Some say that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but I have to disagree — summer is the best season of all. The days are longer, everyone is breaking out shorts and sundresses, and there are endless possibilities of things to do outside. And you know what goes together better than warm weather and beer? Listening to free, live music. There are so many possibilities for free summer concert series, where do you even begin to decide which shows to see? Fear not, this summer’s free outdoor concert guide is here for every day of the week. Grab your friends, a cooler, a picnic blanket, and get ready to jam to all the free music your heart desires.
Fort Reno
Deetz: Fort Reno Park
Dates: July, TBA
Time: 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Schedule: TBA!
Concerts on the Avenue
Deetz: U.S. Navy Memorial outdoor plaza, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Dates: June 14 – August 2
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Schedule:
- June 14th – Concert on the Ave
- June 21st – Country Current at 6:30, followed by Concert on the Ave
- June 28th – Country Current at 7 p.m., followed by Concert on the Ave
- July 5th – Commodores
- July 13th – Country Current
- July 19th – Concert on the Ave
- July 26th – Concert on the Ave
- August 2nd – Concert on the Ave
Georgetown Waterfont Summer Concerts
Deetz: Georgetown Waterfront, K Street, Washington Harbor, Washington DC
Date: June 3 – September 30
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Schedule: TBA
Strathmore Free Summer Concerts
Deetz: Gudelsky Concert Pavilion Gazebo, 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda, MD
Date: July 6 – August 24
Time: 7 p.m.
Schedule:
- July 6 – Tuelo
- July 13 – Charm City Junction
- July 20 – The Wild Reeds
- July 27 – Aztec Sun
- August 3 – Cissa Paz
- August 10 – Mariachi Flor de Toloache
- August 17 – Uke Fest
- August 24 – Sammy Miller & The Congregation
Rockin’ the Block Concert Series
Deetz: Canal Park, 202 M St, SE, Washington DC
Date: June 1 – August 31
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Schedule:
- August 3 – TBA
- August 31 – TBA
Bethesda Summer Concert Series
Deetz: Veterans Park, Norfolk and Woodmont Aves., Bethesda, MD
Dates: May 5 – July 28
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Schedule:
- June 16 – Blue Sky
- June 23 – The Sidleys
- June 30 – Oasis Island Sounds
- July 7 – 8 Ohms Band
- July 14 – David Cole and the Main Street Blues Band
- July 21 – Chuggalug
- July 28 – U.S. Navy Band Cruisers
Rock at the Row
Deetz: Pentagon Row, 1101 South Joyce St, Arlington VA, 22202
Dates: May 6 – September 30
Time: 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Schedule:
- July 14 – Kristen and the Noise, VIP Lounge featuring Starr Hill Brewery
- July 21 – Gonzo’s Nose, VIP Lounge featuring Union Craft Brewery
- July 28 – The Rockets, VIP Lounge featuring Devils Backbone Brewing
- July 30 – (Saturday performance) 257th Army Band
- August 4 – Reagan Years, VIP Lounge featuring Mad Fox Brewing Co.
- August 11 – 3AM Tokyo, VIP Lounge featuring Coastal Brewing
- August 18 – White Ford Bronco, VIP Lounge featuring South Street Brewery
- August 25 – Crazy in Stereo, VIP Lounge featuring O’Connor Brewing Co.
Friday Night Live
Deetz: Rockville Town Square, 200 East Middle Lane, Rockville, MD
Dates: May 1 – September 4
Time: 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Schedule:
- June 17 – Rumba Club
- June 24 – Jonathan Sloane Trio
- July 1 – Billy Coulter Band
- July 8 – Lloyd Dobler Effect
- July 15 – Mambo Combo
- July 22 – The Shack Band
- July 29 – 49 Cent Dress
- August 5 – The Sandra Dean Band featuring Daryl Davis
- August 12 – King Teddy Band
- August 19 – Justin Trawick & The Common Good
- August 26 – Soul Gravity
- September 2 – Cedar Creek
- September 9 – Ruthie & The Wranglers
- September 16 – Dan Haas Band
- September 23 – Vinyl Rhino
- September 30 – Yellow Dubmarine
Jazz In the Garden
Deetz: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Dates: May 27 – September 2
Time: 5 – 8:30 p.m.
