Top Concerts for September/October 2025

Wolf Alice (Photo Credit: Harriet Bols) — Wolf Alice come to the 9:30 Club for two shows! (Photo Credit: Harriet Bols)

What concerts are you excited about this Fall?

“What the actual fuck?” is as good a statement as any these days living in DC. It may not seem like there is a clear path forward (accurate, there is not), but we can control certain things. We can frequent local businesses and local music venues to the best of our ability. We can support local bands and artists, along with touring artists visiting DC. And we must. At least for those of us that can. Give musicians a reason to still come and perform in our fine music city. I’m noticing a few cancelations here and there, but we cannot let it become a wider trend. Defy. Live. Love. And enjoy music.

Here is a curated list of the top concerts for the next two months. I’ll keep filling in details as we go, because time stops for no one.

As always, find local music in yellow. This is the nexus of where you can support local businesses and artists at the same time. There is no such thing as too much live music. To that end, have you had delicious pie and seen a show upstairs at Pie Shop (on H Street NE)? Have you been to the re-located (as of 2021) Songbyrd Music House a few minutes walk from Union Market? Have you enjoyed a burger and a show at DC9 lately? Or even dropped into to the small DIY music space The Pocket for live music? If you answered no to any of these, you have my permission and frankly a mandate to change that.

September 2025

The Montaines w/ Celler Dwellers @ Pie Shop (9/6/25)

Superchunk @ Black Cat (9/9/25)

Rilo Kiley @ The Anthem (9/10/25)

HAIM @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (9/10/25)

Street Eaters w/ Sensor Ghost + Vampyres from Africa @ Quarry House Tavern (9/11/25)

Glitterfox @ Comet Ping Pong (9/12/25) (Glitterfox is based in Portland, Oregon and their latest album, decoder (via Jealous Butcher Records), just came out in August. The album brings together the two songwriters’ garage rock, new wave, dance music and Americana influences into music that is unique and full of energy. They also started Portland’s indie-music festival Glitterfest in 2019.)

Keep Your Secrets w/ Ringpop! + Soul Meets Body + Cuni @ Pie Shop (9/12/25)

Wolf Alice @ 9:30 Club (9/12 & 9/13/25) Both Sold Out (London’s Wolf Alice is touring for their fourth album, The Clearing, which comes four years after 2021’s Blue Weekend. We rated their show in 2018 as our #1 show that year, and get excited every time they perform in the DC area. The only regret is I can’t go to both shows!)

Maiah Manser w/ Spring Silver + Lucaa @ DC9 (9/13/25)

Dummy @ Songbyrd Music House (9/14/25)

Ada Lea w/ Devonly @ Quarry House Tavern (9/16/25)

Mint Field w/ Kind of Christine + Jem Wilde @ Quarry House Tavern (9/17/25) (Kind of Christine and Jem Wilde are local! Mint Field brings their dream pop and shoegaze sounds all the way from Mexico City.)

TV on the Radio @ Lincoln Theatre (9/16 & 9/17/25) Both Sold Out (I was looking forward to witnessing TV on the Radio live for the first time, but will be traveling.)

The Courettes w/ Starr & The Czars @ Comet Ping Pong (9/17/25)

Garbage @ The Anthem (9/17/25)

Kiss the Tiger w/ BUKO BUKO + Suppai Helwa @ The Pocket (9/18/25)

Wet Leg @ 9:30 Club (9/19/25) Sold Out

Cafuné @ The Atlantis (9/19/25) (NYC’s Cafuné started in 2014, and will release their second album in September called Bite Reality (via SoundOn). The album tries to reckon with the real and the fake, where they as a band are biting back at reality. Check them out, this is one of my most anticipated shows this month.)

Steve Winwood @ Wolf Trap (9/20/25)

Rachel Bobbitt (Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz)

Night Moves w/ Rachel Bobbitt + Raybody @ The Atlantis (9/21/25)

Young the Giant (Photo Credit: M.K. Sadler)

Young the Giant @ Lincoln Theatre (9/21 & 9/22/25) (Young the Giant will perform intimate shows for their In the Open 2025 Acoustic Tour. The band shared, “’In The Open’ has been our superpower as a band since we started playing music together. There’s something so thrilling about reimagining our music in a way that’s more improvised, less controlled, and in a place you wouldn’t expect. We’re hoping to bring this feeling to you in our new tour Young the Giant: In The Open. While we can’t play a full set for you under a bridge or on a cliffside, we hope these beautiful intimate venues will give you the same feeling.”)

Pool Kids w/ Truth Club + Pony @ Pearl Street Warehouse (9/21/25)

Sex Pistols @ 9:30 Club (9/23/25) Sold Out

The Beaches @ 9:30 Club (9/25/25) Sold Out (Canadian rockers, The Beaches, just released their third album, No Hard Feelings (via AWAL) and have been gifting the world with appearances at festivals this summer. Now, in September, they start their North American headlining tour. You have two chances to witness them live in DC, one at the 9:30 Club and another at All Things Go (on Sept. 26 at Merriweather). Their single “Did I Say Too Much” speaks to mixed signals and unspoken truths. The band shares, “It’s a song about how tough it can be to navigate queer heartbreak. There are so many layers, the pressure to stay friends with your ex, the complications of open relationships, dating girls who have boyfriends. It touches on what it’s like to come out later in life, and how overwhelming it can all feel. This song, specifically, is about stepping into an open relationship with no expectations, only to fall hard. It’s about the intensity of sharing your deepest feelings, knowing it’s not built to last, and the heartbreak of realizing you might’ve said too much.”)

All Things Go @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (9/26-9/28/25) Sold Out (From the auspicious days of a smaller festival at Dock 5 (behind Union Market) in DC to a massive production of a three-day festival at Merriweather to it being replicated in more cities (New York and Toronto), All Things Go as grown to a mighty force. Don’t miss it!)

CAKE @ Pier Six Pavilion (9/27/25) (If you haven’t seen CAKE or been to Pier Six Pavilion, you owe it to yourself to take the plunge!)

Automatic + Sextile @ Black Cat (9/27/25) (Automatic’s new album, Is It Now? (via Stones Throw) will be released the day before the Black Cat show. This LA pop band’s new effort balances irreverence with sharp commentary and a dark sense of humor. Izzy Glaudini (synths, vocals) shares about the first single “Mercury”, “Not to fall into nihilism or cynicism, to instead see life through a bit of a spiritual lens. Despite the horrible shit constantly happening, life can still be mysterious and beautiful. I wanted to lean into a sense of dreaminess, and to have the verses feel like a dark lullaby.”)

David Byrne @ The Anthem (9/27 & 9/28/25)

Kara Levchenko w/ Neon Habits + Josee Molavi @ Pearl Street Warehouse (9/28/25)

Veronica Swift w/ Cat Ridgeway + The Tourists @ Jammin Java (9/29/25)

Natasha Bedingfield @ 9:30 Club (9/30/25)

October 2025

Mipso @ Lincoln Theatre (10/1/25) (I witnessed Mipso a couple years ago at the 9:30 Club, and highly recommend checking them out.)

Neko Case w/ Des Demonas @ Lincoln Theatre (10/2/25)

Far Caspian (Photo courtesy of Chromatic PR)

Far Caspian @ Union Stage (10/3/25) (Far Caspian is Joel Johnston, an Irish musican based in Leeds, UK. His latest album is titled Autofiction, and has garnered some strong accolades already. Joel shares, “After producing Ellur, I was able to just say to myself: ‘I’m going to produce this Far Caspian album now. I’m presenting myself with these demos I’ve had for a while. Let me see what I can do with them as a producer, not as a songwriter.’” Joel and his six-piece band kick-off their North American tour in DC on Oct. 3rd.)

Alex Sophia w/ Cougar Beatrice + Jenna Earhart @ The Pocket (10/3/25)

Janine @ Howard Theatre (10/3/25)

Melvins @ Black Cat (10/4/25)

Lorde w/Japanese House + Chanel Beads @ The Anthem (10/4 & 10/5/25) Both Sold Out

Born Ruffians @ Pearl Street Warehouse (10/5/25) (I last witnessed these Canadian indie rockers opening for Tokyo Police Club‘s final tour. Now they are back with a headlining show, and you should go!)

The Tallest Man on Earth @ 9:30 Club (10/5/25)

Daisy the Great @ Songbyrd Music House (10/8/25)

AFI @ The Anthem (10/9/25)

Miki Berenyi Trio w/ Gina Birch & the Unreasonables @ Pearl Street Warehouse (10/10/25) (Miki Berenyi Trio (MB3) released their debut album, Tripla (via Bella Union) this year. It is means triple in Hungarian, the mother tongue of of Miki’s father. Miki is the former lead singer of Lush, that started in London in the late ’80’s. She shares, “The lyrics are inspired by love and loss, and how those people never leave you, and how it makes you think about the nature of love.”)

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ 9:30 Club (10/12/25)

Activity w/Nice Breeze @ Pie Shop (10/14/25)

Bret McKenzie @ Miracle Theatre (10/14/25)

The Oh Hellos @ 9:30 Club (10/16/25) Sold Out

Madi Diaz @ Union Stage (10/16/25)

South Arcade @ DC9 (10/17/25) Sold Out

Modest Mouse w/ Built to Spill @ The Anthem (10/18/25)

BRNDA w/ Pinky Lemon + Grocer @ Songbyrd Music House (10/19/25)

Watchhouse @ 9:30 Club (10/19/25) (One of the bands I keep going back to for their live performances every few years. Formerly Mandolin Orange, I’ve seen them three times. And let’s keep going, their beautiful folk melodies and stories should be experienced live.)

Lena Traynham w/ Lily Hain + Shelley Star and the Galaxy @ Pearl Street Warehouse (10/22/25)

The Haunt @ Pearl Street Warehouse (10/24/25)

Patty Griffin @ Strathmore (10/24/25)

Belly @ 9:30 Club (10/25/25)

Dice @ DC9 (10/25/25)

Magdalena Bay @ The Anthem (10/25/25)

Bec Lauder and The Noise (Photo Credit: Charlie Lipman)

Bec Lauder and The Noise (opening for Cage the Elephant) @ The Anthem (10/26/25) (A three-piece rock band from NYC just released their superb debut album, The Vessel (via Killphonic). They are getting lots of attention, get there early and check out their set!)

Winter @ DC9 (10/26/25)

hannah bahng @ Lincoln Theatre (10/28/25)