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Bluebeat DC, Jump Up Records, and Songbyrd have teamed up to present the inaugural Capital Ska & Reggae Review, showcasing vintage Jamaican sounds from four incredible DC bands — ska-jazz legends Eastern Standard Time, fresh off their European tour for their hometown record release party for new studio album Time For Change, along with The Fuss, The Scotch Bonnets, and The Loving Paupers, and DJs Chuck Wren, Crown Vic’s Weird World, and Bobby Babylon — at Songbyrd Music Café on Friday, May 24.
Kodie Shane performs at Songbyrd Music House on March 2, 2019. (Photo by Chris Castillo)
Hip hop breakthrough artist Kodie Shane visited Songbyrd Music House recently to promote her debut album, Young Heartthrob, released last year via Epic Records. Chris Castillo got some pictures!
SRSQ performs at Songbyrd Music House on Feb. 10, 2019. (Photo by Paivi Salonen)
Kennedy Ashlyn, formerly of Them Are Us Too, lost her bandmate and partner in the Ghost Ship warehouse fire of 2016. Recently, she started a new project, calling it SRSQ, and she released an album, Unreality. SRSQ visited Songbyrd Music House recently, and Paivi shot the show.
Thomas Dybdahl performs at Songbyrd Music House on Feb. 5, 2019. (Photo by Andy Jillson)
Norwegian singer-songwriter Thomas Dybdahl brought his soothing folk sound to DC for a solo performance at Songbyrd Music House recently. A small yet enthusiastic and devoted crowd welcomed Thomas to the dimly-lit stage in the basement venue at Songbyrd.
SRSQ (Photo by Kristin Cofer)
In 2016, Cash Askew, guitarist for Them Are Us Too, died in the infamous 2016 Ghost Ship club warehouse fire in Oakland, leaving her partner Kennedy Ashlyn to start anew.
Kennedy poured her grief into a new project SRSQ, which became about rebirth. She’s continuing that journey on tour with a date at Songbyrd Music House on Sunday, Feb. 10.
Sarah Shook fronts The Disarmers at Pearl Street Warehouse on Sept. 12, 2018. Mark Caicedo chose a picture from this show (but not this one) as one of his Top 10 of 2018. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
Editor’s Note: This year, we asked our bloggers to name their Top 10 shows of 2018 or choose their Top 10 photos of the year. We will run them over the course of mid-December as our Best of the Year posts.
Women have long been major influences in music history, going back to the jazz greats like Nina Simone Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald; through country legends Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly; pop icons like Bette Midler, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper; and the rock and blues greats Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, Deborah Harry and Chrissie Hynde.
Today, while female musicians like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Pink, and Adele continue to break boundaries, local and regional bands feature women whose talent, drive and influence is just as powerful as the superstars.
My Top 10 concert photos of the year salute 2018 as the Year of Women.
Hudson Taylor (Photo courtesy Big Hassle)
It has been a busy 12 months for Irish pop-Americana duo Hudson Taylor. Brothers Alfie and Harry Hudson Taylor have been true road warriors, living out of suitcases, while selling out shows in Ireland and across Europe. North America will be the next leg of their seemingly nonstop tour schedule. The band will open for Hozier on Oct. 2 at DC’s Lincoln Theater (its sold out) and headline Songbyrd Music House on Thursday, Oct. 4. Alfie Hudson-Taylor talks to Parklife DC about his experiences as a young musician.
Classic Album Sundays celebrates the 40th anniversary of Parallel Lines by Blondie with an immersive listening party and a discussion with Songbyrd Music House owner Joe Lapan and Parklife DC Editor Mickey McCarter.
Join Joe and Mickey for this unique experience at Songbyrd Music House on Sunday, Sept. 16.
Skyzoo performs at Songbyrd Music House on May 4, 2018. (Photo by Will Colbert)
Brooklyn MC Skyzoo made a long overdue return to DC Friday to perform songs off his recently released album, In Celebration of Us. It was an early show that started late, but well worth the wait.
Skyzoo (Photo courtesy the artist)
Gregory Skyler Taylor, better known as Skyzoo, released In Celebration of Us, his fourth solo album, in February via First Generation Rich. Skyzoo is on tour with a show at Songbyrd Music House on Friday, May 4.