Music & Concerts
Music makes us come together
D.C. is always home to more concerts than you could possibly write about. Here are some of the season’s highlights.
Barns at Wolf Trap
1645 Trap Rd.
Vienna, Va. 22182
Spring highlights:
Antares -March 19
Jeri Sager – March 20
HAPA -March 23-24
Bastianello & Lucrezia -March 26
John Eaton -March 27
Shemekia Copeland -March 28
Richard Marx and Matt Scannell -April 6
Ruthie Foster and John Hammond -April 7
Moya Brennan -April 8
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet -April 9
Julie Murphy Wells -April 10
The Bad Plus -April 13
Livingston Taylor -April 15-16
Luke Brindley -April 22
Lucy Kaplansky -April 23
Buskin & Batteau -April 24
The Bobs -April 28
John McCutcheon -April 29
Bonnie Rideout -April 30
For more information: 703-255-1900 or wolf-trap.org
Black Cat
1811 14th St. N.W.
Washington D.C. 20009
Spring highlights:
Black Lips, Box Elders, The Vermilions -March 19
Close to the Edge featuring DJ Dredd -March 19
Fruit Bats, Blue Giant, The Singleman Affair -March 20
Right Round featuring DJ lilíe -March 20
Magik Markers, Buildings -March 21
The Ruby Suns, Toro y Moi -March 24
Jukebox The Ghost, Tally Hall, Skybox -March 25
The Saturday Night Dance Party -March 27
The So So Glos, The Pharmacy -March 28
The Smith Westerns, So Cow, The Cheniers -April 1
Sorted with DJ Stereo Faith -April 2
HomoSonic -April 4
Tim Barry, Red Clay River -April 5
Exit Clov, Gringo Star -April 8
High on Fire, Priestess, Black Cobra, Bison B.C. -April 11
Freddie T & The People, Brandon Bulter -April 12
Shortstack, Birds of Avalon, Suns of Guns -April 16
Ugly Purple Sweater, La Strada, Lucia Lucia -April 20
Bitch -April 29
Echo & The Bunnymen -April 30
These United States, The Mother Hips -May 15
Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra -May 19
For more information: 202-667-4490 or blackcatdc.com
Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave. N.W.
Washington D.C. 20007
Spring highlights:
Earl Klugh -March 20
Swing Shift -March 21
Sherrie Maricle & The Diva Jazz Trio -March 22
Gregg Karukas -March 23
Nicole Henry -March 24
Stanley Jordan -March 28
The Outer Bridge Ensemble -March 29
Dan Leonard -April 6
Dani Cortaza -April 7
Bucky Pizzarelli -April 8-10
James Madison High School Band -April 11
Richard Montgomery High School -April 12
Columbia Jazz Band -April 12
The Dave Brubeck Quartet -April 16-18
The World Famous Count Basie Orchestra -April 20-25
Yellowjackets -May 6-8
Teri S -May 12
Larry Coryell Power Trio -May 13-16
Marcus Young -May 18
Spyro Gyra -May 20-23
John Eaton -May 25
For more information: 703-549-7500 or bluesalley.com
DAR Constitution Hall
1776 D St., N.W.
Washington D.C. 20006
Spring highlights:
Fresh Fest with Salt-N-Pepa -March 20
The Moody Blues -March 26
Vampire Weekend -April 3
Phoenix -April 26
For more information: 202-628-1776 or dar.org/conthall
DC9
1940 Ninth St. N.W.
Washington D.C. 20009
Spring highlights:
