Music & Concerts

Jennifer Knapp comes ‘Back Around’ with new album, tour

Out singer says new indie project turned out more lush, nuanced than originally planned

Published

8 years ago

May 25, 2017

Jennifer Knapp, gay news, Washington Blade

Jennifer Knapp says she’s still a Christian but doesn’t record gospel music exclusively anymore. (Photo by Gina R. Binkley)

An Evening with Jennifer Knapp

Saturday, June 3

Jammin’ Java

227 Maple Ave.

E. Vienna, Va.

Tickets: $18

6:30 p.m.

jamminjava.com

jenniferknapp.com

For several years in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, Jennifer Knapp was one of the darlings of contemporary Christian music.

Though only starting out in the field, her major label debut album “Kansas” was ranked at no. 80 in a 2001 ranking by CCM Magazine of the “100 greatest albums in Christian music.” Not just albums for that year — of all time. Her single “Undo Me” was a No. 1 hit on Christian radio and came in at no. 94 in CCM’s ranking of the 100 greatest songs in Christian music history.

All that changed after she took a seven-year break and came out as a lesbian upon returning to the music scene in 2010. Now when the CCM world gathers or takes stock of its own history, significant artists like she and Ray Boltz, who also came out several years ago, are ignored.

She’s now touring just ahead of the release of new album “Love Comes Back Around,” out June 23, her third solo album since returning to music. She plays Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Va., on Saturday, June 3. Knapp touched on many topics during a phone chat en route to a May 22 concert in Washington state.

Jennifer Knapp on:

• Keeping fans engaged with new material: “If everybody’s on board and paying attention, I’ll go with it. Otherwise I’ll go, ‘OK, it’s time to move on to something else.’ I always have an escape plan. … It’s a little bit like choose your own adventure.”

• Her new album: “I thought it was going to be more folky and acoustic and very bare bones … but it ended up being really lush. There’s a lot of beauty on this record even though it has a very simplistic feel to it. There are so many subtle layers. … It’s not a typical pop record that some people may have been anticipating.”

• This phase of her career: “I don’t feel like I’m having to spend all my time on stage kind of trying to explain what’s going on or feeling like I’m being investigated by the audience. Now it’s more about coming together and enjoying the music we all know … and less about trying to figure out what our footing is in this new story.”

• Her fans: “It depends on where I go. There are some pockets where they remember me as a Christian music artist and are definitely going to the show to have that kind of experience. And then the next show you go to, they may be familiar with the longer version of my story and aren’t really tied to any sort of religious experience at all. Sometimes it’s a whole room of people estranged from the religious experience. … I’m happy to have either one. It’s just about connecting.”

• Going back to school for a master’s in theological studies: “I just want to be very educated and informed and not just having the faith for myself personally but (considering) what are the implications to us as a community. … I want to talk about the confluence of LGBT issues and religious organizations with a lot of wisdom and patience.”

• Being written out of CCM history: “It’s kind of passive-aggressive. One day it’s all, ‘Where have you been, we’ve missed you so much …,’ then you come out of the closet and they’re like, “Oh, never mind.’ Or they don’t even say that, they just back away really quietly. I have shed a few tears on that but I don’t really want to participate in that industry anymore. I’m not writing about my faith, although it does show up in some respects in my music now. … But I’m not there anymore. … They can stay silent if they want but that silence says a hell of a lot.”

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Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Published

5 hours ago

May 2, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Singer Tom Goss is back. (Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.

For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.

Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

4 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Kylie Minogue visits D.C. on Tuesday.

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

Published

2 months ago

March 14, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Cynthia Erivo plays WorldPride in D.C. on June 7. (Photo courtesy of World Pride)

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.