Summer Concert Highlights Around D.C., Maryland and Virginia

JULY

· Special Agent Galactica (7/12, 7/26, Black Fox Lounge)
· Skylar Grey (7/14, U Hall)
· Jill Scott (7/15, Wolf Trap)
· Lee Dewyze — Do you still remember the winner of American Idol Season 9? (7/16, Rams Head on Stage)
· Alma Tropicalia — ’60s-era Brazilian pop sounds, part of a free Summer Outdoor Concert Series (7/17, Strathmore)
· Marty Thomas presents Diva — It’s as gay as it sounds, with guest vocalists from Broadway (7/17 and every Wednesday, Blue Moon)
· Jody Watley (7/19, Howard Theatre)
· Klymaxx feat. Bernadette Cooper (7/19-20, Blues Alley)
· Jonathan Butler — Blues Alley presents a concert by this R&B/jazz fusion artist (7/19, Fillmore Silver Spring)
· fun. w/Tegan and Sara (7/20, Merriweather)
· Fantasia — The American Idol winner returns (7/20, Warner Theatre)
· Drop Electric — A more multi-culti, D.C.-based version of Sigur Ros (7/20, Black Cat)
· Debby Holiday — Dive on in to see this great rock-informed dance singer (7/21, Blue Moon)
· Robert Plant (7/22, Wolf Trap)
· Bob Dylan and his Band, Wilco, My Morning Jacket (7/23, Merriweather)
· Elise Testone (7/23, Iota)
· Brandi Carlile — Bear Creek was one of 2012’s best albums, and this lesbian rocker is definitely the real deal (7/24, Wolf Trap)
· The Lumineers (7/26, Merriweather)
· Loretta Lynn (7/26, 9:30)
· Mary Mary — Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance… (7/26, Howard Theatre)
· Mary Alouette — Local WAMMIE Award-winning gypsy jazz vocalist (7/26, Strathmore)
· Shanice (7/26-28, Blues Alley)
· O’Malley’s March — The band led by Martin O’Malley, Maryland’s marriage-equality-fighting governor and future presidential candidate (7/26, Rams Head on Stage)
· Dave Matthews Band (7/27, Jiffy Lube Live)
· Chopteenth Afrofunk Big Band (7/27, Iota)
· NSO’s Wicked Divas — Steven Reineke conducts a concert of showstoppers featuring Broadway divas Julia Murney and Stephanie J. Block (7/28, Wolf Trap)
· New Order w/Holy Ghost! (7/28, Merriweather)
· Jonas Brothers (7/29, Jiffy Lube Live)
· Chris Pureka (7/30, Jammin Java)