Bonjour, Ganesh! -March 20
Barefoot Truth -March 21
My Disco -March 23
Miles Kurosky of Beulah -March 24
Natalia Clavier -March 27
A Sunny Day In Glasgow -March 28
today the moon, tomorrow the sun -March 29
The Appleseed Cast -April 13
The Mary Onettes -April 20
The Points -April 22
Nouveau Riche -April 24
Captured! By Robots -May 4
Eluvium -May 17
For more information: 202-483-5000 or dcnine.com
DC Center
1810 14th St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
Tom Goss Live: Launching his new Marriage Equality EP Politics of Love -April 1
For more information: 202-682-2245 or thedccenter.org
Folger Elizabethan Theatre
201 East Capitol St., S.E.
Washington D.C. 20003
Spring highlights:
Ballets and Brawls: French Music of Court and Countryside -March 19-March 21
A Musical Banquet: Songs for Lute, Voice and Viol -April 9-April 11
For more information: 202-544-7077 or folger.edu
GMU Center For The Arts
4373 Mason Pond Dr.
Fairfax, VA 22030
Spring highlights:
Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra with Lang Lang -April 3
GMU Percussion Ensemble Concert -April 6
GMU Chamber Orchestra -April 13
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields -April 23-25
GMU Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band Spring Concert -April 27
Flutopia Flute Choir -May 4
For more information: 888-945-2468 or gmu.edu/cfa
Iota Restaurant & Bar
2832 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201
Spring highlights:
Tom McBride and the Whig Party -March 19
Dead Heart Bloom with Aaron Thompson -March 20
David Ford -March 21
Amy Sullivan and the Whiskey Darlings -March 22
Justin Trawick -April 2
The U-Liners -April 3
El Ten Eleven -April 6
Caravan of Thieves -April 8
The Walkaways -April 24
Red Elvises -May 1
For more information: 703-522-8340 or iotaclubandcafe.com
Jammin’ Java
227 Maple Ave. E.
Vienna, VA 22180
Spring highlights:
Steve Forbert -March 19
Dreaming of Eden + The Chuck Shaffer Picture Show -March 19
Al Petteway and Amy White -March 21
Collective Change – Haiti Benefit Concert -March 23
Jim Weiderís Project Percolator -March 24
The Hint -March 26
Sara Borges and the Broken Singles -March 26
Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie Band -March 28
Army of Me -March 28
Pierre Bensusan -March 31
Benjy Davis Project -April 1
DC101ís Last Band Standing -April 6, April 13, April 21, April 27
Sara Watkins -April 20
Adrian Belew -April 22
Faze Electro Dance Party with Menya and Ypset and Santi -April 24
Graham Parker and the Figgs -May 1
Michelle Shocked -May 7
Boys Will Be Boys -May 8
Aqualung -May 9
Dan Navarro -May 14
Crash Test Dummies -May 16
For more information: 703-255-1566 or jamminjava.com
Kennedy Center
2700 F St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20566
Spring highlights:
The Washington Chorus performs Mozartís Requiem -March 26, Concert Hall
Vocal Arts Society: America Sings Festival Showcase -April 10, Concert Hall
Marietta Simpson -April 21, Concert Hall
Gospel Across America Special -April 24, Concert Hall
Escher Quartet -April 26, Concert Hall
Barbara Cookís Broadway Spotlight: Laura Benanti -April 30, Terrace
Vocal Arts Society: Christine Brewer and Craig Rutenberg -May 7, Concert Hall
Jennifer Koh and Reiko Uchida -May 9, Concert Hall
Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival -May 20-May 22, Terrace
For more information: 202-467-4600 or kennedy-center.org
Lisner Auditorium
730 21st St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20052
Spring highlights:
Grease: The Gay Men’s Chourus of Washington presents a fully staged, all-male production of thie Broadway musical -March 19 thru March 21
Angelique Kidjo -March 27
Caetano Veloso -April 10
Rokia Traore -April 11
Time Machine -Mashina Vremeni -April 13
Music from the Crooked Road: Mountain Music of Virginia -April 16
Joe Bonamassa -April 23
Baaba Maal -April 29
The Fab Faux -May 22
For more information: 202-994-6800 or lisner.org
The Library of Congress-Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First St. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Spring highlights:
Jean-Guihen Queyras and Alexandre Tharaud -March 12
Curtis Contemporary Music Ensemble -March 15
Voces Intimae -March 26
Juilliard String Quartet -April 9
Henschel Quartet -April 14
Alexander String Quartet, Afiara String Quartet -April 16
Jack Quartet -April 30
Woodley Ensemble -May 14
Ensemble Caprice -May 28
Mahan Esfahani -May 29
For more information: 202-707-8000 or loc.gov/concerts
Lyric Opera House
140 West Mount Royal Ave.
Baltimore, Md. 21201
Spring highlights:
Norah Jones -March 30
David Gray -March 31
Angie Stone and Leela James -April 17
For more information: 410-685-5086 or lyricoperahouse.com
Merriweather Post Pavilion
10475 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
Spring highlights:
My Morning Jacket -May 1
Sugarland -May 16
The Bamboozle Roadshow featuring All Time Low and Boys Like Girls -May 21
For more information: 800-551-SEAT or merriweathermusic.com
Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852
Spring highlights:
The Celtic Tenors -March 12
Ari Allal -March 24
Naomi Kudo -March 25
US Royalty with DJ Will Eastman -March 26
Tom Wopat -March 28
David Garrett -March 31
E.M. Spencer -April 2
Sezen Aksu -April 4
Gato & the Palenke Music Co. -April 9
George Winston, A Solo Piano Concert -April 9
Romeo and Julia Koren -April 13
Songs of the Earth: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day -April 23
Patti LuPone presents ìThe Gypsy in my Soulî for Strathmoreís 2010 Spring Gala -April 24
Nancy Wilson -May 7
An Evening with Rosanne Cash and Mark OíConnor -May 8
For more information: 301-581-5100 or strathmore.org
National Philharmonic-Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852
Spring highlights:
All Brahms -March 20, March 21
Brahms Requiem -March 27
From Mozart to Mahler -April 17, April 18
Vivaldiís Gloria -May 1
The Polish Masters and Schumann -May 22
For more information: 301-493-9283 or nationalphilharmonic.org
Ram’s Head Live
20 Market Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
Spring highlights:
Charm City Devils -March 19
Mat Kearney & Ingrid Michaelson -March 20
Ben Folds -March 24
Mr. Greengenes -March 26
Julian Casablancas -March 28
The Fabulous Thunderbirds -March 31
The Big Pink with A Place To Bury Strangers -April 1
Artic Monkeys -April 7
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony -April 8
Steel Panther -April 9
Hotspur -April 10
2U: U2 tribute band -April 17
Mastodon -April 20
Jakob Dylan and Three Legs -April 22
Josh Gracin -April 23
Gogol Bordello -April 29-30
Who ís Bad: A Michael Jackson Tribute Band -May 1
Charlie Mars -May 12
Get the Led Out -May 15
For more information: 410-244-1131 or ramsheadlive.com
Ram’s Head on Stage
33 West St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
Spring highlights:
Eddie from Ohio -March 19-20
The Machine Unplugged -March 20
Amos Lee -March 20
Celtic Crossroads -March 21
HAPA -March 22
Ledisi -March 27
Tower of Power -March 28
Alice Smith -March 31
Pat McGee -April 1
Rhett Miller -April 3
Keith Emerson & Greg Lake -April 5
Christopher Cross -April 10
Joan Osborne -April 11
Gary Wright -April 15
Sonny Landreth -April 16
Lalah Hathaway -April 18
Swing Out Sister -April 20
Ambrosia -April 21
Colin Hay -April 25
The Church -April 27
Mick Taylor -May 6
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings -May 7
Sia -May 8
Chris Botti -May 10-11
Vonda Shepard -May 12
Phil Vassar -May 14-15
Beth Nielsen Chapman -May 24
Toad the Wet Sprocket -May 29
For more information: 410-268-4545 or ramsheadonstage.com
Rock & Roll Hotel
1353 H St. N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
Spring highlights:
Junior League Band -March 19
Epic Dance Party with DJ Doc Rok -March 19
Garutachi with DJ Austin and DJ Ca$$idy -March 20
Bio Ritmo -March 20
Solar Powered Sun Destroyer -March 25
Shearwater, Wye Oak and Hospital Ships -March 26
Woods, Real Estate, Surf City -March 27
Japandroids, Love Is All, Tennis System -March 29
Gang Gang Dance, Highlife -March 30
Rattler -April 3
100 Monkeys -April 7
Pants Velour, Fuzzy G, The Canon Logic -April 10
ThíLegendary Shack*Shakers -April 13
Liars, Fol Chen -April 14
Trams Am, Nice Nice, Jonas Reinhardt -April 15
Mixtape -April 17
The Apples In Stereo -April 18
The Blue Line, Poor But Sexy, Drunk Tigers -April 23
Amanda Blank -April 24
Free Lobster Buffet -April 30
The Album Leaf, Sea Wolf -May 4
Imperial China -May 7
Patrick Wilson, Dovemen -May 8
Caribou, Toro Y Moi -May 10
Greg Laswell -May 24
