JUNE
Brandi Carlile (6/28, Wolf Trap)Ledisi – Soul singer describes new fiery, expressive album Pieces of Me as ''my Shug Avery-like project'' (6/29, Pier Six Pavilion; 7/25, DAR Constitution Hall)The Fillmore Locals Rock Series – A night to ''get local,'' this month featuring The Grey Area, Koshari, New Day Dawn and the Knolly Moles (6/29, Fillmore Silver Spring)
JULY
Scissor Sisters (7/2-3, 9:30 Club)Chris Isaak (7/2-3, Birchmere)Sarah McLachlan w/The National Philharmonic – (7/5, Merriweather Post Pavilion)Howard Jones – The '80s hitmaker plays his first two albums, Human's Lib and Dream Into Action, in their entirety, including ''No One Is To Blame'' (7/5, Howard Theatre)Glitterlust – D.C.'s queer, quirky glam-rock band opens for Washerwoman (7/5, Black Cat) Robyn, opening for Coldplay (7/8-9, Verizon Center) Musiq – Philadelphia-based artist is one of today's biggest soul men (7/9, Howard Theatre) Seal w/Macy Gray (7/10, Wolf Trap) Special Agent Galactica (7/13, 7/27, Black Fox Lounge) Girl in a Coma (7/13, Red Palace) Wynter Gordon (7/13, Rock and Roll Hotel) Leela James – Sometimes called a contemporary Etta James, James supports her new album, a tribute to the late legend (7/14, Rams Head On Stage; 7/16, Birchmere) DJ Dan (7/14, Rock and Roll Hotel) The Music of ABBA – ''The official ABBA show,'' approved by Benny and Bjorn, featuring ARRIVAL from Sweden and ABBA original musicians (7/15, Rams Head On Stage) Neko Case (7/17, Rams Head Live) Nona Hendryx (7/17, U Street Music Hall) The Rebirth Brass Band – Reviving New Orleans's brass tradition (7/18, The Hamilton) The B-52s (7/19, Wolf Trap) Mama's Black Sheep – Local folk rockers performed at last year's Capital Pride (7/19, Jammin Java) Shawn Colvin (7/19-20, Birchmere) Nicky Minaj (7/21, DAR Constitution Hall) Jay Brannan – Touring to support his new album, Rob Me Blind (7/21, U Street Music Hall) Hot Chip w/Sleigh Bells and DJ James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem (7/22, Merriweather Post Pavilion) Sugarland (7/22, Jiffy Lube Live) Rufus Wainwright (7/24, Wolf Trap) Vans Warped Tour – A cornucopia of new, emerging or strictly alternative rock bands (7/24, Merriweather Post Pavilion) Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presents the Music of Michael Jackson (7/26, Pier Six Pavilion) Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart (7/27, Verizon Center) IDentity Festival w/Eric Prydz, Paul Van Dyk, Eva Simons and more – Yes, raves have gone corporate, as this LiveNation-organized touring festival attests (7/27, Jiffy Lube Live) Kishi Bashi – NPR's favorite Japanese-American rock violinist who has worked with fellow avant-pop artists Regina Spektor, Sondre Lerche and Of Montreal (7/27, U Street Music Hall) Empresarios – Arlington's own ''Tropicaliente'' band is gaining increasing international attention with its urban blend of Latin funk, cumbia, dub and reggaeton (7/27, Hamilton)Justin Trawick Group – Cute, local ''urban folk'' singer, one of the region's best folk/pop acts, with a style similar to Jason Mraz (7/28, Iota Club) Maze feat. Frankie Beverly w/Patti LaBelle, The O'Jays, Kenny ''Babyface'' Edmonds, Tank (7/29, Verizon Center) Amadou and Mariam – The Malian ''Afro-blues'' couple has opened for Coldplay and U2, and now tour in support of a new album with guest turns from Santigold, Tunde and Kyp of TV On The Radio and Jake Shears (7/31, 9:30 Club) Bombay Bicycle Club – Charming British quartet whose U.K. hit debut album was amusingly titled I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose (7/31, Rams Head Live; 8/1, 9:30 Club)
AUGUST
Idina Menzel with the NSO Pops (8/3, Wolf Trap) Summer Spirit Festival -- Erykah Badu, Estelle, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Common and Eric Roberson. Plus a tribute to Chuck Brown with the late go-go godfather's band (8/4, Merriweather Post Pavilion) Run for Cover 2012 – One of Black Cat's most popular events all year features local bands paying tribute to or parodying rock hits, all to benefit the nonprofit Girls Rock! DC (8/4, Black Cat) Marti Brom – Rockabilly/roots rook singer offers a free summer concert (8/8, Strathmore) Bad Domes – D.C.-based Rich Strayer's one-man laptop band chops up pop hits into fragments and then reconstructs them bit by bit live onstage, creating unusual and unique collages each show (8/11, DC9) Linkin Park (8/11, Jiffy Lube Live) ABBA – The Concert – The Official ABBA Fan Club has named this outfit ''the best ABBA tribute band in the world'' (8/12, Wolf Trap) Candye Kane – Ballsy blues belter who has championed rights for gays and other ''outsiders'' (8/14, Hamilton) Jane's Addiction (8/14, Lyric Opera House courtesy of 9:30 Club and IMP Productions) Barry Manilow (8/16-17, Wolf Trap)Goapele (8/17, Birchmere) Loudon Wainwright III w/Mary Chapin Carpenter (8/18, Wolf Trap) Fred Falke (8/18, U Street Music Hall) My Morning Jacket (8/18, Merriweather Post Pavilion) Dave Koz (8/22, Wolf Trap) Kelly Clarkson w/The Fray (8/23, Jiffy Lube Live) Jason Mraz w/Christini Perri (8/24, Merriweather Post Pavilion) Brad Paisley (8/25, Jiffy Lube Live) Hugh Laurie w/the Copper Bottom Band – TV's Dr. House has a side career as a New Orleans-style blues singer, pianist and guitarist, backed by a stellar band (8/29, Birchmere; 9/4, Rams Head On Stage) Sheila E. + fDeluxe – The former Revolution princess tours with the Prince-produced funk band formerly known as The Family (8/30, Howard Theatre)
SEPTEMBER
Ben Harper – A rare acoustic solo performance from the Grammy-winning soul stirrer (9/4, Wolf Trap) Patrick Watson (9/5, 9:30) Sondre Lerche – Brooklyn-based Norwegian pop-rocker whose melodic tunes pay homage to Tin Pan Alley (9/7, 9:30 Club) Bob Mould – Before he releases a new solo set, the legendary gay punk rocker will perform his power-pop band Sugar's Cooper Blue and Silver Age albums in their entirety (9/8, 9:30 Club) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (9/14, Nationals Park) Dragonette – Remember last summer's dance hit ''Hello''? There's more gritty electro-pop goodness to come from this Canadian band and its forthcoming new album, including ''Let It Go'' (9/15, Black Cat) Melissa Ferrick (9/8, Birchmere) Florence + The Machine (9/19, Merriweather Post Pavilion) Metric – Hopefully this great Canadian electro/new wave band will gain more notice with release of new set Synthetica this fall (9/21, Strathmore) Madonna (9/23-24, Verizon Center) Gotye – Might the Aussie lesbian folk-rocker Missy Higgins, who is one opening act for the indie-rocker born in Belgium as Wally de Backer, sub for Kimbra to perform his massive hit ''Somebody That I Used to Know''? (9/30, Merriweather Post Pavilion)
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