Music festivals and concerts are making a big comeback for summer 2021 as D.C., Maryland, Virginia and other states roll back COVID-19 restrictions.
After a year inside, we're ready to dance — and major music festivals and venues are announcing summer lineups to satisfy every type of music lover.
From The Birchmere to The Kennedy Center to Union Stage, venues large and small across the D.C. area are scheduling shows again. Keep scrolling to see music festivals that are returning and music venues reopening.
Here are the biggest shows and festivals to know about that are an easy trip from D.C.
2021 Music Festivals Near the D.C. Area
M3 Music Festival
Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland
July 2-4, 2021
This festival is all about the glory and glamour of ‘80s rock. Kix, Queensryche and Night Ranger are among the headliners at this weekend-long fest at Merriweather Post Pavilion, which is a mostly outdoor venue.
Red Wing Roots Music Festival
Mt. Solon, Virginia
July 9-11
The Mavericks, Sarah Jarosz, Hiss Golden Messenger, Son Little, Bettye Lavette and many more artists are heading to this camping festival outside Harrisonburg, between Shenandoah National Park and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
Distrito Music Fest
Washington, D.C.
July 24
Union Stage's one-day Latin American music festival will bring Tres Minutos, Perro Sombra, Richie Gomez and more to the Wharf.
FloydFest 2021
Floyd, Virginia
July 21-25
The Avett Brothers, Billy Strings, Old Crow Medicine Show and Turkuaz are some of the top-billed musicians performing at FloydFest. The fest has camping and glamping options.
Moonrise Festival
Baltimore, Maryland
Aug. 6-8, 2021
This electronic dance music festival is rescheduled from 2020 but hasn’t announced artists yet.
Darn Good Music Festival
Centreville, Virginia
Aug. 7-8
The Revivalists, Third Eye Blind, American Authors, Joywave and more artists will perform at Bull Run Regional Park in August.
Old Fiddlers' Convention
Galax, Virginia
Aug. 9-14
Celebrate fiddle players and Virginia's musical heritage with bluegrass, folk and more. Organizers say this camping festival with music and dance competitions is the largest and oldest fiddle festival in the country.
Hot August Music Festival
Cockeysville, Maryland
Aug. 28, 2021
Jam out to Greensky Bluegrass, Shakey Graves, Lettuce and more at this day-long festival. Tickets are already on sale, starting at $64.
Made in America Music Festival
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sept. 4-5
Jay-Z's Made in America Music Festival is returning for its 10th year at Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Artists haven't yet been announced.
Blue Ridge Rock Festival
Danville, Virginia
Sept. 9-12, 2021
Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, Megadeath and more are on the lineup for this festival with camping and hotel options.
Firefly Music Festival
Dover, Delaware
September 23-26, 2021
Headliners Billie Eilish, The Killers, Lizzo and Tame Impala plus Megan Thee Stallion, Cage the Elephant, Roddy Ricch, Wiz Khalifa and Machine Gun Kelly are set to take the stage at this camping fest in Dover, Delaware.
Firefly Music Festival is a two-hour drive from downtown D.C.
DelFest
Cumberland, Maryland
Sept. 23-27, 2021
Bluegrass is center stage at this annual festival at the Allegany Fairgrounds. Artists on the lineup this year including The Del McCoury Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, Old Crow Medicine Show, Sam Bush and more.
This family-friendly camping festival is usually held on Memorial Day.
Keep checking back as more festivals are announced. D.C.’s Broccoli City has teased a comeback, and we’re awaiting details on Philadelphia’s Made in America, scheduled for Labor Day weekend.
Concert Venues & Series Reopening in DC, Maryland and Virginia
The Anthem
Washington, D.C.
One of the District's largest dedicated concert venues has announced shows will return in August. Check out Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Aug. 7), Jason Mraz (Aug. 15) and Modest Mouse (Aug. 17), then more shows scheduled into 2022.
The Birchmere
Alexandria, Virginia
The Birchmere has been scheduling seated shows with food and drink available for purchase. They have shows scheduled well into 2022.
Comet Ping Pong
Washington, D.C.
Northwest D.C.'s destination for ping pong, pizza and performances is announcing more and more shows, but they're selling out quickly. Keep an eye on the calendar here.
Echostage
Washington, D.C.
This electronic-focused venue in Northeast will be among the first to return as D.C. lifts restrictions. Zedd is scheduled for June 11, then David Guetta on June 17 and Tiësto on June 18. Most shows are for age 18 and up.
The Hamilton
Washington, D.C.
This downtown venue has performances scheduled in June and July. Here's the schedule.
Howard Theatre
Washington, D.C.
Performances kick off in June with pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan's and Sebastian Bach. Stay tuned for more summer dates.
Jammin Java
Vienna, Virginia
This all-ages venue has already packed its summer schedule with dozens of artists for outdoor concerts.
Jiffy Lube Live
Bristow, Virginia
One of the largest concert venues in the D.C. area has packed its summer schedule with rock, country and pop acts.
The Doobie Brothers kick things off on June 10. Then check out Luke Bryan (July 17); Backstreet Boys (July 20); Matchbox Twenty (July 28); Jimmy Buffet (Aug. 7); Chris Stapleton (Aug. 14) and Santana and Earth, Wind and Fire (Aug. 20).
The Kennedy Center
Washington, D.C.
The Kennedy Center is bringing back performances to the Millennium Stage and the REACH. Here's the full calendar.
Madam's Organ
Washington, DC
Adams Morgan's multi-level bar and venue is ramping up to performances seven nights a week again.
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Columbia, Maryland
Merriweather Post Pavilion, which has an outdoor, covered stage and expansive lawn, is gearing up for the M3 Rock Festival over Fourth of July weekend, then some big-name performances in August.
The summer shows include Rod Stewart and Cheap Trick (Aug. 11); Luke Bryan (Aug. 12); Wilco and Sleater-Kinney (Aug. 20); Dave Matthews Band (Aug. 21); Alanis Morissette (Aug. 31). The Capital Jazz fest closes out summer on Labor Day weekend, but more performances are already booked for fall.
Pearl Street Warehouse
Washington, D.C.
This venue-plus-restaurant on The Wharf hosts weekend performances for as low as $20.
The Pocket DC
Washington, D.C.
A small, intimate venue that opened just months before COVID-19 shutdowns, The Pocket hosts artists performing a range of genres, from funk to pop to R&B.
The Plaza Live
Tysons Corner, Virginia
Tysons Corner Center plans to bring local musicians and other live entertainment to The Plaza every week. Check it out 4-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Check back for details about their late summer concert series in partnership with iHeartRadio and WGTS, set for September.
Union Stage
Washington, D.C.
White Ford Broncho, the '90s cover band that consistently sells out its D.C.-area shows, plays at Union Stage on June 11, kicking off a big comeback for Union Stage.
Wolf Trap
Vienna, Virginia
Wolf Trap kicks off its 50th anniversary season on July 1 with its “Fifty Years Together: A Celebration of Wolf Trap” concert featuring Cynthia Erivo, Christine Goerke, Joyce Yang, JoAnn Falletta and the National Symphony Orchestra, in its outdoor amphitheater the Filene Center.
Other performances include folk duo Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange) (July 7); Max Weinberg’s Jukebox (July 10-11); New Orleans jazz legends Preservation Hall Jazz Band (July 17); D.C.’s Big Tony and Trouble Funk (July 18); An Evening with Amos Lee (July 21-22); Chris Thile (July 24 + 25); The War and Treaty (July 29) and more.
Keep checking back as more music festivals announce details and concert venues reopen. Have a suggestion? Tweet at us.
