Music & Concerts

Pink Tuesday?

With Cher, Elton, Pink Martini and Icona Pop ready to release, Sept. 24 may be music’s gayest release day ever

Published

12 years ago

September 11, 2013

Cher, Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga (Cher photo courtesy Fly Life Inc., Miley Cyrus photo courtesy Enlina Beck; Gaga photo courtesy Trung Nguyen)

By RYAN ROSADO

Get ready for some major diva action this fall — from legends like Cher and Elton to red-hot-at-the-moment Icona Pop, this fall’s album releases should pack some major aural wallop.

Gloria Estefan returns with her latest offering “The Standards,” which dropped this week. Estefan takes on The Great American Songbook this time around, experimenting with jazz and soulful classics such as “What a Wonderful World” and “The Way You Look Tonight.” The lead single for the album is “How Long Has This Been Going On.” Listen for guest work from gay sax man Dave Koz.

Gay staple Goldfrapp also has an album out this week, “Tales of Us,” which finds the group returning to its ambient down-tempo sound featured on their debut album, “Felt Mountain.” Their most conceptual LP to date, “Tales of Us” leads off with the melodic ballad single “Drew.”

Sheryl Crow released “Feels Like Home” this week. It’s being billed as her most country-influenced album to date.

Gay singer, activist and feminist Sonia Rutstein and Disappear Fear release their 17^th album “Broken Film” on Sept. 17. Fun/peppy “Be Like You” is the first single.

Cher’s “Closer to the Truth” is out Sept. 24, her first studio album since 2001’s “Living Proof.” Lead single “A Woman’s World” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Chart. The album also features production from Pink co-writing two tracks and Timbaland producing one. Scissor Sisters front man Jake Shears joins her for duet “Take It Like a man.”

It doesn’t get much gayer than Pink Martini, the gay-helmed band set to release “Get Happy” on Sept. 24. Guests include everyone from the late Phyllis Diller (on a cover of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” of all things) to the Von Trapps to regular collaborator Are Shapiro to gay singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright.

Capital Pride vets Icona Pop also have a Sept. 24 project planned — debut album “This is … Icona Pop,” which will feature double platinum hit “I Love It,” second single “All Night” and nine other cuts from the EDM duo.

The 24^th is shaping up to be perhaps the gayest musical release day in history. Besides those already mentioned, Elton John’s “The Diving Board” is also set to drop that day. Written and recorded in 10 days, expect 12 new songs and three piano interludes from John who worked with usual suspects Bernie Taupin and T Bone Burnett for this first solo album in seven years.

Sweeping the MTV Video Music Awards recently by winning the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and Video of the Year, Justin Timberlake is back with “The 20/20 Experience Pt. 2.” Set for release on Sept. 30. Timberlake’s fourth full-length LP will feature collaborations with Jay-Z, Drake and trademark sounds by Timbaland.

Also making quite the impression at the VMAs earlier this year was diva in the making, Miley Cyrus. Her latest offering “Bangerz” is scheduled to drop on Oct. 8. Along with the summertime top five smash “We Can’t Stop,” Cyrus’ fourth disc will feature collaborations with Britney Spears and Ludacris. Hannah Montana is all grown up folks.

TLC plans another retrospective, this time with four new songs, slated to drop Oct. 15.

Katy Perry returns with her third studio album “Prism” set for an Oct. 22 release. The lead-off single “Roar” has already reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Perry’s latest set will also include a song co-written by 2013 Capital Pride performer Emeli Sandé. The ferocious diva has revealed her latest record is “more stripped down” and won’t contain “any darkness,” despite a recent divorce.

Gay pop legend Boy George is set to release his first studio album in 18 years on Oct. 28. His new disc “This Is What I Do” includes 12 new tracks produced by longtime collaborators such as Richie Stevens and John Themis. George revealed his new album is a “baggy” record and “not overproduced.”

After two years of recording, Lady Gaga remerges also with her third studio album “Artpop” dropping Nov. 11. “Artpop’s” first single “Applause” has reached the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 already. The pro-LGBT diva’s latest offering will feature production by several DJs including DJ White Shadow, Madeon and Zedd.

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Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

2 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Kylie Minogue visits D.C. on Tuesday.

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”

Music & Concerts

Busy season for live music in D.C.

Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

Published

1 month ago

March 14, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Cynthia Erivo plays WorldPride in D.C. on June 7. (Photo courtesy of World Pride)

One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.

In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.

MARCH

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.

The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.

If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.

APRIL

Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.

Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.

The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.

Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.

DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”

The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.

MAY

Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.

Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.

Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.

The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.

JUNE

Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.

Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.

Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.

Music & Concerts

Pride concert to take place at Strathmore after Kennedy Center rescinds invitation

International Pride Orchestra ‘heartbroken’ event ‘would no longer be welcome’ at DC venue

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2025

Jaylon Curry-Hagler

The Kennedy Center (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The International Pride Orchestra has announced its Pride concert will take place at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5 after the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts disinvited the group.

Since President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center during his first month in office, LGBTQ events and performances have been banned with community allies withdrawing in solidarity.

The Kennedy Center has cancelled “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.

“We were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,” said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestra’s media page. “The Kennedy Center has long been a symbol of artistic excellence, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. However, we are profoundly grateful to the Strathmore Music Center for opening their doors to us. Their willingness to host our Pride Celebration Concert ensures that our message of love, pride, and resilience will be heard on the doorstep of the nation’s capital.”

The Pride concert is among the events that have faced uncertainty since the Trump-Vance administration took office on Jan. 20. Many, however, are fighting back and looking for ways to push back against the bans and cancellations.

“We aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,” said Roest. “We want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.”

WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.