The D.C. metro area is filled with an abundance of concert venues. From indoor nightclubs to baseball fields that double as live music arenas, every music lover can find a place that suits their needs. Especially during the summer months, these venues host artists and music groups almost every night of the week. Featuring mainstream and up-and-coming artists alike, check out the very best of the concerts that will be coming to the D.C. metro area this summer.
The Anthem:
The Anthem is an indoor concert venue located in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood of D.C. With balconies and mosh pits galore, every spot in the venue can be considered to have the best view of the stage. On July 12, Vance Joy will be performing a show at the Anthem as a part of his eight-month-long tour taking place over the course of this summer and fall. Just over a month later, South Carolina-originated rock band NEEDTOBREATHE will be coming to D.C. on August 17 to tour for their new album, Forever On Your Side. Forest Blakk, Johnnyswim, The Rocketboys and Billy Raffoul will be opening for them on select dates.
Jiffy Lube Live:
Located 35 miles west of D.C., Jiffy Lube Live is an outdoor amphitheater with the ability to seat over 10,000 people. This music venue is known for its summer country concerts, and the upcoming several months’ calendar demonstrates just this. On August 31, Niall Horan will stop in D.C. with Maren Morris to perform at Jiffy Lube Live on his Flicker World Tour 2018. In addition, Keith Urban will be performing at Jiffy Lube on August 11, and Luke Bryan will be taking the stage on August 18. While this outdoor concert venue is home to many country artists every summer, other music groups will be performing there as well. Five-member a cappella group Pentatonix will be performing a show at Jiffy Lube Live on August 12.
U Street Music Hall:
Named for its location in the U Street Corridor of D.C., U Street Music Hall is an indoor concert venue most popular among musical talents that fall under the category of electronic music. Often referred to as simply “U Hall,” this venue has been holding concerts since its opening in March 2010. Alexander O’Connor, better known by his stage name Rex Orange County, will be taking U Hall’s stage on July 30 to perform hits from his most recent album Apricot Princess. English music producer and DJ Billy Kenny will also be performing at U Street Music Hall on May 12.
FedEx Field:
Home to the Washington Redskins, FedEx Field is located in Landover, Maryland and has the capacity to seat 82,000 people. Due to the incredible size of this football stadium, “big name” artists often use it to perform concerts for tens of thousands of fans. This summer alone, both Taylor Swift and Beyonce will be headlining shows at FedEx Field. In early May, Swift will be embarking on her Reputation Stadium Tour during which she will perform over 50 concerts in 35 cities across the world. Swift will be stopping in D.C. for two nights, July 10 and 11, where she will be performing two concerts at FedEx Field. Later that month, Beyonce will be performing at the same venue on July 28 as a part of the On the Run II Tour. Her husband, Jay-Z, will be joining the tour and be performing onstage as well.
9:30 Club:
Hosting performers since its opening in 1980, the 9:30 Club is a nightclub and concert venue located in the downtown neighborhood of D.C. Formerly known as Nightclub 9:30, this venue has hosted a range of legendary entertainers, spanning from Bob Dylan to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. While the 9:30 Club hosts household name performers, they also give the stage to up-and-coming artists as well. Echosmith, an indie pop band consisting of siblings Sydney, Noah and Graham Sierota, will be performing on April 29. Nearly two weeks later on the night of May 9, performing duo Marian Hill will be coming to the 9:30 Club as a part of their summer tour.
Merriweather Post Pavilion:
Named the second best amphitheater in the United States by Billboard magazine, Merriweather Post Pavilion is an outdoor concert venue located on a 40-acre plot of land in Columbia, Maryland. Just 30 miles outside of D.C., this venue is especially popular among metro residents during warmer months. This summer’s guests include singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, born just two hours from D.C., who will be performing at Merriweather Post Pavilion on August 10. As a part of their four-month-long tour, Paramore, a rock band originally from Franklin, Tennessee, will also be doing a concert at Merriweather on June 23. Dubbed as one of the most successful country music acts of all time, performing duo Florida Georgia Line’s debut single “Cruise” stayed at number one on the charts for 24 weeks. This Nashville-originated musical talent will be performing at Merriweather on June 7.
The Black Cat:
Located in the Shaw neighborhood, the Black Cat is a nightclub and concert venue in the heart of D.C. After being founded in 1933 by drummer Dante Ferrando, this concert venue quickly became known for hosting independent music artists. In addition to containing two separate stage areas, one with the ability to accommodate 700 individuals and the other 200, the Black Cat also includes a cafe, bar and lounge area. Pop artist Holy Hum will be performing a show on the backstage on May 5, with tickets being sold for just $10. Originally from Seattle, Washington, indie rock band Pedro the Lion will be taking the main stage at the Black Cat on August 12.
