Music & Concerts

FALL ARTS 2015: Triumphant returns?

Janet, Adele, Beiber and others prep fall releases

Published

10 years ago

September 10, 2015

Chris Gerard

music, gay news, Washington Blade, album

Duran Duran returns Sept. 18 with its 14th studio album. (Photo by Stephanie Pistel)

Leading the pack for highly anticipated new releases this fall is British songstress Adele, who will reportedly release “25” in November. She’s been working with hitmakers Danger Mouse, Max Martin, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Ryan Tedder, so the heavy guns are out to make sure it’s a worthy follow-up to the mega-smash “21.”

The other big pop releases this fall are due from Justin Bieber, whose as-yet-untitled album is expected sometime in November, and dance/pop icon Janet Jackson, who will release “Unbreakable,” her first new album in over seven years, on Oct. 2.

In addition to these, there are plenty of other new releases on the horizon that should appeal to just about any taste. Animal Collective is issuing a new live album recorded in D.C. earlier this summer, “Live at 9:30,” which is available for digital download or in a limited edition vinyl set. On Sept. 11, piano-rocker Ben Folds is back with “So There” and acclaimed blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr. returns with “The Story of Sonny Boy Slim,” along with new offerings by ‘90s folk-pop staple Jewel and pop vocalist Leona Lewis. Norwegian legends a-ha also returns five years after announcing their retirement with a comeback album, “Cast in Steel.” Grammy-winning UK singer/songwriter Jess Glynn is out with her solo debut album “I Cry When I Laugh” also on the 11th.

Sept. 18 is a big release date, with British pop legends Duran Duran back with their 14th studio album, “Paper Gods.” The album is produced by Mark Ronson and Nile Rodgers, and includes the first single “Pressure Off,” featuring a guest appearance by Janelle Monáe. Lana Del Rey returns with her eagerly anticipated third album “Honeymoon,” and Mac Miller is back with “Good A.M.” Also due on the 18th is the latest by new wave revivalists Metric, “Pagans in Vega,” and the latest solo album by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, “Rattle That Lock.” Speaking of legendary guitarists, Keith Richards will hit on the same date with his third solo effort, “Crosseyed Heart.”

Sept. 25 is perhaps the biggest day of the fall for big new releases. The British electronic dance duo Disclosure will follow-up its acclaimed debut “Settle” with “Caracal,” and once again they feature talented guest vocalists — this time Sam Smith is joined by Lorde, the Weeknd and Miguel. The Scottish synth-pop group Chvrches release their second album “Every Open Eye.” The outrageous electro-punk pioneer Peaches is back with “Rub.” New Order returns with “Music Complete,” their first new studio album in a decade. New albums by Kurt Vile, the Dears, Darkstar, Los Lobos, Silversun Pickups, the Game, the Dead Weather and Widespread Panic are also expected Sept. 25.

EDM superstar Avicii will follow-up his smash 2013 release “Time” with “Stories,” due Oct. 2. Pop vocalist Matt Nathanson also returns on Oct. 2 with “Show Me Your Fangs.” ‘90s rockers Collective Soul hits the same day with “See What You Started by Continuing,” along with British post-punk revivalists Editors, “In Dream” and songwriter John Grant’s latest “Grey Tickles, Black Pressure,” the follow-up to 2013’s acclaimed “Pale Green Ghosts.” Girls Names, Children of Bodom, Autre Ne Veut, Eagles of Death Metal and Wavves also have new releases due on the 2nd.

Legendary songstress Tori Amos will release the cast recording to the musical she co-wrote with Samuel Adamson, “The Light Princess,” on Oct. 9. Progressive rockers Coheed and Cambria will release their latest on the same date, “The Color Before the Sun.” Also due that day are new offerings by Toby Keith, Selena Gomez, a live album by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, and the latest by electronic indie-pop group City and Colour, “If I Should Go Before You.”

Later in the fall we can expect new albums by Carrie Underwood, “Storyteller,” indie-folk heroine Joanna Newsom, Vanessa Carlton, Rod Stewart, the return of ‘90s R&B combo SWV, the first album by New Zealand rockers the Chills in two decades, Puscifer, and Seal. Also expected are big-name titles from Bloc Party, Christina Aguilera, Crystal Castles, Panic! At The Disco, Deftones, PJ Harvey, Don Henley, Rihanna, Drake, Santigold, Frank Ocean, Gwen Stefani, Incubus, Haim, Tim McGraw, Grimes, Demi Lovato, Gorillaz, Jennifer Nettles, Kanye West (possibly 2016), M.I.A., Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, T-Pain, T.I., Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, TLC, Kings of Leon, GZA, James Blake, Metronomy, and Cee Lo Green, none of which have official release dates yet.

Autumn is a great time for archival releases, and this year is no exception. Save up your funds for a couple big ticket items coming in September. On the 25th, British supergroup Queen will issue an 18-LP set of all their albums on deluxe colored vinyl called “The Studio Collection,” but be prepared to pay about $450. The same day, David Bowie will unleash the first of a series of lavish box sets: “Five Years (1969 to 1973),” which will included remastered versions of all of his album releases during that period as well as a two-disc set of rarities and b-sides. Velvet Underground will release a massive 45th anniversary edition of “Loaded” on Oct. 30. A deluxe two-disc 20th anniversary edition of Alanis Morissette’s iconic “Jagged Little Pill” is set for release on Oct. 30 (yes, it’s been 20 years!). It will include a remastered version of the original album plus a selection of unreleased tracks selected personally by Morissette from her archives. Garbage will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of their self-titled debut with a deluxe three-LP edition complete with a bonus disc containing b-sides.

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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.

Published

2 months ago

September 9, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Doechii performing at WorldPride 2025's closing concert in June earlier this year. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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

Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas

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

Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride

Starring Kate Lindsey, Theo Hoffman, John Moore, and Fran Daniel Laucerica

Nov. 23, 6 p.m.

Lisner Auditorium

Washington Master Chorale

Sacred Jewel Box

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

Published

4 months ago

July 18, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Pop icon Cyndi Lauper brings her farewell tour to Jiffy Lube Live on July 24. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

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.

Published

4 months ago

July 9, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Beyoncé performs on July 7. (Washington Blade photo by Joe Reberkenny)

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.