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Drive-In Soul Concert Planned for McLean

McLean’s MPAartfest 2020 is kicking off early next month with a planned drive-in concert with some prestigious Motown alumni.

The concert “Voices of Classic Soul” will take place at the McLean Community Center parking lot (1234 Ingleside Avenue) with a showing at 4 p.m. and at 6 p.m.

The concert will feature Joe Coleman from The Platters, Joe Blunt of The Drifters, and Theo Peoples from The Temptations and The Four Tops. The group is scheduled to perform some of the big hits from their respective groups.

Tickets are $25 per car, with cars guided to spaces to ensure proper distancing.

The concert kicks off two-weeks of MPAartfest, a primarily digital program this year and live-streamed concerts.

Image via McLean Project for the Arts

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Wolf Trap Cancels Live Performances This Fall

The Barns at Wolf Trap won’t have live performance this fall, including Chamber Music at The Barns, due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Wolf Trap said in the announcement on Monday that the Wolf Trap Foundation is “enormously thankful” for the support from the community, donors and patrons, and they look forward to gathering together in the future when it is safe to do so. 

Ticket holders for events that were rescheduled for fall 2020 will be contacted directly via email with more information on individual shows, according to the press release. 

Despite not holding live performances, Wolf Trap has presented a series of digital projects to continue their arts and education mission. People interested can visit Wolf Trap Sessions for their collection of online performances.

Their digital artistic content includes Park Pop-Up featuring performances by local artists, UNTRAPPED Online featuring newly recorded and re-released performances by the Wolf Trap Opera and Field Trip Fridays geared toward kids and their arts education. 

They also recently launched the Music Moves Us fund to support the foundation’s projects to further community initiatives and promote next-generation artists.

Photo via Wolf Trap/Facebook

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Vienna’s Jammin Java Hosts Outdoor Benefit Concert Series

Vienna music venue Jammin Java has reopened to the public with a series of socially-distanced benefit shows called “A Song & A Slice.”

The series combines outdoor concerts with pizza from Union Pie at Jammin Java, the pizza restaurant opened by the owners during the pandemic. 

Attendees are encouraged to donate during each show to a charity selected by the performers. In addition, one dollar from every beer sold will go towards those charities. 

Some of the upcoming shows include:

  • DJ D’s Dance To The Decades benefitting the US & JJ Staff Fund on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
  • Irresponsible benefitting the National Black Child Development Institute on Aug. 16 at 6 p.m.
  • Tommy McGee Band benefitting SURJNOVA on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.

Jammin Java stopped their shows when the pandemic hit in March and then opened Union Pie at the beginning of April. 

“We’d been talking about it for a while, but once the COVID struck, we decided it was now or never,” said Lana Mahmoud, the Director of Operations for Jammin Java. They then decided to blend the pizza with the music to create concerts to benefit both businesses.  

Once Virginia was able to reopen, they were able to move forward with scheduling shows again. Their first outdoor show this summer took place on July 19, and they have concerts scheduled through Oct. 31. 

“We’re focusing on local artists to keep the local scene alive,” said Mahmoud.

The venue is taking recommended measures to ensure COVID-19 safety, including mandating masks indoors and for all employees, keeping tables at least 6 feet apart and setting up hand sanitizer stations. They are also using disposable menus and cups. 

“A lot of people are just so thankful to have live music back,” said Mahmoud. “It’s a really beautiful sense of community and joy.”  

Photo via Jammin Java/Facebook

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Merrifield-Based Crescendo Studios Offering Drive-In Concert Series

Crescendo Studios will soon have drive-in summer concerts in Merrifield.

Located in the former MHz Studio at 8101 Lee Hwy, the studio has partnered with DC Music Review for the series.

For each show, the opening show will play outside from 8:15-8:45 p.m. before the headling act hits the Black Box performance space on Fridays and Saturdays. “The video will be projected onto our 180″ screen outside of our building. Audio will be transmitted via FM transmitter to your car radio,” according to Crescendo Studios.

The line-up for the summer series includes a variety of music genres and local artists. There’s bluegrass, folk-pop, indie rock and even a Phish tribute band.

The concert dates are:

People can either stay in their cars or set up chairs outside. Crescendo Studios is asking that audience goers socially distance. Face coverings will be required if people want to purchase food or use the bathroom at the studio.

Tickets went on sale yesterday. An individual ticket with a parking pass is $20, a single passenger ticket is $20 and the “full car” (four tickets plus the parking pass) is $70.

Crescendo Studios notes that the rules are subject to change.

The studio, which opened last year, offers private lessons, a band for kids and camps.

Photo via Crescendo Studios/Facebook

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Vienna Plans to Live Stream Summer Concerts Series

The Town of Vienna’s summer concert series will still happen — just not at the Town Green.

Audiences for “Summer on the Green” will instead watch the concerts via Facebook Live or at local businesses at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays.

The town announced on its website that the changes are due to safety concerns with COVID-19.

People will be able to make song requests and play trivia and virtual bingo to win prizes, according to the town. “If you miss the live shows, you can watch later on Facebook or on Youtube,” the website says.

Here’s the line-up:

The town and the Rotary Club of Vienna, along with other sponsors, host the series of free performances.

