There's a new player in DC when it comes to concert venues and dance clubs. The former DC Star nightclub is under new management and a new name: Echostage. Meant to rival current popular spots such as Fur and Josephine, Echostage is being made over more as a concert hall than a traditional dance/nightclub.

Dancers hit the floor hard at Echostage. — Photo courtesy of Echostage Facebook page

The club on Queens Chapel Road can currently hold up to 4,000 music and dance lovers. A full slate of nearly nightly music and concerts is already scheduled on the large stage. Popular "Club Glow" events put on by Panorama Productions on Saturday nights are now taking place at Echostage. While electronic dance music is still the mainstay of the club, the new managers hope to feature more hip-hop and rock performances in the future.

Music makers keep the dance floor hopping at Echostage. — Photo courtesy of Echostage Facebook page

Some changes have already happened – larger dance floor, new stage and so forth. The next few months will see the club undergoing further renovations. Decor will be changed, new sound and light technology added and additional structural changes are also planned. The makeover is aimed at making Echostage more of a massive indoor concert venue, something many feel is in short supply in the D.C. area.

The crowd dances as a DJ performs at Echostage. — Photo courtesy of Echostage Facebook page

Echostage is scheduled to close for a period in January 2013 for more extensive changes, including the building of a mezzanine and an outdoor patio. The goal: upping the capacity to some 5,000 music fans.