Cobra Collective, Death by Sexy, Dead Heart Bloom -May 28
Black Dog Prowl -May 29
For more information: 202-388-ROCK or rockandrollhoteldc.com
The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22305
Spring highlights:
Average White Band -March 19-20
David Wilcox & Patty Larkin -March 21
Jonathan Butler -March 23
Carrie Newcomer & Peter Mayer -March 25
Jonatha Brooke & Lori McKenna -March 26
Ashford & Simpson -March 27
Anuhea & The Green -March 29
Bob Schneider -March 30
Robert Earl Keen -March 31
Keller Williams -April 2
Vivian Green -April 5
Keith Emerson & Greg Lake -April 6
Lizz Wright -April 7
Joan Osborne -April 8
Christopher Cross -April 9
Fourplay -April 12
Todd Rundgrenís Johnson -April 13
Michael McDonald -April 15
Guy Clark -April 17
Angie Stone -April 18
Swing Out Sister -April 19
The Wailiní Jennys -April 20
Colin Hay -April 23-24
Gentlemen of the Night -April 25
America: 40th Anniversary Tour -April 30, May 1
The English Beat -May 3
Kathy Mattea -May 6
Shawn Colvin -May 7
Shelby Lynne -May 11
Iris Dement -May 13
Chatham County Line -May 14
Virginia Coalition -May 15
Sweet Honey in the Rock -May 21-22
Toad the Wet Sprocket -May 27-28
Sonny Landreth & Tom Principato -May 29
Alex Bugnon -May 30
For more information: 703-549-7500 or birchmere.com
The Red & The Black
1212 H St. N.E.
Washington D.C., 20002
Spring highlights:
The Pubcrawlers -March 15
Rest Assured -March 17
Bellmer Dolls -March 19
One for the Team, The Prisms -March 21
YARN, Sgt Dunbar The Hobo Banned, Andrew Karnavas -March 25
Ravenous, FOX Japan, Caustic Casanova -March 26
Benyaro, Chris Merritt -March 28
Andalusian Dog -April 1
Shapiro, The Winter Sounds, Achtung Panda -April 4
East Coast Caravan -April 9
The Honeyguns -April 10
Lake Street Dive -April 13
Jounce -April 15
Horsehead -April 16
Deleon -April 17
For more information: 202-399-3201 or redandblackbar.com
The State Theatre
220 N. Washington St.
Falls Church, VA 22046
Spring highlights:
The Legwarmers -March 19-20
Tower of Power -March 26
Divas of Pop Dance Party -March 27
Rebirth Brass Band -March 31
The Soft Parade: The most authentic tribute to the Doors-April 2
The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue -April 3
Easy Star All-Stars -April 4
Anonymous -April 8
Cherry Poppin Daddies -April 15
Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers -April 18
Cowboy Junkies -April 23
The Machine -April 24
The Church -April 25, April 27
Taj Mahal Trio -May 1
Sematic and Charm City Devils -May 7
Donna The Buffalo -May 14
For more information: 703-237-0300 or thestatetheatre.com
Verizon Center
601 F St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
Spring highlights:
Alicia Keys -March 25
Bon Jovi with Dashboard Confessional -March 29
Nickelback -April 13
For more information: 202-628-3200 or verizoncenter.com
Warner Theatre
513 13th St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
Spring Lineup:
Norah Jones -April 2
Trans-Siberian Orchestra -April 11
Widespread Panic -April 20-21
Elvis Costello & The Sugarcanes -April 22
Mark Knopfler -May 2
For more information: 202-397-SEAT or warnertheatre.com
9:30 Club
815 V St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
Spring highlights:
Anvil w/Misstallica -March 20
The Dan Band -March 27
Wiz Khalifa -March 28
Nada Surf -April 2
Wale & KíNaan -April 4
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club -April 5
The Temper Tramp and Florence & The Machine -April 6
King Sunny Ade -April 7
Mayhem -April 7
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists -April 8
NEEDTOBREATHE w/Will Hoge & Matt Hires -April 9
US Air Guitar -April 10
Pick Up The Phone Tour featuring Blue October -April 11
George Clinton and PFunk -April 12
Badfish -April 14
Martin Sexon -April 16
Jedi Mind Tricks -April 17
Kidz In The Hall -April 18
The Disco Biscuits -April 20
Rock Bottom Remainders -April 21
Jovanotti -April 22
Jakob Dylan -April 23
AP Tour: Never Shout Never, Hey Monday, The Cab, Every Avenue, The Summer Set -April 25
Ozomatli -April 28
Motion City Soundtrack -April 28
Kaki King -April 29
Citizen Cope -April 30, May 1
Shout Out Louds -May 2
Sia -May 4
Corinne Bailey Rae -May 13
Dr. Dog w/ Deer Tick -May 14
For more information: 202-265-0930 or 930.com
Music & Concerts
Queer mega stars (and allies) ready to take D.C. stages this fall
Watch LGBTQ icons light up stages across the DMV as they sing, dance, and drag their way through spectacular shows.
