The 2024 Concert Rundown

Summer is slowly approaching, and it’s becoming the optimal time to go out and have some fun. Perhaps you could spend your time at the various museums in DC, parks, pools, or malls. There are many great and free places to spend your time, but who doesn’t like a good, energetic concert? For all the concert-goers out there, these are the various amount of artists coming to the DMV over the summer months!

Future – August 17 (Capital One Arena)

Future will be coming to the Capital One Arena, supporting his newest album  “We Still Don’t Trust You” with other big league rapper, Metro Boomin’. These last two collaborative albums with rapper Metro Boomin’ have made a crazy impact in the music world, both hitting no. 1 on the Billboard charts. I don’t see this not filling up, so buy your tickets while you still can!

Olivia Rodrigo – July 20 (Capital One Arena)

What is there to say about pop music’s newest superstar that hasn’t already been said? Former Disney actor turned alternative rock big shot is bringing her international “GUTS” tour to one of the area’s biggest venues, Capital One Arena, this summer. Last time she played in the DMV, she filled up The Anthem’s 6,000 capacity and is now aiming for the stars, expected to fill out the 20,000 seaters.

Luke Combs – July 27 (Commanders Field)

Big-name country music star Luke Combs is doing two nights at Commanders Field this summer with a bit of a twist. Similar to what Metallica did on their last tour, Luke Combs is doing two nights in the same city but with different openers and setlists each night. Definitely, a unique approach that hopefully many bigger artists start taking. 

Peso Pluma – June 10 (Capital One Arena)

Peso Pluma had an interesting but fruitful 2023 when his song “Ella Baila Sola” exploded into the American mainstream. Amazingly, the sounds of classic Mexican corridos broke through to the American market. He’s stopping by Capital One Arena to prop up his new album “Exodo”.

Black Eyed Peas – August 7 (The Anthem)

Pop music legends The Black Eyed Peas come to Washington DC in August. If you’re looking for a feel-good, classic sort of night, the Black Eyed Peas show is probably for you. Get your tickets!

Justice – July 28 (The Anthem)

Electronic music darlings, Justice brings their “Hyperdrama” tour to the States, and return to the DMV area for the first time since 2012. Hailing from France, they are one of the biggest groups in the EDM genre and constantly garner commercial and critical acclaim. They are always mentioned alongside fellow contemporaries Daft Punk, and Sebastian as some of the best to do it. Safe to say, if you are an electronic music fan at all, you have to be at The Anthem in late July. Who knows, it might take another 10+ years for them to pop up again.

Green Day – July 29 (Nationals Park)

Green Day is coming to Nationals Park for their “Saviors” tour with alternative music legends Rancid, and The Smashing Pumpkins. Along with these juggernauts will come a relatively new indie girl group, The Linda Lindas, but don’t be fooled, they’ve already played with some of the best and are only going up!

Mitski – August 30-September 1 (Merriweather Post Pavillion)

One of indie’s heaviest hitters is doing three whole nights at Merriweather right at the tail end of the summer. If you’re doing three nights at Merriweather, it’s safe to say that you are bound to stick around for a while, and sell tons of tickets while you’re at it.

Faye Webster – July 24 (The Anthem)

Atlanta’s very own premier singer-songwriter Faye Webster will be bringing her “Underdressed at the Symphony” tour to Washington DC. Considering her gigantic following, it’s probably expected to sell out, so get your tickets fast!

Mother Mother & Cavetown – July 2 (The Anthem)

Alternative music’s go-to “weirdos” Mother Mother and one of indie music’s quirkiest Cavetown will be coming to Washington DC for a night that is definitely to differ from the norm. I don’t see either of them delivering a performance that is entirely without gimmicks or faults, so if you want something unhinged, you’ve got it here. 

The Marias – August 2 (The Anthem)

It seems that the Anthem is a focal spot for some of Indie/Alt’s biggest names. The LA indie pop band The Marias has been a mainstay in any indie fan’s playlist and has been a prominent band in the US scene for a while. They’re bringing their tour for their new album “Submarine” to Washington DC. 

Ken Carson – August 18 (The Anthem)

Ken Carson has had a pretty ambitious year already, acquiring a guest spot on tour with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He comes to DC in August to headline where he will play songs from fan favorite album “A Great Chaos”.

Bryson Tiller – June 6 (The Anthem)

R&B star Bryson Tiller will be embarking on a national tour this summer, stopping by Washington DC in June. He’ll be performing songs from his classic album “Trap Soul” and his new album “Bryson Tiller”.

Isaiah Rashad – May 30 (The Fillmore Silver Spring)

Rapper Isaiah Rashad will be stopping by Silver Spring celebrating the 10th anniversary of his critically acclaimed debut album “Cilvia Demo”, while also playing many of his other hits.

Maryland Deathfest, May 23-26 (Power Plant Live, Market Place, Rams Head, Soundstage)

In Baltimore, we have one of the most popular and noted extreme metal festivals in the United States. Maryland Deathfest has been running since 2003 and is extremely notable for bringing very popular metal bands from overseas to come and play for an American audience. Particularly this year, Sodom is playing two headlining sets at Maryland Deathfest, marking their first appearance in the DMV area since 2006. Other notable things happening at this year’s Deathfest include Agalloch’s first reunion show in the DMV area since their split in 2016, and Bay Area thrashers’ Forbidden’s first DMV performance since their split in 2012. Along with these, we get some of extreme metal’s more popular and beloved artists, such as Mayhem, Abbath, Gorguts and Cryptopsy. 

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, August 15 (The Anthem)

One of Metal music’s biggest anomaly’s King Gizzard… is coming to The Anthem to perform whatever their current flavor of the month is genre wise. As of late, it has been a concoction of doom metal and thrash, so they qualify to make the “metal” list. Although unpredictable (their last album was a 70s RnB sonic landscape) King Gizzard managed to draw a lot of heads and have sold out their last couple of shows in the DMV area, so I’d keep an eye on the tickets as they are likely to be moving quick.

Primus & Coheed and Cambria – August 14 (The Anthem)

Metal’s resident “weird” band, Primus is coming to The Anthem, with modern Progressive Metal giants Coheed & Cambria. An interesting combo, but what doesn’t Primus do? 

Spiter, Desolus, Constituents, Blitz – June 28 (Pie Shop DC)

You might question my motives to put an underground show here at a dingy bakery out in DC, but trust me, this is where it goes down. Very easy on the pockets too. Vampiric metal punks from Philly, Spiter come to DC on their national “Shock From Hell” tour with local thrash metal sword wielders Desolus. A very important tour for Desolus, as this is their first national tour! Constituents and local metal queen Blitz are opening the show! Underground shows make for some of the best, intense shows you’ll probably ever see, so if you consider yourself a metalhead or even a punk, You better haul yourself over to this show.

Based on all of this, it seems like it’s going to be a good summer for concerts, even better than the last couple of years. There’s a show here for everybody. Go out, enjoy the weather, headbang, dive, absorb the music, and support your favorite artists, most of them need it.