Which concerts will you be attending in May and June?
If you said all of them, I feel that! In theory, you can never have enough concerts in your life, but… sometimes we need to focus our attention. Here’s a start, with a list of the cream of crop concerts over the next two months.
Bookers and venues got frisky on May 23rd and June 1st, as there are way too many good shows on the same day! I’ll give June’s entries a bit more love later.
As always, find local music in yellow. Use your concert going capital to see local music at DC’s small venues. You’ll be helping those businesses and artists, and too much live music is not a thing.
(Updated 6/2/25)
May 2025
SASAMI @ The Atlantis (5/2/25) (SASAMI’s new album came out in March and is titled Blood on the Silver Screen (via Domino). She just released a new collaboration single with Clairo, “In Love With a Memory”, that gets its inspiration from traditional Japanese pop ballads. SASAMI explains, ‘I grew up going to Japanese or Korean ‘noraebang’ private karaoke rooms with my mom, who was secretly the most incredible singer. Most of her go-to numbers were oooold Japanese and Korean folk songs that low key kind of made me feel like I was in a horror film or David Lynch movie. I can picture my mom in a Julee Cruise-type setting- single, jazz lounge spotlight and cigarette smoke hanging stalely in the air- singing one of those old songs with the most gorgeously haunting vibrato and breathtaking vocal control. That’s the feeling I was tapping into when I started writing ‘In Love With A Memory’, and there is a very timeless but relevant crooning feeling imbued in the song that I think was perfectly reflected by the production that Rostam and I orchestrated together. Claire [Claire Elizabeth Cottrill aka Clario] has been a longtime, long distance friend and dream collaborator for me, so it was such a magnificent gift for her to lend her voice to the narrative. I really imagine this track as a cinematic duet with a ghost.‘)
Kara Levchenko w/ Irysse + Eyefish Ink @ Pie Shop (5/2/25) (Check out some local music!)
Deep Sea Diver @ The Atlantis (5/3/25) Sold Out (This Seattle band is great live, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing them four times so far, but always as the opener. Glad to see them headlining and selling out The Atlantis. Use your Friends With Benefits points to go if you didn’t get a ticket already! They just released their fourth album, Billboard Heart. Check out the newest single “What Do I Know”.)
Sir Women @ DC9 (5/3 & 5/4/25) (Sir Woman is the solo project of Austin-based vocalist and songwriter Kelsey Wilson. The first half of her double album, If It All Works Out, is out now. The second half, If It Doesn’t, will be released on May 16. She brings in influences of soul, funk and R&B to her music, and with two! shows at DC9, you have no excuses not to be there!)
The Chameleons @ The Fillmore Silver Spring (5/4/25) (The Chameleons will release their first full album since 2001 later this year, titled Arctic Moon. Vocalist/bassist Vox (fka Mark Burgess) explains, ‘It’s quite different from anything Chameleons has done before, and I know this will probably polarize the legacy audience, but we’re quite excited about how it’s developing. I think the songwriting is much more mature in a lot of ways, which is to be expected, I suppose, given our age, but I, for one, really believe we’re taking the band forward, and I’m quite excited about it.‘ These post-punk legends returned to form the last couple years with two EPs (Where Are You? And Tomorrow Remember Yesterday), and they are heading out on tour to deliver this new material straight to your brains at The Fillmore Silver Spring on May 4th.)
Cat Ridgeway & The Tourists @ Pie Shop (5/6/25) (Indie rock stalwart Cat Ridgeway is gracing us with a Pie Shop experience on May 6th, and what a perfect time to grab a pie or two and enjoy some ‘indie rock for overthinkers’, as Cat has described her music. She just released Sprinter in March, her debut full album, after a couple long (7-track) EPs the past 10 years. The title track was one that helped Cat come to terms with the sudden loss of a friend to mental illness, and to this end she has partnered with Find Your Anchor to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Some of her songs mix in a bit of folk, R&B, and dream pop, and others go harder with a punk rock sheen. Go, you will enjoy!)
