Music & Concerts
SPRING ARTS: albums
Lauper plans Nashville standards for May album
Cyndi Lauper goes country on her new album ‘Detours.’ (Photo by Chapman Baehler, courtesy FlyLife)
Country legend Loretta Lynn releases “Full Circle,” her first album since 2004’s Grammy-winning “Van Lear Rose,” this week. It’s a 13-track hodgepodge that covers Appalachian folk songs and gosple songs from her childhood to country standards to re-recordings of a couple of her classic hits. John Carter Cash (son of the late Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash) co-produces with Patsy Lynn Russell, Loretta’s daughter. Elvis Costello and Willie Nelson make appearances.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” vet Adore Delano will release her sophomore album “After Party” on March 11. Her video “Dynamite” is out now.
The first big new album of spring comes from pop diva Gwen Stefani, with “This is What the Truth Feels Like” on March 18.
Veteran electronica duo Underworld will release its first album in six years, “Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future,” on the same date.
March 25 brings the eagerly anticipated new album by legendary gay alt-rocker Bob Mould, “Patch the Sky.” Also dropping on March 25 is the solo debut by former One Direction star Zayn Malik, called “Mind of Mine.” Also out that day is the latest by electro/hip-hop DJ extraordinaire RJD2 — his latest is dubbed “Dame Fortune.”
Out rocker Liz DeRoche, formerly a D.C.-area resident, releases an electronica kids’ album on March 25. “Club Called Awesome” will come packaged with an illustrated comic book she hopes will “create an inclusive and adventurous world celebrating the extraordinary joys of being a kid.”
Also out in March is “Live @ the Bevy” from Baltimore-based duo Mama’s Black Sheep.
The Pet Shop Boys release “Super” on April 1. It should be a big years for the group, as it’s the 30th anniversary of their debut album “Please.” Also coming April 1 is the latest by Japanese pop-punk legends Shonen Knife, “Adventure”; “The White Album” by alternative rockers Weezer; and “Amen & Goodbye” by experimental electronic duo Yeasayer. Superstar rapper Drake is due to unleash “Views from the 6” on April 2.
British girl-group All Saints return on April 8 with “Red Flag.” Also coming on the eighth is “Fever Dream” by Ben Watt, formerly half of Everything But the Girl with Tracey Thorn.
Iconic alternative rocker PJ Harvey is back with her follow-up to 2011’s Mercury Prize-winning “Let England Shake” — on April 15 she will release “The Hope Six Demolition Project.”
Electrifying British pop sensation Katy B returns on April 29 with “Honey.” Also hitting on the 29th is the latest by New York-based electronic pop duo Holy Ghost!, to be called “Crime Cutz.” Beyoncé will also reportedly drop her new album in April, although official details have yet to be announced.
Cyndi Lauper is back on May 6 with “Detour,” an aptly named collection of songs by country divas that Lauper loved as a child. It’s packed with guest appearances by Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Jewel and more.
Also released on that date is the new Laura Mvula, “The Dreaming Room.” Gold Panda returns on May 27 with “Good Luck and Do Your Best.”
And two you might have missed in February — gospel diva Sandi Patty released her farewell album “Forever Grateful,” featuring several self-penned songs (a rarity for her), recreations of her classic hits (“Love in Any Language,” “Love Will Be Out Home”) and a range of styles from her quasi-classical (“Alleluia”) to black gospel (“All I Got to Do”) and classic Southern gospel (“Farther Along”). With producer Greg Nelson back on board, it’s a worthy coda to an illustrious career. Kristin Chenoweth guests.
And Elton John released “Wonderful Crazy Night” on Feb. 5 to strong reviews.
Liz DeRoche releases a gay-friendly kids’ album later this month. (Photo by Darshita Mistry; courtesy Waldman Mania PR)
Music & Concerts
New dance single pays tribute to Town Danceboutique
Local musicians pen ‘Town’ in honor of shuttered club
The closing of the LGBTQ nightclub Town Danceboutique in the summer of 2017 was heartbreaking to local musician Bryce Bowyn. He and his Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter friend Lexie Martin decided to honor its legacy in their new single, “Town.”
For Bowyn, who moved to the District about a decade ago to attend school at American University, the memories he has from Town Danceboutique are endless. And when it closed, it was a massive loss to Bowyn and many others.
“It was such a cool space,” Bowyn said. “It was just disappointing to see a place that brought so many people together become part of the landscape again.” The building Town Danceboutique used to be housed in is now home to upscale apartments and a CVS.
