Passim is much, much more than a music venue. It’s more than a landmark, it’s more than a music school, it’s more than a grant-giver, it’s more than an incubator for talent. It is all these things, sure. But when you put them together, Club Passim is the heartbeat and maybe even the conscience of folk/roots music in Cambridge, Boston, and New England. If you haven’t been to Passim, you will soon, and you’ll be happy you did.

(Barnstar! at Passim. Image courtesy of www.passim.org)

Vibe. What to expect? This is a listening room. You go there to listen, really listen. It’s the only open mic I have ever been to that is pin-drop quiet. There are tables set up for the audience, with four seats at each table. You might end up sitting with people you don’t know. The whole room is probably 50’ x 30’, so you are inevitably close to performers and it’s easy for musicians to play without amplification when they choose to do so. Audience members are attentive and respectful; no one, no one, no one will yell out “Freebird” in the middle of a set.

Artists. Who plays at Passim? Some of the best known people in folk/roots music play Passim. Several acts that now play much bigger venues got their start here, including Lake Street Dive (here they are in 2010) and Josh Ritter (here he is in 2007). So you might see musicians who are at the beginning of incredible careers, others who are firmly established (Mark Erelli is such a regular that his kids think Passim is his office), and others who were most popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s but can still bring it every night (go see Geoff Muldaur if you have a chance). What is universally true is you will see incredibly talented people on this stage. Passim hosts festivals of different musical genres, like the Boston Celtic Music Fest or Down Home Up Here Bluegrass Festival or Alastair Moock’s Pastures of Plenty shows.

Grub. What can I eat? Passim’s food is yummy. In the last two years, they’ve renovated their kitchen and established a great menu. You can get a plate of fries if you just need a little nosh or choose from an array of salads, burgers (of vegetarian or carnivore varieties) or selections  of ravioli for entrees. I haven’t tried the desserts, but they look good enough to chuck all New Year’s resolutions about eating healthy out the window.

Booking. How do I play Passim? Be really good. Just kidding (but not kidding). Passim has great info on booking on their website. You should note a couple of things: 1) most gigs are booked out 5 months in advance; 2) they get a ton of inquiries; 3) the campfire festival is a great way for up-and-coming musicians to gain exposure.

One more thing: while this isn’t about the experience of live music at Passim, you should know about the Iguana Music Fund. Passim gives out approximately $45,000 a year in grants to New England musicians. It’s been a boon to local artists, including the first two volumes of RLR’s Locals Covering Locals series.

You should also check out these testimonies about Managing Director Matt Smith while you’re here.