by Hallie Rybka

With the weather heating up, Baltimoreans are getting ready to hit the pool—and go to concerts. Baltimore boasts entertainment venues to meet anyone’s taste in shows and music, perfect for the wide variety of residents and visitors in the city.

Baltimore has every excuse to being a major stop for bands and musicians on the tour circuit. The musical tastes in Baltimore range from urban to indie underground and pop. With seven major universities within a close proximity to downtown, there is always a student demand for entertainment. To meet the demand of concert-goers, Baltimore supplies numerous entertainment venues, each offering a different setting to fit the styles of all the entertainers that come through town.

A favorite venue for college students is Rams Head Live near the Inner Harbor. The venue is open floor space for standing with a loft for seating. Box Office Manager Derek Shaffer said, “We actually get quite a few of sold out shows, mainly the indie bands that are starting to get well known. Citizen Cope just sold out last weekend.” The capacity is about 1,600 people. Liz Rupp, a sophomore at Loyola University, attended the Citizen Cope concert. Describing the scene, she said, “Everyone is very upbeat. The open space forces people to stand and dance.”

First Mariner Arena is the location for big name artists and large shows. Such a large venue allows for video screens, special effects and extravagant lighting, making it ideal for artists from Britney Spears to Lil’ Wayne. In warmer months, Pier 6 is another ideal location for major concerts. The tented pavilion on the Inner Harbor seats 3,000 under the cover and another 1,000 on a lawn area.

Sonar is a medium sized venue downtown that hosts more underground bands. Matisyahu was sold out last fall and a Loyola student band, A Cool Stick, played at Sonar in March. When no one is performing, Sonar doubles as a night club.

The smallest and most intimate of the entertainment venues is The Recher in Towson, just south of Towson Town Center shopping area and mall. The wood paneling walls do not make for the best acoustics, but college students love cramming into the tight space to hear less-hyped bands, like Sublime tribute band, Badfish. Preston Button, a freshman at Towson University, has already made it to a few concerts at The Recher. He said, “When I get my pay check, I don’t waste money on video games or clothes. I buy concert tickets, stuff to have a good time.”

The end of the academic year is cause for spring concerts. Loyola University recently hosted Eric Hutchinson, and Towson University is sponsoring Drake at Pier 6 on May 5 for a concert open to the public. For concert-goers staying in Baltimore all summer, the big hit is expected to be the Black Eyed Peas performing at First Mariner Arena on August 10.