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Not just a Phase

Indie queer music festival back for fourth installment next weekend

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Phasefest’s internal manifesto could be “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The queer indie music festival, the only one of its kind in Washington, is back next weekend for its fourth installment at Phase 1, the S.E. D.C. bar that started it.

Angela Lombardi, Phasefest founder and manager of Phase 1, says it can be a bit tricky balancing the lineup each year between bands that went over well in previous years versus wanting to provide a space for new bands.

“We never want it to feel like the same old festival,” Lombardi, a lesbian, says during a phone call from the airport where she just flew back from Greece this week. “I think we have about eight acts that have played here before. Some, of course, we bring back every year.”

This year’s lineup sounds appropriately eclectic. On Sept. 25, the band Men will headline. JD from Le Tigre, Tayisha Busay, Shondes, Rad Pony, Clinical Trials, Mitten, Renny Sanz, Tiik w/ Guts, Erin Brown and Candi Hearts will also perform sets. On Sept. 24, Hunter Valentine, Jen Urban and the Box, the Pushovers, Mzery Loves Company, the Athen’s Boys Choir, Lost Boi’s and Terrance Williams will play. And on Sept. 23, Wicked Jezebel will headline with Melissa Li, Kit Yan, Jenny Grind, Nikki Smith and Alex Voegele also performing sets.

Sexual orientations and genders are ambiguous with some of the bands. Most are lesbian or have lesbian members but male and trans musicians have played Phasefest before. Phase 1 is a lesbian bar but Lombardi prefers the more-inclusive word “queer” for the fest.

And it’s obvious talking to Lombardi she’s as excited about hearing the bands as anyone.

“This year we’re focusing more on indie queer music,” she says. “There are a bunch of new and exciting acts as well as people who’ve played before. Men are just amazing. And JD from Le Tigre is an alt radical queer band from the past. There’ll be lots of awesome stuff.”

She’s especially excited about Hunter Valentine, a Phase veteran who played at last year’s fest for the first time and also at Phase’s (the bar) 40th anniversary party in February.

“They’re our headliner for Friday and it’s been so exciting to watch them,” Lombardi says. “They’ve really grown by leaps and bounds and they’re just gathering more steam by the minute.”

Hunter Valentine’s lead singer, Kiyomi McCloskey, who doesn’t want to get into specifics but says her band is “definitely queer,” says Phase offers a unique experience on the touring circuit.

“We’ve played a lot of different Prides and OutFest, but Phase has its own vibe,” she says during a phone chat from Brooklyn where the Canadian-based band splits its time. “The staff is just great there and it’s like this little family. It’s very inviting and you can tell they really put their heart and soul into the festival.”

Lombardi says she was ill-equipped to handle Phase’s wildly successful first year but now has the event mastered. It typically attracts about 800 attendees over its three days, a figure she hopes to see bump up to about 1,000 this year.

All the events happen at Phase 1. The bar’s back patio area is converted into an are for queer artists and crafters to set up their wares. Lombardi says all the proceeds go to pay the bands and to run the festival.

“They’re the only ones making money,” she says. “We’re just putting the money back into queer music.”

So in this day and age when it seems almost chic for artists and singers to be vague about their sexual orientation, why have a queer-specific musical festival?

“It’s 100 percent important,” she says. “If you love the arts and music, why not support queer music? We’re trying to offer a totally safe space for these performers.”

Phasefest 2010

Sept. 23-25

Tickets ā€” weekend pass available for $40; Tickets for Thursday (starts at 7 p.m.) are $10 and will be sold at the door; tickets for Sept. 24 (7 p.m.) are $15 and available online; Tickets for Saturday (6 p.m.) are $20 and available here.

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Music & Concerts

Lana Del Rey, Katy Perry plan fall releases

A Fleetwood Mac live album, more Joni archives among vintage options

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Dolly Partonā€™s ā€˜Smoky Mountain DNAā€™ is slated for a Nov. 15 release. (Image courtesy Owepar Entertainment)

Paris Hilton released her ā€œInfinite Iconā€ album on Sept. 6. Itā€™s just the second effort following a massive hiatus ā€” her debut album ā€œParisā€ was released way back in 2006. Sia produces. This summerā€™s ā€œIā€™m Freeā€ was the first single. A tour is planned. Hilton promised a ā€œheavily gay-leaning release.ā€

Miranda Lambertā€™s ā€œPostcards from Texasā€ is slated to drop today. Lambertā€™s 10th studio album was preceded by the May release of single ā€œWranglers,ā€ which stalled in the lower 30s on country radio. Lambert calls the album a musical ode to her home state. She co-produces with Jon Randall and either wrote or co-wrote 10 of the projectā€™s 14 cuts. 

Katy Perryā€™s ā€œ143ā€ is set for a Sept. 20 release. It will be her seventh studio album. Its title refers to what she says is her symbolic angel number. Perry is aiming for a dance party feel working with producers Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Stargate, Vaughn Oliver and Rocco Did It Again! The proceedings are not off to a strong start. First single ā€œWomanā€™s Worldā€ stalled at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up ā€œLifetimesā€ failed to crack the Hot 100 at all. 

