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July 4th fireworks in DC in 2008 (Photo courtesy The Library of Congress)
On Saturday night, a 4th of July tradition continues, as A Capitol Fourth will take place for its 40th anniversary, starting at 8pm ET on PBS.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional live A Capitol Fourth will not be held on the West Lawn of the US Capitol. To ensure the health and safety of everyone involved, this year’s performances were pre-taped across the country without a live audience.
The Reverend Horton Heat performs at Black Cat on Dec. 15, 2019. (Photo by Rashad Polk)
As the year winds down, we enter a period of mandatory social gatherings. There’s the ugly sweater parties, the holiday party at the office, Chanukah with the in-laws, Christmas dinner at a tableful of third and fourth cousins… but the one holiday event that should truly be mandatory went down recently at the Black Cat. The Reverend Horton Heat came through town for the 2019 edition of Horton’s Holiday Hayride.
Sunny Sweeney (Photo courtesy True Grit Management)
Sunny Sweeney brought her Dysfunctional Family Christmas show to DC recently, with frequent partner Brennen Leigh joining her at City Winery. Accompanied by Sunny’s guitarist Harley, the pair traded off songs and stories, making for a highly entertaining evening.
Dentist (Photo courtesy the band)
Dentist, our new favorite surf-garage band, recently released a Christmas song, covering “Mele Kalikimaka,” written by Robert Alex Anderson and famously covered by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.
Give it a listen below!
Reverend Horton Heat (Photo by Thom Jackson)
The Reverend Horton Heat brings the party to Black Cat on Sunday, Dec. 15, for Horton’s Holiday Hayride with holiday hijinks and some special guests!
George Michael, Bob Geldof, Sting, and Simon LeBon wish you a Merry Christmas. (Photo courtesy Band Aid)
In 1984, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure teamed to write “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” and they recruited a bunch of pop stars to sing the song for a charity record dedicated to famine relief under the banner of Band Aid.
On Thursday, Dec. 12, at Dodge City, we’ll celebrate the spirit of the song and play some other New Wave-supported Christmas tunes during Careless Memories: A New Wave Party. Get into the holiday spirit with us starting at 8pm!
Robert Earl Keen performs at the Lincoln Theatre on Dec. 6, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
“If you want Christmas music,” Robert Earl Keen told the Lincoln Theater recently, “go to the mall.” REK’s Countdown to Christmas Tour steered clear of holiday music until the encore, when he played the fan-favorite “Merry Christmas from the Family,” an ode to the dysfunction and craziness of the holidays.
Josh Rouse (Photo by Manolo Millan)
Rootsy singer-songwriter Josh Rouse recently released The Holiday Sounds of Josh Rouse, although he never thought he would release a Christmas album! And he’s going one step further to play Christmas songs at Jammin’ Java on Thursday, Dec. 12.
She & Him (Photo courtesy Grandstand Media)
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward together again perform as She & Him, and the duo celebrates Christmas at The Anthem on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Letters to Cleo (Photo by Chris Sikich)
Power pop quintet Letters to Cleo came roaring back a few years ago with new music, and now Kay Hanley and company toast (or roast?) Christmas at Union Stage on Tuesday, Nov. 19!
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