sheeran concert
Another summer has wound down to its bittersweet conclusion, bringing you and some of your closest friends back together for another year of grueling classes, late-night study sessions while guzzling coffee and — as you eagerly anticipate — memorable nights exploring College Park and the surrounding Washington area.
To spend those nights out, you might travel to one of College Park’s numerous restaurants, head over to a friend’s apartment for a relaxing night of video games and Netflix or make the trek to any of the city’s local bars for a night of responsible drinking and crazy (as well as potentially embarrassing) dancing.
If you’re looking for a night of live music, however, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many options on a typical College Park night. But with Washington only a short Metro ride away, there’s a whole host of acts coming to the nation’s capital that can reinvigorate your love for a favorite artist or open your eyes to a band just waiting to be discovered.
To make sure you and your friends don’t miss out on the potential concert of a lifetime, here’s a list of artists who are making stops in Washington this month.
Who: TRUTH
Where: U Street Music Hall
When: Thursday, Sept. 10, at 10 p.m.
How Much: $15
Why You Should Go: If you’re a fan of dubstep but prefer grinding, lo-fi production instead of the carefully layered jams of EDM’s leading stars like The Chainsmokers or Disclosure, TRUTH is the DJ duo for you. Andre Fernandez and Tristan Roake — the men behind the music — specialize in making people dance to the grainy synths and thudding bass of their inventive electronic music, an experience well worth $15.
Who: Madonna
Where: Verizon Center
When: Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m.
How Much: Tickets start at about $60
Why You Should Go: Known by her fans as the Queen of Pop, Madonna has been a fixture in mainstream music ever since she released her self-titled debut album in 1983. Her Rebel Heart Tour — her 10th worldwide tour, which features Diplo and Amy Schumer as opening acts — is poised to be an over-the-top night of blaring electronic beats, nonstop dancing and the scantily-clad debauchery we’ve come to know and love from one of pop music’s most boundary-pushing icons.
Who: Jess Glynne
Where: U Street Music Hall
When: Monday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m.
How Much: Sold out at venue; tickets start at about $30 on Stubhub
Why You Should Go: Jess Glynne’s voice has saturated the airwaves of the world ever since she was featured on Clean Bandit’s hit single “Rather Be,” notching five No. 1 singles in the UK and topping her native-born country’s album chart in late August with her debut studio album, I Cry When I Laugh. Glynne, with her dynamic vocals and invigorating take on pop music, seems ready to continue to rise in prominence, so a chance to see the British singer at a smaller-sized venue like the 9:30 Club might not come again.
Who: Vacationer
Where: U Street Music Hall
When: Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.
How Much: $18
Why You Should Go: The mellow vibes of Vacationer’s self-described “Nu-Hula” style — new-wave tropical music, as described by the band’s lead singer/bassist Kenny Vasoli — is an authentic combination of electro-pop beats and smooth vocals. The band’s discography reeks of sunny, beach-bound road trips, something you don’t want to miss if you refuse to accept the conclusion of the summer.
Who: Ed Sheeran
Where: Verizon Center
When: Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 22 and 23, at 7:30 p.m.
How Much: Tickets start at about $30
Why You Should Go: You might be surrounded by masses of fangirls (and boys) collectively freaking out over the latest folk-pop sensation to serenade his way into the hearts of millions, but you’re also sure to be impressed with Sheeran’s raw talent. Sheeran is a one-man show who can put on a captivating performance sans backup singers, dancers or a band. All he needs, after all, is his guitar, an audience and his delicate voice belting his love-soaked tunes.
Who: Robert DeLong
Where: U Street Music Hall
When: Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.
How Much: $18
Why You Should Go: Aside from composing profound electronic music that is just as danceable as it is thought-provoking, watching DeLong alter his music live with Wii remotes, joysticks and gamepads (as he does at all of his concerts) is an experience definitely worth shelling out $18.
Who: Marian Hill
Where: U Street Music Hall
When: Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m.
How Much: $15
Why You Should Go: Singer Samantha Gongol and producer Jeremy Lloyd make music that is just as original as it is enticing. Combining sensuous saxophones, sporadic computerized beats and vixenish, often-distorted vocals might sound like a risky musical experiment, but that formula works well for the Philadelphia-based duo.
Who: R. Kelly
Where: Verizon Center
When: Saturday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.
How Much: Tickets start at $70
Why You Should Go: Let’s just be honest here: you’ve listened to R. Kelly’s “Ignition (Remix)” more times than you can count. You’ve listened to it in your car, at the gym, walking to class, in the darkened mess that is a fraternity party, and you and your friends have made sure to put it on every party playlist you’ve ever made (or maybe that’s just me). Either way, this is a promising yet semi-expensive chance to sing along to music from arguably one of College Park’s most-played musicians.
Who: The Neighbourhood
Where: 9:30 Club
When: Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 28 and 29, at 7 p.m.
How Much: $40
Why You Should Go: Stitched together from a wide range of musical genres including hip-hop, alternative-rock and indie-pop, The Neighbourhood makes music that is just as catchy as it is moody. The band recently released “R.I.P. 2 My Youth,” the first single of their forthcoming sophomore album Wiped Out!, meaning audience members at their Washington show may get a sneak peek at some new music.
