The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress celebrates twenty years of the Black Banjo Renaissance with an evening lecture and concert, consisting of an interview between Dr. Allie Martin of Dartmouth College and a special guest, and a performance by Demeanor (Justin Harrington). Demeanor is an MC, banjo and bones player who celebrates hip-hop and American roots as African American art forms.
Lucinda Williams and her band, Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl Band
Guitarist, Vocalist, Singer Songwriter Valeria Stewart delivers a captivating multilingual performance that blends Latin, folk, jazz, and Americana roots. With her upcoming album "On A Wing", she expands her sound by blending elements of Motown, folk, Latin, and global styles—showcasing her versatile songwriting while staying true to her distinctive, authentic voice.
Lucinda Williams and her band, Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl Band
The String Mamas delight audiences with uplifting songs that inspire audiences to dance and sing-a-long. With Sarah Fridrich on vocals and ukulele and Sarah Foard on fiddle, the group creates a whimsical vibe with clever and fun versions of classic tunes, ranging from Golden Era jazz and swing, old-time and bluegrass, to pop & folk rock favorites.
The 15th Anniversary Tour with Wilderado.
4th Sunday of the Month2-4 PM$5 General Admission, Free for Museum MembersNot a member? Join today!Bring your instrument and join our Bluegrass Jam, held on the fourth Sunday of each month. People of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join the jam, from novices to seasoned pros!The June 28 jam will be a special session offered in partnership with Heritage Montgomery to celebrate Montgomery County's 250th anniversary. Register here.Sandy Spring Bluegrass Jam is hosted on a monthly basis by volunteer coordinators John Hartge, Bruce Evans (The Fire Hazards), and Ben Kepler (multi-instrumentalist/singer and music teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools). Register for regular dates here.
Oliver Hazard - The Waterville Tour Abbie McAllister Union Stage All Ages DOORS 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm
Inspired by the 12th-century Sufi poem The Conference of the Birds, Parda Ensemble explores themes of freedom, flight, and oneness through musical languages spanning Persian classical to bluegrass.
Loose interpretations of Grateful Dead songs done in a bluegrass style. Keller’s Grateful Grass delivers anything-but-traditional bluegrass versions of Grateful Dead favorites.
Inspired by the 12th-century Sufi poem The Conference of the Birds, Parda Ensemble explores themes of freedom, flight, and oneness through musical languages spanning Persian classical to bluegrass.
Inspired by the 12th-century Sufi poem The Conference of the Birds, Parda Ensemble explores themes of freedom, flight, and oneness through musical languages spanning Persian classical to bluegrass.
Amelia Day is a musical jack-of-all-trades standing at the intersection of folk, rock, and pop, blending heartfelt storytelling, raw delivery, and unforgettable melodies. Her upcoming EP EGO TRIP is her most personal project yet, featuring the lead single “Lady Los Angeles.”
Big Howdy is an award-winning progressive bluegrass band known for its powerful lead singing, rich vocal harmonies, and instrumental chops. They present bluegrass with modern polish while honoring the drive that lies at the heart of the music.
The Bacon Brothers have spent the better part of three decades exploring their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music. They call that diverse sound "forosoco," and it's taken them around the world, from headlining gigs in Japan to American performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and Gruene Hall. The exploration continues with the band's twelfth release, Ballad Of The Brothers. It's a record that highlights not only the similarities between Kevin Bacon (known worldwide as an A-list Hollywood actor) and Michael Bacon (celebrated as an Emmy-winning composer), but the differences, too. The two siblings may be bound together by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, but they've grown into sharp songwriters and cinematic storytellers with their own distinct approaches.
The Bacon Brothers have spent the better part of three decades exploring their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music. They call that diverse sound "forosoco," and it's taken them around the world, from headlining gigs in Japan to American performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and Gruene Hall. The exploration continues with the band's twelfth release, Ballad Of The Brothers. It's a record that highlights not only the similarities between Kevin Bacon (known worldwide as an A-list Hollywood actor) and Michael Bacon (celebrated as an Emmy-winning composer), but the differences, too. The two siblings may be bound together by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, but they've grown into sharp songwriters and cinematic storytellers with their own distinct approaches.
Patrick Budd is a Folk/Americana artist from Poolesville, MD based out of Washington, DC. With personal, powerful lyricism inspired by writers such as Noah Kahan, Zach Bryan, and Tyler Childers, Patrick weaves heartbreak and nostalgia into moments in time he wishes he could go back to.
