🌟 Who We Back

Exactly what it sounds like: a cozy, nostalgic basement vibe where creativity and community collide. Vintage pinball, quirky decor, and an intimate stage make it a perfect incubator for experimental sets, chill electronic jams, or pop-up performances. It's the kind of place where audiences feel like insiders, giving your collective a direct line to engaged, curious listeners.

Classic dive-bar charm with a friendly, unpretentious energy. Its dark wood interior, casual patio, and live music nights make it ideal for low-pressure, grassroots gigs. This is the venue for cultivating a loyal local following, where each performance feels personal, connected, and part of the city's authentic music heartbeat.

A hidden gem with throwback character, affordable drinks, and a devoted neighborhood crowd. It's intimate but lively — perfect for after-hours shows, ambient performances, or creative experiments that need a loyal, attentive audience. This is the kind of place where a collective like yours can truly embed itself into the city's music culture.

A cornerstone of Birmingham's live-music scene for decades. Even in its transitional phase, its legacy draws fans, musicians, and curious newcomers alike. Known for eclectic programming — from local indie bands to touring acts — it's a venue that champions diversity in sound and fosters a sense of belonging for artists and audiences alike. Partnering with Zydeco ties your collective to a lineage of creativity and community energy.

📍 Location: Five Points South, Birmingham

One of the Southeast's most respected independent promoters — the kind of company that consistently books shows that feel bigger than the scene around them. They have the reach, relationships, and regional muscle to elevate artists from local stages to multi-city runs. With roots in Birmingham and a professional but approachable team, they're exactly the kind of promoter who can take a collective with a defined identity and help them find the right rooms, the right crowds, and the right momentum.

Best known for helping alternative and boundary-pushing artists reach real audiences — not just listeners passing through, but the kinds of fans who stick. Their partnership with WorkPlay gives them a uniquely strong footprint in Birmingham: a beloved venue + a promoter with a proven ability to develop niche genres. If your collective leans experimental, electronic, or genre-blending, Third String is one of the best bridges into a curated, attentive crowd.

One of Alabama's longest-standing booking and entertainment agencies, and their strength is reliability and regional relationships. They understand the rhythms of Southern audiences better than anyone — which makes them ideal for recurring gigs, corporate events, festival placements, and crossover bookings that require a polished, professional presence. They've built decades of trust in the ecosystem, and partnering with them signals that you're serious, organized, and ready to scale.

Exactly what it sounds like: a cozy, nostalgic basement vibe where creativity and community collide. Vintage pinball, quirky decor, and an intimate stage make it a perfect incubator for experimental sets, chill electronic jams, or pop-up performances. It's the kind of place where audiences feel like insiders, giving your collective a direct line to engaged, curious listeners.

Classic dive-bar charm with a friendly, unpretentious energy. Its dark wood interior, casual patio, and live music nights make it ideal for low-pressure, grassroots gigs. This is the venue for cultivating a loyal local following, where each performance feels personal, connected, and part of the city's authentic music heartbeat.

A hidden gem with throwback character, affordable drinks, and a devoted neighborhood crowd. It's intimate but lively — perfect for after-hours shows, ambient performances, or creative experiments that need a loyal, attentive audience. This is the kind of place where a collective like yours can truly embed itself into the city's music culture.

A cornerstone of Birmingham's live-music scene for decades. Even in its transitional phase, its legacy draws fans, musicians, and curious newcomers alike. Known for eclectic programming — from local indie bands to touring acts — it's a venue that champions diversity in sound and fosters a sense of belonging for artists and audiences alike. Partnering with Zydeco ties your collective to a lineage of creativity and community energy.

📍 Location: Five Points South, Birmingham

A boutique artist-management firm with a big-picture mindset — the type that actively helps shape a musician's trajectory rather than simply reacting to opportunities. They're grounded in the Birmingham community but tuned into the wider Southeastern circuit, making them a great ally for collectives that want guidance, representation, or help establishing a cohesive brand. Think of them as creative collaborators as much as business partners.

One of Birmingham's standout indie labels — known for championing high-quality local talent and cultivating artists with longevity. They curate their roster carefully, with an ear for originality rather than trend-chasing. Being associated with them, even informally, places your collective in the orbit of serious independent creators with deep local roots.

A warm, inclusive tea house and community space in Avondale. Their tea menu is deep — offering everything from white and green to oolong, hei cha, and herbal, with most teas served by the pot and meant to be shared. But Cha House is more than a café: they regularly host community events like sound baths, reiki tea nights, contact improv + tea, and even a Death Café.

📍 Avondale: 131 41st St S, Birmingham

Space Available: Public and private gatherings — book for classes, tastings, or cozy collective-style events.

From the community: it's seen as a non-alcoholic, grounding hub — a place where people can hang, reflect, connect, and create.

A cultural nerve center — more than a record shop, it's a home for vinyl lovers, underground musicians, and the city's creative weirdos. They regularly support indie performances, in-store sets, and vinyl-first artists. If your music leans eclectic, crate-digger-friendly, or retro-future in vibe, Seasick is one of the best places to build long-term credibility in Birmingham's music culture.

One of the city's most active grassroots art spaces, known for small but vibrant shows, multimedia nights, and truly open community engagement. They're a perfect fit for collectives that thrive on collaboration and cross-genre experimentation. EVA is the kind of space where an artist can try something new, take risks, and build a scene organically.

One of Birmingham's most forward-thinking, community-driven festivals — a blend of music, art, wellness, and immersive culture that attracts exactly the type of open-minded audience your collective thrives with. Many of the key organizers are Birmingham-based, making it a high-value local network as well as a festival platform. Getting involved with Awaken signals creativity, collaboration, and an alignment with a progressive artistic scene.