By: Rick Landers
Michael DeMarco, owner of Earp’s Ordinary – photo credit: (c) Rick Landers 2023
Last evening the new Earp’s Ordinary in Fairfax, Virginia, opened its red doors for first day patrons, artists and Earp’s staff to find their way into the historic repurposed building to take in the place’s new contemporary look and to get a feel for the 300-person capacity music’s venue character, as “plank owners”.
“I think it was a great first night. It was heartwarming to see so many people from both the DMV and music communities come out to support our new venue. It was an outstanding first night with many more to come!” – Michael DeMarco
A quick look proved the place to be expansive, with a welcoming point-of-sale entry and merchandise set up that opened up a full view of the place, with a long inviting bar and grille, an pretty white Christmas tree, large comfortable seating area, plenty of posh bathrooms and a professional stage with lighting, and a high end sound system.
Main Street 10420 Main St. Fairfax, VA 22030
Earp’s owner, Michael DeMarco, stepped on stage around 5:0o pm to officially open the place’s first night of music, while new patrons and musicians continued to fill the place, all clearly impressed with the look and feel of the new Northern Virginia venue.
Musicians upon musicians, including those on Earp’s first day list of acts, as well as many well-known and respected musicians who arrived to support the place, as well as their friends in the tight-knit group of singer-songwriters pulled together by Jay Keating, president, of the highly respected Songwriters Association of Washington (SAW).
Those selected to perform were a mixed group of styles that ranged from the opening act Ken Hurd who offered up some of his own folk music, followed by artists known for their Americana, folk, Bossa Nova, pop and easy listening styles. All selected based on their local popularity and listening room style of original music, and a small array of cover songs.
Other folks showed up for the opening, including videographer, Steve Pendlebury; Ron Goad (7-time “best supporter” awardee of DC music); Diana Quinn (Root Boy Slim, Snarky Sisters); Marcy Cochran (Award winning D.C. area violinist); Josh Alexander (MacKenzie’s Tunes & Tonics); Sherry Stewart (Sunny@Midnight); singer-songwriters, Joe Shade, Paul Wolfe, Tom Bodine, and more.
In order of appearance “First Day” (Friday, 12/8/2023) artists were:
