Metro Weekly

Summer Music Highlights for D.C, Maryland & Virginia

Summer Music 2014

More details about all of these venues is available here.

JULY

  •  Neon Trees — Tickets remain only for the Baltimore show of this appealing gay-fronted Mormon synth-pop band (7/11, Rams Head Live, 7/13, 9:30 Club) 
  • Natalie Merchant – From 10,000 Maniacs down to 1 (7/12, Lincoln Theatre) 
  • French Express Label Night — Moon Boots, Perseus, Jonas Rathsman, Isaac Tichaeur (7/12, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland w/Brandy Clark (7/13, Wolf Trap) 
  • The Fray (7/16, Wolf Trap) 
  • The Barefoot Movement — Tennessee bluegrass/Americana/rock band, a Free Summer Outdoor Concert series (7/16, Strathmore) 
  • Matthew Sweet w/Tommy Keene (7/16, Birchmere) 
  • Queens of the Stone Age w/St. Vincent, Brody Dalle (7/17, Merriweather) 
  • Puss N Boots — Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper tour in support of their country/jazz group’s debut album No Fools, No Fun (7/17, 9:30 Club) 
  • Rahsaan Patterson — Underappreciated gay neo-soul artist, who got his start in Kids Incorporated (7/17, Rams Head On Stage) 
  • Jean Carne — Soul legend (7/17-20, Blues Alley) 
  • Fall Out Boy w/Paramore, New Politics — An assortment of edgy synth pop acts led by the Baltimore boys
  • (7/18, Merriweather) 
  • Charles Feelgood (7/18, U Street Music Hall) 
  • James Brown – The Man, The Music & The Message (7/18, Lincoln Theatre) 
  • Camera Obscura (7/18, 9:30 Club) 
  • Daft Phunk — A Tribute to Daft Punk (7/18, Fillmore) 
  • Justin Trawick Trio — Local folk crooner performs with his trio here regularly as part of Free Loft Late Night Music series (7/18, Hamilton) 
  • Jay Brannan — The sweet-voiced acerbic-acting gay crooner still best known from the film Shortbus (7/19, U Street Music Hall) 
  • O.A.R. & Phillip Phillips — Rockville’s own jam band comes home for a show with the “Home” hit-maker and redundantly named American Idol winner from 2012(7/19, Merriweather) 
  • Queen + Adam Lambert — The almost American Idol performs as almost-Freddy Mercury in the original Queen (7/20, Merriweather) 
  • Huey Lewis & The News (7/20, Wolf Trap) 
  • Bebel Gilberto (7/20, 9:30 Club) 
  • John Hiatt and the Combo & The Robert Cray Band (7/20, Strathmore) 
  • New Edition — Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike – the old New gang is all here, Ralph and Johnny too (7/20, Verizon Center) 
  • Lionel Richie w/CeeLo Green — Richie’s stuck on performing, and Green might be crazy (7/21-22, Wolf Trap) 
  • Conjunto Chappottin — A veteran Cuban son band performs at two free area concerts (7/21, Kennedy Center, 7/23, Strathmore) 
  • Vans Warped Tour — To cite only the best-known among the too-many acts: Anberlin, Bad Rabbits, Breathe Carolina, Cute Is What We Aim For, Enter Shikari, K.Flay, Less Than Jake, Lionize, Of Mice and Men, The Devil Wears Prada (7/22, Merriweather) 
  • Flume – U Street Music Hall Presents… (7/23-24, 9:30 Club) 
  • Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds w/Nicole Atkins (7/23, DAR Constitution Hall) 
  • Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks — Animal Collective founder tours with new band, inspired by horror films and rural music (7/23, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Aisha Kahlil (7/23, Blues Alley) 
  • Beck — After glowing reviews from Coachella and Austin City Limits, this Anti-“Loser” adds another local stop in support of the new Morning Phase (7/24, Merriweather) 
  • Angela Johnson — An indie “Queen of Soul” (7/24, Blues Alley) 
  • Neutral Milk Hotel — Jeff Mangum started this influential, experimental indie-rock band 25 years ago and now, 15 years after disbanding, reteams with other members for a reunion tour (7/25, Merriweather) 
  • The Antlers (7/25, 9:30 Club) 
  • Lee Burridge (7/25, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Start Making Sense w/HmfO — Talking Heads tribute act with another for Hall & Oates (7/25, Hamilton) 
  • Chus & Ceballos — A rare D.C. stop from one of the best progressive house DJ acts, straight Spaniards who headline major gay dance parties elsewhere (7/25, Flash) 
  • Sarah McLachlan — The pet-rescuing soft-pop Canadian crooner (7/26, Wolf Trap) 
  • Dave Matthews Band – Billed as “A Very Special Evening,” performing two sets, one acoustic, the other electric (7/26, Jiffy Lube Live) 
  • Bliss w/Will Eastman and Keenan Orr (7/26, U Street Music Hall) ^
  • The Legwarmers — Billed as D.C.’s Biggest ‘80s Retro Dance Party (7/26, State Theatre) 
  • Darius Rucker — Where’s Hootie? Where’s the Blowfish? (7/27, Wolf Trap) ^
  • Phish (7/26-27, Merriweather) 
  • Mixtape — Shea Van Horn and Matt Bailer’s monthly roving party returns to the 9:30 Club (7/25, 9:30 Club) 
  • Mates of State (7/28, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Heart — The rocking melodic “Magic” women (7/29, Wolf Trap) 
  • Hess Is More — A seven-piece band from New York offering a “100 percent live orchestra experience,” free on the Millennium Stage (7/29, Kennedy Center) 
  • Chuck Brown All Star Band — Late Godfather of Go-Go’s band performs as part of free summer outdoor concert series (7/30, Strathmore) 
  • The Disco Bisquits (7/31, 9:30 Club) 
  • Rodrigo y Gabriela — Supercharged Mexican guitar duo (7/31, Wolf Trap) 
  • Tweet & PJ Morton — The “Oops (Oh My)” hip-hop/pop singer performs with the keyboardist from Maroon 5
  • (7/31, Howard Theatre)

