It’s strange to walk into 529 now and not be overcome by the smell of stale sweat and cigarette smoke, but even though the newly expanded club still feels vaguely clinical, I can already sense the grime oozing into the rafters of the big room and the disconcertingly pristine bathrooms. Since its founding a decade ago as the sister venue of the EARL, the club has become a central point for the DIY scene in the East Atlanta Village. Home to the iconic DKA Sisters of Turkey Thanksgiving dance party, and Amos Rifkin’s perpetual metal shows, 529 is celebrating their tenth anniversary and expansion with three nights of punk and metal featuring heavy hitters like All the Saints, Royal Thunder, Order of the Owl, Shepherds, and the long-awaited return of Wizard Smoke.

To an outsider, the new look might seem indicative of the explosive residential growth that EAV has seen in the past few years, yet it remains to be seen what effect the larger capacity will have on 529 shows. Over the past decade, the venue has focused on the local scene more than relying on touring acts, and the small room allowed the club to take chances on niche shows that weren’t guaranteed to draw crowds.

In particular, 529, whether by design or convenience, became a focal point for the punk and metal scenes (have I mentioned the tenth anniversary lineup?). It’s a fact that hasn’t escaped Order of the Owl, one of Atlanta’s foremost doom bands, and a crew that has played innumerable shows at the club. “529 was a bar that really embraced heavy bands from early in its presence in EAV,” the band tells Immersive. “A lot of us look at that place as our family and we’ve all grown together over the years. Their expansion was a few years in the making, and well worth the wait.”

But will the increased overhead from moving from a 150 to a 250 cap room affect 529’s ability to embrace local metal and punk with the same fervor as in the past? Matt Lambert of All the Saints is optimistic, but says that he will miss the small room. “I think 529, in a way, became an immediate staple to the neighborhood,” he elaborates. “I remember going in early on thinking, ‘All this place needs is 30 years on it.’ I know, personally, it was an immediate go-to. They did such a good job with the space by creating small, partitioned rooms that made it easy for small locals and upstart touring bands to play a venue that had a ton of energy with a very good sound system. Usually these claustrophobic/high-energy environments are found in house parties, so that aspect was a game changer.”

Once all the nostalgia is sifted out, the reality is that the big room is a step forward for 529, says general manager and Irrelevant Music boss Kyle Swick. When asked whether 529 will remain as committed to local artists as before, the answer was a resounding yes. According to Swick, “The only differences now will be better quality [and] clarity in room sound, as we’ve installed an entire new stage and PA system. Plus, we can now provide a more comfortable experience for both artists and patrons with a full new green room [and] artist lounge, two new rest rooms, a much more spacious main room, and a brand new, fully functional second bar. Though we can accommodate larger national and international artists because of the expansion [and] upgrades, 529 and Irrelevant Music will continue to serve as a home for our local music and arts community, and we will continue to work tirelessly on establishing Atlanta as a music hub of the Southeast.”

Considering the dearth of venues in the city, the uncertain future of Broad Street, and the closure of Mammal Gallery, that tireless work is more important than ever. If 529 as a venue is more critical to Atlanta, then the new room represents a commitment to the scene. And with all the added space, there’s no longer an excuse to drink on the patio while bands are playing.

529 Tenth Anniversary Lineup

Thu., May 31
20 Watt Tombstone
Gunpowder Gray
Order of the Owl
Royal Thunder
9 p.m. | $12 Adv | $15 Dos | 21+ Only

Fri., June 1
Don Chambers
W8ING4UFOS
5:30 p.m. | Donations | 21+ Only

Fri., June 1
Vincas
Shepherds
The Pinx
Tom Cheshire & Friends
9 p.m. | $12 Adv | $15 Dos | 21+ Only

Sat., June 2
Stand Up Stand Off with Henry and Sarah Owings and friends
3 p.m. | Donations | 21+ Only

Sat., June 2
Psych Army DJs
Uniform
Wizard Smoke
All the Saints
9 p.m. | $12 Adv | $15 Dos | 21+ Only

More Info
Web: 529atlanta.com
Facebook: @529eav
Twitter: @529_EAV