DC's biggest blog for concert reviews
Pie Shop DC (Photo by Aiden Korotkin)
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 and venues in line with our mission to review live music concerts.
Guitar! (Photo by Duane Storey)
Welcome to the 2020 Thrushie Awards!
Parklife DC will name the DC best local band — or performer — of the year with your input. Local bands include those who live in the National Capital Region and issuing new material this year (livestreaming during the coronavirus epidemic is a plus!). Learn more about each nominee by clicking on their name in keywords. Or name your own candidate!
Vote for the best music local band in the DC metro area now through Dec. 11.
Lauren Calve (Photo by Shane Gardner)
Northern Virginia native, storyteller, singer, and songwriter Lauren Calve recently released her Wildfire EP on June 23. She’ll perform songs off the EP during the final show of Arlington Arts’ concert series Lubber Run Live on WERA 96.7 FM on Friday, Aug. 8.
Lauren Calve (Photo by Shane Gardner)
DC Americana and blues artist Lauren Calve releases Wildfire, her new EP, on June 23. She recently released the first single from the album — a song called “Better Angels.” As Lauren has said, she took inspiration for the song from Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address, which prompted her to reflect on the courage of people today dealing with modern challenges like COVID-19.
And, of course, as everyone has been in a pandemic lockdown, Lauren has been a regular performer in livestream concerts, spreading the word about her new music and finding creative outlets where she can. Parklife DC’s Mickey McCarter recently caught up with Lauren to ask her about getting music out during the lockdown, her approach to unique arrangements in her music, and her spiritual connections to the places that gave birth to roots and Americana.
Lauren Calve (Photo by Shane Gardner)
DC-area storyteller and songwriter Lauren Calve performs a special show for Sixth & I’s Living Room Sessions on Friday, May 15, on Sixth & I’s Facebook page.
Lauren Calve (Photo by Shane Gardner)
Today, storyteller and songwriter Lauren Calve releases “Better Angels” off her upcoming Wildfire EP, out June 23. The song was inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address on the eve of the Civil War but now it’s found an overwhelming new meaning with Calve as the world battles the Covid-19 pandemic.
Three area musicians united as Sweethearts of Americana at Pearl Street Warehouse on Jan. 23, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
The term “Americana” conjures an earthy, roots type of music. Unfortunately, many find that label too uniform, limiting, and quite frankly, meaningless. That’s how overused the term has become.
If anything, this first show of the “Sweethearts of Americana” three-stop tour, demonstrated the diversity of the genre. Mink’s Miracle Medicine, Lauren Calve, and Karen Jonas recently each brought a distinctive flair and unique musical approach to Pearl Street Warehouse that defied Americana’s catch-all meaning.
Karen Jonas (Photo by Amber Renee)
Three rockin’ lady songwriters — Karen Jonas, Lauren Calve, and Melissa E. Wright (of Mink’s Miracle Medicine) — take over Pearl Street Warehouse on Thursday, Jan. 23, in an show appropriately titled Sweethearts of Americana.
Eli Lev performs at the DC Music Rocks Festival on Aug. 17, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
I’ve been following the District of Columbia’s live music scene for several years yet I’ve just barely begun to scratch the surface of the diversity, variety and joy that so many musical artists bring to this region. The same could be said about the third annual DC Rocks Music Festival recently — despite the line-up of a wonderful array of 12 bands and singer-songwriters, there is so much more to discover in our own backyard.
Lauren Calve (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Local roots music artist Lauren Calve opened for Old 97’s frontman Rhett Miller recently at City Winery DC. Accompanied by John Figueroa on the electric guitar, Lauren strummed out tunes inspired by her life and historical sources on her acoustic guitar, beginning with “Polly.” Inspired by the negative portrayal of a woman in a traditional folk recording, Lauren wanted to present Polly’s side of the story.