First City Records creates space for all-ages entertainment

Entertainment First City Records creates space for all-ages entertainment By Gwen Sour November 12, 2026 3 min read SLAMD, a band based out of Marietta, performs at First City Records recently. (Photo provided) John Borchard of Cutler Station plays a pedal steel guitar during a show at First City Records earlier this month. (Photo provided) Cutler Station performs at First City Records all-ages event venue recently. (Photo provided) 1 / 3 expand close ✕ SLAMD, a band based out of Marietta, performs at First City Records recently. (Photo provided) John Borchard of Cutler Station plays a pedal steel guitar during a show at First City Records earlier this month. (Photo provided) Cutler Station performs at First City Records all-ages event venue recently. (Photo provided) 1 / 3 Trending MARIETTA -- First City Records is making room for more than record shoppers, with owner Aaron Whited developing an all-ages entertainment venue designed to give young audiences and emerging musicians a place in Marietta's music scene. Whited said the store can transform in less than five minutes from a retail space into a venue accommodating 100 to 150 people. The business is adding concerts, movie screenings and comedy to its offerings while work on the space continues. "We're trying to be an alternative to the alternatives," Whited said. A central goal is pairing acts with established followings with younger performers, giving newcomers experience onstage and an opportunity to reach an audience. Whited said he also wanted to create a place where people younger than 18 could watch live music or perform without the restrictions they might encounter at a bar. Conversations with community members helped shape that direction. When he asked what people wanted, he said, a recurring answer was more activities for teenagers. "We chose to be unapologetically all ages," Whited said. Although some special events could be limited to those 21 and older, Whited said welcoming younger audiences is a strength of the venue. The space recently hosted an album release party for Cutler Station. Whited said his record label released the band's fifth studio album, marking the label's fourth release. A listening party preceded the release celebration, which served as a deadline for getting the venue ready. "We barely got in under the wire, but we got it," Whited said. "We made it work." He said the space remains a work in progress, with additional equipment and improvements still to come. One upcoming event, Christmas Breakout, is scheduled for Dec. 29 and grew out of requests from parents seeking activities for teenagers during Christmas break. The event will feature rapper 740Luca, whom Whited said recently released his first EP, and Color Collective, a group of musicians who are in high school or recently graduated. Whited said Color Collective finished second in a Battle of the Bands competition and brought the largest following of any participating band, making the group a good fit for the teen event. A movie screening will follow the music. Whited is seeking teachers, parents and other responsible adults to volunteer as chaperones. Anyone interested can contact the shop. Parents who want to stay during the event are welcome to spend time in the record store, he said. First City Records also is partnering with Marietta Main Street for a holiday movie marathon from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 29. The lineup will include the original "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!," "Frosty the Snowman" and the stop-motion "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Donations and concession profits will benefit Marietta Main Street's Christmas programming, including downtown holiday lights, Whited said. Other upcoming entertainment includes a performance by the new band Lazy Mary at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and a comedy open mic Dec. 30. Whited said the open mic will help introduce comedy programming ahead of a planned February show featuring visiting comedians. Performers who stand out at the open mic could earn a five-minute spot in that show. As the schedule grows, Whited said the focus remains on giving people opportunities to experience and participate in live entertainment, particularly those who might otherwise be overlooked.