Calendar is posted, updated, and viewable here on the blog, and events listings are posted on my Bluesky and Threads & sometimes still tweeted.
Calendar is also linked on my Facebook & Instagram (& has its own DC Global Music pages there where I post gig flyers, updates & video clips of dc area gigs-(@dcglobalmusic on Instagram; DC Global Music and More on Facebook)-. Email list coming soon.
Gig list includes international (mainly African, Caribbean, Latin, Brazilian, Asian), roots, rap, soul, go-go, rock, punk, pop, gospel, blues, & club dj dance and more DMV & Baltimore & Annapolis gigs that I am interested in. Lots of local Ethiopian and Go-go. Some jazz but I mainly leave that to Capital Bop. Also some movies w/ music themes, and music book events. Additional gigs added after first posting have an *asterisk.* I am often adding go-go ones, Bossa club, Lamont’s soul & dj nights that are announced later. Events listed have been found on websites, Instagram, Facebook, email, postcards, flyers, event-brite, tik-tok, & club voicemails.
To submit events (for posting) or comments (that are not posted) e-mail stevenkiviat @ gmail . com
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My October 2026 Highlights (mostly visiting acts) (then much longer full list below w/ local & visiting acts of many genres). Your choice of highlights might differ.
Fri. Oct 9- “Mambo Legends: The Music Never Ends” doc showing followed by director Mari Keiko in conversation with WPFW dj Jim Byers who will also be programming Palladium era mambo music afterwards . Movie @ 7pm & music before & after 6-9pm free @ 2700 Art Space
2700 S. Nelson St., Arlington, VA
Sat. Oct 10-Soroche album release w/ Bongo District, Fantazma, Leon City Sounds djs 3-7 pm Lamont Plaza Mt Pleasant (cumbia & rock)
Lenora Fest w/ Elle Varner, EU, Ms Kim, Shorty Corleone, Noochie, Rock Steady Project, UCB, Raheem DeVaughn’s Crank Crusaders, Yahzarah, Northeast Groovers, Bootsy Vegas, DJ Kool, TOB, Stinky Dink, Black Passion Band 2:30 pm @ Rosecroft Raceway (go-go)
Mon. Oct. 12- WPFW event w/Edwin Ortiz & La Mafia Del Guaguanco, trumpeter Brandon Woody, MuMu Fresh, Proverbs Reggae Band, and Be'la Dona plus wpfw djs in between 12-7 @ Malcolm X Park plus film screenings (Sun Ra-Do the Impossible 1pm; One Drum-Heartbeat on the Meridian @3; Residue by Merawi Gerima 4pm ) & talk @ Josphine Butler bldg.
Tues. Oct. 13- Kelela @ Fillmore (Ethiopian-alt-r&b who grew up here )
Tricky @ Lincoln Theatre
Chanel Beads w/ 2 openers @ Black Cat (critic fave rock)
Wed. Oct. 14- Sugar, J. Robbins @ Anthem (reunited Bob Mould poppy punk trio)
Nobuntu 7:30 pm @ Robert Parilla Perf. Arts Center , Montgomery College, Rockville (female Zimbabwe a capella quartet)
Fri. Oct. 16- Howard U Yardfest during Homecoming week with rappers tba
Sat. Oct. 17- Blind Boys of Alabama tribute to Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Live @ Montgomery College (gospel soul)
Afrodisia w/ 2Baba live, DJ Jamstar, DJ PSmoov @ H20 Event Center, the former Restaurant 55, 5005 Jackson St., Hyattsville (2Baba is Nigerian afrobeats)
Wed. Oct 21- The Damned, Flamin Groovies, Courettes @ 930 Club (punk & proto-punk)
Thurs. Oct. 22 - Inner Spaces w/ Amir ElSaffer and Lorenzo Bianchi: Where traditional Arabic Maqam meets modern Sonic Innovation @ Hill Center ( Iraqi-American vocalist, trumpeter & santur/Persian hammered dulcimer player ElSaffer & electronics musician Bianchi)
Yhwh Nailgun, Samba Jean-Baptise 8 pm @ Ottobar (heavy post-punk)
Fri. Oct 23- Helado Tropical, the debut collaborative effort from Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical, @ Black Cat
Sat. Oct 24- Peni Candra Rini with Shahzad Ismaily & Andy McGraw / Alex Koi x Kirin McElwain @ Rhizome (powerful Indonesian gamelan & avante-rock & ballad singer & band)
Iraqi oud player Rahim AlHaj solo in the lobby of the “From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art” exhibit 2pm @ National Museum of Asian Art
Sun Oct. 25- Bettye Lavette @ Hamilton (soul)
Thurs. Oct 29-DC’s 1958- 2015 all women band The Jewels get honored and a street named after them at 4pm- Unveiling of The Jewels Way street sign at 13th NW between Upshur and Allison Streets, NW in front of Theodore Roosevelt High School. Ward 4 Councilmember Janese Lewis George will unveil the sign. 4:30 p.m. - Musical Tribute Program inside the auditorium of Roosevelt High School.
Sat. Oct. 31- Lots of Halloween choices. See full list below
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Full October 2026 list below- (*asterisks will be used to show any additional events added throughout the month or changes *)
Thurs. October 1-
Snail Mail, Soccer Mommy @ Fillmore Silver Spring (rock)
Public Image Ltd @ 930 Club (postpunk)
Squirrel Flower @ Union Stage (indie-folk)
Hannah Cole @ Pearl St Warehouse ( shoegaze 90s alt rock indie inspired)
Power Plant, Carrion Kids, Dim Wizard @ Comet P. Pong
the Ras Band @ Black Rose Lounge (Ethiopian)
TOB , Reaction @ Hemen Lounge (bouncebeat go-go)
Haile Gerima 2008 film Teza 6:30-9 w/ discussion @ Sankofa Books
NEA Heritage fellows Belen Escobedo (Mexican fiddler), Juan Díes, and Victor G. Pichardo free 7pm @ Mexican Cultural Institute (free but registrations are sold out now)
Orquesta Manplesa as part of Nala Noches 5-7 pm @ Metropolitan Park, National Landing Crystal City Arlington
Brazilian forro & samba music w/ Felipe Garibaldi & Rosa Morais 7-10 pm @ Mercy Me
What Band @ Martinis (go-go); Reaction Band @ Hemen Lounge (bouncebeat go-go)
New Impressionz @ Shark Bar (go-go & bouncebeat go-go) ;
Abraham, Danny, Hanna @ Shalla Restaurant in Silver Spring (Ethiopian);
Selam Sound @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria (Ethiopian) ;
Ethiopian music @ MHL Lounge in Falls Church ;
Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa;
Ethiopian music @ JD Bar ;
Ethiopian music @ Rumor Bar Fenton St Silver Spring ;
Afrobeats w/ DJ @ Spectrum Lounge ;
Afro-Caribbean dj @ Kaldi’s ;
live reggae 9 pm @ Bukom
Thrills @ JVs (roots & pop rock)
Verny Varela @ Bossa
Nigerian Independence dj event @ Myste Lounge Laurel
Green White Experience Nigerian Independence Day @ CK Lounge, Bowie
Raheem DeVaughn @ Pier Six Pavilion Baltimore
Taisha Estrada @ An Die Musik
Nigerian Independence Day w/ djs @ Mapgrill in Riverdale
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Friday October 2-
Eli Winter Trio (jazz, rock, folk), This Time's Quartet (w/ oudist/singer Huda Asfour, puppeteer Erik Ruin, Elsa Saade (musician/puppeteer) and Tracy Chahwan (cartoonist/illustrator)), Kajwan Ziaoddini (Iranian santoor) 7pm @ Rhizome
Wayna 12:30-1:45pm (free w/ eventbrite registration) @ Georgetown U. Devine Theatre/Davis Perf. Arts Center (Ethiopian r&b singer) (free tickets sold out but waitlist available)
Transmission 1 year anniv w/ many bands & djs all weekend * including Clear Channel, dj Dee Clark, Heaven Forbid, Kelo Latesha, UK grime dj Plastician, Tromac & more 4pm on @ Transmission
Beirut to DC w/ Anthony Raad & Heat, and live drumming 11pm @ Culture
Black Violin with Braxton Cook 8pm @ Warner Theatre
That This, Club USA, DJ Jim Q @ Haydees GA Ave (postpunk )
Takoma Radio’s rescheduled 10-year anniversary party, featuring live music from Bongo District, starts at 3 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Desert Five Spot.
