The Tea: Black Alley
In this online series, women musicians perform original work on the first Friday of the month. Conducted over a cup of tea, each session includes a short interview exploring the artist’s creative process. The Tea proudly welcomes Washington, D.C.-based band Black Alley.
Black Alley has been pushing the art of music to its rhythmic limits. Determined to create a unique musical elixir, Black Alley has taken the finest ingredients of rock, hip-hop and go-go to create their own genre-bending sound called “hood rock.” The band is one, each musician surrendering to the union of sounds, each delivering music from their soul, while in dialogue with one another through their instruments. Each member of this collective is essential to the workability and funkability of the unit.
WHERE
Online, via Facebook and nmwa.org
WHEN
Friday, March 5, 12–1 p.m.
PRICE
Free. No reservations required. Add to your calendar here.
Shenson Chamber Music Concert:
The McDermott Trio with violist Paul Neubauer
Hailed for their “dazzling virtuosity and beautifully integrated ensemble,” the McDermott Trio has been recognized as one of the most exciting trios of their generation. Since their Carnegie Recital Hall debut, they have performed internationally. Recent highlights include debuts at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd Street Y’s Kaufmann Hall and the Ravinia Festival, as well as their first visit to Mexico with the Mainly Mozart Festival.
Violist Paul Neubauer has been referred to as “a master musician” by The New York Times. In 2018 he made both his Chicago Symphony and Mariinsky Orchestra debuts. Neubauer is also the artistic director of the Mostly Music series in New Jersey and is on the faculty of The Juilliard School and the Mannes School of Music.
WHERE
Online, streaming and posted to YouTube and nmwa.org
WHEN
Wednesday, March 31, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
PRICE
Free. Reservations required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join.
The Tea: MovaKween
In this online series, women musicians perform original work via livestream on the first Friday of the month. Each session includes a short interview, conducted over a cup of tea, which explores the artist’s creative process. The Tea proudly welcomes MovaKween.
MovaKween hails from Baltimore, Maryland, and sings about her “inner-standing” of consciousness and expressions of love. With a life dedicated to healing and spiritual work, her music reflects her survival stories and journey as a new goddess on Earth. She is currently working on her debut album, titled Anu Kween, coming in spring 2021.
WHERE
Online, streaming on Facebook and nmwa.org
WHEN
Friday, May 7, 12–1 p.m.
PRICE
Free. No reservations required.
Annual free Labor Day weekend concert
This year’s program relocated from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to the Kennedy Center’s South Plaza
A celebration of American composers in a program spanning
patriotic to popular music
Award-winning singer-songwriter and NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds,
saxophonist Charlie Young among guest artists
Sunday, September 5 at 8:00 p.m.
(WASHINGTON)—A beloved tradition since 1979, the National Symphony Orchestra’s (NSO) free annual Labor Day weekend concert returns on Sunday, September 5, at 8:00 p.m. and is relocated this year from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to the Kennedy Center South Plaza. Conducted and hosted by Larry Loh, Music Director of West Virginia Symphony, the concert features multi-platinum singer-songwriter and NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds and saxophonist Charlie Young. Featuring music from Duke Ellington, new Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, Jessie Montgomery, and Michael Abels, amidst patriotic music like the Star Spangled Banner, the program spans a wide spectrum of American composers.
The performance is FREE to attend, no tickets required. Seating is first-come, first serve. Masks are optional outdoors, but required to enter the building to use the restrooms.
In case of inclement weather, the concert will move indoors to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. For the most up to date information regarding the concert, please check the Kennedy Center website and social media channels. The concert will be approximately 80 minutes long, with no intermission.
The full program is located below.
Full Program (with Composers)
Star Spangled Banner………………………………………………………………
The Block…………………………………………………………………
Three Black Kings…………………………………………………………………
Starburst………………………………………………………
Tribute……………………………………………………………
Ben Folds Set
Star and Stripes Forever……………………………………………………………
TICKET INFORMATION
This is a free concert, first-come, first served for seating. No tickets required.
CREDITING:
Support provided by the U.S. Department of the Army and the U.S. Department of the Interior; the National Park Service; the National Capital Region; and the National Mall and Memorial Parks.
To mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, reflect on the ongoing loss from Covid-19, and honor the healthcare professionals who have been on the front lines throughout the pandemic, the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) will perform a free concert on Friday, September 10, 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall.
Conducted by NSO music director Gianandrea Noseda, this special concert experience will feature the “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and award-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard with music by Leonard Bernstein, William Grant Still, the Kennedy Center’s new Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, Aaron Copland, among others. The concert will include remarks by notable participants throughout the evening. Representatives and guests from the Washington metropolitan community working in positions of service will also be in attendance.
