Music & Concerts
Arts news in brief: March 11
Cowboys prep ‘Whorehouse,’ Galactica plays hostess and Goss unveils new record
The Gay Men’s Chorus Takes Audiences to Texas
As its 30th season continues, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington brings to stage an all-male production of the musical, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University (730 21st St., N.W.).
“Whorehouse” tells the true story of the closing of a 130-year-old brother outside LaGrange, Texas, in 1973 which became a scandal and was condemned when a newsman announced it on television.
The show stars Ryan Williams as Miss Mona, John O’Brien as Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, Eric Peterson as Melvin P. Thorpe, Kip Jacobs as Jewel, Christopher Harris as Doatsy Mae and Andrew Harmon as Governor.
Directed and choreographed by Craig Cipollini, he describes the musical as being about “people in glass houses throwing stones — about one group of people imposing their version of morality on others,” in a press release for the show.
“I think is something gay men and women can relate to very well,” Cipollini said. “The story is filled with good looking and clever characters, it’s a little bit rowdy, it’s a little bit raunchy, and at times very funny, but look closely and it also has a serious side.”
The show also features 73 performers from the Chorus, including an ensemble of 50 singers and dancers.
The musical opens March 18 at 8 p.m. There will be another evening performance on March 19 at 8 p.m. and an American Sign Language-interpreted performance will take place on March 20 at 3 p.m.
Tickets range from $20 to $50 and can be purchased at the door, by calling 202-293-1548 or online at gmcw.org.
Noi’s Nook sees its final performance
Special Agent Galactica will host a special closing concert at go mama go! (1809 14th St., N.W.) on Sunday at 7 p.m. in Noi’s Nook, the shop’s back-room performance space.
Those slated are returning performers including Tom Goss, John C. Bailey and the Art Improv Mashup, and D.C. King Ken Vegas.
The performances at go mama go! first started in September when Jeffrey Johnson, the man behind Galactica and an employee at go mama go!, and his theater group needed a place to perform. He went to the current owner and asked if they could set something up in the store.
It was already known that the store would be closing soon and the inventory had already been shrunk, so Noi’s Nook, named after the original owner who died in 2007 and was supportive of Johnson’s group, was built in the back.
The performances will be followed by an after party during which the stage will be turned into a dance floor and DJ Ten will provide music.
Tickets to the concert are $20 and the proceeds will go toward helping go mama go get out of debt from staying open until the end of its lease.
This will be the last performance, as the store is closing and must be empty by March 31. The staff will begin the process of taking down the stage soon after.
Tom Goss releases new album
Local singer Tom Goss is having two D.C. release parties for his new C.D., “Turn It Around,” at go mama go! (1809 14th St., N.W.) tonight and Saturday.
The band Echo Armada will open on Friday and Jeremiah Clark will open on Saturday.
The doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 on both nights. Tickets are $12 and are limited. They can be purchased in advanced online at tomgossmusic.com.
Goss says he’s excited about the release.
“It’s a whole new project,” he says. “Very big, bright and fun.
The C.D., which will be available April 12, includes the track, “It’s All Over.” This is Goss’s third full-length C.D.
On the vibrant, jangly album opener “It’s All Over,” Goss displays his versatile instrumentation and effortless vocals. The infectious rocker, “Shady Dell,” displays Goss’ impressive writing chops and references an eccentric vintage trailer park where Goss spent his honeymoon. “All I Ever Wanted” tells the tale of losing one’s faith, inspired by Goss’ own personal struggle and his experience leaving the Catholic seminary while the album’s gorgeous melodic closer, “You Know I Love You” exemplifies Goss’ belief that true love is possible.
There will also be a Baltimore release party at GLCCB (241 West Chase St.) on March 20 with The Pushovers. Doors open at 6:30 that night and the show begins at 7 p.m.
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.
Music & Concerts
Berkshire Choral to commemorate Matthew Shepard’s life
Concert held at Washington National Cathedral

Berkshire Choral International will present a concert performance of composer Craig Hella Johnson’s fusion oratorio “Considering Matthew Shepard” on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington National Cathedral.
The program will be guest conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Benson, a native of the DMV who currently serves as Director of Choral Activities at San José State University. The concert is a partial benefit for the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Notably, Matthew’s remains are interred at the National Cathedral and his parents, Dennis and Judy, will give opening remarks at the performance.
Tickets are $20 – $65, and 50% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Tickets are only available online at berkshirechoral.org.
Music & Concerts
Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall
Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall.
The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts.
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