Arturo O’Farill Quintet @ Blues Alley (jazz w/ Latin tinge)
Weezer @ Capital One Arena
Talib Kweli @ Bethesda Theater
Margo Price @ Rams Head Live Annapolis (country)
Afrobeats dj 10 pm @ Abigail
Iguana Death Cult, Ajola @ Comet P Pong
TCB @ Throw Social (bouncebeat go-go)
Cruddy Crankerz and others free show 4-10 @ Anacostia Park (Crankerz also at Sat. 8pm Fort Dupont appearance) *CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN*
Chris Stapleton @ Jiffy Lube Live
Save Your Soul w/ DJ Baby Alcatraz & that Rob Macy spinning soul 45s @ Lithuanian Hall Baltimore
Dollyweird Dolly Parton Tribute w/ Cal Folger Day & band, Linda Smith, Liz Downing & more @ 26th st Green
Allure Band @ Takoma Station Tavern
Afro Plus Lagos Island Nigerian Independence Day w/ dj Psmoov, Next Level Band & more 10pm @ AI Warehouse
Nigerian Independence dj event @ Myste Lounge Laurel
DJ Greg for Clarence Miles birthday happy hour 5-9 @ Chateau
Linea 220 , La Gerencia Nortena @ reopened Paappasitoos in Manassas Park, VA (norteno w/ sax)
Havana Dance under the Stars 7pm free salsa lesson 8pm salsa band @ Embassy row Rooftop, 2015 Mass. Ave NW
Nigerian Independence Day w/ djs @ Mapgrill in Riverdale
Paul Carr Quartet w/ singer Alison Crockett “John Coltrane Tribute” 6-9 @
Rare Essence, KIm Michelle Experience @ Fast Eddie’s (go-go)
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Sat. Oct. 3-
Olivia Rodrigo @ Capital One Arena (pop-rock)
Home Rule Fest w/ UCB, Angel Bat Dawid, Crush Funk brass, Foots X Coles, Joantz with Special Berriez, Youth Showcase featuring Next Generation Crank & Soul of SEED, DJ RBI 12:30-9pm @ Alethia Tanner Park in DC
Knocked Loose & Denzel Curry @ Anthem
Takoma Radio’s rescheduled 10-year anniversary party, featuring live music from Bongo District, starts at 3 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Desert Five Spot.
The Flame Calls the Moth: Music, Poetry, & Qawwali- Dhruv Sangari will do poetry & music as part of a sonic journey through Sobia Ahmad’s solo art photo & film exhibit Entangled Light 1pm @ Hamiltonian Artists, 1353 U St NW
Power to the People Fest w/ Bruce Springsteen, Tom Morello, Foo Fighters, Public Enemy, Joan Baez, Stephen Stills, Dave Matthews, & more @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
Transmission 1 year anniv w/ many bands & djs including Wifigawd, Pink Shift, Toro (dc shoegaze band), Gabberb69, Shyboi@ Transmission
Grand Gospel celebration w/ Willie & the Keynotes (of Tyler Texas) and many more at Harvest Assembly Baptist in Alexandria
Leila Abdul-Rauf, Vaelastrasz, Form & Void @ Rhizome (experimental & industrial)
Monsta X @ Eaglebank Arena (K-pop)
Smashing Pumpkins @ CFG Bank Arena
Soroche 12-7 @ Baltimore x Baltimore Fest (cumbia)
Shake Body: The Nigerian Independence Party w/ djs P Smoov, Wildchild, Njinjoh 10pm @ Officina, Maine Ave SW
Teodoro Reyes @ VIP Room Baltimore (bachata)
Anacostia Crab Feast w/ TCB & others 2-7 pm @ Marion Barry Pavilion lot, 1234 Marion Barry Ave. SE
TCB @ 9pm on @ Martini’s (bouncebeat go-go)
Cruddy Crankerz CRUDDOCTOBERFEST @ 8pm Fort Dupont Park
Del Ray Art on the Avenue 10am to 6 pm
Fundraising gala for Ethiopian youth with the Addis Band (feat. Andy BeteZema on guitar) 6-9 pm @ Wilde Lake Center in Columbia, MD
Taisha Estrada @ Ernie's Place
Soroche,Trash Boat & the Ambush, Electric Grandmother @ Pie Shop
New Orleans mayors panel & DC’s Crush Funk Brass 7-9 pm @ Atlas
“Everything Else is Noise_ (2026 Mexican “biting comedy” film that “skewers avante-garde musicians & filmmakers” 2:40 pm @ AFI Silver
The Thrills w/ guest Johnny Spampinato @ Hank Dietle’s (roots rock)
David and Ginger Hildebrand doing 20th century American civil rights & labor songs 11 am to 11:40 am and from 12 noon to 12:40 pm @ National Gallery of Art West bldg main floor East Garden Court
1986 28 minute film “Fire in the East: A Portrait of Robert Frank” includes poet Allen Ginsberg & was made by directors Phillip Brookman & Amy Brookman, 11 am in National Gallery of Art East Aud. followed by talk between Phillip Brookman & writer Nicholas Dawidoff who writing a biography of Frank
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zance dance company performance 2 to 2:30; 3-3:30; 4 - 4:30 @ National Gallery of Art West Bldg main floor rotunda
Nigerian Independence dj event @ Myste Lounge Laurel
Pedro Night dj’ing at Le Me Rock party @ St Ex (emo, alt, rock in ingles y espanol I think)
Junkyard Band @ Lamont’s (go-go)
Community Organizing fair 12-3pm @ Malcolm X Park by Joan of Arc statue
Frog , Woods @ Black Cat (rock)
Everyday People party w/ djs Jerome Baker III, K-Meta, By Sofh 3 -10 pm @ Bullpen ( afrobeats, afrohouse, hiphop, amapiano, r& b )
Arlington County Fest LatinoAmericano w/ music, dance, food 5-9pm @ Arlington Mill Community Center
Fiesta Fairfax 2-7:30 in Old Town Square Fairfax
Code 234 Nigerian Independence Celebration w/w/ EJ, BusiBoo & more 10pm @ Cococabana
Miami Carnival Send Off w/ DJs Mad Russian, Precious Layne, Fyah Oats @ Fire Station One
Reggae and Ska Fest w/ Culture feat. Kenyatta Hill, the Pietasters, John Brown’s Body, Jahworks & more @ the Recher in Baltimore
Leon City Sounds djs @ Green Zone
Rare Essence @ 11 @ Aqua (go-go)
Tumbao (Latin salsa ) @ 10:30pm @ Bossa 1st floor & DJ w/ Latin Hits upstairs;
Nani & Negussie w/ Band @ Makeda Restaurant (Ethiopian)
Samri, Fekadu, Eleni & band @ Shalla (Ethiopian)
Ras Band @ MHL Lounge (Ethiopian)
Ethiopian music @ Black Rose Lounge
Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring
Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa
Ethiopian music @ JD Bar
Ethiopian music @ Arada restaurant & bar New Hampshire Ave. Takoma Park
King Soul @ VFW 350 Hells Bottom
Jordan Dean, Argo & the Violet Queens @ Quarry House Tavern
Nigerian Independence Day w/ djs @ Mapgrill in Riverdale
Kiefer @ Songbyrd
Orquesta Manplesa @ Haydee’s Mt Pleasant
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Sun. Oct 4-
Olivia Rodrigo @ Capital One Arena (pop-rock)
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan @ MGM National Harbor
Jeru the Damaja @ Baltimore Soundstage (rap)
Ceremony, Poison Ruin @ Black Cat (punk)
Arturo O’Farill Quintet @ Blues Alley (Latin jazz)
Hands off the Arts meetup to tell & record Kennedy Center stories 5-7 pm @ Tazza Cafe, across from the Kennedy Center
Transmission 1 year anniv w/ many bands & djs including Gallopinto(w/ Pedro Night & Bo )
Buena Vista Orchestra @ Rams Head Onstage Annapolis (old school Cuban dance music)
Afro Plus Nigerian Independence gig Terminal B Naija homecoming w/ djs Claude de Martian, Psmoov, That Man Legend 3-9pm @ the Bullpen
Amapiano Sunday w/ Ammer B, Mobu, Anansi, & many more 4pm @ AI Warehouse (South African dj dance music)
Last Last Naija Independence Celebration w/ Beekay, AP, Tayo , Quasar, NAii 10 pm @ Zebbies Garden
Eko Party - Nigerian Independence Celebration w/ DJ Joenel, DJ famous 4pm to 2 am @ CK Lounge, 3524 Crain Highway, Bowie, MD
Takoma Park Street Fest w/ Chopteeth, Hula Monsters, Elena La Fulana, Dave Chappell, Englishman & Shango band, Rock-a-Sonics, King Soul 10am to 5 pm
Killick Hinds & John Jansen , Nocturnal Creatures Troupe 2:30 pm @ Rhizome (trance metal, Puppet show)
DJ Rich Medina @ Grazi Mille
Dennis Jay & Lonesome Town 6-9 @ Hank Dietle’s (honky tonk Americana roots )
Big Bad Soca block party 2pm @ Bananas @ Berhta
Unsane @ Pearl St Warehouse
“Everything Else is Noise_ (2026 Mexican “biting comedy” film that “skewers avante-garde musicians & filmmakers” 1:15 pm @ AFI Silver
“That Shadow Fading (2025 film about a keyboardist Mom and her college age son traveling in a car on desert roads in Peru and talking and trying to understand one another while listening to cumbia on the radio ) w/ a 27 minute film short doc “Q-POP” about Lenin Tamayo, a Peruvian musician preserving his ancestral language Quechua via a musical fusion w/ K-pop he calls “Q-pop.” He has to balance stardom with his Indigenous identity) 3 pm @ AFI Silver
Fritz Lang silent movie “Destiny “ (with a Persian aspect) & live music played by DC-based Iranian daf player Kamyar Arsani w/ Kaywan Ziaoddini (on santur) , & musician Maya Renfro 2pm @ Asian Art Museum Meyer Aud.
