Music & Concerts
Shania’s hit-crammed ‘Now Tour’ well paced, visually dazzling yet warm
Pop/country diva deftly weaves in new cuts from 2017 album with classic material
SHANIA TWAIN on her current ‘Now Tour.’ (Photo by Sunny Martini)
Shania Twain is unlikely to win over many new converts with her current album “Now” or its corresponding tour, which had its Washington date at Capital One Arena Sunday night, but she doesn’t particularly need to.
Enjoying a career resurgence after a painfully long 15 years between studio albums, Twain looks and sounds great and knows how to find just the right balance between high-tech arena concert spectacle and seemingly genuine warmth. She can serve up diva attitude as sassy as all the Madonnas and Mariahs out there, but somehow manages to do so without seeming like she has a bitchy bone in her entire body. It also sounded like all the vocals were live, a nice touch you can never take for granted from pop divas.
Sunday night’s show had all the elaborate special effects, costume changes and explosions we’ve come to expect from pop concerts (it felt more pop than country, but then so does country radio overall). Though her 2015 “Rock This Country Tour” was billed as a farewell, it felt great to hear her singing new songs (seven of the “Now” tracks made the set list) amidst her bounty of hits. She’s got probably the greatest batting average in the history of popular music — all her signature songs pretty much came from just three albums: “The Woman in Me” (1995), “Come On Over” (1997) and “Up!” (2002).
Everything one would expect to hear was there — staples like “Don’t Be Stupid,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” “You’re Still the One,” “From This Moment On” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” which was — of course — the encore. The new material was woven in as seamlessly as possible with the hits. It all flowed; I was surprised when I did the tally after the show and realized almost half of the “Now” record made the cut. I hate it when you go hear one of your favorite singers with a new record out and they only do two-three cuts of their new material. Twain and co. paced it all adeptly.
(Photo by Sunny Martini)
My quibbles would be exceedingly minor. A video montage medley was sloppily edited. The cuts were jarring and left you feeling you probably could have done a smoother job on your phone. Band intros were skipped, an odd omission when you consider how genuine and sweet Twain seems. And the merch was wildly overpriced and underwhelming — some cute items were available but no program/photo book, the one thing I was mildly interested in.
I’ll save my biggest gripe for the Metro rail system — it was closed by the time the concert ended stranding thousands downtown. I’m not sure what the usual policy is, but I’ve known it to stay open an extra hour to accommodate Sunday night concerts. No such luck for Shania’s crowd.
SET LIST:
Bastien Baker — 8:02 p.m.
Six-song opening set ends at 8:34
Intermission
Shania’s set 9:02 p.m.
Overture — “We Will Rock You”
1. Life’s About to Get Good
2. Come On Over
3. Up!
4. Poor Me
5. Don’t Be Stupid
6. That Don’t Impress Me Much
7. Let’s Kiss and Make Up
8. Any Man of Mine
9. Who’s Bed Have Your Boots Been Under
10. Honey I’m Home
11. I’m Alright
12. Soldier
13. You’re Still the One
* fan interaction
14. More Fun
* Video montage: The Woman in Me/You Win My Love/Don’t/Forever and for Always
15. From This Moment On
16. Gonna Getcha Good
17. Party for Two (duet with Bastian)
18. Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed (duet with Bastian)
19. (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!
ENCORE
20. Man! I Feel Like a Woman!
21. Rock This Country
Ends 11:04 p.m.
Music & Concerts
Washington chorale kicks off Christmas with vibrant program
‘Thine Own Sweet Light’ concerts planned
The full Washington Master Chorale will return for its annual holiday concert tradition with “Thine Own Sweet Light” on Friday, Dec. 19 and Sunday, Dec. 21 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church (D.C.) and Church of the Epiphany (D.C.).
The concert will feature the rich sounds of the 50-voice, a cappella chorus performing lush, seasonal choral music inspired by the theme of light. Highlights include Edvard Grieg’s “Ave Maris Stella,” Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque,” and Christopher Hoh’s “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts.” The program will also present a new work by Barcelona composer Josep Ollé i Sabaté, along with charming holiday folk songs and seasonal favorites.
For more details, visit the Washington Master Chorale website.
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.
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
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
Starring Kate Lindsey, Theo Hoffman, John Moore, and Fran Daniel Laucerica
Nov. 23, 6 p.m.
Lisner Auditorium
Washington Master Chorale
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
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.
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