The Black Cat

The Black Cat is a nightclub in Washington, DC on 14th Street, NW in the U Street-Cardozo neighborhood, a few blocks from the 9:30 Club. It is served by the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo stop on the Washington Metro. The Black Cat was founded in 1993 by a group of investors (mostly musicians, including Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame) and quickly established itself as a venue for independent music music in DC by featuring local and national acts. While The Black Cat is most well-known for its support of indie rock, its schedule is full of diverse acts including metal, punk, and ska, as well as DJ/dance nights and other events. In 2001, the venue moved three doors south on 14th Street to its current location.

The Black Cat's main stage is on the second floor, and can hold roughly 500 people. Lesser known acts play in the "Back Stage", a smaller area on the first floor that holds approximately 150 people. There is also a bar and lounge called "The Red Room" and a vegetarian cafe called "Food For Thought".