Heitor Pressor 9pm @ Bossa (Brazilian music)
Raheem DeVaughn & Crank Crusaders @ Takoma Station Tavern
Nigerian Independence dj event @ Myste Lounge Laurel
La Mesa w/ food , music, & more 12-5 @ La Cosecha
Sudan on our Mind : a fundraising evening of artistic expression & protest with director Haile Gerima 7-9pm @ Sankofa Books
Hana Stretton, Heather Stebbins @ Songbyrd
Push Play @ Mix & Mingle (go-go)
Scooby da Godson & his Sirius Company @ 1865 Steak lounge (go-go)
Scientific America, Nectar Gnome, Nate Scheible & Layne Garrett @ Rhizome
Rare Essence, Blacc Print @ Hotel Hilton Arlington (go-go)
New Impressionz @ Piano Keys (go-go)
Funset w/ Jahsonic & Harry Hotter djs @ Metrobar (r&b, house)
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Mon. Oct 5-
Le Sserafim @ Capital One Arena (South Korean girl group)
M. Alex Ramirez w/ Arturo O’Farill Quintet @ Blues Alley
Sylvan Esso @ 930 Club (sold out)
Linda Smith, Caleb Holt, Max Jacobs Trio 7PM @ Comptoir du Vin Baltimore (indie pop)
Marcus Young 10 pm @ Andrews in Morningside, MD ; Ethiopian music live @ Napoli Lounge; Ethiojazz w/ the Roots Band @ Shalla;
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Tues. Oct. 6-
Ella Boh @ Songbyrd (dark pop) (sold out)
Cortex, Adrian Younge, J Rocc @ Howard Theatre
Kelsey Lu @ Union Stage
John Hiatt with Rachel Ann Morgan & Jonathan Sloane @ Birchmere
Round 8 CPU King of the go-go Conga Battle @ the Chateau (this will be a 10 round competition)
Perkutao @ Blues Alley
Sylvan Esso @ 930 Club (indie pop)
The Chicks @ Anthem (sold Out)
Bobby Bare Jr ( of GBV) & 2 more @ Ottobar
DMV Senior Hand Dancers 12 to 4 @ Cheverly American Legion Still Familiar @ Fast Eddie's (go-go) Kalkidan & Fekadu backed by Dani Key & Dave Sax @ Rumor Bar Silver Spring (Ethiopian) "vintage groove" Ethiopian music band feat. Fikir & Fitsum 8-11 @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria
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Wed. Oct. 7-
Jaane Pehchaane Anjaane @ MGM National Harbor (Hindi play with music)
John Hiatt with Rachel Ann Morgan & Jonathan Sloane @ Birchmere
Author Marcia Chatelain for book “How Bright the Path Grows- the Women who made the March on Washington @ Politics & Prose COnn Ave NW. (a look at Josephine Baker, Mahalia Jackson and others)
Gustavo Castenave @ Blues Alley
Baltimore Cripple Punks’ Accessible Benefit w/ Shift Meal, Bitter T, Polluted Tongues, Hypoxolyn. 6PM, $10-$15 @ Le Mondo
Lucero @ Recher
Mary Chicken Soup And Rice, Gaspers, Youth In Government @ Rhizome (punk)
Matheus Fonseca 6-9 @ Cana (Brazilian guitar) Brazilian Brothers feat. Heitor Presser 7-10 @ Mercy Me New Impressionz @ Hemen Lounge (go-go) What Band feat. Killa Cal free @ Shark Bar (go-go) Live Ethiopian music @ Napoli Lounge
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Thurs. Oct 8-
Cash Money & No Limit tour with Birdman, Master P, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Lil Boosie, & more @ Capital One Arena (southern rap)
Lomiiel @ Ibiza (Dominican dembow)
Lalah Hathaway @ Birchmere (r&b)
Leenalchi 7:30-9pm @ Asian Art Museum Meyer Aud. (Seoul, South Korean band melds pansori Korean folk-opera storytelling w/ Talking Heads inspired rock) ( $6 in advance; free @ door if any tix left)
Robert Lester Folsom @ Songbyrd (1970s pop gone psych singer is back )
North Mississippi Allstars @ Rams Head Onstage Annapolis (blues-rock)
El Colmo (Los Angeles art-punk en espanol) , Soroche (cumbia & rock), Sex Faces (dc punk) @ Comet P Pong
Laura Veirs @ Jammin Java (alt-indie folk)
Felina party w/ Pedro Night dj’ing Latin dance music @ Tigres de la Noche
The Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra: Celebrating Billy Eckstine & Sarah Vaughan @ Keystone Korner Baltimore
Tarot-themed Party w/ Kinda Evil, Shame Shame, Knifing Around @ Pie Shop
“Blues in the Night “ (1941 noir film) 6:45 @ AFI Silver
Johnny Burgin Blues Revue @ Hank Dietle’s (guitarist)
Oh He Dead @ National Gallery of Art
Juan Megna @ Blues Alley
Flack @ VFW 350 Hells Bottom (roots pop)
Coco Smith ,Flo Petite, Ethan McNeal , Aiden Cramp @ Rhizome (indie-pop & indie-folk)
Brazilian forro & samba music w/ Felipe Garibaldi & Rosa Morais 7-10 pm @ Mercy Me What Band @ Martinis (go-go) Reaction Band @ Hemen Lounge (bouncebeat go-go) New Impressionz @ Shark Bar (go-go & bouncebeat go-go) Abraham, Danny, Hanna @ Shalla Restaurant in Silver Spring (Ethiopian) Selam Sound @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music *New year's Eve w/ Neway Debebe, Kalkidan, & the Ethio Band* @ MHL Lounge in Falls Church Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Ethiopian music @ Rumor Bar Fenton St Silver Spring Afrobeats w/ DJ @ Spectrum Lounge Afro-Caribbean dj @ Kaldi’s live reggae 9 pm @ Bukom
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Fri. Oct 9-
“Mambo Legends: The Music Never Ends” doc showing followed by director Mari Keiko in conversation with WPFW dj Jim Byers who will also be programming Palladium era mambo music afterwards . Movie @ 7pm & music before & after 6-9pm free @ 2700 Art Space
2700 S. Nelson St., Arlington, VA
3BallMty @ Fillmore (Mexican dj group)
Bright Eyes, Lullaby for the Working Class @ 930 Club (sold out)
Kazzabe @ Diamond Lounge (Garifuna punta & tropical music)
El Cherry Scorn @ Bravo Bravo (Dominican dembow)
Lalah Hathaway @ Birchmere (sold out)
Chris of TOB birthday bash @ Throw Social
Rumba Timbera w/ Michel Robles, El Leon y su Tripulacion, Adhemir Charun @ La Caleta Peruvian Restaurant Gaithersburg
Janel Leppin, Devra & Chad @ Palisades Hub
The Genetic Tones featuring Cheikh N’Doye @ Montpelier Mansion ( mix of Afro‑global jazz fusion, Gnawa rhythms, Latin, and modern improvisation)
Malachai Johns 50th birthday bash w/ Crank Caviar @ Rams head Onstage Annapolis (go-go)
Emotional World, New Passengers, Hushing 7:30 @ Rhizome (EW include members of Flasher, this is Hushing’s 1st gig. Smiths photographer Nalinee Darmrong is in Hushing)
Brat, US Bastards @ Comet P Pong
Strange Boutique @ Black Cat (dc goth rock)
