Featured above is a DC Music Review favorite, Ghost Light, who are returning to play The Hamilton on Saturday night. Photo by Josh Brick.
Week Of: May 13 - 19, 2019
Summary: Still feeling funky post-funk
Coming off a tremendous week of music in the DC, most notably the DC Funk Parade and #DontMuteDC Conference, we are entering another week chock full o' good stuff. This week there are a lot of artists coming to town that the DCMR staff love, a show for every night of the week!...
- Mon: Common Presents Let Love: An expression of Art, Words, & Song at The Kennedy Center
- Mon: Dark Star Orchestra at The Hamilton (Night One)
- Tues: Dark Star Orchestra at The Hamilton (Night Two)
- Wed: Desmond Jones w/s/g Form of Expression at Gypsy Sally's
- Thurs: BSO Pulse: Rhiannon Giddens at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (Baltimore)
- Thurs: Jackie Greene w/ Elise Davis at City Winery DC
- Thurs: Keller Williams at Rams Head Onstage (Annapolis)
- Fri: Laura Gibson at City Winery DC
- Fri: Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band with Penny & Sparrow at The Lincoln Theatre
- Fri: Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Servants of the Sun Tour at The Queen (Wilmington)
- Sat: Maceo Parker at The Birchmere
- Sat: AZTEC SUN w/s/g BOOMscat at Gypsy Sally's
- Sat: Ghost Light at The Hamilton
- Sat: Tash Sultana at MECU Pavilion (Baltimore)
- Sun: Lizzo with Tayla Parx at 9:30 Club
Plus, music to discover and adore, including these artists, many of them local, all of them loved:
- Mon: Vladivojna La Chia & 4Trio on Millennium Stage FREE at 6p at The Kennedy Center
- Mon: Don Zientara / Piramid Scheme at Songbyrd Vinyl Lounge
- Tues: Sanjay Mishra and Friends Live at Blues Alley
- Tues: FREE, Live & Local: Elijah Jamal Balbed at The Pub & The People
- Wed: AIR Workshop: Following the Fiddle at Strathmore Mansion
- Thurs: Escaper, Pleasure Train at Gypsy Sally's
- Thurs: Yemen Blues & Nani at Union Stage
- Fri: Friday Night Live presents Shamans of Sound at Tropicalia
- Fri: An Evening With The Jerry Tripsters at Zen West
- Fri: Fighting Gravity + Justin Trawick & The Common Good - A Cancer Can Rock Benefit at Union Stage
- Fri: Jessica Pratt at The Miracle Theater
- Sat: Stone Driver, The Split Seconds, & Black Dog Prowl at Pearl Street Warehouse
- Sat: One Way Out, Elizabeth II, and Chumpus Khan at MilkBoy ArtHouse
- Sat: Boleros con Miramar at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
- Sat: The Four Freedoms, Part III: Freedom from Want at Westmoreland Congregational UCC
- Sat: HI DC's Afro-Latino Fest at HI Washington DC Hostel
- Sun: FREE, Live & Local: Kevin de Souza at The Pub & The People
- Sun: Warpaint at Black Cat
- Sun: Chromeo with a Live Band at The Lincoln Theatre
- Sun: 9:30 Presents Tacocat at U Street Music Hall
- Sun: The Meer/Little Lawnmowers/Miss, Understand Me! at Galaxy Hut
And so many MORE great shows listed in the links below, with personal choices in bold, along with a list of the DCMR staff top picks and cool "gems" that you don't want to miss. Get out there and support our amazing scene!
Mon — May 13
DCMR Staff Recs
- Common Presents Let Love: An expression of Art, Words, & Song at The Kennedy Center
- Dark Star Orchestra at The Hamilton (Night One)
- Gordon Lightfoot at The Birchmere
Monday Mics & Jams & Such
- Eric Roberson - Crush Your Craft Workshop at City Winery DC
- Monday Night at the Mic at MilkBoy ArtHouse
- JAMonday at Epicure Café
- Experiments in Sound Meditation at Rhizome DC
Hidden Gems
- Vladivojna La Chia & 4Trio on Millennium Stage FREE at 6p at The Kennedy Center
- Don Zientara / Piramid Scheme at Songbyrd Vinyl Lounge
- Júníus Meyvant | Devon Gilfillian at Songbyrd
- Katie Toupin w/ Bendigo Fletcher at DC9 Nightclub
Tue — May 14
DCMR Staff Recs
- Dark Star Orchestra at The Hamilton (Night Two)
- Gordon Lightfoot at Rams Head On Stage (Annapolis)
- Sanjay Mishra and Friends Live at Blues Alley
- Chuck Prophet (solo) w/ Ken Wenzel at Pearl Street Warehouse
- Architects with Thy Art is Murder, While She Sleeps at 9:30 Club
- Michael Schenker Fest at Rams Head Live (Baltimore)
Tuesday Mics, Jams & Such
- Sauf Haus Open Mic feat. Cathy D. (new EP) at Sauf Haus
- Jazz Jam at Takoma Station
- Trifling Tuesday Musical Charity Hang: May Mayhem! at The Wonderland Ballroom
Hidden Gems
- FREE, Live & Local: Elijah Jamal Balbed at The Pub & The People
- Mattiel at Songbyrd
- Weston Smith // Likes // Pleasure Systems // Pikelet at Rhizome DC
- He Said, She Said, They Said at Black Cat
- CZNDFX | Alireza and Airospace at Songbyrd Vinyl Lounge
- Tender Beats/ The Girls / Weird Babies at Slash Run
- Karan Casey at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church
- Scarlet Begoniaz at Veteran's Plaza
Wed — May 15
DCMR Staff Recs
- Evanescence with Veridia at The Anthem
- Desmond Jones w/s/g Form of Expression at Gypsy Sally's
- Jamal Moore with Ivy League at Union Stage
Wednesday Night Mics, Jams & Such
- AIR Workshop: Following the Fiddle at Strathmore Mansion
- May Femme Open Mic at Epicure Café
- Capitol Hill Jazz Jam at Mr. Henry's
- Neel Singh’s Open Jam/Workshop at Villain & Saint
- Takoma Park Old Time Jam at Takoma Beverage Co.
- Open Mic w/Alex Parez featuring at 10: Tyler Woolf! at Rhodeside Grill
- Rock N Roll Karaoke w\ host Andrew Herndon at Slash Run
- Wednesday Sing Out at Sticky Rice
Hidden Gems
- Dizzy Wright | Demrick, Jay Macadocious and Reezy at Songbyrd
- The Greeting Committee w/ Haley Blais at DC9 Nightclub
- Tributary Project at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
- Thank You Scientist at Rock & Roll Hotel
- 9:30 Presents L'Impératrice at U Street Music Hall
- JOHNNYSWIM at The Lincoln Theatre
- The Neckbeards / The Penske File / Velella Valhalla at Joe Squared (Baltimore)
Thu — May 16
DCMR Staff Recs
- Escaper, Pleasure Train at Gypsy Sally's
- Jackie Greene w/ Elise Davis at City Winery DC
- Concert: Haydn at Washington National Cathedral
- Kenny Garrett Quintet (Award Winning Saxophonist) at 8p and 10p at Blues Alley
- Keller Williams at Rams Head Onstage (Annapolis)
- BSO Pulse: Rhiannon Giddens at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (Baltimore)
- The Struts at The NorVa (Norfolk)
Thursday Mics, Jams & Such
- John Cusack plus a screening of High Fidelity at Warner Theatre
- Songbyrd Open Mic Night! at Songbyrd
- Loudoun Jazz Jam at Trungo's
- The 10th Annual Domefest at Marvin's Mountaintop (Masontown, WV)
Hidden Gems