Dangermuffin is a group of creatives that crosses the borders of Americana, Folk, Jam, and Rock, acting as storytellers who draw from the expansive palette of western music to create contemplative melodic journeys. Their 2024 self-titled release marks a season of synergy and rediscovery, described as potentially their most 'rock' record yet.
Amanda Pascali is the American Folklife Center's 2026 Artist-in-Resonance and is a rising voice among America's most ethnically diverse generation of young people, creating music that speaks to the experience of growing up as a first-generation American. In this concert, Pascali will present an evening of what she calls “Immigrant American Folk,” which blends folk/Americana influences with Mediterranean, Balkan, and Latin rhythms to create tales of America told through the eyes of immigrants.
Rock Creek Kings’ versatile sound of pop, rock, and folk hit the Floating Stage at Transit Pier on Friday, August 21. This free concert, presented by Pacifico Beer, begins at 7:00 pm.
A touring mainstay and an indie folk rock staple, this Virginia quintet’s live show and musical style drift in and out of Americana, bluegrass, rock, folk, Celtic and pop traditions with ease, using an arsenal of instruments to define the band’s lively stage presence and sonic landscape.
Will Wood: The SELF-iSH Tour 2026 (18+) | Sun • Aug 23, 2026 • 8:00 PM | The Fillmore Silver Spring, Silver Spring, MD
4th Sunday of the Month2-4 PM$5 General Admission, Free for Museum MembersNot a member? Join today!Bring your instrument and join our Bluegrass Jam, held on the fourth Sunday of each month. People of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join the jam, from novices to seasoned pros!The June 28 jam will be a special session offered in partnership with Heritage Montgomery to celebrate Montgomery County's 250th anniversary. Register here.Sandy Spring Bluegrass Jam is hosted on a monthly basis by volunteer coordinators John Hartge, Bruce Evans (The Fire Hazards), and Ben Kepler (multi-instrumentalist/singer and music teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools). Register for regular dates here.
Ariel Posen is a songwriter and guitarist who balances his work as a hotshot instrumentalist with solo albums rooted in melody and autobiographical storytelling. His latest release, Bannatyne, explores his musical roots through larger-than-life riffs, upbeat tempos, and syncopated grooves.
The Wailin Jennys | Wed • Sep 02, 2026 • 7:30 PM | Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
The Wailin Jennys | Wed • Sep 02, 2026 • 7:30 PM | Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
Enjoy a free outdoor performance of Woody Guthrie’s American Song, a lively celebration of American folk music at Reston Town Center.
The Wailin Jennys | Wed • Sep 02, 2026 • 7:30 PM | Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
Enjoy a free outdoor performance of Woody Guthrie’s American Song, a lively celebration of American folk music at Reston Town Center.
The Wailin Jennys | Wed • Sep 02, 2026 • 7:30 PM | Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
Enjoy a free outdoor performance of Woody Guthrie’s American Song, a lively celebration of American folk music at Reston Town Center.
Bandits on the Run are a musical trio from the Brooklyn-Queens border who marry acoustic, electric, and bass guitar sounds with cello, accordion, suitcases-turned-kickdrums, and sometimes even a megaphone. Their theatrical indie-folk lends itself quite well to storytelling.
Ray LaMontagne | Sun • Sep 13, 2026 • 8:00 PM | Wolf Trap Filene Center, Vienna, VA
The Milk Carton Kids | Mon • Sep 21, 2026 • 7:00 PM | 9:30 CLUB, WASHINGTON, DC
Damien Jurado's 18th full length album, Reggae Film Star, features 12 songs that evoke half-recalled dreams and overheard conversations, encompassing romantic AM gold, ‘60s psychedelia, driving rock & roll, Latin shuffles, and left of the dial ambiance.
Jenny Owen Youngs delivers an achingly beautiful exploration of loss, resilience, and growth with her new debut, Avalanche, while Northcote brings a powerful, resonant acoustic performance rooted in honesty, grit, and emotional depth.
4th Sunday of the Month2-4 PM$5 General Admission, Free for Museum MembersNot a member? Join today!Bring your instrument and join our Bluegrass Jam, held on the fourth Sunday of each month. People of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join the jam, from novices to seasoned pros!The June 28 jam will be a special session offered in partnership with Heritage Montgomery to celebrate Montgomery County's 250th anniversary. Register here.Sandy Spring Bluegrass Jam is hosted on a monthly basis by volunteer coordinators John Hartge, Bruce Evans (The Fire Hazards), and Ben Kepler (multi-instrumentalist/singer and music teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools). Register for regular dates here.