Flex, La Factoria, Makano @ Howard Theatre
Buko Buko, Ammonite, Bitter T @ Songbyrd
Robert Lighthouse 5:30-7:30 @ Hank Dietle’s (blues)
Brandon Wayne & his Lonesome Drifters 9pm @ Hank Dietle’s (rockabilly & country & a free dance lesson by Ben Pagac included w/ cover)
Blacc Print Experience @ Takoma Station Tavern (go-go)
Sugarnasty & Friends w/ dj Baby Alcatraz & others spinning r&b, funk, disco, lovers rock, dancehall 7 inch records 10pm til for free @ Showtime Bar
Mireya Ramos @ Blues Alley
Qawali ft. Sursagar 7pm @ Darna in Arlington
Richmond Folk Fest through Oct. 11th
6 Foot Blonde @ Union Stage
Backyard Band @ Ivy City Smokehouse (go-go)
Still Familiar @ Shark Bar (go-go) Junkyard Band @ Urban Crab Lounge (go-go) Alfredo Mojica Group @ 10:30 @ Bossa (salsa) plus DJ w/ Latin hits upstairs; Traditional Ethiopian music band @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria Belema Band @ Shalla (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ MHL Lounge Ethiopian music @ Black Rose Lounge Ethiopian music 9 to 12 mdt. @ Meleket Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Afrobeats, amapiano, & house dj @ SkyVibe Laurel Arabic music dj @ Green Zone
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Sat. Oct 10-
Michelle Shocked w/ Jay Byrd 5pm @ Hank Dietle’s (part concert , part story telling audio memoir) (sold out)
Orquesta Akokan @ Blues Alley
Soroche album release w/ Bongo District, Fantazma, Leon City Sounds djs 3-7 pm Lamont Plaza Mt Pleasant (cumbia & rock)
Tempo w/ Joe Kay (doing an extended set), Mobu, Leyland Darkes 4pm @ Bananas @ Berhta (Afrotech, 3-step, Deep house, Afrohouse, amapiano, batida, gqom
Beabadoobee @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (pop-rock indie)
Atlantic Starr @ Bethesda Theater
Lenora Fest w/ Elle Varner, EU, Ms Kim, Shorty Corleone, Noochie, Rock Steady Project, UCB, Raheem DeVaughn’s Crank Crusaders, Yahzarah, Northeast Groovers, Bootsy Vegas, DJ Kool, TOB, Stinky Dink, Black Passion Band 2:30 pm @ Rosecroft Raceway (go-go)
Maya Donovan @ Atlantis (Brooklyn indie-folk)
The Vi-kings 9pm @ Hank Dietle’s (British invasion rock covers )
Crank & Crabs w/ Backyard, EU, Raheem DeVaughn & Crank Crusaders, Sirius Company @ Pier 6
Plies for Morgan Alumni homecoming concert @ Nevermore Hall
“A Man Called Adam (1966 film w/ Sammy Davis Jr as a self-destructive jazz musician; it received some bad reviews) 6:45 @ AFI Silver
Brassaholics @ Hamilton Live
Grown Folks Fall Finale w/ Klass Act, Covers Band, Hardway Connection , The WestMob & djs 4-10 @ Lamont’s indoors (r&b, southern soul)
Richmond Folk Fest through Oct. 11th with cumbia & go-go and more
One Caribbean Fest w/ Aakil, Prince Royal, Bimshire , Marvalous, Precious Layne, Mambo djs @ Strand DC 1400 I St NW
Horse Lords, Crying Laughing, Duncan Moore 7pm @ Ottobar (sold out)
Supersuckers, The Rumours. 7PM, $20 @ Metro
Afro Electronic Soundbath w/ Mali Collins & Omari Jibri free 2pm @ Red Emma's
Staring in Spaces, Endlings @ Songbyrd
Broken Record, Sonorosa @ Quarry House Tavern
David Chappell @ VFW 350 Hells Bottom (roots)
TOB 6-11@ Urban Crab ( bouncebeat go-go)
Funset the Festival w/ Karisma, CCB, djs Jahsonic & Harry Hotter, DJ Underdog, Adrian Loving 3-10pm in Franklin Park (r&b, funk, and house djs, go-go band)
Rare Essence @ 11 @ Aqua (go-go) Tumbao (Latin salsa ) @ 10:30pm @ Bossa 1st floor & DJ w/ Latin Hits upstairs; Nani & Negussie w/ Band @ Makeda Restaurant (Ethiopian) Samri, Fekadu, Eleni & band @ Shalla (Ethiopian) Ras Band @ MHL Lounge (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ Black Rose Lounge Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Ethiopian music w/ Fasika, Anitenehi & band 9:30pm @ Arada restaurant & bar New Hampshire Ave. Takoma Park
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Sun. Oct. 11-
New Jack Swing Birthday Bash ft. Teddy Riley and Guy 2.0 @ MGM National Harbor
Tamar Braxton & friends @ Howard Theatre (r&b)
Melvis Santa Gata Cuban Jazz Trio @ Blues Alley
African diaspora fest @ Veterans plaza Silver Spring
Elias Medina @ Mexico Lindo (MXL) (bolero singer)
TCB, New Impressionz 10pm @ Sax (go-go & bouncebeat go-go)
Michelle Shocked @ Club 603 ( sold out)
The Duskwhales, Alice Despard Group, Marshall Keith 7pm @ Palisades Hub Centre
AFI @ Nevermore Hall (sold out)
Raul Midon 4 & 7pm @ Strathmore Mansion
Fantastic Negrito 12 noon @ Rams Head Onstage Annapolis
“Blues in the Night “ (1941 noir film) 1:30 @ AFI Silver
Allison Brown @ the Hamilton (roots )
Richmond Folk Fest through Oct. 11th with cumbia & go-go and more
1252 Band @ Lamont’s (soul)
The R&B Club discusses “protest r&b” 12 noon @ Songbyrd
Rare Essence @ Ivy City Smokehouse
Backyard Band @ Throw Social
Rumba Club @ Takoma Station Tavern
Motown on Sunday New Jack Swing party night @ Metrobar
Umpukan : A Filipino -American History month celebration w/ live music from Drew Kid, Les the DJ spinning Original Pilipino Music plus there’s a pop-up food & more market , activities & more 12-5pm @ Metrobar
live Ethiopian music @ Shalla Restaurant in Silver Spring Roots Band @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ MHL Lounge in Falls Church Ras Band @ Black Rose Lounge (Ethiopian) Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Drumming @ 3 to 7 @ Malcolm X Park Afrobeats dj @ St Ex Afrobeats, hiphop, dancehall party w/ dj 4 to 9 @ Decades (dresscode- "fashionable") Scooby Da Godson w/ Sirius Company @ 1865 steak Lounge (go-go)
* Jerome Mackall's tribute to Al Green, plus Carmen Craven's tribute to Whitney Houston w/ mc Greg Cooper 5pm @ Camp Springs Elk Lodge #2332 , 7350 Temple Hill Rd. *
—------------------------------------------------------------
Mon. Oct. 12-
2 Chainz @ Howard Theatre (rap)
WPFW event w/Edwin Ortiz & La Mafia Del Guaguanco, trumpeter Brandon Woody, MuMu Fresh, Proverbs Reggae Band, and Be'la Dona plus wpfw djs in between 12-7 @ Malcolm X Park plus film screenings (Sun Ra-Do the Impossible 1pm; One Drum-Heartbeat on the Meridian @3; Residue by Merawi Gerima 4pm ) & talk @ Josphine Butler bldg.
