The Scene

MusicDetour.com’s commentary on music, performances, and the DC metro area music scene

If you can’t make it to Mardi Gras and you live in the DC area, don’t worry, head to Fat Tuesday’s in Fairfax, VA. In DC, there is no better place to celebrate Fat Tuesday than Fat Tuesday’s. Located across the street from George Mason University, it’s sure to have its fair-share of wannabe Mardi Gras revelers. While there’s no replacement for New Orleans in mid-February, Fat Tuesday’s will have ten bands playing all day (starting at 3pm!) including:  (more…)

Poor Man’s Lobster (Photo: Courtesy Mike DiBella)

Don’t miss Poor Man’s Lobster’s Cd Release Party this Saturday February 13th at Fat Tuesday’s in Fairfax, VA. The Fairfax-based quintet has been jamming together for three years and has finally put together an album that’s sure to be funky. Poor Man’s Lobster is one of the few original bands in the northern Virginia area worth checking-out. I’ve jammed to their music several times at Fat Tuesday’s and have never been disappointed. Hopefully if they know how to push the album right, they can expand their territory – it would be a good thing for the DC area and Mid-Atlantic region to get more funky jam bands playing at the bars. It’s only $5 to get-in so don’t miss this show.

There are two festivals this weekend in the DC Area: Celebrate Fairfax and Capital Jazz Festival. Now, I’m not sure why Fairfax is worth celebrating, but this festival ends up being a good time every year. This year not only is the most populous county in VA bringing Blues Traveler to town, but their also bring in Tone Loc, Naughty by Nature and Sugar Hill Gang for some old school hip-hop jams. Across the river in MD, the Capital Jazz Festival should be good fun for all even if you aren’t a big jazz fan. Also, don’t forget about the Louisiana Swamp Romp on Sunday at Wolf Trap.

While it may have seemed like Earth Day on the National Mall this weekend, Earth (Arbor) Day is Wednesday, April 22nd. There is plenty of music going on on Wednesday (for a full listing see after the jump), but it also seems a little ironic that we would celebrate the environment by hooking up high-powered amps at big shows like the Green Apple Festival (rock concerts take an extreme amount of electricity to pull-off). Anyway, if you are in the mood for some music for Earth Day, I first suggest finding some people playing acoustic/folk/bluegrass music on a small scalle, but there also will be a great show at George Mason University with See-I playing at 1pm on campus. (more…)

Fairfax County puts on a huge festival every year at the Fairfax Government Center that it has called “Celebrate Fairfax“. Now, to me, that is an incredibly strange name, what are we celebrating about Fairfax? Anyway, it used to be called the Fairfax Fair before they tried to get all original with its name. Name aside, it is one of the best chances to catch local and national acts outside at one event in northern Virginia. This year it is Friday, June 5th – Sunday June, 7th and will be headlined by Blues Traveler (Friday, June 5th – 8pm), The Fixx (Saturday, June 6th – 3pm), The Sugarhill Gang, Tone Loc and Naughty by Nature (Saturday, June 6th – 7:30pm)and Phil Vassar (Sunday, June 7th – 3:30pm). Get your tickets now. Checkout after the jump for the complete line-up. (more…)

One of the bands I seem to always be talking about on here needs your help. Redshift is a great up and coming rock band and right now they are trying to win a competition that On Tap Magazine is hosting for bands to play Celebrate Fairfax on the Bud Light Stage opening up for Blues Traveler. Help out our very own Redshift from Fairfax get the spot. All you have to do is sign up for an account and vote here. Its a quick and painless process and you will be supporting a very hard working local band. By the way, if you haven’t seen Redshift lately, they have a new guitarist and are rocking harder than before.

One of the nation’s top venues, Jammin’ Java, happens to be in our backyard in Vienna, Virginia. This weekend it’s got two shows going on that are must see concerts. Friday night, March 6th, Shane Hines and the Trance is having a CD release party. Check out this post for more info on that show. The big show from a rising star is on Saturday, March 7th with Theresa Andersson. A month ago, Andersson was featured on Conan O’Brien’s late night show on NBC and her one-woman-band (think female version of Keller Williams) is starting to take off. Catch her at this intimate night club before she’s playing stadiums. Details on both shows after the jump. (more…)

Its been a while, but that doesn’t mean that we’ve been missing music. We have had some serious server problems and now we’re good to go (by the way, FIOS fast connection . . . interesting server restrictions). Too many shows have gone by without any input.

This Saturday,November 22nd, Redshift is playing at Firehouse Grill in Fairfax. They’re playing as a power trio now and are ready to rock even harder. Also playing, Kamura, Madrone, and Iris Divine. Shows starts at 9pm.

Also this Saturday, the Speaks are playing at PJ Skidoos in Fairfax.

Most colleges in the area are getting back in session and at least one college bar is throwing down this Saturday. Fat Tuesday’s is putting on a huge show right across the street from George Mason University. Music is not done in Fairfax, so this is the official launch of local music at a different bar (sorry T.T.’s). Starting at 4:00pm on Saturday, August 23rd, Fat’s will be rocking out. Performers at the show include Everyone But Pete, Vinn Fiz, 23 Rainy Days, NUMA, Finver Four, The Speaks, The Common Threat, and Anamide. Its not everyday that bars and bands throw down for GMU students, so make it there.

Also on Saturday, a bit of an all day music festival will be going down at Jammin Java. Beginning at Noon David Moreale, Brianna Lane, Kelley McRae and Ben Arthur will be performing. Then at 6:00pm The Midnight Appointment and Sparky’s Flaw are playing. Finally, the main jam going on at 10:00pm features Square Trio and Politicks. There’s no excuse to not rock-out in Northern VA on Saturday Night. (more…)

This is looking like its going to be a music packed weekend. It starts off big on Friday with three local music shows. First, Redshift will be playing at the 9:30 Club for the first time with The War Within and Rome in a Day. Doors open at 6:00pm for that show. These are three up-and-coming local bands that you’ll want to catch before they are touring nationally.

Second, Future is playing at the State Theatre in Falls Church with Poor Man�s Lobster and Panacea at 8:00pm. I saw Future play with Poor Man’s Lobster at T.T. Reynold’s and it was one of the best local performances I have seen in a long time. Be sure to check these guys out.

Third, a local favorite, The Speaks, is playing at The Auld Shebeen with JunkFood and Klepto Radio starting at 8:00pm. It should be a good show and proves that music still exists in the City of Fairfax.

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