Friday, October 23, 2026
Baltimore’s Vibes, 7 Days a Week

Happy Friday, Baltimore. It’s been four months since The 8x10 went dark, and tonight it swings its doors back open under new ownership — more on that below, because it matters. Metro Baltimore is hosting a two-night death metal invasion. Nevermore Hall wants you dressed as a vampire by 9 PM. The symphony’s doing Mozart over coffee. And somewhere on the east side, a promoter is DJing a trance party and won’t tell you where until the day of. That’s Baltimore for you. 35 verified things to do tonight — let’s get into it.

The 8x10 is open again. Baltimore’s beloved Federal Hill rock club — closed since June — reopened October 8th under new ownership: musicians Cris Jacobs and Chris Perella, along with Jeremy Rusen and Dave Rather. The room got a new sound system, new bars, and (a first) actual food service. Tonight’s the kind of booking that makes it feel like nothing skipped a beat.

Death of Summer Pt. 6, Night One @ Metro Baltimore

Two nights of Baltimore’s filthiest death metal fest kick off tonight: Fullminator headlines with Muscipula, Red Brick, Pesterer, and Barbell rounding out the bill. Doors 7, music 8. Heads up — Malignancy doesn’t play till Saturday, so if you came for them, you’ve got a night to kill first.

👉 CTA: https://www.jambase.com/show/fullminator-metro-baltimore-20261023

Palmyra w/ Geraldine @ The 8x10

The room that closed in June is open again, and this is the show that proves it — Philly folk-rock outfit Palmyra headlining with Geraldine opening, inside a freshly renovated Federal Hill institution with new sound, new bars, and food for the first time ever. Doors 7, show 8.

👉 CTA: https://www.tixr.com/groups/the8x10/events/palmyra-202320

Blade Rave: Vampire Blood Rave @ Nevermore Hall

A full vampire-themed dance rave at Power Plant Live’s newest room. Dress the part, dance till your fangs fall out. 18+, 9 PM.

👉 CTA: https://www.ticketmaster.com/blade-rave-baltimore-maryland-10-23-2026/event/150064E8B73F73C5

Shrek Rave: Cool Is Dead, Just Come Have Fun! @ Baltimore Soundstage

Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like — an all-night Shrek-themed dance party, green lighting and swamp-pop remixes included. 18+, doors/show 9 PM.

👉 CTA: https://www.baltimoresoundstage.com/events/shrek-rave-18-5/

Get The Led Out @ The Lyric

Baltimore’s own Led Zeppelin tribute machine returns to the Lyric for a note-for-note night of Zep. 8 PM — see event page for current pricing.

👉 CTA: https://baltimore.org/event/get-the-led-out/

YHWH Nailgun w/ KeiyaA, Samba Jean-Baptiste @ Ottobar

Experimental noise-punk outfit YHWH Nailgun brings its chaotic, drum-forward live show to the Ottobar, with KeiyaA and Samba Jean-Baptiste opening. 8 PM, $28.

👉 CTA: https://theottobar.com/event/yhwh-nailgun-with-guest-samba-jean-baptise/ottobar/baltimore-maryland/

Icons of Fright (Drag Show) @ Upstairs at the Ottobar

A horror-drag night upstairs at the Ottobar — expect blood, glamour, and lip-syncs you won’t forget. 8 PM, ~$10 per listing (give the ticket link a click to confirm before you go).

👉 CTA: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/81289458/icons-of-fright-baltimore-ottobar-upstairs?partner_id=100

Fat Butt Rodeo @ Upstairs at the Ottobar

The long-running late-night variety show saddles up again — 45 editions deep and still weird in all the right ways. 10 PM.

👉 CTA: https://theottobar.com/event/fat-butt-rodeo-45/upstairs-ottobar/baltimore-maryland/

BASH! @ Wax Atlas

HamIlton’s record shop turned DIY venue throws its signature BASH! — $10 at the door, music starts 7:30.

👉 CTA: https://shows.waxatlas.com/event/bash-at-wax-atlas/

Version: A Queer Dance Party @ Current Space

Station North’s experimental art space goes dance floor for the night with MUSE(O)FIRE and Alucarda on the lineup. 6 PM, $12.