Kemuel Roig @ Blues Alley ( Cuban jazz piano)
Aoife O’Donovan solo acoustic @ Birchmere (folk & jazz singer)
Show Me the Body @ Black Cat
Ida, the Golden Hours @ Pearl St Warehouse
“A Man Called Adam (1966 film w/ Sammy Davis Jr as a self-destructive jazz musician; it received some bad reviews) 8:30 @ AFI Silver
Indigenous Peoples day dance party 12noon to 4 pm @ the Chateau NE
Indigenous Peoples day Afro, Latin, & Tribal House 2-8pm @ Metro Bar
Westside Cowboy & opener @ Atlantis (UK rock) (sold out)
Hans Tammen , Marcus Cummins Duo, Jamal Moore @ Rhizome (experimental/improv)
Capital Hill Cajun dance 7:30-9:30 @ Hill Center
Marcus Young 10 pm @ Andrews in Morningside, MD ; Ethiopian music live @ Napoli Lounge; Ethiojazz w/ the Roots Band @ Shalla;
—---------------------------------------------------------
Tues. Oct. 13-
Kelela @ Fillmore (Ethiopian-alt-r&b who grew up here )
Tricky @ Lincoln Theatre
Open Mike Eagle & Kenny Segal @ Songbyrd (wordy throwback 90s style rap)
Chanel Beads w/ 2 openers @ Black Cat (critic fave rock)
Kali Rodriguez- Pena feat. Dayme Arocena @ Blues Alley (Cuban instrumentalist w/ Cuban vocalist)
HasSak Ethno-Folk Ensemble 7:30 pm @ Asian Art Museum Meyer Aud. (Kazakhstan modern ethno-folk band) ($6 in advance; free @ door if tickets left)
Wesley Joseph @ Union Stage (alt-r&b/pop-rap)
Autobahn (NY) , Semi Trucks @ Rhizome ( art-rock no wave , & slacker rock)
“A Man Called Adam (1966 film w/ Sammy Davis Jr as a self-destructive jazz musician; it received some bad reviews) 4:30 @ AFI Silver
Kiti Gardner & the Drifting Valentines @ Hank Dietle’s (Western swing & rockabilly )
Raul Midon @ An Die Musik
DMV Senior Hand Dancers 12 to 4 @ Cheverly American Legion Still Familiar @ Fast Eddie's (go-go) Kalkidan & Fekadu backed by Dani Key & Dave Sax @ Rumor Bar Silver Spring (Ethiopian) "vintage groove" Ethiopian music band feat. Fikir & Fitsum 8-11 @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria
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Wed. Oct. 14-
Sugar, J. Robbins @ Anthem (reunited Bob Mould poppy punk trio)
Nobuntu 7:30 pm @ Robert Parilla Perf. Arts Center , Montgomery College, Rockville (female Zimbabwe a capella quartet)
Burmese Harp movie at Freer Asian Art
Dayramir Gonzalez Cuban Quartet @ Blues Alley (Cuban pianist led group)
Open Mike Eagle & Kenny Segal @ 8 x 10 (wordy underground retro rap)
Bunii @ Atlantis (indie rock)
Sin Bandera @ MGM National Harbor (Latin pop)
Club 520 Live- Howard U Homecoming event presented by Project 68 & Howard U School of Communications @ Howard Theatre
Dice @ Union Stage (indie surf rock)
“Blues in the Night “ (1941 noir film) 8:30 @ AFI Silver
Man or Astroman ? w/ Light Beams @ Black Cat (indie rock/postpunk)
R.I.Y.L.- Recommended If You Like- a novel by Adam Voith talk w/ Jameson Draper and Owen Edwards 6:30 @ Faddensonnen in Baltimore
David Kitchen Band @ VFW 350 (roots pop)
Harry SIngs, John Hoffman, Janitors @ Quarry House Tavern
iiisa ,Heather Stebbins & Rachel Beetz, projections by Ex Lamp 7pm @ Rhizome (experimental)
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Thurs. Oct 15-
Don Omar @ Capital One Arena (reggaeton)
Chuchito Valdes @ Blues Alley (Latin jazz)
Kool & the Gang w/ the S.O.S. Band @ MGM National Harbor (r&b)
AZ Chike @ Songbyrd (rap)
Mexican Slum Rats, Gerf @ Comet P Pong
Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express 7:30 @ Glen Echo Park
“Perreo Island-Old School vs New School reggaeton w/ dj C (Miami), DJ Sabroso, DJ Guaro @ Ibiza
Rhett Miller , Caleb Stine @ 8 x 10 ( alt country rock)
“A Man Called Adam (1966 film w/ Sammy Davis Jr as a self-destructive jazz musician; it received some bad reviews) 8:30 @ AFI Silver
The Grandsons w/ Tom Meltzer 8pm @ Hank Dietle’s (roots rock)
David Chappell & Jonathan Sloane @ JVs (roots rock)
R.I.Y.L.- Recommended If You Like- a novel by Adam Voith talk w/ Ned Russin , J.W. Yablonsky 6:30 pm @ Art Sound Language
Maneka, Tosser, Ducts @ Quarry House Tavern
Brazilian forro & samba music w/ Felipe Garibaldi & Rosa Morais 7-10 pm @ Mercy Me What Band @ Martinis (go-go) Reaction Band @ Hemen Lounge (bouncebeat go-go) New Impressionz @ Shark Bar (go-go & bouncebeat go-go) Abraham, Danny, Hanna @ Shalla Restaurant in Silver Spring (Ethiopian) Selam Sound @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music *New year's Eve w/ Neway Debebe, Kalkidan, & the Ethio Band* @ MHL Lounge in Falls Church Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Ethiopian music @ Rumor Bar Fenton St Silver Spring Afrobeats w/ DJ @ Spectrum Lounge Afro-Caribbean dj @ Kaldi’s live reggae 9 pm @ Bukom
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Fri. Oct. 16-
Howard U Yardfest with rappers tba
Broccoli City after Yardfest after party 10 pm @ Howard Theatre
Guachinangos (Cumbia with a Mexican son Jarocho flavor fused w/ Colombian cumbia and other Latin American rhythms), w/ DC’s Chicha Morada (cumbia, chicha & more) opening @ Songbyrd
Rhett Miller @ Hamilton Live (alt-country rock)
Chuchito Valdes @ Blues Alley (Latin jazz)
Allison Russell 10 pm @ 930 Club
Jason Narducy @ Club 603 (rock)
Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band, Tommy Prine @ Howard Theatre (alt-country & folk)
Chasing Abbey @ Union Stage (Irish folk dance pop) (sold out)
Buffalo Nichols 12:30-1:45pm (free w/ eventbrite registration) @ Georgetown U. Devine Theatre/Davis Perf. Arts Center
Bunna B for Howard Homecoming post-Yardfest event @ Throw Social
Sorry Ghost, Kevin Walkman @ Comet P Pong (LA indie band Sorry Ghost went tiktok viral for memes & such that had humor & poked fun at band life) (sold out)
“King Creole” (1958 film w/ Elvis Presley) 6:45 @ AFI Silver
“Young Man with a Horn” (1950 film with Kirk Douglas playing a jazz musician mentored by Hoagy Carmichael) 4pm @ AFI Silver
Kofi B @ Bethesda Theatre (Akron, Ohio r&b keyboardist/performer)
Proper Utensils feat. Jas Funk 8pm @ Takoma Station Tavern (go-go)
Pretty Bitter, Pulses, Padfoot, ThisDogllhunt @ Black Cat
Sienna Spiro @ Lincoln Theatre (retro pop-r&b) (sold out)
Sirius Company @ House of Soul (go-go)
Backyard Band @ Aqua
Noches de Salsa Dura w/ Orquesta Manplesa 10pm @ Plaza Oaxaca in Rockville (salsa)
Still Familiar @ Shark Bar (go-go) Junkyard Band @ Urban Crab Lounge (go-go) Alfredo Mojica Group @ 10:30 @ Bossa (salsa) plus DJ w/ Latin hits upstairs; Traditional Ethiopian music band @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria Belema Band @ Shalla (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ MHL Lounge Ethiopian music @ Black Rose Lounge Ethiopian music 9 to 12 mdt. @ Meleket Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Afrobeats, amapiano, & house dj @ SkyVibe Laurel Arabic music dj @ Green Zone
------------------------
Sat. Oct 17-
Usher and Chris Brown @ M & T Bank Stadium Baltimore (despite Brown’s bad factual history regarding treatment of women, he is still beloved by many r&b fans)
No Kings protest
Howard U homecoming
Blind Boys of Alabama tribute to Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Live @ Montgomery College (gospel soul)
Afrodisia w/ 2Baba live, DJ Jamstar, DJ PSmoov @ H20 Event Center, the former Restaurant 55, 5005 Jackson St., Hyattsville (2Baba is Nigerian afrobeats)
Blackbyrds @ Keystone Korner Baltimore (jazzy r& b)
The Whispers 60th anniv. Tour @ Birchmere (r&b)
Tallest Man on Earth, Gwenifer Raymond @ Lincoln Theatre
The Residents doing Eskimo live @ 930 Club
Jai’Len Josey @ Songbyrd (r&b /house ) (sold out)
1252 Band , Andre Jackson’s Teddy Pendergrass tribute, Tess Band at 5th annual Masquerade affair at Lamont’s
Julia Cole @ Union Stage (pop-country)
Jason Narducy @ Club 603 (rock)
Salsa vs go-go with Orquesta Manplesa & the Honest Politrix 9 pm - 1 am @ Transmission
Babe Lewis, The Albert Square, Keegan Del Rio @ Quarry House Tavern
Drunken Prayer w/ guitarist/singer Morgan Geer with Matt Patton of Drive-by Truckers on bass, and Claude Coleman Jr. from Ween on drums 2pm @ Hank Dietle’s Tavern ( Southern roadhouse twangy countryish Americana rock; album has rockin Pentecostal churchy organ)
Pile ‘O’ Rocks 9pm @ Hank Dietle’s Tavern (rockin Dave Edmunds & Nick Lowe Rockpile & pub rock covers)
Brindley Bros. Jammin Java 25th anniv. @ Jammin Java (folk)
Ministry of Zion, Pastor Maurice Yancey & One Accord, The Heavenly Stars, Lil David & the Bells of Joy, & many more @ 3:45 pm @ Kent Baptist Church , Landover, MD
HU Homecoming vibez after game party 4pm @ Hook Hall
HU Homecoming Reunion w/ Method Man @ Westin Downtown Hotel
DJ Tira , DJ Mobu, DJ Jaha & 3 more 4pm @ Onyx (Tira is from Durban, South Africa)
Howard Homecoming party 4-10pm @ La Vie Penthouse on the wharf
Carlo Alfonso @ Blues Alley ( Cuban Jazz)
Reggaefest dj party @ Howard Theatre
William Hooker & On Ka’a Davis @ Rhizome (experimental jazz)
Glimmer, Toro, Scoria @ Pie Shop (DC’s Toro are shoegaze)
Backyard Band @ Heman Lounge ( go-go)
Rare Essence @ 11 @ Aqua (go-go) Tumbao (Latin salsa ) @ 10:30pm @ Bossa 1st floor & DJ w/ Latin Hits upstairs; Nani & Negussie w/ Band @ Makeda Restaurant (Ethiopian) Samri, Fekadu, Eleni & band @ Shalla (Ethiopian) Ras Band @ MHL Lounge (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ Black Rose Lounge Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Ethiopian music w/ Fasika, Anitenehi & band 9:30pm @ Arada restaurant & bar New Hampshire Ave. Takoma Park
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Sun. Oct. 18-
Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds (aka Sturgill Simpson ) @ Capital One Arena
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Play The Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning @
Warner Theatre ( Celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Dead’s landmark acoustic live album Reckoning, Welch and Rawlings will perform full sets drawn from the album alongside other classic Grateful Dead songs.)