One of the best ways to welcome fall is by catching LGBTQ performers (and their allies) lighting up some of the D.C. area’s biggest stages. From country and pop to drag and rock, the season is packed with shows you won’t want to miss.
Maren Morris – The country, rock, and pop diva—known for hits like “The Bones” and for standing up against Nashville’s anti-LGBTQ voices—takes the stage at Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, Va.) on Friday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $64.
RuPaul – The mother of modern drag and host of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will spin a DJ set at Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Rd NE) in Northeast D.C. on Sept. 20. Before RuPaul swaps wigs for headphones, Trade and Number 9 owner Ed Bailey will warm up the decks. For tickets and details visit echostage.com.
Conan Gray – The queer pop prince, celebrated for his Gen Z anthems like “Heather” and “Maniac,” brings his Wishbone Pajama Show to EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA, (4500 Patriot Cir) on Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $113. For more info visit shop.conangray.com/pages/tour.
All Things Go Music Festival – With a lineup that includes Noah Kahan, Lucy Dacus, Kesha, Clairo, Doechii, and more, the beloved LGBTQ-friendly festival takes over Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, Md.) Sept. 26–28. For tickets and details visit allthingsgofestival.com.
BERTHA: Grateful Drag – This unique tribute brings drag artistry and the sounds of the Grateful Dead to The Atlantis (2047 9th St NW) on Sept. 27. Tickets start at $47 at theatlantis.com.
Peach PRC – Rising Australian pop star and out lesbian, whose confessional tracks like “Perfect for You” and “Forever Drunk” have made her a queer TikTok darling, performs at The Atlantis on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. The show is general admission only. Additional details are on theatlantis.com.
Addison Rae – The TikTok star-turned-pop princess, who’s crossed over into music with glossy hits like “Diet Pepsi” brings her sold out show to The Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.) on Sept. 30. Tickets are sold out, but resale options start around $80. For more info visit theanthemdc.com.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary – Celebrate the cult classic that’s been a queer midnight-movie staple for decades, with Barry Bostwick (a.k.a. Brad Majors) at the Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) on Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $41 via Ticketmaster.
Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight & Stephanie Mills – Four legends, one stage. Between Khan’s funk, LaBelle’s soul, Knight’s R&B, and Mills’ powerhouse vocals, this concert at Capital One Arena (601 F St NW) on Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. promises pure diva magic. Tickets start at $103. For more details visit capitalonearena.com.
Lorde – Joined by The Japanese House and Chanel Beads, the Grammy-winning New Zealand singer-songwriter behind “Royals” and “Solar Power” returns to The Anthem on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Lorde has long been embraced by queer fans for her dreamy pop and subversive lyrics. For more info visit theanthemdc.com.
Andy Bell (of Erasure) – The British queer rock icon, best known for synth-pop classics like “A Little Respect” and “Chains of Love,” brings his Ten Crowns Tour to the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $90.45.
Doechii – The self-described queer “Swamp Princess”—and WorldPride 2025 headliner—continues her breakout year with the Live from the Swamp Tour at The Anthem on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. Known for blending rap, R&B, and avant-garde performance art, Doechii is one to watch. Tickets start at $153.
Neon Trees – The out-and-proud Utah rockers behind “Everybody Talks” and “Animal” perform at the Lincoln Theatre on Friday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. Lead singer Tyler Glenn, who came out publicly in 2014, has become a strong queer voice in alternative rock. For tickets and info visit impconcerts.com.
Sasha Colby – The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 15 winner strips down on the Stripped II Tour at the Warner Theatre on Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets available now on Ticketmaster.
Lola Young – The bisexual indie-pop sensation, whose raw songwriting has earned her millions of TikTok fans and multiple chart soaring hits visits The Anthem on Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are still available.