👉 CTA: https://ra.co/events/2558332

Kut Klose @ Keystone Korner

’90s R&B girl group Kut Klose — the ones behind “Million Ways” — bring their harmonies to Baltimore’s premier jazz room. 6 PM.

👉 CTA: https://www.songkick.com/concerts/43376844-kut-klose-at-keystone-korner

Natalie & Brittany Haas @ Church on the Square

Sister act, serious pedigree: Brittany Haas (Hawktail, Dave Rawlings Machine) and Natalie Haas (a Grammy-nominated cellist) team up for an intimate fiddle-and-cello evening in a Mount Vernon church sanctuary. 7:30 PM, $30.

👉 CTA: https://baltimore.org/event/natalie-brittany-haas-music-on-the-square/

Friday Fun and Games (7 PM), Pocus Hocus: Halloween Comedy (8 PM) & The Fall of the House of Improv (9 PM) @ Highwire Improv

Three shows, one address, one very funny night at The Highwire Center — come for one, stay for all three. $10 for the back two; the 7 PM is pay-what-you-can via Eventbrite.

👉 CTA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-fun-and-games-improv-at-the-highwire-center-tickets-2002916416920

Tabletop Live! (7 PM), House Teams: The McGuillacuddies & Snake Oil (8 PM) & Who Are These People? (9 PM) @ Baltimore Improv Group

BIG runs a full slate on Charles Street tonight — a D&D-inspired improv show, a house-team double feature, and a character-monologue showcase. $10 (+ small fee) for the bookended shows.

👉 CTA: https://www.bigimprov.org/event-details-registration/tabletop-live-13

Jiaoying Summers @ Magooby’s Joke House

Stand-up favorite Jiaoying Summers plays two sets in Timonium tonight, 7 and 9:30 PM. 18+.

👉 CTA: https://www.magoobysjokehouse.com/events/138967

Peter Revello @ The Port Comedy Club

Touring stand-up Peter Revello plays two shows in Fells Point, 7:30 and 9:45 PM — see event page for current pricing (tickets have moved off the originally listed price).

👉 CTA: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/peter-revello/690233?afflky=ThePortComedyClub

The Droconomist Comedy Game Night @ Old Major

A scrappy, cheap, genuinely funny comedy game show at a neighborhood bar. $5 at the door, 7 PM.

👉 CTA: https://droconomist.com/rsvp-for-the-droconomist/

BSO Coffee Series: Mozart Meets Latin Masters @ Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

A late-morning matinee of Ginastera, Bruch, Mozart, and Piazzolla under guest conductor Giancarlo Guerrero — coffee and a croissant included at this one. 11 AM.

👉 CTA: https://my.bsomusic.org/overview/20343

The M.A.K.A.D.O: Make America Kingly Again! @ Baltimore Theatre Project

Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado, rewritten as Oval Office political satire. Opens tonight, runs through Sunday. 7:30 PM, $35 general / $25 students.

👉 CTA: https://theatreproject.org/the-makado/

Celebration: A Musical Tribute to Randolph Smith @ BCCC Liberty Heights Campus

Arena Players’ musical revue honoring Baltimore music and heritage opens tonight and runs through Sunday — see event page for showtime and tickets.

👉 CTA: https://www.arenaplayersinc.com/now-playing

Stoop Storytelling: Hellraisers @ Historic Mount Vernon Place Church

Live tales from real rebels and rabble-rousers — including Erricka Bridgeford and Frida Berrigan — with musical guest Glorian, inside a gorgeous Mount Vernon sanctuary the Stoop’s never used before. 7–9:30 PM, $25 ($15 students).

👉 CTA: https://stoopstorytelling.com/event/hellraisers-stories-about-rebels-rabble-rousers-and-the-moments-we-decided-to-stop-playing-nice/

Layers and Light: A Bright Night for the Arts Gala @ Baltimore Museum of Industry

Chesapeake Arts Center’s 25th-anniversary fundraiser takes over the Museum of Industry with art installations and light displays. 6–10 PM, $200/person — a splurge night, but a good cause.

👉 CTA: https://www.chesapeakearts.org/eventscalendar/gala

The Devils, Sense and Sensibility & more @ The Charles Theatre

Ken Russell’s banned-for-decades shocker “The Devils” gets a rare big-screen outing (1:05, 4:05, 6:45, 9:45) alongside a “Sense and Sensibility” re-release and four more titles playing today.