Jon Muq @ Jammin Java (5/6/25) (Ugandan singer/songwriter Jon Muq brings his uplifting music to Jammin Java this May. He’s working on his debut album and currently lives in Austin, Texas. His experiences in the US have given him a new perspective, ‘I grew up in a very different life, where so many people pass through hard times just because they don’t have much. Our biggest issue was food scarcity. Then I came to a different world, which gave me a picture of how to write a song that can find balance with everyone wherever they are, whether they have a lot or not much.‘)
Smallpools @ 9:30 Club (5/7/25)
Grace VanderWaal @ The Atlantis (5/9/25)
Larkin Poe @ 9:30 Club (5/9/25) (Rebecca and Megan Lovell, aka Larkin Poe, released their ninth album, Bloom (via Trick-Woo) earlier this year, and so far their single “Mockingbird” has been a regular song on my playlist. Their previous album, Blood Harmony, was filled with great blues rock anthems, I reviewed their show when they last came to the 9:30 Club in 2023. I highly recommend you give them a listen. Bloom has also been getting accolades and has charted in the top 5 of the Americana Music chart.)
Pretty Bitter w/ Kat and the Hurricane + Jem Wilde @ Quarry House Tavern (5/10/25) (Should be a great night to dig into some indie rock from DC band Pretty Bitter, who are great live!)
Sunday (1994) @ The Atlantis (5/10/25) (So far this year, Sunday (1994)’s dreamy pop is my biggest new music discovery. I’m excited to witness their first ever headlining tour at The Atlantis (as they say ‘where music begins’). Probably in my top 2-3 most anticipated shows on this list. They are from the UK and Los Angeles.)
The Crane Wives w/ Cristina Vane @ Howard Theatre (5/11/25) (The Crane Wives come to DC on the strength of their new album Beyond Beyond Beyond, their seventh since they formed in 2010. They are a folk rock band from Michigan, full of harmonies and a reputation for high-energy shows.)
Living Colour @ The Birchmere (5/12/25) (I’m a bit skeptical of a full on rock show at The Birchmere if it’s seated, but anything and everything is possible! Living Colour is celebrating the 35th anniversary of their seminal second album, Time’s Up, which is fucking awesome and contains one of my all-time favorite songs, “Solace of You”. The one and only time I’ve been fortunate to witness them live was at The Howard Theatre in 2016.)
The Dandy Warhols @ Howard Theatre (5/13/25)
Trousdale @ 9:30 Club (5/16/25) (LA ‘pop-country’ trio Trousdale released their second album this year, Growing Pains (via Independent Co.). Band member Lauren Jones says about the title, ‘We’ve been thinking a lot about the tension that comes with change, wanting it, fighting it, embracing it, but learning to thrive in that moment.‘ Quinn D’Andrea adds, ‘From what was, something new can always grow.‘ Their music leans pop, but they’ve added plenty of country harmonies and a flair for confronting broken hearts, loss and loneliness in the lyrics. If you’re a fan of bands like HAIM or The Aces, they are for you.)
Mikaela Davis w/ Lily Seabird @ Songbyrd Music House (5/16/25)
Lucius @ Lincoln Theatre (5/16/25) (The sweet, lovely harmonies of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig should not to be missed. I’ve seen this indie pop band twice, including last year’s opening set for The National at Merriweather Post Pavilion. One of the best songs I’ve come across in recent years is a collaboration with The War on Drugs for “I Don’t Live Here Anymore”. They’ll be releasing a new self-titled album in May.)
Alix Page w/ Susannah Joffe @ Songbyrd Music House (5/17/25)
Five for Fighting @ The Birchmere (5/20/25)
A Shrewdness of Apes w/ Part Carbon + Never Elected @ The Pocket (5/22/25)
Sunflower Bean w/GIFT @ The Atlantis (5/23/25) (NYC indie rock greats Sunflower Bean just released their fourth album, Mortal Primetime (via Lucky Number Music) a few days ago. I’ve witnessed them live twice already, and so should you. The last time was 2022’s show at Union Stage.)
Empire of the Sun @ The Anthem (5/23/25)
WRIZZARDS @ Songbyrd Music House (5/24/25)
Eliza & The Delusionals @ DC9 (5/27/25) (Check out a short interview this Australian indie band did for the blog, and do make a point to check them out at DC9. Their “Falling For You” is one of the most catchy, uplifting songs I’ve heard in awhile!)
Matt Berninger @ Lincoln Theatre (5/29/25) (Lead singer of The National tries a solo project!)