AUGUST

  • Mary Chapin Carpenter — Performing her songs and more with an orchestra (8/1, Wolf Trap) 
  • Mad Decent Block Party DC — Dilton Francis, Diplo, Flux Pavilion, Sleigh Bells, Trippy Turtle, Wave Race, Wolfgang Gartner, Cashmere Cat and Children of the Night (8/1, Merriweather) ^
  • Nellie McKay — An early LGBT ally for marriage equality, quirky folk artist offers the cabaret “A Girl Named Bill” (8/1, Rams Head On Stage) 
  • Ed Kowalczyk — Former lead singer of Live toasts the 20th anniversary of that melodic hard rock band’s breakthrough album Throwing Copper (8/1) 
  • Melba Moore (8/1-2, Blues Alley) 
  • 2014 Sumer Spirit Fesetival — Ms. Lauryn Hill, Janelle Monae, Meshell Ndegeocello, Raheem DeVaughn, Talib Kweli, Junkyard Band, Backyard Band, RDGLDGRN, George Tandy Jr., Roman GlanArthur, DJ Quicksilva (8/2, Merriweather) 
  • Turqoise Jeep (8/2, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Boris (8/2, 9:30 Club) 
  • Rascal Flatts w/Sheryl Crow & Gloriana (8/2, Jiffy Lube Live) 
  • Dark Star Orchestra — Ultimate Grateful Dead tribute (8/3, Wolf Trap) 
  • Akua Allrich — A homegrown jazz/R&B vocalist (8/3, Blues Alley) 
  • Keyshia Cole — Sassy soul singer and reality-TV figure (8/3, Fillmore) 
  • Nine Inch Nails & Soundgarden (8/4, Jiffy Lube Live) 
  • Anthony David — India.Arie’s longtime collaborator (8/5, Blues Alley) 
  • Pat Metheny Unity Group, Bruce Hornsby — Jazz quintet and pop pianist, together at last (8/6, Wolf Trap) 
  • Cathy Ponton King — Free Summer Outdoor Concert (8/6, Strathmore) 
  • Passenger — The wispy male Kiwi vocalist (8/6, Echostage) 
  • David Gray — British folk-rock singer-songwriter (8/7, Merriweather) 
  • Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, performed in its entirety (8/8, Wolf Trap) ^
  • Presidents of the United States of America (8/8, 9:30 Club) 
  • Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds (8/8, Howard Theatre) 
  • Kathy Sledge — Sister Sledge offers a tribute to Billie Holiday (8/8-9, Blues Alley) 
  • Buster Poindexter  — The “Hot Hot Hot” hitmaker, aka David Johansen of the New York Dolls (8/8, Birchmere) 
  • Uke and Guitar Summit 2014 (8/9, Strathmore) 
  • The Deadmen and Vandaveer (8/9, 9:30 Club) 
  • Martyn w/Curses, Vanniety Kills — A night of dance led by D.C.-based Dutch dubstep/techno artist Martyn (8/9, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Carbon Leaf — Virginia bluegrass/rock quintet (8/9, Hamilton) 
  • Moonrise Festival (8/9-10, Pimlico Race Course) 
  • Gavin DeGraw, Matt Nathanson (8/10, Wolf Trap) 
  • Nickel Creek, Josh Ritter — Pop-infused bluegrass and Americana (8/13, Wolf Trap) 
  • Miniature Tigers (8/14, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Smokey Robinson Presents: Human Nature — Australia’s biggest male vocal group brings its hit Vegas Motown-themed concert to D.C. (8/14, Warner Theatre) ^
  • Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Open Mic (8/14, Black Fox Lounge) 
  • Green Velvet (8/15, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Boyz II Men — More than two decades since topping the charts, apparently they still haven’t found the end of the road
  • (8/15, Fillmore Silver Spring) 
  • ABBA – The Concert — Annual tribute show (8/16, Wolf Trap) 
  • Tori Amos – A tour in support of Unrepentant Geraldines, her first all-pop set in years (8/16, DAR Constitution Hall) 
  • Silopanna Music Festival — Rams Head Promotions, an organization including Baltimore’s Rams Head Live, offers a festival of nearly 20 acts headlined by the Flaming Lips, Dashboard Confessional, Matt & Kim and Eric Hutchinson (8/16, Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds) 
  • Arcade Fire (8/17, Verizon Center) 
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons (8/18, 9:30 Club) 
  • Echo & The Bunnymen (8/18, Fillmore) 
  • Josh Groban (8/19-20, Wolf Trap) 
  • Robyn + Royksopp –Great Swedish dance-pop star and equally fine Norwegian electronic duo (8/21, Wolf Trap) 
  • Lyle Lovett & His Large Band (8/22, Wolf Trap) 
  • Motley Crue w/Alice Cooper – “All Bad Things Must Come to an End.” (8/22, Jiffy Lube Live) ^
  • George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic (8/24, 9:30 Club) 
  • Boston (8/24, Wolf Trap) ^
  • The Band Perry (8/28, Wolf Trap) 
  • MJ Day 2014 — Fifth annual Michael Jackson dance party (8/29, 9:30 Club) 
  • Nitty Gritty Dirt Band — Nearly 50-year-old country/rock band behind “Mr. Bojangles” (8/30, Strathmore) 
  • Juan MacLean — DJ set from this edgy electro New Yorker (8/30, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Jeff Bridges & The Abiders — Yes the actor is also a musician (8/31, Birchmere)