👉 CTA: https://thecharles.com/movies/

WHALEFALL & Wildwood @ The Senator Theatre

A deep-sea survival thriller (“WHALEFALL,” 1 & 7 PM) and the folk-horror of “Wildwood” (1, 4, 7, 9:50 PM) headline a five-film day at York Road’s grand old house.

👉 CTA: https://www.thesenatortheatre.com/

Live Band Improvised Score to “The Shining” @ The Bogus Gallery

A live band improvises the entire score to Kubrick’s “The Shining” in real time, subtitles rolling, no two showings alike. 8 PM, $10–$20.

👉 CTA: See Bogus Gallery’s social pages for ticketing — no direct link found.

No Orioles (off since the regular season ended) and no Ravens tonight — they’re saving it for Sunday against Cincinnati. Here’s what’s actually on:

Friday Night Fun Race (4 of 5) @ Downtown Sailing Center

The Inner Harbor’s weekly fun race series sails into its fourth of five rounds. 5:30 PM.

👉 CTA: https://downtownsailing.org/all-events

JHU Football vs. Gettysburg @ Homewood Field

Johns Hopkins hosts Gettysburg under the lights. 6 PM.

👉 CTA: https://hopkinssports.com/calendar

Loyola Women’s Volleyball vs. Colgate @ Reitz Arena

The Greyhounds host Colgate in a home conference tilt. 6 PM.

👉 CTA: https://loyolagreyhounds.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule

Towson Women’s Volleyball vs. Hampton @ SECU Arena

Tigers volleyball takes on Hampton. 2 PM.

👉 CTA: https://towsontigers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule

Trunk or Treat @ The Maryland Zoo

Free, family-friendly trunk-or-treating at the Zoo’s Bog Turtle Lot — costumes encouraged, candy guaranteed. 6–8 PM, free.

👉 CTA: https://www.marylandzoo.org/event_series/trunk-or-treat/october-23rd/

Movie Night: Monsters Inc. @ Manor Hill Brewing

Outdoor family movie night on the farm — bring blankets and lawn chairs. 7 PM, free.

👉 CTA: https://www.manorhillbrewing.com/event/movies/

Pumpkin Carving @ Union Craft Brewing

Carve a pumpkin, grab a pint. Low-key, free, very fall. 4 PM.

👉 CTA: https://www.unioncraftbrewing.com/events/26-pumpkin-carving

The Full Hunter Moon Hike @ Cromwell Valley Park

An evening hike timed to October’s full moon through one of the county’s prettiest parks. 7 PM, $6.

👉 CTA: https://cromwellvalleypark.org/event/10-23-the-full-hunter-moon-hike/

The Big Lebowski Night @ Cult Classic Brewing

Dude-approved: a full screening-and-drinks night built around the Coen Brothers classic. 7 PM.

👉 CTA: https://events.baltimoremagazine.com/event/the-big-lebowski-night

Clay & Play w/ Common Tone (5 PM), Food Drive Fridays (5 PM) & Friday Night Music Series (6 PM) @ Peabody Heights Brewery

A full Friday at the brewery: a craft-and-music hour, a food drive at the door, then live local music to close out the night.

👉 CTA: https://peabodyheightsbrewery.com/event/friday-night-music-series/2026-10-23/

Palmyra w/ Geraldine @ The 8x10

Federal Hill · Doors 7 PM, show 8 PM · tickets ~$29

Four months ago, Baltimore lost one of its most beloved rock rooms when The 8x10 went quiet. Tonight it’s back — bought and rebuilt by a crew of actual musicians (Cris Jacobs and Chris Perella among them), with a new sound system, new bars, and for the first time in the venue’s history, real food. The booking couldn’t be better: Philly’s Palmyra headlining a night that’s as much a welcome-home party as a concert. If you’ve ever had a good night in that room, go have another one.

👉 CTA: https://www.tixr.com/groups/the8x10/events/palmyra-202320

That’s 35 verified things to do in Baltimore tonight — go pick one (or four). Tomorrow’s edition brings Saturday’s full-day slate, so get some rest in between. Until then: yodel it from the rooftops. 🗣️⛰️