Jaripeo de Lujo (luxury Mexican rodeo) w/ Los Farmerz, La Fiera de Ojinaga, La Alianza Nortena, Compa Filly @ Frederick, MD Fairgrounds
After Party w/ La Alianza @ MXL /Mexico Lindo
Alvaro Diaz @ Fillmore (Puerto Rican reggaeton)
Salin @ Miracle Theatre (Afro-Thai funk)
Chucho Valdes 85th Birthday celebration @ Strathmore (Afro-Cuban jazz pianist)
Wishy, Dead Sullivan @ Atlantis (rocking jangle shoegazey pop)
Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn 4 & 7pm @ Strathmore Mansion (Appalachian banjo meets Chinese folk songs)
Carlo Alfonso @ Blues Alley ( Cuban jazz)
Eric Brace & Thomm Jutz @ Jammin Java (alt-folk rock)
Dogwood Tales, Massie @ Comet P. Pong
Daryl Davis presents tribute to Chuck Berry @ Birchmere
Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express @ Hill Center (zydeco)
An evening of Persian classical music w/ Pejman Hadadi on percussion & Nima Janmohammadi on setar @ 7pm @ Montgomery College recital hall Rockville campus
HU homecoming reunion fun day 4pm @ Decades dc
Steve Lacy @ Anthem (r&b/pop) (sold out)
Dillinger Escape Plan @ Nevermore Hall
Quadeca, 2 openers @ 930 Club (youtube rap, electronica)
“Pete Kelly’s Blues” (1955 crime noir film w/ Jack Webb as a bandleader , w/ Peggy Lee as a singer, & Ella Fitzgerald doing a cameo, 4:15 @ AFI Silver
“Round Midnight” (1986 critically acclaimed film w/ Dexter Gordon as a jazz sax player struggling w/ substance issues ) 6:30 @ AFI Silver
DMV Music & Vogue gala w/ Avery Wilson, Top 5 feat. Kevin Ross, Black Alley w/ guest Ms Kim @ Bethesda Theater
Veronneau - Blue Tapestry - Celebrating Joni Mitchell & Carole King 2pm @ Hank Dietle’s
Young Fresh Fellows w/ Dot Dash 6pm @ Hank Dietle’s (alt-rock/power pop ) (sold out)
Viaje Tropical with Tony Succar, Mauricio Mesones, Mimy Succar y Kenyi Succar @ Howard Theatre
Jean Cocteau movie “Orpheus” ! 1 pm @ Walters Art Gallery
Rise Band @ Lamont’s (soul)
Black Rails, Department of Inferiors @ Galaxy Hut (art punk)
Ottobar punk rock flea market 12 noon
Maria Grand Quartet @ Rhizome
Backyard Band @ Citizens & Culture ( go-go)
New Impressionz 8 pm @ Piano Keys
Extended Play w/ DJ Spinna, DJ Stylus 5-10 pm @ Mess Hall on the Loading Dock (R&B & House dance music)
live Ethiopian music @ Shalla Restaurant in Silver Spring Roots Band @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ MHL Lounge in Falls Church Ras Band @ Black Rose Lounge (Ethiopian) Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Drumming @ 3 to 7 @ Malcolm X Park Afrobeats dj @ St Ex Afrobeats, hiphop, dancehall party w/ dj 4 to 9 @ Decades (dresscode- "fashionable") Scooby Da Godson w/ Sirius Company @ 1865 steak Lounge (go-go)
—----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon. October 19-
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings play Grateful Dead @ The Lyric in Baltimore ( Celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Dead’s landmark acoustic live album Reckoning, Welch and Rawlings will perform full sets drawn from the album alongside other classic Grateful Dead songs)
Acid Mothers Temple, Magick Potion, Plq Mrx 7pm @ Metro
Young Fresh Fellows w/ Clem Fandango 7pm @ Hank Dietle’s (alt-rock/power pop )
Ivri @ Atlantis (shoegazey indie)
“King Creole” (1958 film w/ Elvis Presley) 8:50pm @ AFI Silver
“Young Man with a Horn” (1950 film with Kirk Douglas playing a jazz musician mentored by Hoagy Carmichael) 6:30 pm @ AFI Silver
Marcus Young 10 pm @ Andrews in Morningside, MD ; Ethiopian music live @ Napoli Lounge; Ethiojazz w/ the Roots Band @ Shalla;
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Tues. Oct 20-
Flamin Groovies @ Ottobar (powerpop/protopunk )
Guerilla Toss @ Songbyrd (punk & electronic on dfa)
Texas is the Reason @ Union Stage
Maris @ Atlantis (indie-pop-rock) (sold out)
Hula Monsters @ Hank Dietle’s
Rodrigo & Gabriela @ Anthem
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Wed. Oct 21-
The Damned, Flamin Groovies, Courettes @ 930 Club (punk & proto-punk)
JPeg Mafia @ Echostage
ArcAngel @ Eaglebank Arena (Latin pop reggaeton)
L7 @ Howard Theatre (the last hurrah tour w/ guest musician)
Dafnis Prieto Quartet @ Keystone Korner (Cuban jazz)
Jayhawks @ Lincoln Theatre (alt-country)
Lucy (Cooper B. Handy, Wifi Gawd @ Songbyrd (artsy bedroom pop headliner with dc rap opener)
Raphael Rogiński & Sarah Hughes @ 7:30 @ Rhizome ( solo sets followed by a brief collaboration between Polish jazz guitarist influenced by Coltrane & DC jazz sax player )
Jesse Welles @ Anthem
“Pete Kelly’s Blues” (1955 crime noir film w/ Jack Webb as a bandleader , w/ Peggy Lee as a singer, & Ella Fitzgerald doing a cameo, 9:10pm @ AFI Silver
“Round Midnight” (1986 critically acclaimed film w/ Dexter Gordon as a jazz sax player struggling w/ substance issues ) 1:40pm @ AFI Silver
Walker Reds Project 7-10 @ Takoma Station Tavern
Obedient, Dwelling Unit, DMV @ Quarry House Tavern
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Thurs. Oct. 22 -
Inner Spaces w/ Amir ElSaffer and Lorenzo Bianchi: Where traditional Arabic Maqam meets modern Sonic Innovation @ Hill Center ( Iraqi-American vocalist, trumpeter & santur/Persian hammered dulcimer player ElSaffer & electronics musician Bianchi)
Yhwh Nailgun, Samba Jean-Baptise 8 pm @ Ottobar (heavy post-punk)
Young Fresh Fellows 8pm @ Club 603
Katseye @ Capital One Arena
Ecca Vandal @ Atlantis (hiphop/rock/electro) (sold out)
Tiana Major9 @ Union Stage (Brit-Jamaican r&b) (almost sold out)
Emei @ Lincoln Theatre (alt-pop)
G. Thomas Allen @ Keystone Korner (jazz singer)
Thrills @ Hank Dietle’s (roots & pop rock)
“King Creole” (1958 film w/ Elvis Presley) 1:50pm @ AFI Silver
“Young Man with a Horn” (1950 film with Kirk Douglas playing a jazz musician mentored by Hoagy Carmichael) 11:30 am @ AFI Silver
Fundraiser for DC History Center & Humanities DC which are merging , 6-8:30 pm @ St. Francis Hall
—----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fri. Oct 23-
Helado Tropical, the debut collaborative effort from Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical, @ Black Cat
Yeison Landero @ Clarice Smith Center U of MD (cumbia)
Derek Gripper music from the strings of Mali @ The Lyceum museum in Alexandria
Lowcut Connie & opening act @ Howard Theatre (rootsy rock n roll )
Jane Eugene from UK r&b group The Loose Ends @ Bethesda Theater
“The Adventures of Prince Achmed “ 1926 silent animated film by Lotte Reineger inspired by Indonesia shadow puppets & drawn from “The Thousand and One Nights” w/ live accompaniment by Iraqi oud player Rahim AlHaj’s trio w/ santour & percussion players, ; & opening 14-minute short “The Palace of the Arabian Nights” 7pm @ Asian Art Museum Meyer Aud.
