Music & Concerts
D.C. music fest gears up for Oct. return
All Things Go broadens scope in sixth year
From labor-of-love blog to the largest music festival in the District, All Things Go has grown up from its original online music musings in 2006.
In 2014, the creators moved from digital platform to the big stage and started the All Things Go Fall Classic, a live music festival featuring emerging and popular artists. The sixth annual edition of the festival will take place Oct. 12-13 at Union Market.
However, according to one of the founders, Zach Friendly, it’s much more than the acts that make All Things Go a top draw for arts and entertainment this fall. For the organizers, all native Washingtonians, ensuring that the festival remained a distinct part of the D.C. fabric was paramount.
“We wanted a vibe, and found one in Union Market, that was a cross between music festival and block party,” Friendly says. “It’s not a large-scale festival like Lollapalooza in DC. It’s more grassroots and it’s important for us to keep the festival in city limits.”
Though Friendly (who’s straight) and his co-organizers express pride at the talent they bring to the stage, they’re also ensuring that the food and art receive recognition and top billing. As locals, Friendly says, “We are partnering not only with national chains, but small restaurants and vendors from diverse backgrounds.”
All Things Go has worked with Union Market itself, and vendors within, to mesh seamlessly with their location: more of an extension of the market than a venue rental. Their goal is to integrate with the community and local representation.
“We’ve noticed that fans aren’t just showing up for the headliners in the evening,” Friendly says. “They come early, have drinks and food when they arrive and again later in the day. People treat the Classic as an all-day festival.”
This year presents even more non-stage activities. For one, the food.
Friendly and his team curated a list of mostly D.C.-based places to emphasize the locality of the festival. Favorites like &pizza, Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling, D.C. Empanadas, Swizzler, Arepa Zone, JRINK and Taqueria del Barrio (which the Blade recently profiled) will all be present. Shake Shack is on hand too, for burger staples, but shares space with the likes of late-night baked goods gods (Insomnia Cookies) and handmade bao makers (Bun’d Up). Many of these local vendors are new, looking to become part of what is indeed becoming a classic.
In addition, since the festival is only one stage, organizers have planted other activations around it: recent art installations include 360-degree slow motion photo booths, virtual reality lounges, spray paint walls and interactive stations featuring portraits of the performers.
Friendly was frank about the makeup of the audience and notes that the festival has become purpose-driven itself.
“Last year we made a concerted effort to create the most welcoming space possible for women and other communities. Sunday ended up being a hugely LGBTQ-friendly day, especially given Betty Who, who has become something of a house act, and of course Carlie Rae Jepsen,” he says.
Again this year, Sunday’s lineup is dedicated entirely to female and non-binary artists. Friendly notes that many bands are led by male frontmen, and has looked for ways to elevate female-led groups. All Things Go, as last year, is partnering with Eaton and Lyft to host two events before the festival dates on female entrepreneurship and women in the creative arts, with speakers from National Geographic and NPR, among others.
Also new this year: a partnership with Nellie’s. On Sunday of the festival, the bar will be hosting something of an informal “Betty Who Brunch.” For an additional $30, festivalgoers can head to Nellie’s for its traditional bottomless boozy brunch party. Post-mimosas, there’s an included shuttle to the festival.
Tickets are available at allthingsgofallclassic.com/tickets.
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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