- Joe Barbieri on Millennium Stage FREE at 6p at The Kennedy Center
- Yemen Blues & Nani at Union Stage
- LIVE Salsa music with Tostada Quemada featuring Ramón De La Cruz at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
- Big Lazy goes to Washington at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
- Dominy, Friends of Friends, Lovejet at Dangerously Delicious Pies DC
- Bluebeat May: The West Kensingtons & Reggae Sweatshop! at The Wonderland Ballroom
- The 9 Songwriter Series at Hill Country BBQ DC
- Nick Waterhouse at Rock & Roll Hotel
- Charlotte de Witte with Juana at U Street Music Hall
- SAW Third Thursday Showcase at Vinyl Lounge
- Elena & Los Fulanos at Monroe Street Market
- Spectrum 3 (feat. Skeeter Shelton) / Pony Moon at Rhizome DC
- DEEP NOIZE at Art of Noize
- Live Music Thursdays ft. Hannah Jaye and the Hideaways FREE at The Midlands
- Swing Underground at Rye Fells Point (Baltimore)
- Warren Wolf presents Helen Sung at 8p and 9:30p at An die Musik (Baltimore)
- Geraldine Serenades the Stoop Storytelling Series! at Baltimore Museum of Industry (Baltimore)
Fri — May 17
DCMR Staff Recs
- Jim James (of My Morning Jacket) at 9:30 Club
- Friday Night Live presents Shamans of Sound at Tropicalia
- Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band with Penny & Sparrow at The Lincoln Theatre
- Laura Gibson at City Winery DC
- Kenny Garrett Quintet (Award Winning Saxophonist) at 8p and 10p at Blues Alley
- Chris Robinson Brotherhood – Servants of the Sun Tour at The Queen (Wilmington)
- An Evening With The Jerry Tripsters at Zen West (Towson)
Friday Mics, Jams & Such
- Open Mic at Bump 'n Grind
- Open Mic at The Potter's House
- Open Mic at Dive Bar
- Music Therapy at Friendship Macaron Cafe
- People's Singing Party - John Brown's Birthday Party in Crestwood, DC
- The 10th Annual Domefest at Marvin's Mountaintop (Masontown, WV)
Hidden Gems
- Fighting Gravity Reunion Show + Justin Trawick & The Common Good - A Cancer Can Rock Benefit at Union Stage
- Jessica Pratt at The Miracle Theatre
- Molly Tuttle w/ Dee White at Pearl Street Warehouse
- PUP at Black Cat
- Will Layman and the XTET at The Cello Room at Arcuri
- Jazz in the Garden with Tekiyah Ward at National Gallery of Art
- Claudio Vega at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
- An Evening with Christone "Kingfish" Ingram at Dangerously Delicious Pies DC
- Born Cross Eyed (Dead Tribute) w/ By & By at Gypsy Sally's
- Winter, Sound of Ceres, Distant Creatures at Comet Ping Pong
- Boss Company and Grief Cat at Epicure Café
- Third Haven // Baby Fuzz // Jessie Marie Duo at Cult Classic Brewing Company (Stevensville)
- The Legwarmers: Ultimate 80s Experience at The National (Richmond)
- Knuckle Puck & Citizen w/ HUNNY & Oso Oso at Rams Head Live (Baltimore)
- Warren Wolf presents Helen Sung at An die Musik (Baltimore)
Sat — May 18
DCMR Staff Recs
- Maceo Parker at The Birchmere
- AZTEC SUN w/s/g BOOMscat at Gypsy Sally's
- Ghost Light at The Hamilton
- Jim James (of My Morning Jacket) at 9:30 Club
- Stone Driver, The Split Seconds, & Black Dog Prowl at Pearl Street Warehouse
- Kenny Garrett Quintet (Award Winning Saxophonist) at 8p and 10p at Blues Alley
- Tash Sultana at MECU Pavilion (Baltimore)
Saturday Festivals, Jams & Such
- The Four Freedoms, Part III: Freedom from Want at Westmoreland Congregational UCC
- HI DC's Afro-Latino Fest at HI Washington DC Hostel
