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MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

LUNCHTIME LIVE ON WILSON PLAZA

Every weekday through September 2, from 12-1:30 PM, a free, open-air concert on Woodrow Wilson Plaza, next to the Federal Triangle Metro station. For complete list of concerts, see www.itcdc.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 1 AND EVERY FRI.

INTERNATIONAL HAPPY HOUR AT H2O

Every Friday, from 9-11 PM, the beautiful people are serenaded by Latin, hip hop, house and trance.

LIBERATION DANCE PARTY AT DC9

A mix of new rock, electronica and hip hop beginning at 9 PM every Friday, with LDP's Minister of International Pop, Matt Dunn.

SATURDAY, JULY 2 AND EVERY SAT.

BLACKOUT AT U-TURN

Return of the infamous weekly super punk/ska fest, hosted by The Screws. At U Street and 11th.

AFTER HOURS AT TAKOMA STATION

Old-school R&B and contemporary jazz every Saturday, near the Takoma Park Metro station.

SUNDAY, JULY 3 AND EVERY SUN.

OPEN MIC AT RAGTIME RESTAURANT

This genial Arlington bar, sister restaurant to the Rhodeside Grill, hosts an open mic from 9:30-12:30 PM Sunday nights.

SUMMER SUNDAY MUSIC SERIES AT ELLINGTON'S ON 8TH

Weekly local jazz at this classy establishment near Eastern Market.

TUESDAY, JULY 5 AND EVERY TUES.

OPEN MIC AT STACCATO

Wide-open to all levels. Sign up after 7 PM; things kick off around 8:30.

NEW MUSIC SHOWCASE AT TT REYNOLDS

Local showcase every Tuesday night in this Fairfax pub. Ages 18 and over.

OPEN MIC AT COLLEGE PERK COFFEE HOUSE

Tuesdays in College Park, just up the road from the University of Maryland in a very cool old house.

SONGWRITER SHOWCASE WITH ROB THORWORTH AT AUSTIN GRILL SILVER SPRING

Singer-songwriters entertain with original works and the stories behind them.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 AND EVERY WED.

BABY HAPPY HOUR AT WONDERLAND BALLROOM

Smoke-free, relaxing happy hour for parents, upstairs at Wonderland every Wednesday. Let the kids play together while you have a well-earned drink.

STEVE KEY’S MUSIC SHOWCASE AT STELLA’S

Each Wednesday night from 7-10 PM, this Alexandria restaurant across from King Street Metro hosts a featured acoustic artist, followed by open mic.

BOB PERILLA & BIG HILLBILLY BLUEGRASS AT MADAM'S ORGAN

One of D.C.'s hardest-working bluegrass players, Bob Perilla has been holding down a regular gig at Madam's Organ for as long as anyone can remember.

HUMP NIGHT DJ AT GALAXY HUT

The DJs spinning records at Galaxy Hut every Wednesday are regulars mining their own collections, so you might hear anything from trance to Talking Heads – and sometimes both.

OPEN MIC AT JV'S RESTAURANT

Every Wednesday, a different honky-tonk or rockabilly pro leads an open mic in this popular Falls Church joint.

OPEN MIC WITH DAVE KITCHEN AT HALF MOON BBQ

Rockabilly, bluegrass and country rock in the back room of this Silver Spring favorite.

PAT CAVANAUGH'S 5 O'CLOCK SHADOW AT IOTA

Happy hour hosted from 6-8 PM by Mr. Cavanaugh of Jumpin' Jupiter fame, followed by open mic at 9.

THURSDAY, JULY 7 AND EVERY THURS.

FORT RENO CONCERT SERIES

Twice a week—Thursdays and Mondays—D.C.’s homegrown free outdoor summer concerts get swinging, with local bands of every stripe playing to eclectic, appreciative crowds. July highlights include Monopoli on July 14, Q And Not U on July 18, and the annual Night of a Thousand Cakes on July 28th. For full schedule, see www.fortreno.com.

SOUND PROOF AT TAKOMA STATION

Jazzy, hip-hoppy sound from popular local group.

OPEN MIC AT GROG & TANKARD

The capital of aspiring straight-rock bands opens its stage.

OPEN MIC JAM AT THE INN ZONE

Open mic in Falls Church, hosted by blues cover quartet Nancy Katz and the Stray Dogz.

MONDAY, JULY 11 AND EVERY MON.

OPEN MIC AT JAMMIN' JAVA

David Cotton hosts one of the area's premier open mics at this oasis of musical talent in Vienna.

OPEN MIC HOSTED BY HUDSON AND PROUT AT THE FUNK BOX

First-come, first-play at this Baltimore hard-rock joint, formerly known as the 8 x 10. Beer specials too.