To mark the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, James Lee III’s An Engraved American Mourning will receive its world premiere, commissioned by the NSO. Inspired by a quote from former President George W. Bush in 2011, Lee uses a four-note descending motive throughout the piece to represent the phrase ‘we re-em-ber.’
The performance is FREE to attend. Tickets are first-come, first serve. RSVPs are strongly suggested to ensure a seat and can be made via the Kennedy Center website here.
To ensure patrons’ health and security, as well as the safety of performers and staff, beginning September 1, 2021, the Kennedy Center is requiring proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to attend all indoor performances and events at the Center. Children under 12 years of age and patrons with a medical condition or a closely-held religious belief that prevents vaccination must provide proof of a recent negative PCR COVID-19 test to attend an indoor performance. Masks are required at all times for all patrons and visitors regardless of vaccination status in all indoor spaces at the Center. For further details, please see here.
Washington Arts Ensemble’s Inaugural Concert
The program includes:
BRAHMS Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38
LILI BOULANGER Three Pieces for Cello and Piano
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50
Artists featured:
Natalia Kazaryan, piano
Christopher Schmitt, piano
Zino Bogachek, violin
Loewi Lin, cello
Upcoming dates in this series:
- Tuesday, October 20, 2021 at 6:30 PM
- November 19, 2021 at 6:30 PM
- December 10, 2021 at 6:30 PM
TICKETS
Inspired by the bustling open-air night markets of East and Southeast Asia, Peter Chang of DC’s No Kings Collective creative agency and Events DC are teaming up to create the first annual REDEYE Night Market on November 6 in Washington, DC. REDEYE will occupy four blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 3rd through 7th Streets NW and bring together over 50 treasured local vendors to showcase an array of food and beverages like one might find at a night market abroad, including Filipino pastries, Taiwanese shaved ice, bao and Korean fried chicken. In addition to sampling signature dishes from celebrated local restaurants including Incheon, Tiger Fork, Maketto, China Chilcano, Thip Khao, Nihao, attendees will enjoy cultural and musical performances throughout the evening. Admission is free of charge with food and beverages available for purchase.
The REDEYE, set for 4 pm to 11 pm, is intended to serve as a celebration of Washington, DC’s rich AAPI community and to acknowledge the challenges and economic disenfranchisement that impacted small businesses across the nation in the past year.
“This past year was especially challenging for the AAPI community, as well as for the food industry. The REDEYE is a celebration of what we are overcoming together,” says Chang.
“The REDEYE Night Market is an incredible opportunity to celebrate our city’s diversity and showcase DC’s dynamic hospitality offerings,” said Greg O’Dell, president and CEO of Events DC. “We are thrilled to bring together residents, visitors and the AAPI community for an exceptional experience of authentic cuisine and culture from some of DC’s most well-known restaurateurs and performers.”
For details and a list of participants and performances, please visit: https://theredeye.
The REDEYE Night Market will be held in accordance with all health and safety protocols as outlined by the Executive Office of the Mayor and DC Department of Health.
The United States Navy Band woodwind quintet on Thursday at 1pm will be honoring Veterans Day with a special concert at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.
The third “For the Love of D.C.” concert highlights the future of D.C.’s dynamic go-go movement. Guests will enjoy an immersive experience celebrating the next wave of go-go music and its cultural impact on the District.
The event gives go-go fans and avid music lovers the opportunity to learn more about D.C.’s culturally rich genre and showcase what those unique sounds mean to the city and the entire DMV region.
Local comedian Mckenton Russell will host the evening, featuring live performances from the city’s favorite go-go bands including TCB, New Impressionz, TOB, Made Sessions, and The Made Band. There will also be a go-go market featuring merchandise and themed swag from local vendors like MadeInTheDMV’s Angela Byrd.
In recognition of the importance of go-go and its role in DC’s local economy and culture, Events DC established the Go-Go Industry Relief Fund designed to support go-go-related programming in the District. Totaling $1 million dollars, the program provided direct payments to qualifying go-go bands and artists as well as grants for in-studio performances and concert production. Bounce Beat + Beyond is one of the final events stemming from the Fund.
The keepers of the go-go culture are nothing if not resilient. They’ve continually reinvented ways to stay relevant as the local music scene shifts. Today, the genre is reasserting itself into the District’s bloodstream.
And we, the allies championing its cause, know it can be so much more. Our community’s continued love of go-go is a great sign for the future, and now is the time to build on it. Don’t miss our celebration of this iconic genre on November 21.
For tickets and more information about the event, visit
WHEN: Sunday, November 21, 2021
TIME: 5-10 p.m.
COST: $10 per person
WHERE: Lincoln Theatre: 1215 U St. NW, DC