Town Danceboutique was a formative place for Bowyn and Martin, and it was Bowyn’s first experience in an open and accepting LGBTQ environment. His favorite memories at the club were always on Halloween, he said. Patrons, including Bowyn, would go all out with their costumes to look their very best.
Bowyn and Martin met while they were both in the musical theater program at American University. Despite their years-long friendship, “Town” is the first song they have written together. They sat down over FaceTime and got to work. It was Martin’s idea to pay homage to Town Danceboutique, and the song follows the story of pre-gaming, going out, and hitting the dance floor.
But the single also serves as a hype song for going out in any city, at any place.
“It was important to me for the song to remain relatable and accessible,” Bowyn said. “So the whole foundation of the chorus, ‘Let’s go to town,’ can either mean Town Danceboutique, or painting the town red and having the night of your life.”
Bowyn started writing and producing his own music in 2018. He released an EP titled “A Rosy Retrospect” in 2022, and most recently released a single “A Bridge Burned Down” in June. His music is inspired by late 2000s pop and ‘80s synthpop, influenced by stars like Madonna and Charli XCX. Lexie Martin released her self-titled EP in 2019 and most recently came out with her single “SUPERPOWER” in 2021.
Bowyn has been a lifelong pop music enthusiast. He distinctly remembers watching Britney Spears perform “Oops!…I Did It Again” at the MTV Video Music Awards when he was a kid and thinking “That was what I wanted and what I was set to do in life.”
“My heart was always with pop music,” Bowyn said.
“Town” is available now for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud.
Music & Concerts
From Monáe to Madonna, fall will rock in D.C.
Local venues hosting array of queer artists in coming months
The D.C. area has many LGBTQ musical acts to look forward to this fall. Starting with pansexual and nonbinary actor and R&B singer Janelle Monáe, performing at the Anthem on Sept. 24-25 with ticket prices ranging from $135 to $301 on StubHub.
Singer Hozier’s “Unreal Unearth Tour” is coming to the Anthem on Sept. 26-27. Tickets are available on StubHub starting at $324.
On Sept. 28 the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore will see lesbian pop artist SZA’s “SOS Tour” with tickets starting at $165 on Ticketmaster.
Queer indie pop singer Ashnikko is coming to the Anthem on Sept. 29 to perform their “Weedkiller Tour.” Tickets available on StubHub range from $49 to $279.
Coming to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., is the All Things Go Festival. Performing are lesbian singers Tegan and Sara, alt-pop singer Lana Del Rey, pop singer Carly Rae Jepson, and more. The festival will take place Sept. 30-Oct. 1 with two day passes starting at $397 on SeatGeek.
Rock band Queen will perform “The Rhapsody Tour” at the CFG Bank Arena along with Adam Lambert on Oct. 4-5. Tickets are starting at $181 on Ticketmaster.
Pop star and trans woman Kim Petras’ “Feed the Beast World Tour” will reach the Anthem on Oct 12. Tickets range from $72 to $817 on StubHub.
Queer pop singer Kesha is coming to the Anthem on Oct. 29 to support her new album, “Gag Order.” Tickets go from $86 to $261 on Event Ticket Center.
Queer pop rapper Shygirl is co-headlining with bisexual singer Tinashe for the “Nymph” tour at the Anthem on Nov. 5. Tickets range from $45 to $145 on Ticketmaster.
Indie band Men I Trust is performing at Echostage on Nov. 15. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster for $30.
Nonbinary rapper Lil Uzi Vert’s “PINK TAPE TOUR” will be at the Anthem on Nov. 21. Tickets start at $90 on StubHub.
Doja Cat’s “The Scarlett Tour” will reach Capital One Arena on Nov. 27. Tickets start at $100 on Ticketmaster.
Madonna will bring her highly anticipated and delayed “The Celebration Tour” to the Capital One Arena Dec. 18 and 19. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster starting at $110.
Music & Concerts
Tom Goss to perform at Rehoboth Beach Bear Weekend
Out singer entertains at the Sands Hotel
Out singer Tom Goss will perform at the Rehoboth Beach Bear Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 7 and 9 p.m. at the Sands Hotel.
He will sing his memorable songs like “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Bears,” as well as tracks from his new album, “Remember What It Feels Like,” where he sings about being a 42-year-old gay man still reeling from his husband’s infidelity who was recently conned by a lover with a secret life now serving time in prison.
Tickets to Rehoboth Beach Bear Weekend start at $20 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
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