Music & Concerts
FALL ARTS 2016: Strike up the band
Etheridge, Tegan and Sara, Stevie Nicks and more on fall concert slate
Tegan and Sara play the 9:30 Club Nov. 6-7. (Photo by Derek Wood, courtesy NYLON)
After a summer of amazing live musical options in the D.C. area, this fall offers another great slate of live music options. Here are some of the notable artists who will be performing in the D.C. area in the coming months.
One of the biggest shows of the fall will undoubtedly be AC/DC featuring Axl Rose on vocals at the Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) on Saturday, Sept. 17. T
The revival of reunited ‘90s alternative bands continues when Lush hits the 9:30 Club on Wednesday, Sept. 21 (815 V St., N.W.). The mood shifts dramatically two nights later when funk pioneers George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic roll through the 9:30 Club on Sept. 23. The same night, superstar comedian and actress Amy Schumer will take the stage at the Verizon Center.
Openly gay band Pansy Division, founded by guitarist/singer Jon Ginoli and bassist/singer Chris Freeman in 1991, will be at Hill Country (410 7th St., N.W.) on Sept. 22.
Pansy Division will be at Hill Country on Sept. 22. (Photo courtesy the band)
Latin/pop singer Marc Anthony will play EagleBank Arena (4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, Va.) on Sept. 30.
The All Things Go Fall Classic is a festival to be held on Oct. 8 at the Yards Park (355 Water St., S.E.), with headliners Passion Pit (featuring openly gay lead singer Michael Angelakos) and Empire of the Sun, along with local bands like Buredo, Shake Shake, Takorean and others.
October leads off with some heavy hitters shaking the foundations of the 9:30 Club. Bastille plays Oct. 2 followed by a rare opportunity to see supergroup Green Day in an intimate setting on Oct. 3, indie favorites Warpaint on Oct. 4 and veteran rockers Taking Back Sunday on Oct. 5.
Against Me!, led by transgender vocalist Laura Jane Grace, will bring its hard-rocking vibe to the Fillmore (8656 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, Md.) on Oct. 6 along with alternative rock titans Bad Religion.
The Black Cat (1811 14th St., N.W.) will host electronic duo Crystal Castles on Oct. 8.
Legendary stage diva Patti LuPone plays two night at the Barns at Wolf Trap (1635 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va.; wolftrap.org) Oct. 7-8 with her show “Don’t Monkey With Broadway.”
British superstar Adele will electrify fans at the Verizon Center for two nights on Oct. 10-11.
Electronic music pioneer DJ Shadow will be at 9:30 Club on Oct. 13, with ‘90s alternative rockers Teenage Fanclub playing the following night.
Popular indie-pop/electronic group Chvrches will play two nights at Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Rd., N.E.), Oct. 17-18.
Queen of Bounce Big Freedia hits the Howard Theater (620 T St., N.W.). on Oct. 18.
Legendary LGBT icon Melissa Etheridge returns to D.C. for a show at Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Oct. 19.
On the same night Sia will bring her current tour to the Verizon Center.
The edgy South African rap combo Die Antwoord play Echostage on Oct. 23.
Drag comedian Bianca Del Rio hits Lincoln Theatre three days later, on Oct. 22 and lesbian artist Tig Notaro plays the same venue on Oct. 27. Also on Oct. 27th, a must-see show by the celebrated lesbian duo Indigo Girls will take place at Rams Head Live (20 Market Pl., Baltimore).
November brings a remarkably diverse and impressive group of artists to the D.C. area. The month starts with the acclaimed alternative/folk singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega at Birchmere (3701 Mt Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Nov. 1. The ultra hot British pop/rockers Foals will play Echostage on Nov. 3.
Two R&B heavyweights, Maxwell and Mary J. Blige, will grace the stage of the Verizon Center on Nov. 6.
Legendary gospel diva Sandi Patty has embarked on “Forever Grateful — the Farewell Tour,” and she will stop in D.C. on Nov. 6 at Sligo Seventh-Day Adventist Church (7700 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, Md.).
The ever-popular lesbian duo Tegan and Sara will hit the 9:30 Club for two nights on Nov. 6-7.
One of the hottest bands of recent years, Grouplove, will play Echostage on Nov. 9.
Lesbian country singer Brandy Clark plays Birchmere on Nov. 10.
Electro-pop superduo Pet Shop Boys return for one of the season’s most highly-anticipated shows Nov. 11 at the Warner Theater (513 13th St., N.W.).
An amazing double bill featuring the Pretenders and Stevie Nicks is at the Verizon Center on Nov. 14 will be one of the year’s most exciting shows.
Country legend Loretta Lynn will be at Lincoln Theatre on Nov. 19.
Lesbian comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer will entertain fans at the Birchmere on the same night.
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Patty Griffin is also visiting Birchmere, on Nov. 21.
Two outstanding R&B artists take the Warner Theatre stage on Nov. 25 — Lalah Hathaway and Musiq Soulchild.
Popular indie-rockers STRFKR stops by the 9:30 Club on Nov. 30.
After about seven years of touring with (pretty much) the same set list, Diana Ross is finally switching things up. She’ll perform three nights Dec. 1-3 at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra Pops under the direction of Conductor Steven Reineke.
December begins with the sweet mellow vibe of Norah Jones for two nights (Dec. 2-3) at the Warner Theatre.
Folk/pop mainstay Dar Williams will be at Birchmore on Dec. 2.
Local electronic music pioneers Thievery Corporation return to the 9:30 Club on Dec. 15.
John Waters, one of the great filmmakers of our generation and a gay icon, will appear at the Birchmere on Dec. 20.
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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