Living in Wayne gives Eastern students the opportunity to go out and explore new places. Wayne itself has a lot to offer, but we are also close to Philadelphia. Philly offers many activities and places to visit–like concert venues. Because it is in the tri-state area, it is a popular stop for many artists because they can draw in many people from multiple states. Some of the most well known are The Franklin Music Center, The Mann Center for Performing Arts, and the Wells Fargo Center.
Those venues are great for supporting the big name artists, but what about the lesser known ones? That is why it is so important to venture out and visit the smaller venues. They not only help the artist get their name out there, but they also can be a lot less expensive than the larger halls.
Very close to home, there is a restaurant and bar called 118 North, located at 118 North Wayne Avenue in Wayne, PA. It hosts weekly–sometimes ticketed–concerts. The events are often 21+, but sometimes there is no age restriction. The artists here are not mainstream, but are very local. 118 North can be a great place to go with your friends and grab some food. It is only a 5 minute drive or a 20 minute walk from campus. Some artists they will be featuring soon are Lovenotes on December 7 and Maybe Definitely on December 8.
If you are looking to go beyond Wayne and find some other venues and clubs, there are many spread throughout Philly. They often feature artists you know, but aren’t popular enough for the big venues. They are all easily accessed by public transportation, so you don’t have to worry about driving or parking in the city.
Ardmore Music Hall is a small theater that seats around 500 people. They host underground artists, and it’s a nice place to go to enjoy live music without a long drive. It is a 20 minute drive from Eastern. You can also take the PAO 9560 from St. Davids station which will lead you directly to Ardmore Amtrak station, leaving you only a 2 minute walk from the venue. This venue has a 21+ age requirement. They will be featuring artists like Willie Watson on December 8 and Big Something on December 13.
Underground Arts is located on Callowhill St. in Philadelphia. This is a small club that holds about 650 people. It has a large variety of shows and events such as La Lom on December 8 and a Taylor Swift celebration party on December 13. It is about a 35 minute drive from Eastern, but if you don’t want to fight for city parking, you can take the PAO 5734 from the St. David’s station to Jefferson station and make the short walk to the venue.
Union Transfer is another small concert venue in Center City, Philadelphia. It can accommodate up to 1200 people and offers a plenitude of artists. They will host They Might Be Giants on December 6 and Crane Wives on May 9. It is about a 43 minute drive. You could also take the PAO 5734 from the St. David’s station, get off at Jefferson station, then walk to the 11th Street & Market Line, then get off at 11th Street & Spring Garden Street.
The Fillmore Philadelphia is a club in Fishtown, PA. It can hold up to 3000 people and is basically a huge dance floor. They will be hosting Aurora on December 9 and Finneas on February 19th. To get here you can drive for about 45 minutes or take the PAO 5336 from St. David’s Station, get off at Jefferson Station, walk to 11th street station then get off at Girard St. Station.
The Foundry is a smaller section of the Fillmore in Philadelphia. They host lesser known artists like Capella Grey, who’s performing on December 9 or Trevor Jackson who will be on stage January 21. You can get to this venue the same way as the regular Fillmore.
Lastly, there is The Met in Philadelphia. Although it is more well known, it is a smaller venue, only seating 3800 guests. To get here you can drive for about 35 minutes or take the PAO 9546 from St. Davids Station to Jefferson Station, walk to the 8th Street Station and get on the BSL towards Olney Transportation Center and get off at Girard. From there you will have to walk about 4 minutes. The Met is the only venue I can give personal experience on as I used to do security for their shows. It is a nice venue and I would highly recommend visiting. Even if you get the cheapest seats, you are never too far away from the artist. The one thing I will ask is that you always check the website to stay up to date with the bag policies and age restrictions.
Music is a great way to connect with each other. These venues give smaller artists a chance to share their music with the world. Further, it gives us the opportunity to listen to our favorite smaller artists, discover new artists, or just enjoy live music at affordable prices. If you are able, I highly recommend giving these places a try.
Natasha Chaillou 
Hannah Gerber 
Ella Curcuruto