The Ultimate Halloween Music Guide 2014
by Elise Olmstead
(featured image copyright Roger Gupta)
A holiday once thought as a kid’s holiday, full of trick-or-treaters and candy, Halloween has become a celebration for big kids and adults. In fact, Halloween is one of the last holidays of the year that encourages us to gather with our friends and celebrate together. Thanksgiving is usually reserved for family (as it should be) and has just become a big pre-cursor to Black Friday as it is. And if you have kids, which many of us do, Christmas is just a hustle and bustle of holly jolly preparation for the big day.
As if we needed a reason to get together, dress up, and act like fools, Halloween is the perfect reason for the season. It’s also a celebration for us music fans of the big transition from outdoor festivals to indoor venues. Here we are in the newly chilled weather, once again standing in lines outside and gathering on the heated dance floor (or fighting our way to the bar). Halloween was always a time of musical destination for fans, but there are now more events than ever. The choices seem to be endless and consist of both big names and local favorites.
We have compiled a list of shows relevant to our areas and fanbase, mostly consisting of local and mid-level bands. You might catch a few big ones on the list too!
West Virginia:
10/31 2nd Annual Halloween Bash at Longshots Billiards in Charles Town, WV: LITZ, Plaeground & The Jambulance
https://www.facebook.com/events/714304565283504/
10/31 Country Roads Restaurant Pig Roast & Costume Party at Country Roads Restaurant in Hedgesville, WV: Luke Johnson Band.
https://www.facebook.com/events/292606537614777/
10/30 Pigeons Playing Ping Pong w/SassafraZ at 123 Pleasant St. in Morgantown, WV.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1520796098153480/
10/31 Halloween Party & Costume Contest at Boulevard Tavern in Charleston, WV: Soulslaw & Hillbilly Carnival
https://www.facebook.com/events/1506083609632139/
Washington DC:
10/31 The Rock Circus at Gypsy Sally’s in Washington DC: People’s Blues of Richmond, Deaf Scene, and The Trongone Band
http://www.gypsysallys.com/event/682691-peoples-blues-richmond-washington/
10/31 H Street Halloween at Rock N Roll Hotel in Washington, DC: B Side Shuffle, The Brass Backwards Orchestra, Big Country Express, and more.
https://www.facebook.com/events/354759031371866/
Maryland:
10/31 Halloween 2014 at Maryland Science Center: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, ELM, Cris Jacobs & more. GA IS SOLD OUT, VIP STILL AVAILABLE!
http://www.halloween-baltimore.com/
10/31 Grand Ole Ditch & Friends w/Brokedown Hustlers at Dante’s Bar in Frostburg, MD
https://www.facebook.com/events/822467451137597/
10/31 Halloween Bash at Sean Bolan’s Irish Pub in Bel Air, MD: Fiery Deep & Slim Pickinz.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1455835671365913/
Virginia:
10/31 The Psychic Striptease Halloween at Bright Box Theater in Winchester, VA: MH & His Orchestra and Atoka Chase
https://www.facebook.com/events/1459654574317069/
10/31 The Talking Dead feat. music of The Talking Heads and The Grateful Dead at The Broadberry in Richmond, VA: The Mantras and Aqueous
https://www.facebook.com/events/313690992147105/
11/1 The Heady Hillbilly Halloween at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA: Nicky C & The RSB, The Northerners, and The Plank Stompers
https://www.facebook.com/events/1463528583935580/
10/31 KOB Halloween Extravaganza at The Bungalow in Chantilly, VA: The Kings of Belmont.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1539531949626096/
10/31 Lazerween 2014 at Taphouse in Norfolk, VA: Galaxy Dynamite and Midnight Snack.
https://www.facebook.com/events/708729442552227/
North Carolina:
10/31 Papadosio w/Ghost Owl and Asian Teacher Factory at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC
https://www.facebook.com/events/313690992147105/
10/31 – 11/1 Nightmare in Wonderland at The Juggling Gypsy Cafe in Wilmington, NC: The Groove Fetish and The Dare Ring
https://www.facebook.com/events/1562367333984105/
Massachusetts:
10/30 & 10/31 Monster Mash at House of Blues in Boston, MA: Umphrey’s McGee with Dopapod (2 NIGHTS!)
http://umphreys.com/2014/07/halloween-announced-two-nights-boston/
New York:
10/30 Cabinet’s Halloween Hootenanny Tour:
Night of the Living Dead w/Infamous Stringdusters at Highline Ballroom in New York, NY SOLD OUT!
https://www.facebook.com/events/705632682852036/
Pennsylvania:
10/31 Cabinet’s Halloween Hootenanny Tour:
The Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA
https://www.facebook.com/events/594859080618567/
11/1 Cabinet’s Halloween Hootenanny Tour:
Fed Live in Harrisburg, PA
https://www.facebook.com/events/813806451974924/
11/1 Royal Family Halloween Ball at Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA: Lettuce & Soulive
https://www.facebook.com/events/340265892797130/
Ohio:
10/31 Essential Productions presents Halloween at The Chameleon in Cincinatti, Ohio: Peridonia, Ethosine, Strange Mechanics.
https://www.facebook.com/events/685170781549613/
10/31 Aliver Hall O Ween at Scarlet & Grey Cafe in Columbus, OH: Aliver Hall, Yosemight, Under The Sun.
https://www.facebook.com/events/261480067382855/
10/31 Manitoa w/Eumatik at Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery in Athens, Ohio.
https://www.facebook.com/events/704539299617391/
10/31 Glostik Willy w/Subterranean House Band at Jimmie’s Ladder in Dayton, OH
https://www.facebook.com/events/284650555077176/
Michigan:
10/31 Hippoween at Kalamazoo State Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan: Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, Andy Frasco & The UN, The Crane Wives.
https://www.facebook.com/events/685170781549613/
FESTIVALS:
10/31 – 11/2 Suwannee Hulaween at Spirit of the Suwannee Park in Live Oak, FL, feat. String Cheese Incident, Big Gigantic, Thievery Corporation, Beats Antique, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, The New Deal, Shpongle, and more.
10/31 – 11/2 Nightmare Festival in Baltimore, MD feat. Figure presents Terrorvision, bt, Liquid Stranger, Superb Tab/, Darren Styles, Terravita, Late Night Radio, Govinda, Bass Dread, Soohan, and more.
http://www.nightmare-festival.com/
10/31 – 11/2 Snuggleween at Terrapin Hill Farm in Harrodsburg, KY: Rumpke Mtn Boys, Terrapin Flyer, David Gans, Captain Midnight Band, New Old Cavalry, and more.
https://www.facebook.com/events/708358952567470/