Los Adolescentes @ Salsa Brava Urban Kitchen Cantina in Laurel
Skilla Baby @ Howard Theatre (Michigan trap rap)
Durango Fest w/ Alacranes Musical, Montéz de Durango, K-Paz de la Sierra, Patrulla 81, Banda Lamento Show @ Cococabana
Yenddi @ Rio Cantina (Dominican bachata)
Michaela Harrison 12:30-1:45pm (free w/ eventbrite registration) @ Georgetown U. Devine Theatre/Davis Perf. Arts Center ( dc born singer recently returned home from New Orleans who can sing gospel, civil rights songs, samba, r&b, jazz, African)
A Halloween Cover Band Spooktacular Benefit for Thrive DC(who help the homeless) w/ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Radness as…The Smashing Pumpkins; LUCIFuGE as…DANZIG; A FIEND INSIDE AS…AFI; BRADFISH as…Sublime; About a Ghoul as…Nirvana 6:30-10:30 @ St Stephen's Church
Elizabeth Nichols @ Pearl St Warehouse (pop-country) (sold out)
Blacc Print Experience @ Takoma Station Tavern (go-go)
Brazilian Halloween costume party w/ Dj Marcela Biondo plus singer/guitarist Heitor Presser playing Brazilian pagode music 7pm @ Rollins Congressional, 1621 Martha Terrace, Rockville, MD
Anita Velveeta, Saoirse Dream, Rosslyn Station @ Comet P Pong
June McDoom @ Songbyrd (folky soundscapes w/ tinges of reggae & jazz)
Maddie Zahm @ Union Stage (folk-pop Americana)
Backyard Band @ Ivy City Smokehouse ( go-go)
Still Familiar @ Shark Bar (go-go) Junkyard Band @ Urban Crab Lounge (go-go) Alfredo Mojica Group @ 10:30 @ Bossa (salsa) plus DJ w/ Latin hits upstairs; Traditional Ethiopian music band @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria Belema Band @ Shalla (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ MHL Lounge Ethiopian music @ Black Rose Lounge Ethiopian music 9 to 12 mdt. @ Meleket Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Afrobeats, amapiano, & house dj @ SkyVibe Laurel Arabic music dj @ Green Zone
—----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sat. Oct 24-
Peni Candra Rini with Shahzad Ismaily & Andy McGraw / Alex Koi x Kirin McElwain
@ Rhizome (powerful Indonesian gamelan & avante-rock & ballad singer & band)
Iraqi oud player Rahim AlHaj solo in the lobby of the “From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art” exhibit 2pm @ National Museum of Asian Art
Niladri Kumaar, sitar pays tribute to Zakir Hussain 7:30 @ 6th & I
Celebrate Heritage and Inspire Change Fundraiser for Kono Gnaga and Farafina Kan youth programs in Mali with Farafina Kan youth DC members, Ni Dembaya dance and drum, Souleymane Solo Sana, Cheick Hamala Diabate, Amadou Kouyate, Diandree Dukes plus African marketplace & food 7pm @ Joe’s Movement Emporium
Little Big Town @ MGM National Harbor (country)
Pig Destroyer, Erode, Bandit 7pm @ 8x10
Rav, Fatboi Sharif, Teller Bank$ @ Pearl St Warehouse (underground alt-rap)
Lilyisthatyou @ Atlantis (electro-pop) (sold out)
Aleymi Fúnez Y Sus Compas @ Tio Pinche bar in Sterling ( Honduras Olanchana cumbias & corridos)
Yousuke Yukimatsu @ Echostage (Japanese techno dj)
Arriba Peru con Pasion Orquesta & Hermanos Galvan Orquesta @ TSR Tysons in McLean
Cindy Blackman Santana w/ Ravi Coltrane @ Keystone Korner
Swapmeet @ Songbyrd (Aussie indie rock)
Breaking Benjamin @ Jiffy Lube (hard rock)
Josh Ritter @ Birchmere (singer/songwriter)
Cody the Artist @ Lamont’s
Q Da Fool, & Shabazz PBG @ Union Stage (rap)
Kim Michelle Experience @ Ivy City Smokehouse (go-go)
Lantern parade 6:30 -9pm in Patterson Park in Baltimore
Going Goin gone @ VFW 350 Hells Bottom
Cuban Dance w/ dc casineros 2-5 @ Glen Echo
Blanket Approval, Aidan Le Claire @ Quarry House Tavern
Rare Essence @ 11 @ Aqua (go-go) Tumbao (Latin salsa ) @ 10:30pm @ Bossa 1st floor & DJ w/ Latin Hits upstairs; Nani & Negussie w/ Band @ Makeda Restaurant (Ethiopian) Samri, Fekadu, Eleni & band @ Shalla (Ethiopian) Ras Band @ MHL Lounge (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ Black Rose Lounge Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Ethiopian music w/ Fasika, Anitenehi & band 9:30pm @ Arada restaurant & bar New Hampshire Ave. Takoma Park
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Sun Oct. 25-
Earl Sweatshirt, Mike, Surf Gang, Lerado Khalil 7pm @ Nevermore Hall (rap) (sold out)
Beck @ Anthem
Bettye Lavette @ Hamilton (soul)
Derek Gripper Music from the Strings of Mali @ Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Baltimore
Cupcakke @ Howard Theatre (dirty mouth rap)
Cindy Blackman Santana w/ Ravi Coltrane @ Keystone Korner
Pig Destroyer, Visceral Disgorge, Goetia 7pm @ 8x10
Josh Ritter @ Birchmere (singer/songwriter)
Renni Conti @ Songbyrd (indie-folk)
Oso Oso @ Union Stage (emo-pop)
The Kennedys @ Jammin Java (jangle folk-pop-rock)
Patty Reese organized tribute to Women in rock w/ dc area singers Patty Reese, Mama Moon, Annie Sidley, Caz Gardiner & others @ Bethesda Theatre
1252 Band @ Lamont’s (soul)
TOB, New Impressionz @ Famous Lounge ( bouncebeat go-go)
live Ethiopian music @ Shalla Restaurant in Silver Spring Roots Band @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ MHL Lounge in Falls Church Ras Band @ Black Rose Lounge (Ethiopian) Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Drumming @ 3 to 7 @ Malcolm X Park Afrobeats dj @ St Ex Afrobeats, hiphop, dancehall party w/ dj 4 to 9 @ Decades (dresscode- "fashionable") Scooby Da Godson w/ Sirius Company @ 1865 steak Lounge (go-go)
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Mon. Oct 26-
Friko @ Atlantis (alt rock)
Nice as Fuck (NAF) is an all-female indie rock supergroup made up of Jenny Lewis (from Rilo Kiley), Erika Forster (of Au Revoir Simone), and Tennessee Thomas (of the Like) @ Black Cat (sold out) (2nd early show added)
Smidley @ Songbyrd (indie-powerpop)
Hey, nothing @ 930 (indie-folk)
Isabel Larosa @ Union Stage (alt-indie pop)
Marcus Young 10 pm @ Andrews in Morningside, MD ; Ethiopian music live @ Napoli Lounge; Ethiojazz w/ the Roots Band @ Shalla;
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Tues. Oct 27-
Bruce Cockburn & Livingston Taylor @ Warner Theatre (folk)
Shaolin Jazz “Can I Kick It” feat. The Crow film w/ DJ 2-Tone Jones live soundtrack @ Songbyrd
Jenna Davis @ Union Stage (pop-country)
DMV Senior Hand Dancers 12 to 4 @ Cheverly American Legion Still Familiar @ Fast Eddie's (go-go) Kalkidan & Fekadu backed by Dani Key & Dave Sax @ Rumor Bar Silver Spring (Ethiopian) "vintage groove" Ethiopian music band feat. Fikir & Fitsum 8-11 @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria
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Wed. Oct. 28-
2026 Go-go Hall of Fame Inductions and Revealing of brass cymbals sculpture with inductees names @ 11:00 AM @ Go-go Museum
Go-go Museum fundraising Gala 6-9 pm @ the Go-go Museum
BruceBan$hee, Breezy Supreme, Nature Boi, DJ Bri Mafia @ Songbyrd
Dev Lemons @ Union Stage (alt-pop/bedroom hyperpop)
Invisible Circle , Trigal , Michael R Bernstein @ Rhizome
Milk St., Home Remedies, Argo & Violet Queens @ Pie Shop (DC rock)
Matheus Fonseca 6-9 @ Cana (Brazilian guitar) Brazilian Brothers feat. Heitor Presser 7-10 @ Mercy Me New Impressionz @ Hemen Lounge (go-go) What Band feat. Killa Cal free @ Shark Bar (go-go) Live Ethiopian music @ Napoli Lounge
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Thurs. Oct 29- Vince Staples @ Fillmore (rap)
Afro-Cuban Allstars @ Strathmore
DC’s 1958- 2015 all women band The Jewels get honored and a street named after them at 4pm- Unveiling of The Jewels Way street sign at 13th NW between Upshur and Allison Streets, NW in front of Theodore Roosevelt High School. Ward 4 Councilmember Janese Lewis George will unveil the sign. 4:30 p.m. - Musical Tribute Program in honor of The Jewels will take place inside the auditorium of Roosevelt High School. Musical performances and guest speakers. Original members of The Jewels will be in attendance.
