Fête (Providence, RI) Music Venue

With wrought iron light fixtures, vintage wallpaper, and a devil-may-care attitude pervading the hot young crowd, Fête brings a little New Orleans to New England. Since its opening in 2011, the club has split its stage time between DJ nights and local and cutting-edge bands from all genres, with a sprinkling of headliners such as Mos Def and Talib Kweli.

Oddball events at Fête like karate tournaments, rap battles, and dance parties test the ballroom’s capacity of 930. Patrons can grab a “hot wiener” from the famous Olneyville New York System and dance off the grease once inside, since the venue’s bistro isn’t due to open until 2013.

Getting to Fête from Boston is no big feat – simply take the commuter rail from South Station and arrive in Providence just shy of an hour later. Those journeying by car can park in one of two nearby lots, or opt for the club’s valet service. Regardless of the act of the night, a few things are true of an event or concert at Fête: it’s going to be loud, exciting, and raucous.