Music’s biggest night is paying homage to indie locations this year.
The Grammys are set to air live Sunday from 8 to 11 p.m., with performances from BTS, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and more.
The show officially takes place at the iconic Los Angeles Convention Center, but the broadcast will also give airtime to America’s most cherished and historical venues — after a particularly challenging year for live music in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Recording Academy did not reveal whether performances will be live or taped, but did say that they’ll find a way to honor the indie joints and their staff, from managers to bartenders.
Here’s a few of the spaces set to be honored.
Hotel Café
Another Los Angeles landmark, the Hotel Café opened in 2000 and has made a name for itself as a beloved coffee shop and performance space, especially for intimate shows by acoustic singer-songwriters.
Beginning in 2004, the Hotel Café has put together an annual music tour, which has featured Sara Bareilles, Rachael Yamagata and other well known artists over the years.
The Troubadour
This West Hollywood nightclub opened in 1957 as a coffee house, before moving to its Santa Monica Boulevard location. It’s known for having been a hub of 1960s folk music, and was the subject of the 2011 documentary “Troubadours: Carole King / James Taylor & The Rise of the Singer-Songwriter.”
Apollo Theater
This famed Harlem music hall opened its doors in 1914 and became a quintessential part of the development of jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues and soul during the 20th century. The neoclassical theater is credited as serving as a launch pad for stars, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Jackson 5, Lauryn Hill and others.
The Station Inn
Down in Nashville, Tennessee, the Station Inn is a world renowned hub for bluegrass music, in the nation’s country capital. A slate of the genre’s biggest names have performed there over the years, and in 2020 its owner was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.
The LA Convention Center
Most of the night will take place in the Los Angeles Convention Center, instead of its usual home across the way at the Staples Center. Though admittedly less glam, stars are nonetheless excited for the opportunity to perform at all.
“You know, it’s definitely different, but it’s been fun to just be in a bubble with my team and my dancers and really just getting ready for the night,” performer Dua Lipa told the Washington Post from inside the Convention Center during rehearsals. “I’m just really thinking about the performance and I’m just so excited and so grateful to just be on that stage again.”