Parklife DC today announces the best in DC concerts with our annual awards program, named for our mascot, DC’s own state bird — the Wood Thrush. Our Thrushie Awards salute bands, venues, and music festivals in line with our mission to review live music concerts.
Congratulations to the 2025 Thrushie Awards winners!
Here are the winners of the 2025 Thrushie Awards, along with the percentage of the vote they took and a bit of analysis pertaining to the win:
Who is the best local band in DC?
1. American Television, 42%
2. Ekko Astral, 21.33%
3. Color Palette, 10.7%
3. Oh He Dead, 10.7%
DC punk rockers American Television ran away with the lead! Several months ago, American Television dropped a new EP, You Are Not Alone. The band said, “This feels like the album we need in this exact moment. Community, Angst, Anthems, and Allyship. It’s all packed in there. We couldn’t be more proud.” American Television headline Pie Shop on Saturday, Jan. 24 — your next opportunity to catch them in DC! Ekko Astral are on fire after a recent opening stint for Pup and Jeff Rosenstock (which included The Anthem on Sept. 12). Although Ekko Astral have announced a spring tour, they don’t have any upcoming hometown dates on the calendar.
While we don’t usually see a tie in our polls, we are pleased that both Color Palette and Oh He Dead received some reader love! Neither band have a DC show on the calendar right now, but keep your eyes and ears open!
What is the best concert venue in DC metro?
1. DC9, 25.69%
2. Pie Shop, 23.61%
3. Songbyrd Music House, 20.83%
We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: Our blog readers are big champions for small music venues. Every year, Pie Shop, Songbyrd Music House, and DC9 usually do well in our polls. This year, DC9 has nabbed the top spot for Best Music Venue Around DC! It’s little wonder: In addition to scheduling compelling acts that often break through, DC9 also remains a damn good place to get a burger and a beer. Talk about checking all of the boxes!
What is the best music festival in the DC area?
1. Appaloosa Music Festival, 62.07%
2. VANS Warped Tour, 10.34%
3. National Cannabis Festival, 8.62%
Ever since it first entered the race as a write-in candidate, Appaloosa Music Festival, run by local Celtic heroes Scythian, has dominated the top spot in our best local music festival poll. In 2024, it was knocked from its perch by All Things Go Music Festival, which had a particularly good year at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Now, Appaloosa Fest reasserts itself, and two newcomers take poll positions with our readers! Look for Appaloosa Fest, VANS Warped Tour, and National Cannabis Festival all to return to the DC area in 2026.
Congrats again to our winners!
