Last Show at Iota

Some of the big names that have graced Iota's stage

Saturday Sept 30 is the last day Iota will be open for live music and they are going out with a day long celebration of live music forever with more than a dozen acts. Starting at  noon, a $10 cover will get you in to see all these musicians and more:

Justin Jones
El Quatro
Alex Parez
Two Ton Twig
No Second Troy
Mike Ferrio
Lauren Calve
Jumpin Jupiter
The Cowards Choir
Mary Battiata and Little Pink
Delarcos
Gist
Metrosongs
Fuzz Queen
Margot MacDonald
Jose Miguel Contreras

Then on Sunday from noon to 8pm, a final closing and sale will happen on premises with beer and wine sales. Your last chance to take home a piece of Iota!

Last Train Home at Iota

Iota is playing its last song this Saturday Sept 30, and Last Train Home is returning to the stage to help say goodbye to the loved Clarendon venue with back to back shows. They are playing tonight Thursday Sept 28 as well as Friday with Karl Staub and The Graverobbers. Cover is $15 and music starts at 7:30pm

Goodbye Iota

Such a sad day to acknowledge that my favorite live music venue of all time Iota Club and Café will be closing for good on Sept 30 2017. As reported in detail by ArlNow, the owners have decided to pack it up after their lease ends as the building is being remodeled and ending Iota's unique place in Arlington culture for 23 years. Their final lineup so far is Last Train Home on the 28th and 29th.

While nothing can replace Iota, similar spots like Galaxy Hut down the street and Gypsy Sally's in Georgetown will continue to host bands that would have played here.

I have such fond memories of this place and all the wonderful people I've met there, like Justin Trawick, Derek Evry, Alex Parez, Margot MacDonald and Rae Williamson just to name a few. ArlNow has an extensive list of performances that have graced Iota's small stage. Here is a quick list of my favorite shows at the quirky place that kept Clarendon strange:

My first recorded Iota night almost 10 years ago with the fun local band Boxcar Collision.

Matthew Good's oddly quiet show in 2008

The super catchy pop punk Exit Clov bursting with style and cow bells







My first show with Juniper Lane and witnessing Vivion Smith's killer vocals

Ending 2008 on an amazing festive night with Ten Out of Tenn. Might have been the best concert experience ever.

That time Tristan Prettyman sold out her show and the first time I saw a line down the block for Iota. Luckily she came back in 2011.

Reni Lane!!!

Katie Herzig's Hologram song live along with Butterfly Boucher in the same night.

Juniper Lane and Margot MacDonald on the same night in 2012!

The week everything was free at Iota in 2014

Luckily for us the Nine Songwriter Series frequently visited Iota

Derek Evry is awesome. Middle Distance Runner is awesome. And both in the same night!

The unforgettable night with Invisible Witches debuting in summer of 2014.

When Boston based Air Traffic Controller dropped by and forever got their song Hurry Hurry stuck in my head.

Justin Trawick's birthday show in 2015. This is the most musically talented and active guy here.

Red Cross Hurricane Irma Benefit at Iota

This Friday and Saturday night Iota is hosting a concert to benefit the Red Cross Hurricane Relief effort. The $10 suggested donations goes towards people affected by the recent Hurricane Irma. If you can't make the show, you can donate online directly. Since Iota will be closing for good at the end of the month, this may be one of their last charity benefit shows. On the playlist tonight starting 8pm will be:
Plantface
David Kitchen
Wowee
PBC Vocal Band
Geff King
Chris Aaron
Jeff Smith

Crooked Angels at Iota

Iota has a full night of Americana music planned for Thursday August 10 with three great acts. Local rock legend Alex Parez, who is frequent at Iota, will play with his band The Hell Rojos bringing acoustic rock and old-time country. Joining them are the alt-country and Americana band from DC area The Walkways. Headlining the night is the "bourbon infused Americana" sounds from the husband and wife band The Crooked Angels. Cover is $10 and doors open at 7:30pm with music usually starting around 9pm.

Save Iota

This Wednesday, May 10th from 6-9pm at 2801 Clarendon Blvd, Regency Centers will be holding an open house to show off plans for the redevelopment and take input from the community. The grassroots Save IOTA group plans to tell Regency Centers directly that we want IOTA to be able to stay where they are without their building being redeveloped. They have over 600 signatures on their Change.org petition. Tell Regency Centers why it's important to have a live music venue that focuses on small acts in Clarendon. Before the meeting at 5:30pm we'll be meeting around the corner at IOTA to meet people and give out Save IOTA t-shirts to the first 50 people who show up!

Save IOTA!

I nearly had a heart attack when ArlNow.com broke the story of the possible future closing of Iota given the developer Regency Centers plan to the demolish 2800 Clarendon building. Since then, the developer who also owns Market Common Clarendon has responded saying they have "been actively working with the owner of IOTA since we acquired the center to do what we can to keep her as a part of the redevelopment."

Despite those assurances, local fans of the small live music venue that has graced our neighborhood for decades have created a petition to Arlington County to Save Iota and oppose the demolition plan. The next Clarendon Courthouse Civic Association meeting is happening this Thursday February 23 at 7:30pm at the Hyatt Place hotel in Courthouse (where Wilson Tavern used to be).

Come out to the Civic Association meeting Thursday night to voice your opinion and talk directly the developers. With the recent rash of local restaurant closings last year I don't think the community can stomach another loss, let alone a long time historical staple like Iota Club and Café.