Music & Concerts
Years & Years play to adoring D.C. crowd
British electro-pop outfit charms at packed 9:30 Club
Years & Years played a sold-out show at the 9:30 Club last weekend. (Photo by Fiona Garden)
Watching the sold-out crowd for British electronic/indie band Years & Years wrap around the block for their sold-out 9:30 Club show on Saturday, the energy was crackling in the same way it must have been in the beginning careers of artists such as Chuck Brown, Dave Grohl and Lady Gaga, who have also graced the historic 9:30 Club stage. (Read the Blade’s interview with Olly Alexander here.)
The diversity in the crowd was apparent as young gay couples held hands next to little kids who were asking their parents when Olly Alexander, lead singer and keyboardist of the band, was going to appear on stage. Groups of friends out for a girls’ night to see the show mingled amidst the crowd as well as everyone waited for the band to arrive.
Before Years & Years took the stage their opening act, singer/songwriter Tei Shei, got the show started. Her R&B-esque tunes complemented her strong voice as she hit every note thrown her way. The crowd didn’t seem familiar with her music at the start of her set but by the end everyone was jumping around to the beat.
Shei played her last song “Bassically” to the crowd with high energy as she bounced around on stage singing. Not only was the crowd hyped, but Alexander could be seen dancing along to his tour mate’s finale song backstage.
Soon after, Years & Years took the stage to a packed club. From the ground floor to the upstairs, there was hardly any room to move without bumping into another eager fan trying to glimpse the band. The trio, comprised of Alexander, bassist Mikey Goldsworthy and synth player Emre Türkmen, looked startled, nervous and pleased all at once at the turnout as they launched into their first song “Foundation,” which ended to deafening applause.
Years & Years then sang their hit song “Take Shelter,” a reggae electronic dance song that appeared to be Alexander’s favorite. He became just as caught up in the music as the crowd, a couple times forgetting to sing because he was too busy dancing. Alexander used his entire body to twist and gyrate his way around the stage with so much confidence it was less of a dance and more of a statement.
Later in the show Alexander grabbed a fan’s poster that said, “Thanks for reminding us all we are kings and queens” and read it out to the crowd. He seemed just as excited to be interacting with the fan as the fan was to interact with him.
High-paced songs like “Real” had the crowd dancing with vigor while slower ones like “Memo,” found them watching in awed silence as Alexander softly played on the keyboard while singing his lilting vocals.
One of the best parts of the show was when Shei joined the band on stage for a cover of “Breathe” by Blu Cantrell and Shaggy. The song, a staple in millennial nostalgic culture, was a huge hit. The duet was reignited with their original vocals but still followed the same well-known beat, with a Years & Years’ twist.
The encore was the hit “King,” which the crowd chanted for. The entire venue exploded with vigor and energy during the song as the air was filled with the sound of voices singing along and the space was over taken by dancing bodies. Alexander let the crowd sing along and threw himself into the performance while his band mates Goldsworthy rocked the bass and Türkmen powered away on the synth.
When the song was over, the crowd screamed and cheered with ecstasy. Meanwhile Alexander, Goldsworthy and Türkmen looked like they were just as pleased with their own performance as the crowd while simultaneously looking like they thought they were going to wake up from a dream at any second.
When the show ended and the crowd dispersed onto the already crowded sidewalks of V Street, passerby stopped some concertgoers to ask what the huge crowd was for. When the response was Years & Years, not some bigger-name Billboard artist, people looked confused and responded they hadn’t heard of them.
They will.
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
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
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.
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