Emo Nights and Emo Club Nights: How to Find One Near You
There's nothing quite like a room full of strangers screaming the bridge of a Taking Back Sunday song at 1 a.m. That's an emo night: a club night where the DJ plays the emo and pop punk anthems you grew up with, and everyone sings like they're 16 again.
Here's how to find one near you, what to expect and how to have the best night even if you go solo.
What an emo night actually is
An emo night is a party, not a concert. Instead of a band on stage, there's usually a DJ (or a couple of them) playing emo, pop punk, post-hardcore and scene hits, mostly from the late '90s through the 2000s. Expect a lot of:
- My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Panic! at the Disco
- Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World, New Found Glory and The Starting Line
- Post-hardcore bangers with screaming breakdowns
- A few newer bands from the emo revival
- Occasionally a guilty-pleasure pop song, played "ironically"
The vibe is loud, sweaty, silly and very friendly. It's karaoke with 300 people, where nobody judges your voice.
Where emo nights came from
Emo nights took off in the mid-2010s. Emo Nite, started by Morgan Freed and T.J. Petracca in Los Angeles in December 2014, began as a small party in Echo Park and grew into a touring brand that throws nights in cities across the US. Emo Night Brooklyn, started in 2015 by Alex Badanes and Ethan Macc, also tours widely.
Since then, local emo nights have popped up in bars and clubs all over the world, run by fans, DJs and venues who noticed that people really, really want to scream along to "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" on a Saturday.
How to find an emo night near you
Emo nights move around and change names, so a little searching goes a long way.
Search the obvious places
- Instagram and TikTok: search "emo night" plus your city. Local nights post flyers and set times there first.
- Event apps and ticket sites: Eventbrite, Dice, Bandsintown and Ticketmaster all list emo nights. Search "emo night" or "pop punk night."
- Facebook events: still one of the best ways to find small local parties.
- Reddit: your city's subreddit or a local music subreddit often has threads about the best alt nights.
Check the venues
Look at the calendars of your local rock clubs, dive bars with a DJ booth and mid-size music venues. Many run a monthly emo or pop punk night, often under a pun-filled name.
Follow the touring brands
The big touring emo nights post their city lists on their websites and socials. If one is coming to your town, it's usually a bigger, more produced night with a full room.
Look for related nights
Can't find an emo night? Try pop punk nights, 2000s nights, scene nights or alternative club nights. Lots of goth and alt clubs also run an emo room or a themed night once in a while.
Always check the event's latest socials before you go, since dates, venues and age policies change.
What to expect on the night
- It starts slow. The first hour can be quiet. The room usually fills up and gets loud later.
- Set times are late. Many nights peak after midnight.
- Everyone sings. Every word. Loudly. Join in.
- There may be a pit. Some nights get rowdy during heavier songs. If you're not into it, stay at the side, and if someone falls, help them up.
- Bring ID. Most emo nights are 18+ or 21+ depending on the venue.
What to wear
Emo nights are a great excuse to dress up, but nobody checks your outfit at the door.
- Full throwback: band tee, skinny jeans, studded belt, wristbands, eyeliner and a side fringe. Our emo hairstyles guide can help with that.
- Scene revival: neon streaks, teased hair, bright accessories.
- Low effort, high comfort: black tee, black jeans, comfy shoes.
Wear shoes you can jump in. You'll be jumping.
Going alone (and loving it)
Emo nights might be the easiest place on earth to make friends. Everyone already shares your taste in music, and there's a natural icebreaker every three minutes.
- Stand near the front or the dance floor, where people are most social.
- Sing along with the people next to you. Shared screaming is bonding.
- Use the music. "This song is my whole teenage years" starts a lot of conversations.
- Compliment an outfit. People put effort in and love hearing it.
More ideas in our guide on how to make friends at concerts.
Find your emo night crew online first
If you'd rather walk in already knowing someone, find your people before the night. Alt Chat is a free app where emo, pop punk, goth and metal people meet, chat and hang out. You can browse alt people nearby, check out their profile song and jump into live group chat rooms. Our guide to emo chat rooms has more on finding the right ones.
Turning up with three new friends from the app is a great way to start a night.
No emo night in your town? Start one
Plenty of today's biggest emo nights started with a couple of friends and a laptop. If your town doesn't have one:
- Talk to a local bar or small venue about a slow weeknight.
- Build a playlist that mixes huge hits with fan-favorite deep cuts.
- Make a fun flyer and post it everywhere local alt people hang out online.
- Invite your friends and tell them to bring friends.
Worst case, you have a great night with ten people. Best case, it becomes the monthly party everyone talks about.
And if you're dreaming bigger, see our guide to When We Were Young festival, the emo night of all emo nights.
FAQ
What is an emo night?
An emo night is a club or bar party where DJs play emo, pop punk and post-hardcore hits, mostly from the 2000s, and the whole room sings along. Think of it as a big, loud, nostalgic dance party rather than a gig with a live band.
What do you wear to an emo night?
Whatever makes you feel like your 2006 self: band tees, skinny jeans, studded belts, eyeliner, a side fringe or some big scene hair. Plenty of people just wear black and comfy shoes, and that's totally fine.
Is it weird to go to an emo night alone?
Not at all. Lots of people go solo, and it's one of the easiest nights to meet people because everyone is already screaming the same songs. Stand near the front and you'll have new friends by the third chorus.
How do I find an emo night near me?
Search Instagram and event apps for "emo night" plus your city, check the calendars of local rock clubs and bars, and follow the touring emo night brands, which post their city lists online.
