OUR STORY

Listen Local First (LLF) is the natural progression of the Eat Local/Buy Local movement.   Last summer, co-founder Rene Moffatt and I were sitting in a local DC coffee shop listening to Cindy Lauper when it dawned on us...why were we not listening to the music of the talented and diverse local artist's making great music all around us?

How can we develop stronger bonds between local businesses local venues and local musicians?   Through partnering with Think Local First, a non-profit, working with independent businesses, consumers and policymakers to grow a sustainable, local economy in DC, LLF found an avenue to begin to answer these questions. 

Listen Local First works to create alternate avenues for local music exploration and performance collaborations through partnerships with local venues, businesses and arts organizations. Basically we build awareness and promote opportunities for local musicians and businesses in order to raise the profile of DC’s vibrant culturally diverse local music scene. 

Since October LLF has launched our monthly DC Local Music Day series which has featured over 30 local musicians by streaming their albums in local venues around town.  We have hosted numerous amazing local music showcases, partnered with amazing local arts organizations and even hosted a DC government and business owner panel on how local music benefits the local economy. We have exposed our city’s most talented musicians to the greater DC population, built up their local fanbase and now want to help present them to a national music audience at SXSW.

OUR PLAN

LLF is creating a Mobile Music Venue. We are raising money to get a van, get local DC artists to paint the van, get a sound system with a portable backline and pay a video team to drive down to Austin with us to host a number of pop up showcases and document the live music performances of local DC bands in order to create a web series and short documentary about LLF and DC music.

Our number one goal is to create a great experience that we can document and bring back to DC to share with our town and music fans everywhere

We need your help to make this trip happen. Whether you are a local music supporter and are excited to see a web series about your favorite DC bands, or a business that appreciates talented musicians trying to make a living from their art and want to place your logo on our van, we are excited to have your support.