Momma w/ Wishy @ The Atlantis (5/29/25) Sold Out
Liberation Weekend @ DC9 (5/31/25) (The whole weekend of music at DC9, this Saturdsay is for locals only. This one starts at 2:30pm and features Pinky Lemon, Massie, Cherub Tree and Berra.)
SAVAK @ Comet Ping Pong (5/31/25) (New York post-punkers SAVAK drop in to Comet Ping Pong for (presumably) a round of table tennis and a dash of guitar-hero level music from their sixth full-length album, last year’s Flavors of Paradise (via Peculiar Works/Ernest Jenning). Band member Michael Jaworski describes their latest single, “No Man’s Island”, ‘We were listening to the playback of this song in the studio when I turned to Sohrab [Habibion] and said “I don’t think I’ve ever written a song before that accurately depicts how I feel in my life.”’ The song speaks to feeling left behind, but as a choice to reject the values of personal gain and status in society. Get some pizza, and stick around for the show!)
June
Heart @ Wolf Trap (6/1/25) Sold Out (I am kind of shocked that I’ve never seen Heart perform live before. I plan to overcorrect by having a crazy amount of fun at Wolf Trap!)
Lena Traynham w/ Ryan Wright + Pinkhouse @ Pie Shop (6/1/25) (Great local pop artists and a band you should definitely check out. I would totally go if Heart wasn’t playing the same day.)
OK Go @ 9:30 Club (6/1/25)
JET w/ Band of Skulls @ 9:30 Club (6/2/25) (I’ve witnessed British rock band Band of Skulls five times so far, but it has been six years since they were last in DC. Welcome back! Here was the review of that show at the 9:30 Club.)
Bloc Party w/ Blonde Redhead @ The Anthem (6/2/25) (20 years in, Bloc Party is still going strong. The British indie rock band hits the road for 13 shows, dropping by the The Anthem in DC, to celebrate with long-time fans and new. They will perform their first album (Silent Alarm) in full, along with some of their other bangers. Originally they had tapped Metric to open, but they backed out due to production issues. Which sucks. Now Bloc Party will be joined by Blonde Redhead, who I witnessed at The Howard Theatre in 2023 and also recommend. Should be exactly what you need!)
Tennis @ The Anthem (6/3/25)
Sleigh Bells @ 9:30 Club (6/5/25) (Sleigh Bells, comprised of Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller, have been quiet on the new music front for three years, but just released a new single titled, “Wanna Start a Band?” (via Mom+Pop Music). Alexis describes the song, ‘In 2008 while eating at a restaurant in Brooklyn with my mom, our server, Derek, wasted very little time asking me, essentially, “Wanna Start A Band?” Hard to believe that almost 17 years later we are still hyped and obsessively making records together. Derek started messing with the riff for this song around 2014 — it needed a lot of work but a spark was there. We had a band by then but didn’t know how long it would last. For us, this song is a reminder of how we started but it’s also the first part of a new story we want to tell — more on that very soon! We hope you will come along for the ride.’ I’ve witnessed them live now four times, the last being when they came through 9:30 Club in 2022. Should be fun!)
The Head and the Heart @ The Fillmore Silver Spring (6/7/25)
Betty Who @ 9:30 Club (6/7/25) (A late show at the 9:30 Club in support of the Capital Pride Alliance and as part of the WorldPride 2025, Australian pop singer-songwriter Betty Who (Jessica Newham) comes to DC on her Out of the Darkness Tour. She also has a new single called “Run!”, and has been performing in the musical Hadestown for the last couple years.)
Barenaked Ladies @ Pier Six Pavilion (6/8/25)
Die Spitz @ DC9 (6/9/25)
Simple Minds w/ Modern English + Soft Cell @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (6/10/25)
Veronica Lewis w/ Flo Petite @ Pie Shop (6/10/25)
Seventh Stanine Festival @ Rhizome DC (6/14/25) (From 1-9pm, check out a festival that celebrates independent music, creative resilience, and underground artistry! The lineup includes Tyondai Braxton, Ben Vida, Lucy Liyou, Wendy Eisenberg, Deakin (Animal Collective), and local favorites The Caribbean. DJ sets come from Geologist (Animal Collective), Jonathan Williger, Paul Vodra, and Lee Gardner. The festival was founded in 2016 by the DC band The Caribbean, and co-produced by the Essential Tremors podcast. The event continues to spotlight boundary-pushing artists who make music out of passion, not profit. Go! Check out an interview Matthew Byars of The Caribbean.)
