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 not warm 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.

Republic Blues Monday

Deetz: 6939 Laurel Ave Takoma Park, Maryland, MD 20912
Dates: 1st Monday of the month
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Schedule: 1st Monday of Every Month

Fort Reno

Deetz: Fort Reno Park
Dates: July, TBA
Time: TBA!

Schedule: TBA!

Concert at the Capital

Deetz: West steps of Capitol
Dates: Mondays, starting June 4
Time: 8 p.m.

Schedule:

• June 4 – Commodores
• June 11 – Commodores
• June 18 – Concert Band
• June 25 – Concert Band
• July 9 – Commodores
• July 16 – Country Current
• July 23 – Commodores
• July 30 – Concert Band

Concerts on the Avenue

Deetz: U.S. Navy Memorial outdoor plaza, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Dates: Select Tuesdays
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Schedule:

• June 5 – Country Current
• June 12 – Concert on the Avenue
• June 19 – Concert on the Avenue
• June 26 – Concert on the Avenue
• July 10 – Country Current
• July 24 – Commodores
• July 31 – Concert on the Avenue

Strathmore Live From the Lawn

Deetz: Gudelsky Gazebo, 5301 Tuckerman Lane in North Bethesda, MD
Date: July 11th – August 29
Time: 7 p.m.

Schedule:

• Making Moves July 11
• Lena Seikaly July 18
• The Rad Trads July 25
• The Chuck Brown Band Aug 1
• Erin & the Wildfire Aug 8
• Ukefest Aug 15
• The Mark G. Meadows SextetAug 22
• The Sweetback Sisters Aug 29

Bethesda Summer Concert Series

Deetz: Veterans Park, Norfolk and Woodmont Aves., Bethesda, MD
Dates: Thursday evenings, May – July
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

Schedule:

•  May 17 Oasis Island Sounds (rescheduled July 12)
•  May 24 Moonshine Society
•  May 31 8 Ohms Band
•  June 7 Soul Crackers
•  June 14 Hard Swimmin’ Fish
• June 21 Jay Byrd & The Musical Trust
• July 5 Wes Tucker & The Skillets
• July 12 Oasis Island Sounds
• July 19 Sojourne

Rock at the Row

Deetz: Pentagon Row, 1201 South Joyce St, Arlington VA, 22202
Dates: Thursdays, July 12 – August 23
Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Schedule:

• July 12 – Nelly’s Echo Band
• July 19 – Matt Hutchison Duo
• July 26 – Marcella Duo
• August 2 – The Rockets
• August 9 – Capital Sound + Brigadier Brass
• August 16 – Kristen and the Noise
• August 23 – Marine Latin Jazz Ensemble

Flying Dog Summer Sessions

Deetz: Flying Dog Brewery, 4607 Wedgewood Blvd. Frederick, MD
Date: July 1 & 28

Time: Doors 5:30 p.m. – Show 6:30 p.m.

*NOTE: tickets are $35

Schedule: 

• July 1: Langhorne Slim and The Lost At Last Band
• July 28: Dan Deacon

Rockin’ the Block Concert Series

Deetz: Old Town Square 10415 North Street, Fairfax City, VA

Date: Fourth Fridays of the Month, May – October

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Schedule: 

• May 25 – The Reagan Years
• June 22 – The 5:55
• July 27 – My Hero Zero
• August 24 – The Darby Brothers
• September 28 – JunkFood
• October 26 – Supervixon

Friday Night Live

Deetz: Dawson’s Market Stage, Rockville Town Square, 200 East Middle Lane, Rockville, MD
Dates: Select Fridays, April through September
Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Schedule: 

• 4/20    Junkyard Saints (new orleans funk, Latin, r&b)
• 4/27    Hayley Fahey Band (pop, rock)
• 5/11    Tom Principato (blues)
• 5/18    Will Hill (reggae, rock, soul)
• 6/1      Dan Haas (pop, rock, variety)
• 6/8      Natty Beaux (rockabilly, swing)
• 6/15    Matt Hutchison and the Big Gin  (pop, rock)
• 6/22    Mambo Combo (Latin)
• 6/29    Shag (british rock)
• 7/6      King Teddy (swing)
• 7/13    Will Hill (reggae, rock and soul)
• 7/20    Freddie Long Band (pop, rock)
• 7/27    Amanda Lynne Band (classic rock, blues)
• 8/3      The Crawdaddies (roots rock, zydeco)
• 8/10    Unity Reggae Band (reggae)
• 8/17    Matt Hutchison and the Big Gin (pop, rock)
• 8/24    Dan Hass (pop, rock, variety)
• 8/31    Billy Coulter Band (roots rock, americana)
• 9/7      Moonshine Society (blues, r&b)
• 9/14    The Players Band (ska)

Jazz In the Garden

Deetz: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Dates: May 18 – August 24
Time: 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Schedule:

• May 25 – Tony Craddock Jr. & Cold Front
• June 1 – The US Army Blues Swamp Romp
• June 8 – The Slackers
• June 15 – Michael Thomas Quintet
• June 22 – Hendrik Meurkens Quartet
• June 29 – Joshua Bayer Jazz
• July 6 – Black Masala
• July 13 – The Funky Dawgz Brass Band
• July 20 – Dave Chappell
• July 27 – Incendio
• August 3 – Son Del Caribe
• August 10 – Andrea Brachfeld
• August 17 – 3Divas
• August 24 –  Speakers of the House

Friday Night Concert Series

Deetz: The Yards Park, 355 Water Street SE, Washington DC
Date:  Every Friday night this summer starting June 1
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Schedule: 

Mt. Vernon Nights

Deetz: Grist Mill Park, 4710 Mt Vernon Memorial Hwy Alexandria, VA
Date: Friday evenings
Time: 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Schedule:

• June 1 – David Wilcox
• June 8 – River Whyless
• June 15 – Jah Works
• June 22 – The Reagan Years
• June 29 –  Harmony Heritage Singers
• July 6 – Squeeze Bayou
• July 13 – C*A*M*M*O
• July 20 – Big Daddy Love
• July 27 – Chaise Lounge Band
• August 3 – Southpaw Country
• August 10 – Ryanhood
• August 17 – Justin Trawick and the Common Good
• August 24 – Bill Kirchen
• August 31 – The Sweetback Sisters

The Petworth Jazz Project

Deetz: Lawn at 8th and Taylor Street NW, Washington DC
Date: Last Saturday of each month May – August

Schedule: Check Facebook

Potomac Overlook Regional Park

Deetz: Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 N. Marcey Road Arlington, VA
Date: Second Saturday of every summer month
Time: 7 pm – 9 pm

*Donations Required

Schedule:

Check calendar

Celebrate Frederick: Summer Concert Series

Deetz: Baker Park Bandshell, 121 N. Bentz Street, Frederick, MD

Date: Sundays in June, July & August

Time: 7 p.m.

Schedule:

• June 10 – The Janglebachs
• June 17 – Chopteeth
• June 24 – Kings of Crownesville
• July 1 – Desert Highway
• July 8 – Groove Train
• July 15 – Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Five
• July 22 – Willie Barry and his Chaperones
• July 29 – Patrick Alban and Noche Latina
• August 5 – Sideways
• August 12 – Dean Crawford and the Dunn’s River Band
• August 19 – 19th Street Band
• August 26 – Rock and Roll Relics

Columbia Pike Blues Festival

Deetz: Columbia Pike, South Walter Reed Dr., Arlington, VA
Date: Saturday, June 16
Time: 1 – 8:30 p.m.

Lineup:

• 1:00 pm-Three Man Soul Machine