Fleetwood Mac releases ā€œMirage Tour ā€™82ā€ on Sept. 20. It includes six tracks previously unreleased including ā€œDonā€™t Stop,ā€ ā€œDreams,ā€ ā€œNever Going Back Again,ā€ ā€œSaraā€ and more. Available on double CD, triple vinyl and digitally.  

Volume four of Joni Mitchellā€™s ā€œArchivesā€ series dubbed ā€œThe Asylum Years: 1976-1980ā€ releases Oct. 4. Itā€™s being offered in six-CD or four-LP (highlights) configurations. It will feature unreleased studio sessions, alternate versions, live recordings, rarities and a 36-page book with new photos and an extensive conversation between Mitchell and filmmaker/uberfan Cameron Crowe. 

Sophie B. Hawkins releases her ā€œWhaler Re-Emergingā€ album (a re-recording of her landmark 1994 album) on Oct. 15. Order through her site and the first 250 copies will be signed. Hawkins (who identifies as omnisexual) says it surpasses the original. 

Joe Jonasā€™s ā€œMusic for People Who Believe in Loveā€ and Shawn Mendesā€™s ā€œShawnā€ are both set for Oct. 18 releases. Jonasā€™s album (his first solo effort since 2011ā€™s ā€œFastlifeā€) will feature songwriting he says is of a more personal nature. Billboard called it ā€œunvarnishedā€ but with a shimmery pop sound aglow with garage rock and alt-pop influences. First single ā€œWork It Outā€ was released over the summer and failed to chart. 

ā€œShawnā€ will be Mendesā€™s first album since 2020ā€™s ā€œWonder,ā€ the tour of which he cancelled citing mental health. Two singles ā€” ā€œWhy Why Whyā€ and ā€œIsnā€™t That Enoughā€ ā€” have been released. The former stalled at no. 84 on the Hot 100. He has called the album his ā€œmost musically intimate and lyrically honest work to date.ā€ 

Lana Del Reyā€™s ā€œLassoā€ is expected for a possible fall release, although some sources say itā€™s been bumped to early 2025. No date had been announced as of yet. Sheā€™s apparently going the Beyonce route and releasing a straight-up country album. 

Dolly Parton plans a Nov. 15 release for ā€œSmoky Mountain DNA ā€” Family, Faith & Fables.ā€ Parton recruited family to help her on the 37 (!)-track collection, which will also encompass a four-part docuseries tracing Partonā€™s familial roots. One song (ā€œA Rose Wonā€™t Fix Itā€) is an outtake from the feverish writing sessions that led to her solid (but underrated) 1998 album ā€œHungry Again.ā€ An extremely limited-edition triple vinyl release is also planned. 

Release dates shift and many more releases will be announced later. Pitchfork keeps a great running tab at pitchfork.com/news/new-album-releases. Also check your local record store for Black Friday special editions available on Friday, Nov. 29. Release info was scant as of this writing. Ā 

(Joey DiGuglielmo was variously the Bladeā€™s news and features editor from 2006-2020.)

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Fall concerts feature Sivan, Eilish, Lauper, more

Ndegeocello pays tribute to Baldwin at Strathmore next month

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Sigur Ros plays the Anthem this month. Frontman JONSI (center) is gay. (Photo by Chloe Kritharas; courtesy motormouthmedia)

Sigur Ros will be joined by the Wordless Music Orchestra at the Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.) on Wednesday, Sept. 25th. Theyā€™re continuing their 2023 tour in support of ā€œAtta,ā€ their first LP of original music in a decade. Frontman Jonsi is gay. Tickets are $60.50-173.50 for this seated show. 

Troye Sivan brings the ā€œSweat Tourā€ with Charli XCX (co-headlining) to Baltimore at the CFG Bank Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) on Thursday, Sept. 26th at 7:30 p.m. Itā€™s sold out. The latter is touring behind her 2024 album ā€œBrat.ā€ The former is touring behind his 2023 album ā€œSomething to Give Each Other.ā€ Sivan is gay and has performed at Capital Pride. 

Cyndi Lauper brings her ā€œGirls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tourā€ to Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $29-179. Itā€™s her first solo arena stateside tour since her ā€™86-ā€™87 ā€œTrue Colors World Tour.ā€ Lauper is a longtime and avid LGBTQ ally. 

St. Vincent brings her ā€œAll Born Screaming Tourā€ to the Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.) on Friday, Sept. 13th at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55-95. A Variety review called it ā€œminimalistā€ and said ā€œwith no video screens, backup singers or sketches, and a lot of electric guitar, itā€™s the purest distillation of St. Vincent weā€™ve had on stage in quite a few years.ā€ Anne Erin Clark (aka St. Vincent) doesnā€™t identify as anything sexually but has mostly dated women in recent years. 

Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming play Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va.) on Friday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. Individual sets are planned, but there will likely be a duet or two. Tickets are $29.

