Author: Ari Strauss

Livestream Preview: ARWB @ Rockwood Music Hall (NYC), 3/25-3/28/20

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Eric Hall (left) and Scott Terry (right) of Red Wanting Blue perform on stage at Gypsy Sally’s, May 4, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Back in December of 2017, Eric Hall and Scott Terry from Red Wanting Blue went out on a two-week experimental tour with close friends, Tim Warren and Eric Donnelly from The Alternate Routes. They called the combined group ARWB and played small venues, crafting the show town to town, singing each other’s songs and sharing stories from their many years of friendship and travel.

Red Wanting Blue will steam the concert film in four parts over four days via YouTube from Wednesday, March 25, through Saturday, March 28.

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Live Review: The Lil Smokies @ 9:30 Club — 3/7/20

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The Lil Smokies jam on stage at DC’s legendary 9:30 Club, March 7, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

The Lil Smokies had March 7 circled on their calendar for quite some time. For several months, the progressive bluegrass band from Missoula, Montana, anxiously anticipated stepping onto the stage at DC’s legendary 9:30 Club for the very first time.

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Snapshots: Eli Lev @ DC9 — 2/28/20

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Eli Lev performs at DC9, Feb. 28, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Local folk/Americana artist Eli Lev recently put in a performance at DC’s DC9 Nightclub. The Silver Spring, Maryland native, fresh off a three-week European tour that included stops in France, Spain, and Andorra, played the opening set for Hannah Jaye and the Hideaways who were hosting their debut album release party.

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Snapshots: Hannah Jaye and the Hideaways @ DC9 — 2/28/20

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Hannah Jaye fronts her band, Hannah Jaye and the Hideaways, during an album release performance at DC9, Feb. 28, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

DMV folk-Americana quartet Hannah Jaye and the Hideaways hosted an album release party at DC9 recently to mark the release of their debut self-titled album.

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Live Review: Tedeschi Trucks Band @ Warner Theatre — 2/21/20

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Derek Trucks (left) and Susan Tedeschi perform with their 12-piece supergroup, Tedeschi Trucks Band, at Warner Theatre, Feb. 21, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

February in DC, for the past five years, means the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the 12-piece blues-rock supergroup lead by married couple Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, holds an annual residency at historic Warner Theatre. This year’s residency included four sold out shows over two consecutive weekends, Feb. 14 and 15, and Feb. 21 and 22.

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Live Review: Amanda Shires @ Sixth & I — 2/16/20

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Amanda Shires performs at Sixth & I, Feb. 16, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Amanda Shires’ Atmostphereless Tour rolled through DC recently for a sold-out show at Sixth & I in Chinatown. The self-described “singing, songwriting, fiddle-playing Texan” performed songs from her catalog of seven solo LPs and from The Highwomen, the all-female country supergroup she formed in 2019 with Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Maren Morris.

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Live Review: Andy Frasco & the UN @ 9:30 Club — 2/13/20

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Andy Frasco jams out on his Hammond B3 organ at 9:30 Club, Feb. 13, 2020. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Andy Frasco & the UN was in DC recently to co-headline a show with Big Something.

The show began with some stand-up comedy by Kyle Ayers to warm up the crowd. Kyle would go on to emcee the rest of the evening, which was structured as a battle of the bands in a professional wrestling theme, complete with luchador masks.

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