Music & Concerts
Singer/songwriter Gina Chavez thrives on eclectic repertoire
Austin, Texas native preps AMP by Strathmore concert April 7
Gina Chavez in concert
April 7
AMP by Strathmore
11810 Grand Park Ave., North Bethesda, Md.
$25-30
301-581-5100
Gina Chavez is the kind of artist who sings about her own experiences.
“My performance persona is me, and that’s exactly what you get at my shows,” she says. “I share my story. Part is discovering my Latin roots through music and part is being a practicing Catholic who fell in love with a woman and got married.”
On Sunday, Gina Chavez brings her life and music to AMP by Strathmore, a cabaret-style venue at the Pike & Rose area in North Bethesda. Backed by a five-piece, all-male band, Chavez takes her audiences on a bilingual journey, incorporating sounds from the Americas and the Middle East.
“It’s a wide variety of music. You’ll get singer/songwriter to Latin dance band, and we have a blast. My shows often turn into mini-dance parties,” she says.
Though she’s of Mexican descent, Chavez, 36, didn’t grow up speaking Spanish. The Austin, Texas native embraced her Latin roots during a semester abroad in Buenos Aires where she fell in love with chacarera, the rhythmic folk music she heard at street fairs.
She ended up writing her own version. It’s the only Spanish song on her first album and she still plays it live. It “holds a special place in my heart” because it came to her quickly — she wrote it in 10 minutes. She credits her education at Austin public schools for giving her appreciation for a wide variety of music. She sang material as varied as show tunes to classical works like Mozart’s “Requiem.”
Today, Chavez and her band travel the world playing dates throughout the U.S. and Latin America, and far-flung spots like Uzbekistan and Jordan as cultural ambassadors with the U.S. State Department.
“I never intended to have this awesome life with music. In fact, it might not have happened,” she says.
In 2009, just when Chavez was becoming a name on the Austin music scene, she and Jodi Granado, her wife (then girlfriend), spent eight months in El Salvador teaching English to underprivileged girls.
“Everybody thought I was crazy, but El Salvador was an experience that informed my life, career and relationship with my wife. We didn’t go to change social norms or give the finger to the establishment. We were helping girls going through a rough situation in large part caused by the U.S. Despite dealing with horrendous crime, everyone we encountered were incredibly kind and giving. We received more love than we could have given.”
Shortly after their return to Austin in 2010, Chavez recorded “Siete D,” her award-winning single, which takes a stand against gang violence in Central America. At the same time, the couple established Niñas Arriba (ninasarriba.wordpress.com), an ongoing college fund that offers full scholarships for young women in El Salvador.
Chavez met Granado in school, at the University Catholic Center at the University of Texas Austin.
“Looking back, it was love at first, but I didn’t realize it was love until later. I just knew that I was intrigued and wanted to be around her all the time. Oblivious to the fact I was gay. It just wasn’t on the table as an option. My counselor had to asked me on three different occasions it I’d discerned my sexuality before I came out.”
Thirteen years later, Chavez and Granado (a high school math teacher and sports coach who additionally helps to manage Chavez’s career) are happily married and remain practicing Catholics. They attend Mass with Chavez’s parents every Sunday.
“Mother Church is big slow-moving tanker. She doesn’t turn quickly. The church isn’t going to change if everyone who knows there’s need for change leaves. Our decision at this time is to stick around. For a long time, I was a practicing Catholic but didn’t own my faith. Because I’m gay, I felt I couldn’t own it, but that’s bullshit. I’m as Catholic as Pope Francis, And I talk about this in the show.”
In her song “Heaven Knows,” she sings, “Heaven knows our souls, our story/the shape of your heart when you hold me/wouldn’t tear us apart or disown me.”
Also on April 7 at AMP, Chavez and her band are playing “Kids Pajama Jam Party,” a lively, bilingual, all-ages matinee concert with an educational twist.
“It’s a lot of fun. The audience is encouraged to dance and sing along,” says Chavez who is thinking about having children of her own. “That’s a subject currently in discussion,” she adds with a twinkle in her voice.
“I’ve been privileged with a loving family and opportunity. I like to think that through my music I can bring people together who otherwise might not know each other,” she says. “I have a platform and want to put love in the world.”
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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