WASHINGTON — An idea that sprouted 15 years ago is now coming to fruition. The Go-Go Museum is officially on its way to D.C.
Construction began on Wednesday, as workers broke ground in the historic Anacostia Southeast neighborhood. With notable guests such as Filmmaker Spike Lee and Mayor Muriel Bowser in attendance.
During the ceremony, Bowser proclaimed November 15, “Spike Lee Day,” for the attention he brought to the genre. Take Go-Go outside of D.C. and highlight it in other parts of the country.
The brick-and-mortar museum will open in Spring 2024, but the Mobile Go-Go Museum was unveiled on Wednesday. The mobile museum is the first of its kind in the entire country.
The Mobile Go-Go Museum is a 28-passenger mobile bus with a hydraulic performance stage on the roof! Inside the bus is a pop-out DJ booth. On the outside, are murals of the greats that have helped elevate the genre over the years, including Anwan ‘Big G’ Glover from Backyard Band, Big Tony from Trouble Funk, and the Godfather of Go-Go himself, Mr. Chuck Brown.
"With our new GO-GO Mobile Museum, we will now be able to bring our music, culture, and history into our schools, festivals and communities across all 8 Wards all year round," says Co-Founder/CEO of Don’t Mute DC, Ronald Moten.
Go-Go functions have been a part of DMV culture for decades, with clubs such as Le Pearl Ballroom and Lounge, The CFE Event Center, Aqua Lounge dedicated just to Go-Go performances. Unfortunately, most of these locations were shut down due to crime, leaving DMV natives with few options to enjoy a good bounce beat.
However, most recently, a local rapper by the name of Noochie, launched a series on social media called ‘Front Porch Freestyles’ to revive the D.C. sound. It's a series dedicated to bringing live band performances from hip-hop and Go-Go to the masses.
This new Go-Go museum will also offer a space for everyone to beat their feet once again. In addition to highlighting the culture of Go-Go, the museum will feature a restaurant, recording studio, and performance space to help future generations embrace and produce D.C.’s official music for many more decades to come.
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