Music & Concerts
Let there be light
Inaugural Baltimore extravaganza features art, music and more
‘Digital Skin’ by Atelier Mateo M, one of the installations at Light City Baltimore. (Photo by the artist, courtesy Finn Partners)
Light City Baltimore
A Festival of Light, Music and Innovation
March 28-April 3
Locations vary at the Inner Harbor and beyond
Full details at lightcity.org
Baltimore may not look like it now, but in a few days it will be transformed into a wonderland of light, creativity and innovation that could put Alice’s Wonderland to shame. Light City is Baltimore’s first multi-genre spectacular that incorporates art, music and education. It runs from Monday, March 28-Sunday, April 3.
Light City was the brain child of couple Justin Allen and Brooke Hall from What Works Studio, a Baltimore creative agency. Hall is CEO and founder and Allen is CMO and creative strategist. The two were inspired by Vivid Sydney, a similar light extravaganza that has been running since 2009 in Sydney, Australia. Wanting to bring the concept to Maryland, the couple reached out to the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts whose members agreed to get on board.
The new team then set out to prod creative minds to figure out how to recreate the idea while making it distinctly Baltimore.
Bill Gilmore, executive director at the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, says the project began from scratch with meetings involving neighbor associations, arts communities and technology communities.
“We did about 17 of these just sort of bringing people into the fold because we thought it was a good idea but we didn’t really know how it was going to manifest itself here,” Gilmore says. “Because we wanted the festival to be about Baltimore, for Baltimore.”
After engaging with numerous groups, these organizations sent in proposals for ideas; 240 proposals wound up coming in from all over the world for the event, which runs from 7-11 p.m. each night except, April 1-2 when it runs from 7 p.m.-midnight.
Now in its completed phase, the festival has become a three-layered artistic haven.
The light installation component will be a one-and-a-half mile BGE Light Art Walk, from the south shore of the Inner Harbor to Harbor East, featuring 50 attractions including lit up visual artworks, street theater and musical performances. A few pieces on display will be “Digital Skin” by Atelier Mateo M, which lets guests paint on their friends to digitally map their faces and bodies and watch them come to life; “Blur Hour” by New American Public Art, which uses light towers and seating that responds to people’s movement in the space; and “Dear Baltimore” by Thick Air Studios, a collection of letters floating seven feet about the ground propelled by bicycles placed throughout the Light City location.
Out magician David London will add to the street theater element. London is curating Circus of Wonders at Waterfront Garden at Pier 5 (711 Eastern Ave., Baltimore). There will be juggling, escapes, fire spinning and comedy performances throughout the week.
Music is another highlight of the festival. Bands, dancers and major DJs will be performing on stage throughout Light City’s run. Baltimore-based lesbian rapper TT The Artist performs on Tuesday, March 29 from 10-11 p.m. DJ Jazzy Jeff, best known for his work with Will Smith, will perform on Thursday, March 31 from 10-11 p.m. Electronic musician Dan Deacon performs on Saturday, April 2 from 10-11 p.m.
Festival-goers can take time to reflect on important issues with the Social Innovation Conference on March 28-29, the Health Innovation Conference and Sustainability Innovation Conference on March 30-31 and the Creative Innovation Conference on April 1-2. Topics at the conferences all focus on social change. Conference tickets are $99.
Gilmore expects 10,000 or more attendees at the various events.
“It’s not a new idea worldwide, but its the first really large international light festival in the United States,” Gilmore says. “I think that people are just really excited to see light art installations and the fact that it’s free has a lot to do with it. I think we’ve built something that is unique to the genre of festivals just in general.”
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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