The Next Ten Days start out with a big holiday weekend, so you can add musical fireworks to your busy schedule of barbecues and bar-hopping (play safe). The Rosanne Cash show with Chelsea Lee at Birchmere is sold-out today, but there are plenty of other shows to see. Many of them, in the spirit of Independence Day, are free! (Pictured: He is We, performing July 10, photo by Jade Ehlers)
Saturday, July 2
- South African fusion group Freshlyground has crossed the ocean for a summertime debut North American tour, and they'll be at the Black Cat. The seven-piece, multi-generational and multi-ethnic bandbecame an unexpected sensation back home when they paired with hip-shaking Shakira on the 2010 FIFA World Cup theme, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).” Even when the songs take aim at social ills, the mood is upbeat and the diversity of elements--Zulu folk fiddle, thumb piano, rebel reggae bass and Afropop guitar--all topped by the sweet vocals of actress/singer/lyricist Zolani Mahola, make for a joyful noise. Kudos to the Cat for thinking outside the rock envelope and hosting such cool world musicians.
- Sunshine Jones and Moonbeam perform live as Dubtribe Sound System at U Street Music Hall, with support from DJ Lovegrove (Sonic Soul Productions) and the music hall’s own Buster (Snowball Collective, Buzzlife).
Monday, July 4
- Matthew Morrison’s show at D.A.R. Constitution Hall has been cancelled, but if you still have a burning need to see Mr. Shue sing, he’s set to perform at “A Capitol Fourth” on Monday, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Along with Morrison and the usual spectacular fireworks display, the free Independence Day celebration, hosted by actor Jimmy Smits, will also feature comedy superstar Steve Martin in his musical incarnation as banjo ace with the Steep Canyon Rangers, multi-platinum heartthrob Josh Groban, “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks, rock 'n' roll legend Little Richard performing with the cast of the Broadway’s “Million Dollar Quartet,”- all joined by the National Symphony Orchestra. If you’re not in the mood to share the air with throngs, the event will be aired by PBS and broadcast live in stereo over local NPR member stations.
Tuesday, July 5
- For four nights (tonight through Friday, July 8) some of the best up-and-coming bands on the regional scene will be setting up gear at Jammin’ Java for the Mid-Atlantic Band Battle 5, in which six acts per night do short sets in competition for a grand prize of cash, studio time, equipment and their own headlining gig at the venue. Check out the full line-uphere and stop in for a sampler of sounds from a broad variety of styles. (I’ll be judging on Friday night, so come by the table and say hello.)
Wednesday, July 6
- “Sing it Loud” is k.d. lang's first studio album since 2008's “Watershed,” and her first record made entirely with a band of her own since two LPs recorded with the Reclines launched her career more than 20 years ago. Ironically, given the album title and the band’s name--The Siss Boom Bang--it’s a relatively restrained affair, with only a cover of Talking Heads’ “Heaven” leaving a strong first impression. Still, you can rely on live lang to pull out the stops, especially if/when she covers Leonard Cohen’s "Hallelujah.” She’ll sing catalog hits from her long and lovely career with that distinct, sultry throb, and The LA Times praised her new group for “delightfully ramshackle playfulness” in concert, comparing it to The Band and Wilco. So get to Wolf Trap and enjoy.
Friday, July 8
- It’s Friday night fever of a local sort as the 9:30 Club hosts a mini-festival of area favorites. Funk rockers Paul Pfau and the Dimestore Band will share the stage with the acoustic soul of the Chris Collat Band, plus the zany pop-rock of The Shields Brothers, along with Sub-Radio Standard and Static Cinema. Five bands for $12. Do the math; that’s a cheap, but not low-rent, date.
- The Hackensaw Boys, and The Founding Fathers (with Chris Pandolfi and Andy Falco of The Infamous Stringdusters) at The State Theatre.
Saturday, July 9
- Surprisingly, there were still (at time of this posting) tickets available for Animal Collective at Merriweather Post Pavilion. After all, the band named their brilliant 2009 release (SPIN magazine’s Album of the Year) after the venue and this is the first time the originally Baltimore-based band will play the M-Post tunes in the M-Post shed. After more than seven years, one live and six studio records, these experimental rockers have found the sweet spot of melody and madness, and a penchant for psychedelic visual elements should make for an ecstatic night under the stars.
- The 2nd Annual Ukulele Festival at Lake Anne, Reston offers farmers and arts and crafts markets, performances by internationally and locally known ukulele players (Eddie Vedder is not scheduled), demonstrations, workshops and jam sessions, plus a whole lot of family fun. Headliner Del Rey is an acoustic blues queen who has contributed to projects honoring Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Johnny Cash. You’ll also hear Grammy award-winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Hawaii’s Hoa Mele Wakinekona and local duo The Sweater Set.
Sunday, July 10
- With more than 2.8 million plays and 190,000 downloads on PureVolume.com alone, He Is We is a true Internet success story. Rachel Taylor and Aaron Gillespie met as co-workers at a music instrument and equipment store in Tacoma, WA. Given their diverse influences--she’s into indie pop, hip-hop and “girlie stuff,” he’s into hardcore metal (and was a member of Underoath)--it’s even more remarkable that their own songwriting leans to catchy, harmony-laden alt-pop melodicism. The duo’s first headlining tour arrives at Jammin’ Java as a late 2010 debut album, “My Forever” shakes up the iTunes pop album chart, putting the squeeze on the likes of Ke$ha, Rihanna and Pink.
- Watch Bela Fleck’s fingers fly with the Flecktones at Wolf Trap and get there early to see how Carolina Chocolate Drops bring a modern sensibility to old-time string band music.