SEPTEMBER

  • ZZ Top & Jeff Beck w/Gary Clark Jr. (9/3, Merriweather) 
  • Gipsy Kings (9/4, Wolf Trap) 
  • Jamie XX — One half of the hot indie-pop band The XX (9/5, 9:30 Club) 
  • Mary Mary — The “Shackles (Praise You)” gospel/pop sister act (9/5, Howard Theatre) 
  • Bob Mould (9/6, 9:30 Club) 
  • Ed Sheeran w/Rudimental — Yet another twenty-something British folk-rock singer-songwriter, and a hip electronic collective as opener (9/6, Merriweather) 
  • Colbie Callat (9/7, Wolf Trap) 
  • Willie Nelson — Months after his show with Allison Krauss at Merriweather, country legend returns for a more intimate affair (9/9, 9:30 Club) 
  • Chris Isaak (9/9-10, Birchmere) ^
  • Die Antwoord (9/10, Echostage) 
  • The Gaslight Anthem & Against Me! — Nashville-steeped classic rock meets hard punk led by MTF trans artist Laura Jane Grace (9/11, 9:30 Club) 
  • NSO Pops w/Pink Martini and the von Trapps — Steven Reineke kicks off NSO Pops season with eclectic world cocktail band and the family that inspired The Sound of Music (9/11-13, Kennedy Center) 
  • Grouplove, Portugal The Man and Typhoon (9/12, Merriweather) 
  • Lera Lynn (9/12, Strathmore) 
  • Melissa Ferrick — Lesbian folk-rock guitar goddess, a regular opener for Ani DiFranco (9/12, Birchmere) 
  • Route 29 Revue — Trampled by Turtles, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Iron and Wine, The Devil Makes Three, Guster, Hurray for the Riff Raff (9/13, Merriweather) 
  • Holy Ghost! — New Order-inspired New York band offers a DJ set (9/13, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull (9/13, Verizon Center) 
  • Shemekia Copeland — Young soul/blues singer who’s opened for the Rolling Stones (9/13, Hamilton) 
  • Jack White — Former White Stripes leader is a renaissance-man type who indie-rock music mavens all-but regard as the Second Coming, though to him, he’s the Third Man (9/14) 
  • Ty Segall (9/15, 9:30 Club) 
  • Sam Smith — The newest British singing sensation (9/16, Echostage) 
  • OK Go — Creative pop band is known for its art project-like videos and surprising and immersive live shows (9/16, 9:30 Club) 
  • Metronomy — Adventurous, ambitious British pop act with psychedelic and soul influences (9/17, 9:30 Club) 
  • Clean Bandit — Great classically inspired electro/pop British group (9/18, 9:30 Club) 
  • Simian Mobile Disco (9/18, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Jane Monheit — “Hello Bluebird: The Jazz of Judy Garland” (9/18-21, Blues Alley) 
  • Erasure – Synth-pop pioneers Andy Bell and Vince Clark reteam for the Violent Flame Tour (9/19, 9:30 Club) 
  • Rubblebucket — Brooklyn outfit sounds like how a kaleidoscope looks, a continually changing pattern of ebullient drum beats, harmonies and horn exclamations (9/19, U Street Music Hall) 
  • How To Dress Well — Pseudonym for Brooklyn-born, Berlin-based, falsetto-rich R&B artist
  • (9/20, U Street Music Hall) 
  • Brad Paisley (9/20, Jiffy Lube Live) 

A full listing of these venues is available here.

 

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