Opera Lafayette
Featuring Mary Elizabeth Williams as Dido
+ Elijah McCormack, Chelsea Helm
Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Sixth & I
PostClassical Ensemble
The Pale Blue Do: A Musical Voyage Inspired By Nature
Featuring National Geographic’s Enric Sala, Guest Curator
Wednesday, November 19, 7:30 p.m.
Terrace Theater
Washington Concert Opera
Starring Kate Lindsey, Theo Hoffman, John Moore, and Fran Daniel Laucerica
Nov. 23, 6 p.m.
Lisner Auditorium
Washington Master Chorale
An intimate a capella concert taking place in an architectural jewel, featuring cherished choral gems from Anglican and Catholic tradition and early American hymns. The concert will also present the world premiere of Christopher Hoh’s Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts, and hymn singing featuring Robert Church, organist and choirmaster at St David’s.
Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m.
October 19, 5 p.m.
St. David’s Episcopal Church
Music & Concerts
Cyndi Lauper ready to have fun in Virginia
Superstar to bring final leg of farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live
Superstar Cyndi Lauper will bring the final leg of her farewell tour “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” to Bristow, Va., on Thursday, July 24 at Jiffy Lube Live.
Lauper’s international Farewell Tour – her first major headlining run in a decade – kicked off in North America last October, and included her first time ever headlining (and selling out) Madison Square Garden. Lauper’s performances have earned raves from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and many more, and surprise guests have included Chaka Khan, Sam Smith, and Hayley Williams. The tour just visited the U.K. and Europe, and will head to Australia and Japan in April.
Tickets are available on Live Nation’s website.
Music & Concerts
Red, White, and Beyoncé: Queen Bey takes Cowboy Carter to D.C. for the Fourth of July
The legendary music icon performed on July 4 and 7 to a nearly sold-out Northwest Stadium.
Just in time for Independence Day, Beyoncé lit up Landover’s Commanders Field (formerly FedEx Field) with fireworks and fiery patriotism, bringing her deeply moving and genre-defying “Cowboy Carter” tour to the Washington, D.C. area.
The tour, which takes the global icon across nine cities in support of her chart-topping and Grammy-winning country album “Cowboy Carter,” landed in Prince George’s County, Maryland, over the Fourth of July weekend. From the moment Beyoncé stepped on stage, it was clear this was more than just a concert — it was a reclamation.
Drawing from classic Americana, sharp political commentary, and a reimagined vision of country music, the show served as a powerful reminder of how Black Americans — especially Black women — have long been overlooked in spaces they helped create. “Cowboy Carter” released in March 2024, is the second act in Beyoncé’s genre-traversing trilogy. With it, she became the first Black woman to win a Grammy for Best Country Album and also took home the coveted Album of the Year.
The record examines the Black American experience through the lens of country music, grappling with the tension between the mythology of the American Dream and the lived realities of those historically excluded from it. That theme comes alive in the show’s opening number, “American Requiem,” where Beyoncé sings:
“Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but
If that ain’t country, tell me, what is?
Plant my bare feet on solid ground for years
They don’t, don’t know how hard I had to fight for this
When I sing my song…”
Throughout the performance, Beyoncé incorporated arresting visuals: Black cowboys on horseback, vintage American iconography, and Fox News clips criticizing her genre shift — all woven together with voiceovers from country legends like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. The result was a multimedia masterclass in storytelling and subversion.
The “Cowboy Carter” tour has been a social media sensation for weeks, with fans scrambling for tickets, curating elaborate “cowboy couture” outfits, and tailgating under the summer sun. At Commanders Field, thousands waited in long lines for exclusive merch and even longer ones to enter the stadium — a pilgrimage that, for many, felt more like attending church than a concert.
One group out in full force for the concert was Black queer men — some rocking “denim on denim on denim on denim,” while others opted for more polished Cowboy Couture looks. The celebration of Black identity within Americana was ever-present, making the concert feel like the world’s biggest gay country-western club.
A standout moment of the night was the appearance of Beyoncé’s 13-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. Commanding the stage with poise and power, she matched the intensity and choreography of her mother and the professional dancers — a remarkable feat for someone her age and a clear sign that the Carter legacy continues to shine.
It’s been nearly two decades since Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child parted ways, and since then, she’s more than lived up to her title as the voice of a generation. With “Cowboy Carter,” she’s not just making music — she’s rewriting history and reclaiming the space Black artists have always deserved in the country canon.
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