“I can’t teach you, but I can show you.” With these words, Kentucky balladeer Doc Hopkins shared his musical knowledge with a willing student, summoning an independent streak deeply embedded ...
Buffalo Traffic Jam - Pictures of You Tour | Fri • Oct 02, 2026 • 6:00 PM | 9:30 CLUB, WASHINGTON, DC
Robert Lester Folsom is a southern singer, songwriter, and psychedelic serviceman whose music explores a mixture of mellow folk, downer vibes, and rural tones. The show features supporting act Liz Cooper, a Vermont-based singer/songwriter who has recently undergone a musical revolution into psychedelic pop.
Grammy award-winning artist Aoife O’Donovan operates in a thrilling musical world beyond genre. Deemed “a vocalist of unerring instinct” by the New York Times, she has released two critically-acclaimed and boundary-blurring solo albums including In the Magic Hour.
Kristian Matsson, the Swedish singer-songwriter behind indie folk outfit The Tallest Man on Earth, is a master of achieving maximum emotional effect with minimal elements. His evocative lyrics and experienced fingerpicking are a perfect marriage, conjuring up vast landscapes and narrative histories that remain with audiences long after the encore.
Kristian Matsson, the Swedish singer-songwriter behind indie folk outfit The Tallest Man on Earth, is a master of achieving maximum emotional effect with minimal elements. His evocative lyrics and experienced fingerpicking are a perfect marriage, conjuring up vast landscapes and narrative histories that remain with audiences long after the encore.
London-based songwriter Elanor Moss will be releasing her new full length, ’The Knife, The Needle’, on Merge Records in August 2026.
Josh Ritter - A Book Of Gold Thrown Open | Sat • Oct 24, 2026 • 7:30 PM | Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
4th Sunday of the Month2-4 PM$5 General Admission, Free for Museum MembersNot a member? Join today!Bring your instrument and join our Bluegrass Jam, held on the fourth Sunday of each month. People of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join the jam, from novices to seasoned pros!The June 28 jam will be a special session offered in partnership with Heritage Montgomery to celebrate Montgomery County's 250th anniversary. Register here.Sandy Spring Bluegrass Jam is hosted on a monthly basis by volunteer coordinators John Hartge, Bruce Evans (The Fire Hazards), and Ben Kepler (multi-instrumentalist/singer and music teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools). Register for regular dates here.
Josh Ritter - A Book Of Gold Thrown Open | Sat • Oct 24, 2026 • 7:30 PM | Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
Eivør is one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from the Nordic music scene, an artist whose work bridges ancient tradition and contemporary sound. Blending elements of Nordic folk, cinematic composition and modern production, her live performances are known for their intensity and emotional depth.
Some songs are the life of the party. Vienna Teng's are the back-porch conversation you still remember years later.
This is a General Admission-Standing Room Only Event with Reserved Seating in the Balcony. This show is for All Ages.
Ak’chamel: For 15 years the trio of Ak’chamel has built a solid reputation as a compelling stage project. Wearing nightmarish costumes and engaging in hallucinatory “rituals”, their singular sound comprising desert-scorched psychedelia, post-apocalyptic shamanism, and lo-fi ritual-folk is as unique as the physical theater of their live performances. Ecology Homestones: A/V noise project from Philadelphia.
Punch Brothers | Fri • Nov 06, 2026 • 8:00 PM | Warner Theatre, Washington, DC
Gaelic Storm | Fri • Nov 06, 2026 • 7:00 PM | Tally Ho Theater, Leesburg, VA
Lucinda Williams and her band, Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl Band
Guitarist, Vocalist, Singer Songwriter Valeria Stewart delivers a captivating multilingual performance that blends Latin, folk, jazz, and Americana roots. With her upcoming album "On A Wing", she expands her sound by blending elements of Motown, folk, Latin, and global styles—showcasing her versatile songwriting while staying true to her distinctive, authentic voice.
Lucinda Williams and her band, Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl Band
The String Mamas delight audiences with uplifting songs that inspire audiences to dance and sing-a-long. With Sarah Fridrich on vocals and ukulele and Sarah Foard on fiddle, the group creates a whimsical vibe with clever and fun versions of classic tunes, ranging from Golden Era jazz and swing, old-time and bluegrass, to pop & folk rock favorites.
The 15th Anniversary Tour with Wilderado.