OPEN MIC WITH MIKE HOLDEN AT AUSTIN GRILL SILVER SPRING

Arlington luminary Holden hosts a wide-open mic in this Tex-Mex haven in Silver Spring. Anyone can show up early, sign up, and play on the improved stage.


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SATURDAY, JULY 2
THE HINT AT DC9

Popular local popsters The Hint, plus three other good local bands: newcomers The Pawns, pop-punky Hello Tokyo, and "raucously melodic" garagey post-punk from The Bonapartes.

THE JOHNNY ARTIS BAND AT MADAM'S ORGAN

Versatile veteran Johnny Artis has been around in D.C. for almost 20 years, playing old-school R&B, blues R&B and rock covers.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6

DIGABLE PLANETS AT 9:30 CLUB

The return of the jazz-hip hop samplers who broke up 10 years ago.

PARTYLINE AT BLACK CAT

Hardcore girls-with-glasses. Plus Australian no-wavers Love of Diagrams.

THURSDAY, JULY 7 AND EVERY THURS. IN JULY

ROCK AT THE ROW AT PENTAGON ROW

On Tap and Z104 bring you weekly rock events at the Pentagon Row shopping and entertainment center in Arlington. July 7 is Shane Hines; July 14, Taylor Carson; July 21, Tom Principato; and July 28, Bicycle Thieves.

THURSDAY, JULY 7

BIG YAWN PRESENTS AT DC9

Local music site BigYawn.net sponsors an evening of female-fronted pop: Palomar and their power-pop, the Eames Era and their indie-pop, and Nethers and their folk-pop.

DOWN TO THE BONE AT RAM'S HEAD LIVE

A WSMJ Smooth Night Out.

SHANE HINES AT AUSTIN GRILL SILVER SPRING

Popular local guy-with-guitar.

FRIDAY, JULY 8

ADAM WEST AT VELVET LOUNGE

Long-time punk revivalists, still keeping it real.

CECILIA IN THE LIVING ROOM AT JAMMIN' JAVA

Cecilia, the band that's a family (see feature in this issue!), puts on another peculiar improv evening, sitting on sofas, playing pop-rock, and serving up a Mystery Snack.

DASH RIP ROCK AT IOTA

Cowpunk lives? This rough-cut southern-rock trio (for a while known simply as “Dash”) has had a cult following around here for at least 15 years.

LIANNA AT BISTRO EUROPA

Sweet, catchy folk-rock at this Alexandria café.

SATURDAY, JULY 9

THE GETAWAY CAR AT IOTA

Fun, polished pop-rock from locals The Getaway Car, plus hook-heavy nerd rock from The Argument and Spiraling.

RACHEL NEVADAS AT GALAXY HUT

Power-pop out of Richmond at Arlington’s perfect microvenue. With Two Tales.

J.P. MCDERMOTT & WESTERN BOP AT THE HALF MOON BBQ

Local rockabilly master in a true neighborhood ribs-n-beer joint. With The Barn Burners.

SUNDAY, JULY 10

THE JULIET DAGGER AT GALAXY HUT

An interesting mix of driving, almost metal, guitar, female harmonies, and pissed-off lyrics. Very listenable.

TUESDAY, JULY 12

LAURA TSAGGARIS AT VERMILION

Popular girl-with-guitar from Pittsburgh, at a contemporary restaurant in Old Town Alexandria.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

THE DULLARDS AT DOMKU

Domku is the very cool new spot in Petworth where you can lounge around eating tasty foods from Northern and Eastern Europe, plus my new favorite drink, the house-infused akvavit in flavors like caraway and dill. Wednesday nights feature rootsy local rock acts at a low cover (five bucks). The Dullards play rocking alt-country songs about whisky and pickup trucks. Adds up to goodness.

IPOD JUKEBOX AT GATE 54

Think you're a mixmaster? Think you can dial up 12 minutes of music that will keep the crowd bopping, not grumbling? Then haul your little white box to the basement of Café Saint-Ex and prove it, second Wednesday of every month.

THURSDAY, JULY 14

BLUES TRAVELER, VIRGINIA COALITION AT WOLF TRAP

There’s nothing like a little harmonica to get things going. The Grammy award-winning jam band takes on Wolf Trap with local quartet, Virginia Coalition.

FRIDAY, JULY 15,

ERIN MCKEOWN AT IOTA

Erin McKeown makes her own brand of post-folk, hard-edged and quirky, and her just-released fourth album, We Will Become Like Birds, is considered her best yet. Opening is dreamy sadcore duo Ida, who released a new disc in February. McKeown is also at Wolf Trap on 7/26, opening for Ani diFranco.

LOS STRAITJACKETS AT FUNK BOX

Summer Twist Party from the masked guitarists of surfabilly, with their fabulous partners, the shimmying World Famous Pontani Sisters. Also Kaiser George.

