Among the season’s big concert draws are Jennifer Holliday, Big Freedia and Cher. (Photos courtesy the Howard and Verizon Center)

As always, Washington is as hot a concert town as ever.

Lesbian singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick performs at the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Her latest album “The Truth Is” was released last year. Ferrick will be joined by singer Natalia Zukerman. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit birchmere.com.

RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio will begin hosting “Bianca’s Comedy Cabaret,” a monthly show, Wednesday at Town. Bianca will be joined by a variety of guests performing different acts. V.I.P tickets are $25 and include a pre-show meet and greet with Bianca. General admission tickets are $15. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the meet and greet. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. For more details, visit towndc.com. Aussie “Drag Race” runner up Courtney Act will be at Town Sept. 27.

The von Trapps perform at Jammin Java (227 Maple Ave E., Vienna, Va.) on Monday at 7:30 p.m. The great-grandchildren of George and Maria von Trapp, whose lives were portrayed in the musical “The Sound of Music,” have continued the family tradition of making music. Sofi, Melanie, Amanda and August von Trapp have recorded six albums and toured internationally. Tickets range from $15-20. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit jamminjava.com.

The Patricia Barber Quartet, helmed by the out pianist, plays Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club (7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Md.) on Sept. 19 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Visit bethesdabluesjazz.com for details.

British musical duo Erasure performs two sold-out nights at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.), Sept. 19-20.Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, who is openly gay, rose to prominence in the 1980s. Their songs “A Little Respect,” “Sometimes” and “Star” were all chart-topping hits. Their latest album “The Violet Flame” will be released in September.

Comedian Wanda Sykes, who is openly gay and a D.C. native, performs her stand-up show at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, Md.) Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. Sykes has been one of Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Funniest People in America and also was on the sitcom “The New Adventures of the Old Christine.” Tickets range from $35.10-$129. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit Strathmore.org.

Camp Rehoboth presents Well-Strung, a singing string quartet, at Rehoboth Beach Convention Center (229 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del.) on Sept. 26 from 9-11 p.m. For more details, visit camprehoboth.com.

Broadway legend Patti LuPone will perform “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda … Played That Part,” at Concert Hall at George Mason Center for the Arts (4373 Mason Pond Dr., Fairfax, Va.) on Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. LuPone, who is known for her roles in Broadway shows “Evita” and “Gypsy,” will perform songs from “Hair,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Funny Girl” and more. Tickets range from $60-100. For more information, visit cfa.gmu.edu.

The eighth annual Phasefest Queer Arts and Music Festival, the largest queer music and arts festival on the East Coast, is at Phase 1 Lounge (525 8th St., S.E.) Sept. 26-27.There will be performances by “The Real L Word’s” Hunter Valentine, Sick of Sarah, The Pushovers, Glitterlust, Frankie and Betty and many more. Admission is $20 for Sept. 26 and $20 for Sept. 27. A festival pass is available for both days for $45. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over.

Broadway legend Jennifer Holliday performs at the Howard Theatre (620 T St., N.W.) Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. Holliday is best known for portraying Effie White in the hit musical “Dreamgirls” where she performed the classic ballad “And I Am Telling You, I’m Not Going.” She has collaborated with popular musical artists such as Barbra Streisand, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson. Tickets range from $35-$70. Doors open at 6 p.m. Visit thehowardtheatre.com for more details.

Washington Concert Opera presents a staging of Vincenzo Bellini’s “I Capuleti E I Montecchi,” a retelling of “Romeo & Juliet” on Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium. The highly acclaimed outfit, a professional concert opera company offering concert versions of rarely heart, full-length operatic works, also has several other events throughout the fall. For details, call 202-364-5826 or visit concertopera.org.

Cher’s “Dressed to Kill” tour, named after a song on her latest album “Closer to the Truth,” returns for a fall performance at the Verizon Center (601 F St., N.W.) Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. As always, gays were out in droves when she was here in April. Tickets range from $34.20-$170.75. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit verizoncenter.monumentalnetwork.com.

Rapper Big Freedia comes to the Howard Theatre (620 T St., N.W.) Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. Big Freedia, who is gay, helped begin the “Bounce” rap movement, a sub-genre of hip-hop in New Orleans. She has been featured on two RuPaul songs, “Peanut Butter” and “Freaky Money.” She is also the star of her reality show “Big Freedia.” Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 day of show. For details, visit thehowardtheatre.com.

Grammy-winner Rufus Wainwright performs at Rams Head on Stage (33 West St., Annapolis, Md.) on Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. Wainwright, who is gay, has released 10 albums and collaborated with musical icons such as Elton John and Lou Reed. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over. Tickets are $79.50. For details, visit ramsheadonstage.com.

The Birchmere presents Gladys Knight at the Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. The seven-time Grammy winner has produced hits in pop, R&B and adult contemporary and will be touring behind her new gospel album which dropped this week. Tickets range from $80.25-$116.50. For more details, visit warnertheatredc.com.

Fleetwood Mac brings its “On with the Show” tour to Verizon Center on Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. This is the first time the full classic-era ‘70s lineup including longtime pianist Christine McVie, has all been together since the late ‘90s. Tickets range from $60-205. For more information, visit verizoncenter.monumentalnetwork.com.

Grammy legend Aretha Franklin comes to Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric (140 W Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore) Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. Franklin has achieved 20 number-one R&B singles and is one of the best selling female artists of all time. Her songs “Respect,” “Think,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” have become well-known anthems. Tickets range from $82.10-$190.40. For more details, visit lyricoperahouse.com.

Gay Men’s Chorus of D.C. presents “Love Stinks” on Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Ticket prices to be announced. For more details, visit gmcw.org.

Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, Md.) presents “Guitar Passions: Sharon Isbin, Stanley Jordan and Romero Lubambo” on Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. The guitarists will play different guitars including jazz and Brazilian. Tickets range from $26.10-70. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit Strathmore.org.

Rams Head on Stage (33 West St., Annapolis, Md.) presents Amy Ray, half of the duo Indigo Girls, on Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. Her latest solo album is “Goodnight Tender” released this year. Tickets are $22.50. Admission is limited to guests 21 and over. For more information, visit ramsheadonstage.com.

Saxophonist Dave Koz brings “Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour” to Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, Md.) on Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. R&B and gospel singer Jonathan Butler and singer-songwriter Christopher Cross will join the out jazz performer. Tickets range from $34.20-85. For more details, visit Strathmore.org.

Cult film director John Waters brings his Christmas show “A John Waters Christmas” to the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The show is a selection of Christmas monologues by Waters. Tickets are $49.50. For more information, visit birchmere.com.