Music & Concerts
SPRING ARTS PREVIEW ALBUMS: Spring spotty for albums
Mya, Marina, Madonna and a bunch of maybes


It’s a big year for Madonna fans. Her album is out Friday and she plays the Verizon Center on Sept. 12. (Photos by Mert & Marcus)
Madonna releases her 13th studio album, “Rebel Heart” this week. She worked closely with Diplo to produce the album, along with several other collaborators such as Nicki Minaj and Kanye West. Her “Rebel Heart Tour” begins in August and the pop legend has been using Grindr to help promote her album and tour.
Before we get to the upcoming stuff, a few more just-out releases you may have missed.
Mýa, a gay rights and homeless LGBT youth advocate, released “Love Elevation Suite” on Feb. 14, her second Valentine’s Day EP, through her independent record label Planet 9. In the past, she has appeared in a NOH8 campaign and in Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors: Give A Damn PSA.
Kelly Clarkson released her seventh studio album, “Piece by Piece,” on Feb. 27. The lead single is “Heartbeat Song” and two of the album’s tracks were written in part by Sia. Clarkson is an active LGBT rights supporter.
RuPaul released “Realness,” his eighth studio album, on March 2, the same day as the season seven premiere of his show on Logo, “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
British R&B group Blue released “Colours” on March 2. Duncan James, a member of Blue, has identified as bisexual in 2009 and as gay in 2013.
Welsh singer-songwriter Marina and the Diamonds will release her third album, “Froot,” on March 16.
English folk singer Laura Marling will release “Short Movie” in the UK on March 23.
Björk’s ninth album, “Vulnicura,” was released Jan. 20 and “Björk: Archives,” a retrospective book on her career, will be released March 30. One of the album’s tracks features vocals by Antony Hegarty, a transgender English singer. An exhibition of Björk’s work will take place at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) from Saturday-June 7, and her “Biophilia” apps were featured as part of the museum’s permanent collection, the first app showcased in MoMA’s collection.
DC-native Wale will release “The Album About Nothing” on March 31.
Reba McEntire’s 27th studio album, “Love Somebody,” will come out April 14.
Deluxe reissues of Tori Amos’s first two solo albums, 1991’s “Little Earthquakes” and 1994’s “Under the Pink,” will be re-released in deluxe double-CD editions packed with B-sides, live cuts and other rarities on April 14. Both albums will also be issued on 180-gram vinyl for the first time in the U.S.
Shawn Mendes will release his debut album, “Handwritten,” on April 28. The teenage singer-songwriter will open up for Taylor Swift during the North American leg of her “1989 World Tour.”
Brandon Flowers will release “The Desired Effect,” his second studio album, on May 18. Along with his band, The Killers front man annually releases a Christmas-themed song and video to support Product Red.
Faith No More will release “Sol Invictus” on May 19, the band’s seventh studio album. Roddy Bottum, the band’s keyboardist, came out as gay in 1993. He’s said that as a gay teen, he never imagined he would play in a hard rock band.
Florence and the Machine will release their third album on May 29. In February, the band released “What Kind of Man,” the first single off of “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.”
Several artists have announced the titles of their 2015 releases but have not yet announced release dates. Adam Lambert will come out with “The Original High” this year. Ciara will release “Jackie,” and Emeli Sandé will release “Who Needs the World.”
Lana Del Rey is coming out with “Honeymoon,” which will include a song called “Music to Watch Boys to” as well as a cover of Nina Simone’s “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.”
Still more artists have confirmed 2015 albums but have not yet announced release dates or album titles. Look out for new releases by Adele, Becky G, Britney Spears, Carly Rae Jepsen, Christina Aguilera, Demi Lovato, Duran Duran, Ellie Goulding, Gwen Stefani, Grimes, Haim, Iggy Azalea, Kylie Minogue, Macklemore, Rihanna, TLC, and more.

Singer Adam Lambert, on right, with guitarist Tommy Joe Ratliff (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.
The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”
Music & Concerts
Busy season for live music in D.C.
Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.
In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.
MARCH
Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.
The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.
If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.
APRIL

Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.
Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.
The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.
Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.
DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”
The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.
MAY
Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.
Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.
Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.
The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.
JUNE
Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.
Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.
Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.
Music & Concerts
Pride concert to take place at Strathmore after Kennedy Center rescinds invitation
International Pride Orchestra ‘heartbroken’ event ‘would no longer be welcome’ at DC venue

The International Pride Orchestra has announced its Pride concert will take place at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5 after the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts disinvited the group.
Since President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center during his first month in office, LGBTQ events and performances have been banned with community allies withdrawing in solidarity.
The Kennedy Center has cancelled “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.
“We were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,” said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestra’s media page. “The Kennedy Center has long been a symbol of artistic excellence, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. However, we are profoundly grateful to the Strathmore Music Center for opening their doors to us. Their willingness to host our Pride Celebration Concert ensures that our message of love, pride, and resilience will be heard on the doorstep of the nation’s capital.”
The Pride concert is among the events that have faced uncertainty since the Trump-Vance administration took office on Jan. 20. Many, however, are fighting back and looking for ways to push back against the bans and cancellations.
“We aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,” said Roest. “We want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.”
WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.
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