Schedule:
- June 17 – Chaise Lounge
- June 24 – Enter The Haggis
- July 1 – Speaker of the House
- July 8 – Chelsey Green and the Green Project
- July 15 – Origem
- July 22 – Incendio
- July 29 – Eastern Standard Time
- August 5 – Creative Love Happening
- August 12 – Paul Carr
- August 19 – Sin Miedo
- August 26 – Moonshine Society
- September 2 – Fred Hughes Trio
Rockin’ on the Riverfront
Deetz: The Yards Park, 355 Water Street SE, Washington DC
Date: May 20 – September 2
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Schedule:
- June 17 – SC Jazz festival Artists
- June 24 – Jah Works
- July 1 – The BStreetBand
- July 8 – Jeff From Accounting
- July 15 – The Texas Chainsaw Horns
- July 22 – Sam Grow Band
- July 29 – Sly 45
- August 5 – Justin Trawick
- August 12 – Lovely Rita
- August 19 – The 19th Street Band
- August 16 – Lloyd Dobler Effect
- September 2 – Almost Journey
Live at Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue
Deetz: National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW Washington, DC
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Schedule:
- TBA
Mt. Vernon Nights
Deetz: Grist Mill Park, 4710 Mt Vernon Memorial Hwy
Alexandria, VA
Date: June 3 – August 26
Time: 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Schedule:
- June 17 – Mariachi Los Amigos
- June 24 – Memphis Gold
- July 1 – Art Sherrod, Jr.
- July 8 – Craver Hicks Watson
- July 15 – FIVES
- July 22 – Vernneau
- July 29 – Ruthie & the Wranglers
- August 5 – The Annandale Brass
- August 12 – Rain Follows the Plow
- August 19 – The Ransom Notes
- August 26 – Scythian
Potomac Overlook Regional Park
Deetz: Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road Arlington, VA
Date: June 11 – August 27 (select Saturdays)
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Schedule:
- June 18 – Ohrstrom/Teasley
- July 16 – Michaela Mulvaney and Randy Latimer
- July 30 – Fast Eddie and the Slow Pokes
- August 13 – Skytstone
- August 20 – Difficult Run String Band
- August 17 – Mystic Warriors
Flying Dog Summer Sessions
Deetz: Flying Dog Brewery, 4607 Wedgewood Blvd. Frederick, MD
Date: June 20
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
*NOTE: tickets are $25
Schedule:
- June 20 – 5th annual GONZOFEST featuring The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
The Petworth Jazz Project
Deetz: Lawn at 8th and Taylor Street NW, Washington DC
Date: May 28 – September 24
Schedule:
June 25th
- 6 p.m. – (Kids Show) Beside Ourselves, Banjo Man Frank Cassel and Katy Morse
- 8 p.m. – Heidi Martin and Moon in Scorpio
July 30th
- 6 p.m. – (Kids Show) BABA RAS D
- 7 p.m. – Lena Seikaly
August 27th
- 5:30 p.m. – (Kids Show) TBA
- 6:30 p.m. – Cecily Bumbray
September 24th
- 5 p.m. – (Kids Show) TBA
- 7 p.m. – Rochelle Rice with Mark Meadows
Adams Morgan Summer Concert Series
Deetz: 1801 Adams Mill RD , Washington DC
Date: May 7 – June 25
Time: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Schedule:
- June 25 – Dave Ihmels
Music in the Yard
Deetz: Eastern Market, 7th Street & C Street, SE
Washington, DC
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Schedule:
- TBA
Celebrate Frederick: Summer Concert Series
Deetz: Baker Park Bandshell, 121 N. Bentz Street, Frederick, MD
Date: June 19 – August 28
Time: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Schedule:
- June 19 – The Boilermaker Jazz Band
- June 26 – Sideways
- July 10 – Scott Paddock
- July 17 – The Dustbowl Revival
- July 24 – Incendio
- July 31 – Brickyard Road
- August 7 – The Players Band
- August 14 – 99.9 WFRE Free Country Showcase
- August 21 – Unity Reggae Band
- August 28 – On the Bus
Columbia Pike Blues Festival
Deetz: Columbia Pike, South Walter Reed Dr., Arlington, VA
Date: June 18
Time: 1 – 8:30 p.m.
Lineup:
- 1:00 p.m. – Little Bit A Blues
- 2:00 p.m. – Bobby Thompson Project featuring Ron Holloway
- 3:30 p.m. – Bosley
- 5:00 p.m. – Davina & The Vagabonds
- 6:00 p.m. – Jesse Dee
Del Ray Music Festival
Deetz: 2701 Commonwealth Ave., Del Rey, Alexandria, VA
Date: July 23
Time: 3 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Main Stage Lineup:
- 3:00 p.m. – Jack Kilby & The Front Line
- 3:45 p.m. – Noise In The Basement
- 4:15 p.m. – Elroy Jenkins
- 5:00 p.m. – Geno & The Spirit of Jazz
- 5:30 p.m. – Wanted Man
- 6:15 p.m. – Near Northeast
- 6:45 p.m. – Anthony Pirog