PAUL OAKENFOLD & SANDRA COLLINS AT NATION

Legendary DJs and mixers. Famed female breakster Collins opens for Oakenfold, ombudsman of British house music.

SUNDAY, JULY 17

KEITH SWEAT AT DREAM

This R&B crossover great has a new album, Candy Store.

TOM JONES AT WOLF TRAP

The master of the unbuttoned shirt and the baritone croon. What's new, pussycat?

GAMMA RAYS FAREWELL CONCERT AT OTTOBAR

New York new-punks the Gamma Rays are calling it quits, and this is your last chance to check 'em out. With The Dickies.

MONDAY, JULY 18

TEGAN AND SARA AT 9:30 CLUB

Supersweet twin sisters from Canada, T&S make a kind of melodious alternative pop. With Communique.

KAISER CARTEL AT GALAXY HUT

Courtney Kaiser, formerly a vocalist with John Mellencamp, plus singer-songwriter Benjamin Cartel, form the poppy New York folk duo Kaiser Cartel.

TUESDAY, JULY 19

DAGMAR AND THE SEDUCTONES AT CLARENDON BALLROOM

Belter Dagmar Brown leads the Seductones in country and rock covers, and a few originals too, at this Arlington standby.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

DENNIS JAY AT DOMKU

Gentleman/cowboy Dennis Jay is the closest you'll ever come to seeing Gene Autry, with a bit of Mex in his Tex to boot. In the loungey Petworth space that serves up gravlax, akvavit and style.

THURSDAY, JULY 21

DAVE GREKSOUK AND THE RESERVES AT EVENING STAR CAFE

Local Dave Greksouk organizes a lot of music events, as well as leading the rocking Reserves. The Evening Star in Alexandria hosts the show upstairs in the Number 9 Lounge, with no cover.

THE SAMPLES AT STATE THEATRE

College-rock veterans of nearly 20 years, The Samples bring their honest and minimalist pop to Falls Church. With talented local singer-songwriter Shane Hines.

FRIDAY, JULY 22

ARTSCAPE BALTIMORE

Three days and four stages of music to accompany Baltimore's famous artsy street festival. Highlights include Boyz II Men on Friday, Drive By Truckers on Saturday, and The Subdudes on Sunday, plus a huge lineup of spinners and scratchers on the DJ Culture Stage. For complete listing, see www.artscape.org.

2 SKINNEE J'S AT SONAR

Funky, funny hip hop in Baltimore. Also at the 9:30 Club Saturday.

MONDAY, JULY 25

SONGWRITER'S ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON SONGWRITER'S EXCHANGE AT JAMMIN' JAVA

Cary Whaley and Paige Powell of SAW host a workshop/sing-along for local tunesmiths to try out their stuff on an audience of fellow pros. Plenty of hanging out too.

TUESDAY, JULY 26

JON KAPLAN AT VERMILION

Lead singer of Bicycle Thieves plays his clever solo guy-and-guitar work.

XAVIER RUDD AT STATE THEATRE

Unique multi-instrumentalist.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27

THE GRANDSONS AT DOMKU

Local, brass-powered, roots-rock favorites swing in Petworth's sweet little lounge. Once again, fun music, small cover and a full menu.

THURSDAY, JULY 28

ASYLUM STREET SPANKERS AT IOTA


Humorous, vaudeville-like performance from a whole passel of skilled musicians, working the range from ragtime to rap, playing it acoustic, and playing the hell out of it. Guaranteed entertaining.

FRIDAY, JULY 29

DR. FU AT CARPOOL HERNDON

Female-fronted, good-time rock at a neighborhood spot in Herndon.

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS AT TT REYNOLDS

Prog-rockers from the South, now local, playing at a Fairfax pub. With The Hint and Cobbler.

THE BRINDLEY BROTHERS AT IOTA CLUB & CAFE

Musical veterans and Jammin' Java owners, the Brindleys play harmonizing, smart pop rock.

THE SHAKEDOWNS (FAREWELL SHOW) AT BLACK CAT

Another short-lived but hard-living rock band hangs it up, despite positive response to their punk-edged garage. With The Safes, a CD release for The Twats, and local garage from Thee Lexington Arrows.

SATURDAY, JULY 30

PAUL & STORM CD RELEASE AT JAMMIN' JAVA

Half of irreverent a capella group DaVinci's Notebook, Paul and Storm have been polishing their own act that actually uses instruments—plus the same satirical and casually obscene humor as the older tunes.

SUNDAY, JULY 31

LOST MEDIUM (BRICE WOODALL AND JOSH SCOLARO) AT DC9

Brice Woodall has a unique voice among area singer-songwriters. Combined with former Supercomp frontman Josh Scolaro, they become Lost Medium.