Music & Concerts
FALL ARTS 2018 CONCERTS: Troye, Elton, Xtina and — Stop! — Miss Ross
Region simmering with fall concerts of all genres and ilks
The region’s fall pop/rock concerts feature gay artists such as Elton John, on left, and Troye Sivan, to legendary divas such as Diana Ross. (Photos courtesy Matt Baron/Sutterstock, Universal Music Group and the Strathmore respectively)
Pop icon Elton John brings his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour to Capital One Arena (601 F St. N.W.) on Friday, Sept. 21-22 at 8 p.m. The three-year-long tour will be his last. Tickets range in price from $190-1,000 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.
Nineteen-year-old DJ and music producer prodigy Whethan (“Superlove,” “High”) performs Friday, Sept. 21 at the 9:30 Club (815 V St. N.W.) at 10 p.m. Filipino electronic artist Sweater Beats (“Glory Days,” “Faded Away”) and dance artist Andrew Luce (“Take Me,” “DIAMOND GIRL”) will also perform. Tickets are $25 at ticketfly.com, and parking passes for the 9th St. parking lot are $20.
Diana Ross plays the Strathmore Sept. 25-26. Tickets are $69-239. She’s played the region often in the last several years but this is her first Strathmore engagement since 2010.
Rock band The National (“I Need My Girl,” “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”) performs at Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Pky., Columbia, Md.) on Friday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30. Singer/songwriter Cat Power (“Sea of Love,” “Lived in Bars”), whose album “Wanderer” will be released in October; and folk rocker Phoebe Bridgers (“Motion Sickness,” “Scott Street”) will also perform. Tickets range from $46-76 and can be purchased at ticketfly.com.
Christina Aguilera performs her “Liberation” tour at The Theater at MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.) on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. The tour follows the June release of her album, “Liberation.” Tickets range from $112-3,432.
Troye Sivan’s “Bloom” tour is coming to The Anthem (901 Wharf St. S.W.) on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 7:30 p.m.-midnight. He headlined at Capital Pride in June. The tour follows the August release of his album by the same name. Transgender pop princess Kim Petras (“Heart to Break,” “I Don’t Want It At All”) opens. Tickets range from $61-468.
English indie rock songstress Florence+the Machine comes to The Anthem (901 Wharf St. S.W.) on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. The tour follows the June release of her album, “High as Hope.” Synth-pop artist and former frontwoman of Gossip, Beth Ditto (“Fake Sugar,” “We Could Run”) will also perform. Tickets range from $104.50-179.50.
The versatile group Pink Martini (“Amado Mío,” “Let’s Never Stop Falling In Love”) performs at The Anthem (901 Wharf St. S.W.) on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. The band dabbles in classical, pop, Latin and jazz. They will be joined by frequent collaborator radio journalist Ari Shapiro, co-host of NPR’s “All Things Considered.” The show is open to all ages, and doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $35-95.
British electropop group Years & Years, (“If You’re Over Me,” “King”) performs Thursday, Oct. 11 at the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U. St. N.W.). Their “Palo Santo” tour follows the July release of their sophomore album of the same name. The performance will also feature sets by pop singer/songwriter CYN (“Only With You,” “Believer”) and pop artist Tunde Olaniran (“I’m Here,” “KYBM”). The show is sold out.
Jake Shears, lead singer of the pop group Scissor Sisters, performs solo at the 9:30 Club (815 V St. N.W.) on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. The performance follows the August release of his eponymous album. He is joined by the multimedia pop group Ssion (“At Least the Sky is Blue,” “Comeback”). Their album “O” was released in May. Tickets are $25.
Elle King (“Exes and Ohs,” “Shame”) brings her “Shake the Spirit” tour to the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St. N.W.) on Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The tour promotes her upcoming album’s release of the same name. Rock band Cordovas (“I’m the One Who Needs You Tonight,” “All I Found”) opens. Tickets are $30 and go on sale Friday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. Eastern time.
French synth-pop artist Christine and the Queens (“Tilted,” “Girlfriend”) perform at the 9:30 Club (815 V St. S.W.) on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.-10:30. The concert follows the Sept. 21 release of her new album, “Chris.” Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 and parking passes for the back parking lot on 9th St. are $20.
City Winery D.C. (1350 Okie St. N.W.) hosts an Evening With Jennifer Knapp (“Undo Me,” “A Little More”) on Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 9-10 p.m. Doors open at 8. Knapp, a folk-rock, formerly gospel musician, has released six albums as well as a memoir. In 2017, Knapp released her latest album, “Love Comes Back Around.” The event will be held in the Wine Garden. Tickets are $15.
Multi-platinum singer/songwriter and Broadway actor Josh Groban comes to the Capital One Arena (601 F. St. N.W.) on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. His “Bridges” tour follows the Sept. 21 release of his album of the same name. Broadway icon Idina Menzel, known for her roles as Elphaba in “Wicked” and Elsa in “Frozen,” will join him. Tickets range from $49-1,432. With every online ticket purchase there is a choice of a free “Bridges” CD or digital download.
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
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.
Music & Concerts
Pride concert to take place at Strathmore after Kennedy Center rescinds invitation
International Pride Orchestra ‘heartbroken’ event ‘would no longer be welcome’ at DC venue
The International Pride Orchestra has announced its Pride concert will take place at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5 after the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts disinvited the group.
Since President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center during his first month in office, LGBTQ events and performances have been banned with community allies withdrawing in solidarity.
The Kennedy Center has cancelled “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.
“We were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,” said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestra’s media page. “The Kennedy Center has long been a symbol of artistic excellence, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. However, we are profoundly grateful to the Strathmore Music Center for opening their doors to us. Their willingness to host our Pride Celebration Concert ensures that our message of love, pride, and resilience will be heard on the doorstep of the nation’s capital.”
The Pride concert is among the events that have faced uncertainty since the Trump-Vance administration took office on Jan. 20. Many, however, are fighting back and looking for ways to push back against the bans and cancellations.
“We aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,” said Roest. “We want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.”
WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.
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