Gordi @ Songbyrd Music House (6/15/25)
Banks w/Absolutely @ Howard Theatre (6/17/25) (Absolutely, from South London, describes her music as ‘alien pop’, which clearly means synth, soul and sirenesque melodies. She’s also the younger sister of RAYE, currently based in LA. Banks is also great!)
Cults @ Union Stage (6/18/25)
she’s green (0pening for Softcult) @ Black Cat (6/18/25)
New Constellations @ Pearl Street Warehouse (6/18/25) (Solid day of music in DC, but a decision has to be made so check out this electro pop band from Portland, Oregon and their song “Hot Blooded”. One of the best songs I’ve come across this year. They don’t have an EP or album yet, but the future looks bright.)
meg elsier w/ Liz Cooper + Flo Petite @ Comet Ping Pong (6/20/25) (Indie rocker meg elsier released her debut album, spittake, last year. She currently lives in Nashville, and is joined at Comet Ping Pong by Liz Cooper (also from Nashville) and local singer/songwriter Flo Petite. meg blends shoegaze textures, dreamy vocals and grungy guitars with self-aware and witty lyrics. It all comes together in a sound that is emotionally raw, and makes you take a fresh look at what rock can achieve. Get some pizza and enjoy the music!)
Caamp @ The Anthem (6/20 & 6/21/25) First Night Sold Out (Check out our review of a previous show in DC.)
Julia Wolf @ The Atlantis (6/21/25)
Mumford & Sons @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (6/22/25)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor @ 9:30 Club (6/23/25) Sold Out
Blondshell w/ Daffo @ 9:30 Club (6/24/25) Sold Out (Sabrina Teitelbaum is Blondshell, and she’s releasing her second album, If You Asked for a Picture (via Partisan Records) in early May. I saw her perform in 2023 and highly recommend. The single “23’s a Baby” is about having children too early and parents messing up. Sabrina describes it, ‘The song is partially about being in your twenties and feeling like you’re supposed to know everything (your parents even had kids around that age!) yet you’re truly in the weeds trying to figure out who you are. I wanted it to have a bit of a nursery rhyme feel. It’s a heavy subject so it was important to have fun when we made it.’)
Damn Neighbors w/ Milo in The Doldrums + GXB @ Atlas Brew Works (Ivy City) (6/27/25) (A good excuse to drink good local beer AND listen to good local bands! Book it.)
The Taxpayers @ Black Cat (6/29/25) (The punk band The Taxpayers are back after a years-long hiatus. They started in Portland, OR in 2007 and have been pushing all the musical boundaries with their DIY sound. They just released their new album, Circle Breaker. The songs showcase their raw punk energy and experimental approach, with the themes speaking to personal grief and a renewed sense of purpose. Pay your taxes on this Sunday!)
Bonus!!
(For when you can’t figure out why anyone would put a limit on concerts.)
Miya Folick @ The Atlantis (5/1/25)
Rachel Platten @ Union Stage (5/3/25)
Papooz w/ Cornelia Murr @ Union Stage (5/5/25)
Florist @ Black Cat (5/6/25)
Bob Mould @ Black Cat (5/7/25)
Honeypuppy w/ The Montaines + Josee Molavi @ Pie Shop (5/9/25)
Tom Odell w/ Jade Bird @ Lincoln Theatre (5/12/25)
OMB @ Lincoln Theatre (5/22 & 5/23/25) First Night Sold Out
Peter Bjorn and John @ Black Cat (5/23/25)
Black Masala @ Pearl Street Warehouse (5/23/25)
Bear McCreary @ 9:30 Club (5/25/25)
Shakira @ Nationals Park (5/31/25) Sold Out (Sure, I can put her show on the main list but the resale tickets are a bit much. You can also go watch some local bands…) Cancelled! What is happening!
Josh Radnor w/ Michaela Anne @ Jammin Java (5/31/25)
Lights @ The Atlantis (6/1/25) Sold Out
Grief Cat + Sex Monster @ Rhizome DC (6/3/25)
Betty Who @ 9:30 Club (6/7/25) Late Show
The Messthetics @ The Atlantis (6/28/25)
A DC Journey 