Out singer/songwriter Perfume Genius brings his ā€œToo Bright 10th Anniversary Tourā€ to The Atlantis (2047 9th St., N.W.) on Monday, Sept. 16. This highly limited run will only play six dates in five cities. Mike Hadreas (aka Perfume Genius) will perform his 2014 album in its entirety. Itā€™s sold out. 

Meghan Trainor brings ā€œThe Timeless Tourā€ to Jiffy Lube Live (7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristol, Va.) on Tuesday, Sept. 17th at 6:30 p.m. Sheā€™s touring behind her album of the same name released earlier this year. Tickets are $33-155. No lawn seats available for this show. 

Queer-affirming gospel singer Amy Grant (who also had a decent pop chart run in the ā€™90s) brings her fall tour to The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. As sheā€™s done on tour with previous re-releases, Grant could include more songs than usual from her 1994 ā€œHouse of Loveā€ album, which was just released in an expanded edition and on LP for the first time. Tickets are $95. 

Sara Bareilles, a self-described LGBTQ ally,  joins the NSO Pops for a three-night stint at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Sept. 24-26 at 8 p.m. each night. Itā€™s sold out. 

Billie Eilish brings her ā€œHit Me Hard and Soft: the Tourā€ to CFG Bank Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) in Baltimore on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Her album of the same name dropped in March. Although sheā€™s mostly dated guys publicly, Eilish identifies as bi. Itā€™s sold out. 

Queer artist Meshell Ndegeocello plays the Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md.) on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. Her show is dubbed ā€œNo More Water: the Gospel of James Baldwinā€ and is billed as a tribute event to the legendary Black gay writer. A pre-concert event, ā€œThe Gospel of Meshell Ndegeocelloā€ is free but advanced registration is required. Tickets for the concert are $28-74. 

Former Capital Pride headliner Betty Who (ā€œqueer/biā€ herself) brings her ā€œAn Acoustic Evening in Celebration of 10 years of TMWYGā€ to the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $55. Itā€™s a nod to her 2014 debut album ā€œTake Me When You Go.ā€ 

Justin Timberlake brings his ā€œForget Tomorrow World Tourā€ to Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Sunday, Oct. 13. This seventh headlining concert tour (and first in five years) supports his 2024 sixth album ā€œEverything I Thought it Was.ā€ Reviews for the tour have been strong; the setlist looks career-spanning and generous. Itā€™s sold out. 

Gay-helmed Pink Martini with China Forbes and Ari Shapiro plays the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Monday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40-80. 

ā€™80s pop sensation Debbie Gibson brings her ā€œAcoustic Youth: Songs & Stories from Electric Youth Eraā€ to the Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Tickets are $59.50. Gibson is celebrating her 1989 album ā€œElectric Youth,ā€ her second. Sheā€™ll accompany herself on piano playing the songs ā€œthe way I first wrote them.ā€ 

DJ/producer Diplo, who says heā€™s ā€œnot not gay,ā€ plays Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Road, N.E.) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. Walker and Royce join. Tickets are $60. 

Motown diva Diana Ross brings her ā€œBeautiful Love Performances Legacy Tourā€ to MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.) on Oct. 24-25 at 8 p.m. Except for adding a couple cuts from her abysmal 2021 album ā€œThank Youā€ (her latest), her setlist has not changed much in 15 years. Sheā€™s a little better about performing Supremes songs than she was earlier in her career (for ages, they were crammed into one medley), but she still heavily favors her solo material. Tickets start at $102. 

ā€œThe Life and Music of George Michaelā€ comes to the National Theatre (1321 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. Hard to tell from promo material if this is a typical jukebox musical-type show or more like a tribute band concert for the late gay singer. Tickets are $55. 

ā€œSapphic Factory: Queer Joy Partyā€ is at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 p.m. Itā€™s slated to feature music by artists such as Mana, Chappell Roan, Fletcher, Phoebe Bridges, Kehlani, Rina Sawayama, boygenius, Kim Petras, Tegan and Sara and more. Tickets are $23. 

Kacey Musgraves brings her ā€œDeeper Well World Tourā€ to CFG Bank Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. It supports her sixth studio album, released in March. The setlist morphed slightly over a spring run in Europe. Itā€™s sold out. 

Soul diva Gladys Knight plays the Hall at Live! (7002 Arundel Mills Circle) in Hanover, Md., on Sunday, Nov. 17th at 7:30 p.m. Knight, who hasnā€™t had a new album out in a decade, tends to be fairly generous with her classic Motown- and Buddha-era hits with the Pips in approximately 75-minute sets. Tickets start at $95. 

(Joey DiGuglielmo was variously the Bladeā€™s news and features editor from 2006-2020.)

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Music & Concerts

National Symphony plays free concert Sunday

NSO Labor Day performance held at U.S. Capitol

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(Photo by DeshaCAM/Bigstock)

The National Symphony Orchestra’s free annual Labor Day weekend concert returns to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, Sept. 1.Ā The performance is free and tickets are not required. Seating is first-come, first-served.

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