- The Caribbean Crawl DC at U St (multiple venues)
- Fiesta Asia Street Fair at Pennsylvania Avenue NW between Third & Sixth Streets
- Dan n Friends at Springfest at 7 Locks Brewing
- Tagg's Cookout Jam at The DC Eagle
- Unexpected Lovers feat Crown Vic and Area Woman at The Green Zone
- Action. Reaction. Action: Visualizing Fugazi at Lost Origins Gallery
- The 10th Annual Domefest at Marvin's Mountaintop (Masontown, WV)
Hidden Gems
- One Way Out, Elizabeth II, and Chumpus Khan at MilkBoy ArtHouse
- Boleros con Miramar at Bossa Bistro + Lounge
- Cursive, mewithoutYou at Black Cat
- Sticks+Bars performs at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage FREE at 6p at The Kennedy Center
- Los Mirlos (kings of tropical Peruvian Cumbia, Cumbia Amazonia) at Tropicalia
- The Doubleclicks with Misbehavin' Maidens at Jammin' Java
- Ménage À Garage/A Shrewdness of Apes/Bluewreck/Changing Scene at Rock & Roll Hotel
- Punk w/The Suspension/RISE DEFY/The Xiles/Ninety Six Ghosts/Heavy Sleeper at The Pinch
- A Full Moon Party ft. Opal at Songbyrd
- HIRS, Coherence, NØ MAN at Comet Ping Pong
- Stop Light Observations + Little Stranger at Hill Country DC
- Meisha Herron at Beer Hound Brewery (Culpepper)
- Mile Twelve at B Chord Brewing Co. (Round Hill)
- Carly Harvey Live at The Gloria Faye Dingus Center for the Arts (Warrenton)
- Sol Roots Band at MGM National Harbor (Oxen Hill)
- The Mercury Tree w/ Ginger Bass Mafia at Orion Studios (Baltimore)
- Infinite Pizza, Caustic Casanova, Forest of None, Hot Shame at The Windup Space (Baltimore)
Sun — May 19
DCMR Staff Recs
- Lizzo with Tayla Parx at 9:30 Club
- Jonathan Butler at The Birchmere
- Chromeo with a Live Band at The Lincoln Theatre
- Warpaint at Black Cat
- Kenny Garrett Quintet (Award Winning Saxophonist) at 8p and 10p at Blues Alley
- Sol Roots band with special guest Ron Holloway at Jojo Bar
- DC101 Kerfuffle at Merriweather Post Pavilion (Columbia)
Sunday Festivals, Jams & Such
- Last Poets Block Party ft. Talib Kweli, Smif n Wessun, Black Alley, & more at Busboys & Poets (MLK Jr. Ave SW)
- Orfeia plus Bulgarian Vocal Music Workshop Participants at Rhizome DC
- Sunday Drum Classes w/ The Drumlady at Roda Movements
- Porchfest DC at 2507 33rd St SE
- Ukulele Open Mic at Café Montmartre
- 4th Annual Beach Fest! at Clare and Don's Beach Shack
- Classic Album Sundays DC: Neil Young "After The Gold Rush" at Songbyrd
- Petworth Disco Club at Homestead Food & Bev
- Action. Reaction. Action: Visualizing Fugazi at Lost Origins Gallery
- The 10th Annual Domefest at Marvin's Mountaintop (Masontown, WV)
Hidden Gems
- Rose Royce at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club
- FREE, Live & Local: Kevin de Souza at The Pub & The People
- Clarence Ward III at Sotto
- The Meer/Little Lawnmowers/Miss, Understand Me! at Galaxy Hut
- 9:30 Presents Tacocat at U Street Music Hall
- Olden Yolk w/ Bottled Up, Reed Appleseed at DC9 Nightclub
- 9:30 Presents Damien Jurado at U Street Music Hall
- Pile / C.H.E.W./ Mock Identity at Songbyrd
- Kristie (of Loi Loi ) Acoustic Brunch at The Ugly Mug
- Grant Us Peace at Washington National Cathedral
- DC Cabaret Network presents: 4 at 4 at Friends of Clarendon Presbyterian Church
- Catonsville Concerts at 3 Presents Katie Mahan at 1400 Frederick Rd (Catonsville)
- Dehd w/ LIP & Muscle:: 5.19 at Joe Squared (Baltimore)