AUGUST

· Natalie Cole (8/1, Strathmore)
· Stephanie Mills — The R&B and Broadway legend returns (8/2, Birchmere)
· Cajmere — It’s time for the Percolator (8/2, U Hall)
· Jesse Dee (8/2, Hamilton)
· NSO’s Singin’ In The Rain — The movie musical classic screens while Emil de Cou leads the orchestra in live accompaniment (8/3, Wolf Trap)
· Summer Spirit Festival w/D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes (8/3, Merriweather)
· Benny Benassi (8/3, Echostage)
· Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Morris Day & The Time (8/4, Pier Six Pavilion)
· OneRepublic — You can opt to see Ryan Tedder’s grandiose pop act in a relatively intimate outdoor venue, or go big, or ,you know, just go home (8/5, Wolf Trap; 8/9, Pier Six Pavilion)
· Hurray for the Riff Raff — What’s not to love about New Orleans-based Nuyorican Alynda Lee Segarra’s nom de rock? (8/7, Black Cat)
· Jessie Ware — new British soul-pop singer, like a peppier Sade (8/7, Rams Head Live)
· Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Open Mic (8/8, Black Fox Lounge)
· Don McLean, Judy Collins (8/9, Wolf Trap)
· Angie Stone (8/9, Howard Theatre)
· Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin (8/10, Wolf Trap)
· The Killers (8/10, Merriweather)
· Almost Queen — Broadway performer Joseph Russo portrays Freddie Mercury in this celebrated tribute band (8/10, State Theatre)
· Kesha — The less said about this, the better (8/12, Wolf Trap)
· Diana Ross — What do you mean you don’t already have tickets to see this Supreme gay diva? Sadly, only lawn seats remain (8/14, Wolf Trap) Laura Jane Grace — The front man behind punk rock group Against Me! now tours singing the “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” (8/14, Rock and Roll Hotel)
· Alice in Chains, Janes Addiction, Coheed and Cambria (8/16, Jiffy Lube Live)
· Above & Beyond (8/16, Echostage)
· LeToya Luckett — Beyoncé, Kelly, LaTavia, LeToya — yep, the forgotten fourth founding member of Destiny’s Child returns (8/17, Howard Theatre)
· Backstreet Boys, Jesse McCartney, DJ Pauly D (8/18, Jiffy Lube Live)
· Blues Traveler (8/18, Rams Head on Stage)
· En Vogue (8/18, Birchmere)
· Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo w/Cheap Trick — Hit ’em with your cheap shot (8/20, Wolf Trap)
· Toni Braxton (8/21, Pier Six Pavilion)
· Jennifer Holliday in Dreamgirls — And I’m telling you, the gays are going (8/22-25, Wolf Trap)
· Gladys Knight, The O’Jays (8/22, Pier Six Pavilion; 8/24, DAR Constitution Hall)
· Dru Hill: Sisqo, Nokio, Jazz & Tao (8/23, Howard Theatre)
· Goodie Mob: CeeLo Green, Big Gipp, Khujo & T-Mo (8/24, 9:30)
· Valerie Simpson — Performing the music of Ashford & Simpson, carrying on without her late husband (8/25, Birchmere)
· Carly Rae Jepsen (8/28, Wolf Trap)
· Salt-N-Pepa — Salt-N-Pepa’s here, and they’re in effect… (8/31, Howard Theatre)

SEPTEMBER

· Carolina Chocolate Drops — You’ll never hear a better black bluegrass band (9/3, Hamilton)
· AlunaGeorge — Great new British electronic duo of sweet vocalist Aluna Francis and producer George Reid (9/3, U Hall)
· Les Nubians — The sharp French hip-hop-inspired female duo (9/5, Birchmere)
· Patricia Barber — Lesbian jazz pianist and vocalist (9/6, Blues Alley)
· The Julie Ruin — Wondering what Kathleen “Le Tigre” Hanna is up to? Why, she’s in a new band with former Bikini Kill cohort Kathi Wilcox (9/7, Black Cat)
· Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson and Tony Lucca (9/7, Jiffy Lube Live)
· Blondie (9/9, 9:30)
· Marc Anthony — The Latin superstar and former Mr. J-Lo makes his debut at Wolf Trap (9/10, Wolf Trap)
· Muse (9/11, Verizon)
· Bootsy Collins (9/12, Strathmore)
· Black Cat 20th Anniversary Party — Some of the venue’s favorite bands, past and present, come out for a toast or 20 (9/13-14, Black Cat)
· Sharam — The great local Deep Dish progressive house DJ makes an overdue debut here (9/13, U Hall)
· Pet Shop Boys (9/19, Strathmore)
· Imagine Dragons (9/20, Merriweather)
· Deerhunter (9/21, 9:30)
· MS MR — New York electro-pop duo returns after a breakout performance at the 2013 Sweetlife Festival (9/22, Black Cat)
· Stereophonics (9/22, 9:30)
· Armin van Buuren (9/28, Echostage)
· Kathy Mattea (9/29, Rams Head on Stage)
· Earth, Wind & Fire (9/29, Warner)
· Stars (9/30, 9:30)