlin’ Wolf club.
Andres Gallego is a 29-year-old guitarist and singer living in D.C.’s Woodley Park. He spent some time playing local open mics and has performed in Trawick’s singer-songwriter series the past two years. Before he performed with “the 9,” Gallego said he had a tough time getting booked and meeting other artists. The series has been a good platform for Gallego to collaborate with like-minded musicians.
“It’s been a very positive experience,” he said. “It’s a motivator to get better, to be a better musician. With ‘the 9’, I’ve played venues that I never would have played.”
The same goes for Hyattsville soul singer Cashandra Bacon, who performs regularly with her husband, Earle. Bacon has performed solo at the Up and Up Open Mic in Northwest and headlined Blues Alley in Georgetown. This summer, Cashandra and Earle sang in a local TED Talk. They got the opportunity because of their affiliation with “the 9.”
For Trawick, a Leesburg native, his first goal as a musician was to play IOTA Club & Cafe in Arlington, Virginia. He started playing local coffee shops and released music independently.
“You have to be willing to be your own advocate until someone else starts doing it for you,” Trawick said. In that vein, his concert series is meant to be an advocate for the likes of Andres, Cashandra and Earle.
“It’s about the vibe,” Trawick said. “It’s meant to be a family atmosphere. The point is to have this be fun and engaging. It’s all about never giving up, man.”
“The 9” series plays locally Sept. 4 at Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. Artists who want to participate in the series should contact Justin directly: JTMGMT@gmail.com. Send a YouTube video of a live performance.
