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)
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