Music & Concerts
Fall concerts feature Sivan, Eilish, Lauper, more
Ndegeocello pays tribute to Baldwin at Strathmore next month

Sigur Ros will be joined by the Wordless Music Orchestra at the Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.) on Wednesday, Sept. 25th. Theyāre continuing their 2023 tour in support of āAtta,ā their first LP of original music in a decade. Frontman Jonsi is gay. Tickets are $60.50-173.50 for this seated show.
Troye Sivan brings the āSweat Tourā with Charli XCX (co-headlining) to Baltimore at the CFG Bank Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) on Thursday, Sept. 26th at 7:30 p.m. Itās sold out. The latter is touring behind her 2024 album āBrat.ā The former is touring behind his 2023 album āSomething to Give Each Other.ā Sivan is gay and has performed at Capital Pride.
Cyndi Lauper brings her āGirls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tourā to Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $29-179. Itās her first solo arena stateside tour since her ā86-ā87 āTrue Colors World Tour.ā Lauper is a longtime and avid LGBTQ ally.
St. Vincent brings her āAll Born Screaming Tourā to the Anthem (901 Wharf St., S.W.) on Friday, Sept. 13th at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55-95. A Variety review called it āminimalistā and said āwith no video screens, backup singers or sketches, and a lot of electric guitar, itās the purest distillation of St. Vincent weāve had on stage in quite a few years.ā Anne Erin Clark (aka St. Vincent) doesnāt identify as anything sexually but has mostly dated women in recent years.
Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming play Wolf Trap (1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va.) on Friday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. Individual sets are planned, but there will likely be a duet or two. Tickets are $29.
Out singer/songwriter Perfume Genius brings his āToo Bright 10th Anniversary Tourā to The Atlantis (2047 9th St., N.W.) on Monday, Sept. 16. This highly limited run will only play six dates in five cities. Mike Hadreas (aka Perfume Genius) will perform his 2014 album in its entirety. Itās sold out.
Meghan Trainor brings āThe Timeless Tourā to Jiffy Lube Live (7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristol, Va.) on Tuesday, Sept. 17th at 6:30 p.m. Sheās touring behind her album of the same name released earlier this year. Tickets are $33-155. No lawn seats available for this show.
Queer-affirming gospel singer Amy Grant (who also had a decent pop chart run in the ā90s) brings her fall tour to The Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. As sheās done on tour with previous re-releases, Grant could include more songs than usual from her 1994 āHouse of Loveā album, which was just released in an expanded edition and on LP for the first time. Tickets are $95.
Sara Bareilles, a self-described LGBTQ ally, joins the NSO Pops for a three-night stint at the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Sept. 24-26 at 8 p.m. each night. Itās sold out.
Billie Eilish brings her āHit Me Hard and Soft: the Tourā to CFG Bank Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) in Baltimore on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Her album of the same name dropped in March. Although sheās mostly dated guys publicly, Eilish identifies as bi. Itās sold out.
Queer artist Meshell Ndegeocello plays the Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md.) on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. Her show is dubbed āNo More Water: the Gospel of James Baldwinā and is billed as a tribute event to the legendary Black gay writer. A pre-concert event, āThe Gospel of Meshell Ndegeocelloā is free but advanced registration is required. Tickets for the concert are $28-74.
Former Capital Pride headliner Betty Who (āqueer/biā herself) brings her āAn Acoustic Evening in Celebration of 10 years of TMWYGā to the Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.) on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $55. Itās a nod to her 2014 debut album āTake Me When You Go.ā
Justin Timberlake brings his āForget Tomorrow World Tourā to Capital One Arena (601 F St., N.W.) on Sunday, Oct. 13. This seventh headlining concert tour (and first in five years) supports his 2024 sixth album āEverything I Thought it Was.ā Reviews for the tour have been strong; the setlist looks career-spanning and generous. Itās sold out.
Gay-helmed Pink Martini with China Forbes and Ari Shapiro plays the Kennedy Center (2700 F St., N.W.) on Monday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40-80.
ā80s pop sensation Debbie Gibson brings her āAcoustic Youth: Songs & Stories from Electric Youth Eraā to the Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Tickets are $59.50. Gibson is celebrating her 1989 album āElectric Youth,ā her second. Sheāll accompany herself on piano playing the songs āthe way I first wrote them.ā
DJ/producer Diplo, who says heās ānot not gay,ā plays Echostage (2135 Queens Chapel Road, N.E.) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. Walker and Royce join. Tickets are $60.
Motown diva Diana Ross brings her āBeautiful Love Performances Legacy Tourā to MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.) on Oct. 24-25 at 8 p.m. Except for adding a couple cuts from her abysmal 2021 album āThank Youā (her latest), her setlist has not changed much in 15 years. Sheās a little better about performing Supremes songs than she was earlier in her career (for ages, they were crammed into one medley), but she still heavily favors her solo material. Tickets start at $102.
āThe Life and Music of George Michaelā comes to the National Theatre (1321 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. Hard to tell from promo material if this is a typical jukebox musical-type show or more like a tribute band concert for the late gay singer. Tickets are $55.
āSapphic Factory: Queer Joy Partyā is at 9:30 Club (815 V St., N.W.) on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 p.m. Itās slated to feature music by artists such as Mana, Chappell Roan, Fletcher, Phoebe Bridges, Kehlani, Rina Sawayama, boygenius, Kim Petras, Tegan and Sara and more. Tickets are $23.
Kacey Musgraves brings her āDeeper Well World Tourā to CFG Bank Arena (201 West Baltimore St.) on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. It supports her sixth studio album, released in March. The setlist morphed slightly over a spring run in Europe. Itās sold out.
Soul diva Gladys Knight plays the Hall at Live! (7002 Arundel Mills Circle) in Hanover, Md., on Sunday, Nov. 17th at 7:30 p.m. Knight, who hasnāt had a new album out in a decade, tends to be fairly generous with her classic Motown- and Buddha-era hits with the Pips in approximately 75-minute sets. Tickets start at $95.
(Joey DiGuglielmo was variously the Bladeās news and features editor from 2006-2020.)
Music & Concerts
Kylie brings āTensionā tour to D.C.
Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed āTensionā 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 āPadam, Padamā from her album, āTension.”
Music & Concerts
Busy season for live music in D.C.
Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

One sure sign of springās 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, donāt 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 performancesāone 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 ā90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!āa 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 ā 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 Baltimoreās āpremier red-tattooed Filipina divaā Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating āqueer transcendence through music, movement, and community.ā
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 āRuPaulās Drag Raceā 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 MonƔe 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 āheartbrokenā event āwould no longer be welcomeā 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 āA Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,ā a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Menās Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.
āWe were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,ā said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestraās media page. āThe 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 nationās capital.ā
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.
āWe aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,ā said Roest. āWe want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.ā
WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.
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