Oh, the sequester. The running joke on Capitol Hill that seemed like doomsday, then not, then IT CAUSED THE CANCELLATION OF FREE SHOWS AT CARTER BARRON. But no matter, we’ve gone ahead and assembled the best FREE concerts in the area, with plenty of genres in the mix. Horn heavy funk. Reggae. Zydeco. In the evenings, in a park, in a business district. Even NoMa planned concerts around your lunchtime on Fridays. Now’s you chance to get a glass of sangria, head to nearby park or plaza, and check out any of these fantastic shows.

The guide is broken down by day, with some day-long festivals at the end. And we’re still waiting to hear back from some D.C. favorites, including Fort Reno. In the meantime, get dancin’.

Brookside Gardens

Deetz: 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD
Dates: June 4 – 25
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Photo by Linda Thomas

Schedule:

June 4 – Oasis Island Sounds (Caribbean)
June 11 – Rita Clark and the Naturals (New Orleans)
June 18 – DreamStreet (Classic Rock)
June 25 – Trio Caliente (Flamenco/Pop/Brazilian Jazz)

Bethesda Summer Concert Series

Deetz: Veterans Park, Norfolk and Woodmont Aves., Bethesda, MD
Dates: May 2 – July 27
Time: 6 p.m.

Schedule:

May 2 – The Joker’s Wild (Swing)
May 9 – Lloyd Doble Effect (Irish Rock)
May 16 – The Walkaways (Alt-Country)
May 23 – JohnStone Reggae Band (Reggae)
May 30 – Flo Anito (Pop/Jazz)
June 13 – The 8 Ohms Band (Horn Heavy Funk)
June 20 – Blue Funk (Funk)
June 27 – Wes Ticker & The Skillets (Rock)
July 11 – The 19th Street Band (Rock/Country/Celtic/Bluegrass)
July 18 – Too Many Daves & the Brass SOULution (Brass)
July 25 – Adrian Duke (Jazz)

Rhythm in NoMa: Evening Concerts

Deetz: 1110 Congress St. NE, Washington DC
Dates: May 30 – September 26
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Schedule:

May 30: Johnny Artis (R&B/Variety)
June 27: Raddy and the Cats (Jazz/R&B)
July 25: Sin Miedo (Salsa)
August 29: Miguel Aubertin (Reggae)
September 26: Sam’O (Reggae)

Rock at the Row

Deetz: Pentagon Row, 1101 South Joyce St, Arlington VA, 22202
Dates: June 6 – August 22
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.

Schedule:

June 6 – Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi tribute)
June 13 – Hyjinx (90s Cover)
June 20 – Uncle Jack Band (70s Tribute)
June 27 – Gonzo’s Nose (80s tribute)
July 11 – Unity Reggae Band (Reggae)
July 18 – All Mighty Senators (Rock and Soul)
July 25 – The Crawdaddies (Roots Rock and Zydeco)
August 1 – Beach Bumz (Jimmy Buffet Tribute)
August 8 – Higher Hands (Funk)
August 15 – Matt Hutchison Band (Pop Rock)
August 22 – Real Geniuses (80s Tribute)
August 29 – Crowded Streets (Dave Mathews Tribute)

Friday Night Live

Deetz: Rockville Town Square, 200 East Middle Lane, Rockville, MD
Dates: May 3 – September 27
Time: 6:30 p.m.

Schedule:

May 3rd – After Hours Band (70s Funk & Motown)
May 10th – King Teddy (Swing)
May 17th – Daryl Davis Band (Blues & Soul)
May 24th – The Rumba Club (Latin)
May 31st – White Ford Bronco (90s Covers Band)
June 7th – 8 Ohms Band (Soul & Funk)
June 14th – The Exaggerations (Classic Rock & Pop Covers)
June 21st – Dublin 5 (Irish Rock)
June 28th – The Crawdaddies (Roots Rock & Zydeco)
July 5th – Yellow Dubmarine (Beatles Reggae Tribute)
July 12th – Mambo Combo (Tropical)
July 19th – The Nighthawks (Blues)
July 26th – The Shack Band (Rock & Funk)
August 2nd – Ruthie & The Wranglers (Americana Country)
August 9th – Gonzo’s Nose (Pop Hits Cover Band)
August 16th – Unity Band (Reggae)
August 23rd – Donegal X-press (Irish Rock)
August 30th – Uncle Jack Band (70s Funk & Motown)
September 6th – Junkyard Saints (Roots Rock & Zydeco)
September 13th – Sons of Pirates (Key West Rock)
September 20th – Dreamstreet (Classic Rock Covers)
September 27th – Dan Haas Band (Pop Rock)

Jazz In the Garden

Deetz: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Dates: May 24 – August 30
Time: 5 – 8:30 p.m.

Schedule:

May 24 – Ruthie and the Wranglers
May 31 – Chopteeth
June 7 – Sin Miedo
June 14 – Deanna Bogart Band
June 21 – Hendrik Meurkens
June 28 – Swingtopia
July 5 – Ernest “EC3” Coleman and Friends
July 12 – Juanita Williams
July 19 – Euphonasia
July 26 – Incendio
August 2 – Brian Simms
August 9 – Josh Bayer
August 16 – Doc Scantlin’s Palmettos
August 23 – Dixie Power Trio
August 30 – Bruno Nasta and the U.S. Naval Academy “Next Wave” Jass Ensemble

Rhythm in NoMa: Lunchtime Concerts

Deetz: Union Center Plaza, between 810 and 840 First St. NE, Washington DC
Date: June 7 – August 2
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Schedule:

June 7 – Johnny Artis (R&B/Variety)
June 14 – Ten Feet Tall (Funk)
June 21 – The Pantones (Steel Drums)
June 28 – Sam’O (Carribean)
July 12 – Miguel Aubertin (Reggae)
July 19 – Liz Briones (Latin Jazz)
July 26 – Annie Sidely (Soul)
August 2 – Raddy & the Cats (Jazz/R&B)

Potomac Overlook Regional Park

Deetz: Natural Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street and Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC
Date: May 25 – September 14 (every other Saturday)
Time: 7 p.m.

Schedule:

May 25 – Alexandria Kleztet (Klezmer)
June 8 – Frank Cassel (Bluegrass)
June 22 – Steam & The Blue Dragons and Tom Teasley (Multi-Instrument Percussion)
July 6 – Bob Martin (Blues and Cont. Folk)
July 20 – Mystic Warriors (Andean)
August 3 – Surrender Friday (Rock)
August 17 – West on 66 (Classic Rock)
August 31 – Michael Mulvaney (Blues and Folk)
September 7 – Andrew Acosta (Bluegrass)
September 14 – Second Wind (Southern Rock)