They Are Gutting A Body Of Water @ Ottobar (critic fave rock) (sold out)
Screamin’ Rebel Angels @ Hank Dietle’s Tavern (Brooklyn rockabilly & rock)
Q Parker @ Bethesda Theater
Eivor @ Howard Theatre (Nordic folk & artsy electronic)
Kaytranada dj set @ Echostage
Brazilian forro & samba music w/ Felipe Garibaldi & Rosa Morais 7-10 pm @ Mercy Me What Band @ Martinis (go-go) Reaction Band @ Hemen Lounge (bouncebeat go-go) New Impressionz @ Shark Bar (go-go & bouncebeat go-go) Abraham, Danny, Hanna @ Shalla Restaurant in Silver Spring (Ethiopian) Selam Sound @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music *New year's Eve w/ Neway Debebe, Kalkidan, & the Ethio Band* @ MHL Lounge in Falls Church Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Ethiopian music @ Rumor Bar Fenton St Silver Spring Afrobeats w/ DJ @ Spectrum Lounge Afro-Caribbean dj @ Kaldi’s live reggae 9 pm @ Bukom
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Fri. Oct 30-
Heavens to Betsy, w/ Calamity Jane @ Black Cat (Corin Tucker from Sleater Kinney’s 1st band w/ drummer Tracy Sawyer reunited riot grrrl rock)
Charlie Wilson @ MGM National Harbor (r& b)
Washington Ballet’s Go-go 50 w/ Black Alley @ Warner Theatre (thru Nov. 1)
Chinatown Funk Express Halloween dress as fave City Pop record cover, 80s pop idol, disco superstar, or new wave icon w/ Les the dj playing city pop, Japanese funk, Cantonese Hi-nrg, Original Philipino Music (OPM), Korean funk pop , disco, new wave & more 9pm -1am @ Lucky Danger, 709 D St NW
The Legends of Sufi @ Throw Social (flyer has a pic of a guy & a gal but doesn’t list names)
Clay Ross, guitarist/vocalist/founder of Gullah group Ranky Tanky w/ Harini Raghavan, a Carnatic vocalist and violinist, Moto Fukushima, Issei jazz bassist, and Rudy Royston, a jazz drummer w/ church roots 12:30-1:45pm (free w/ eventbrite registration) @ Georgetown U. Devine Theatre/Davis Perf. Arts Center
Hudson Westbrook @ Anthem (country)
Billy Strings @ CFG Arena (sold out)
Ian Sweet @ DC9
Boy Harsher @ Howard Theatre
Rock-a-Sonics @ Hank Dietle’s (rockabilly)
The Rock Steady Project @ Takoma Station Tavern (go-go)
Line Dance costume party w/ DJ Kinfolk 7pm @ Lamont’s
Honky tonk dance w/ Karen Collins & Backroads band @ Glen Echo
Backyard Band @ Ivy City Smokehouse ( go-go)
Still Familiar @ Shark Bar (go-go) Junkyard Band @ Urban Crab Lounge (go-go) Alfredo Mojica Group @ 10:30 @ Bossa (salsa) plus DJ w/ Latin hits upstairs; Traditional Ethiopian music band @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria Belema Band @ Shalla (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ MHL Lounge Ethiopian music @ Black Rose Lounge Ethiopian music 9 to 12 mdt. @ Meleket Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Afrobeats, amapiano, & house dj @ SkyVibe Laurel Arabic music dj @ Green Zone
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Sat. Oct. 31-
Sun Ra Arkestra Halloween show @ Keystone Korner
Washington Ballet’s Go-go 50 w/ Black Alley 2 shows @ Warner Theatre (thru Nov. 1)
Adobo DMV’s Thriller Halloween party w/ Pedro Night 10pm @ AI Warehouse 530 Penn St NE
Paledusk & openers @ Pearl St Warehouse (Japanese metalcore)
Ted Roddy & the Tall Tops from Austin w/ guitarist Mark Korpi who played w/ Evan Johns plus local guests Johnny Castle, Lynn Kasdorf & more Halloween @ Hank Dietle’s
Halloween w/ TCB, Reaction, TOB, ABM, the Men 9pm till @ the Chateau (go-go & bouncebeat go-go)
Disney Pixar’s Coco Live-to-Film Concert on Tour, featuring a screening of the complete film with composer Michael Giacchino’s musical score performed live by the 20-member Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México 3:30 pm @ Strathmore Music Center
New Impressionz Halloween party at Lamont’s (go-go & bouncebeat go-go)
Monster Mash Halloween Masquerade party with Big Tony & Trouble Funk @ the Blue Dolphin in Gambrills, MD (go-go)
Chopteeth Afro Funk Big Band and Corey Arcenaux & the Zydeco Hot Peppers Halloween party & benefit for the After Dark Fund nonprofit that helps DC musicians in need @ the Hamilton
Billy Strings @ CFG Arena (sold out)
Backyard Band Halloween party w/ music, costumes & mini golf 9pm @ Swingers golf Dupont Circle (go-go)
Airport 77s @ VFW 350 Hells Bottom (powerpop)
Bands covering the Misfits @ Pie Shop
Rocky Horror Picture Show with live shadow cast @ Lincoln Theatre
Tropical Heatdome Cumbiaween w/ Leon City Sounds djs, La Bodoquita, Rumba-Fi, Crown Vic 9pm @ Marx Cafe (cumbia, chicha, salsa dura, rock en espanol, champeta, bugalu, mas)
Rare Essence @ 11 @ Aqua (go-go) Tumbao (Latin salsa ) @ 10:30pm @ Bossa 1st floor & DJ w/ Latin Hits upstairs; Nani & Negussie w/ Band @ Makeda Restaurant (Ethiopian) Samri, Fekadu, Eleni & band @ Shalla (Ethiopian) Ras Band @ MHL Lounge (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ Black Rose Lounge Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Ethiopian music w/ Fasika, Anitenehi & band 9:30pm @ Arada restaurant & bar New Hampshire Ave. Takoma Park
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Sun. Nov 1- Eva Allyon & Daniella Darcourt @ Howard Theatre (Afro-Peruvian legend w/ Peruvian salsa singer ) ; RaiNao @ Union Stage (Puerto Rican) (sold out) ; Washington Ballet’s Go-go 50 w/ Black Alley @ Warner Theatre
Prayers @ Pearl St Warehouse (“Cholo-goth”)
Corey Arceneaux and the Zydeco Hot Peppers 6pm @ Hank Dietle's
Disney Pixar’s Coco Live-to-Film Concert on Tour, featuring a screening of the complete film with composer Michael Giacchino’s musical score performed live by the 20-member Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México 3:30 pm @ Strathmore Music Center
Electropico World w/ Cheo y los Consentidos, Mr. Pauer, Bongo District, Leon City Sounds djs @ Throw Social
Maryna Krut 4 & 7pm @ Strathmore Mansion (contemporary Ukrainian folk); live Ethiopian music @ Shalla Restaurant in Silver Spring ; Roots Band @ Makeda Restaurant, Van Dorn St., Alexandria (Ethiopian) Ethiopian music @ MHL Lounge in Falls Church Ras Band @ Black Rose Lounge (Ethiopian) ; Ethiopian Music @ Rumor Bar Fenton Street Silver Spring ; Ethiopian music @ Mulashewa Ethiopian music @ JD Bar Drumming @ 3 to 7 @ Malcolm X Park Afrobeats dj @ St Ex Afrobeats, hiphop, dancehall party w/ dj 4 to 9 @ Decades (dresscode- "fashionable") Scooby Da Godson w/ Sirius Company @ 1865 steak Lounge (go-go);
Nov.2-
Nov. 3-
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More lists-- Capital Bop has jazz; Tickeri DMV has Latinx, Mi Gente DMV has Latin dancing (salsa, bachata, zouk), Kesta Happenings DC Facebook has Latinx too, baltshowplace.tumblr has Baltimore punk & more; Elliot Gross on Facebook & WPFW radio has DC blues & blues-rock; DC. Hometown Sounds on Instagram & substack has dc indie rock & punk & more; district.hardcore on Instagram has hardcore ; gogomusixdmv on Instagram has go-go flyers; Fans of Tom Cole's G-Strings on Facebook has jazz & international; RA has danceclubs ; Also-Washington Post Going Out Guide; dc-hardcore .com; Washingtonian monthly one; pa palace go-go one, dcnights dot com & IG page *Gogo Weekly* also have events