The Vienna Business Association is encouraging businesses to sign up to stream the concerts.

Photo via Town of Vienna/Facebook

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JUST IN: Wolf Trap Cancels Summer Shows

The show(s) won’t go on at Wolf Trap this summer.

The performing arts center recently announced the cancellation of its 2020 summer season. Concerns about spreading COVID-19 prompted the decision, Wolf Trap Foundation’s President and CEO Arvind Manocha said in a press release.

“For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Filene Center and Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap National Park and The Barns at Wolf Trap will not host live performances from May through September,” Manocha said.

Wolf Trap has a list of performances originally scheduled from late May to mid-September that shows whether the show has been canceled or rescheduled.

The summer concert line-up included Pitbull, John Legend and Train among the list of performers.

“The continued health and well-being of the Wolf Trap community of patrons, artists, and staff are of paramount importance to us,” Manocha said. “Concern for the welfare of all makes summer gatherings for performances unfeasible.”

The Wolf Trap Foundation created the Music Moves Us Fund to collect donations for education and community initiatives, along with helping the foundation’s operations and promotion of new artists.

People with tickets for summer shows can donate all or part of their tickets to the fund, exchange them for Wolf Trap gift cards or get refunds, according to the press release.

While in-person shows are canceled, Wolf Trap is pursuing digital opportunities this summer for patrons and artists.

More from the press release:

The foundation will be developing and distributing new content this summer from the Barns and the National Park, bringing music from its iconic locations to audiences and reminding all of the grandeur of its performance spaces.

Wolf Trap Opera’s 2020 residency program has been refashioned to continue to provide training and digital performance opportunities for the very best emerging talent in the field; more information about the re-tooled program can be found here.

Wolf Trap’s education programs also continue to be a valued resource for teachers, parents, caregivers, and children in the DC metro area and throughout the country by providing a variety of services through digital and virtual platforms.

Photo via Wolf Trap/Facebook

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Here’s What’s Coming to Wolf Trap in March

A variety of performers are set to come to Wolf Trap this month, ranging from an alternative soul singer to a group that combines bagpipes and fiddles with classic rock.

Tomorrow (Thursday), award-winning R&B singer-songwriter Liv Warfield is set to perform at 8 p.m.

“Warfield was hand-selected by Prince to be a part of his backing bands New Power Generation and 3rdEyeGirl,” her bio says, adding that her sound is influenced by Nina Simone, Etta James and Mary J. Blige. Tickets start at $27.

Later in the month, Enter The Haggis will bring their bagpipes fiddles and rock rhythm to the stage. The Toronto group is set to perform next Thursday (March 12) at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $30.

The month will wrap up with several performances by The Second City. The comedy troupe’s “Laughing For All The Wrong Reasons” show is rated R due to language and innuendo. Tickets start at $32.

The list of Wolf Trap events in March:

Photo via Wolf Trap

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UPDATED: Summer Concerts Announced for Wolf Trap

Updated 3/3/2020 — Wolf Trap added new performers including Pitbull and Elvis Costello & The Imposters to its summer line-up. An updated list is below with the new concerts.

Summer is still several months away, but the Filene Center at Wolf Trap recently unveiled its summer lineup, which will feature several Irish music and dance, along with John Legend.

Tysons Reporter rounded up the noteworthy concerts coming to the outdoor amphitheater.

Photo via Wolf Trap

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Weekly Planner: Celtic Concert and $5 Comedy Night

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tysons Reporter also complied a list of events to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Wednesday (Feb. 12)

  • Lovin’ Our Library Open House — 2 to 6 p.m. at The Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave) — This event invites people to play mini-golf through the adult fiction section and enjoy crafts for all ages in the children’s room. This event is free for the public.

Thursday (Feb. 13)

  • 1Million Cups Fairfax  2 Year Anniversary — 6 to 9 p.m at Chima Steakhouse (8010 Towers Crescent Drive) — 1Million Cups, a networking opportunity for entrepreneurs, is hosting a dinner party. Appetizers will be complementary and a cash bar is available.

Friday (Feb. 14)

  • Valentine’s Day Murder Mystery — 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Maggiano’s Little Italy (2001 International Drive) — Guests can enjoy a murder mystery party where they take part in a seated dinner and evening of activities. The tickets are $100 and include dinner and the event, which begins at 6 p.m.
  • St. Valentine’s Day Release Party — 5 to 11:30 p.m. at Falls Church Distillers (442 S. Washington Street) — Falls Church Distillers is releasing their Churn Burn aged in habanero porter beer barrels. Attendees can enjoy live music and specials.
  • Celtic Music Concert — 8 to 10 p.m. at Cherry Hills Farmhouse (223 Little Falls Street) — This event invites people to enjoy live Celtic music. Tickets are $15 ahead of time or $20 at the door.

Saturday (Feb. 15)

  • $5 Comedy Night — 7 p.m. until midnight at The State Theatre (220 N. Washington Street) — This event will feature a variety of local talent. All are welcome but those under 18 need to be accompanied by a parent.

Photo via the City of Falls Church

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Alternative Music Group to Take Wolf Trap’s Stage in January

The new year will usher in a new series of concerts at Wold Trap.

On Sunday (Jan 12), Will Liverman, on the baritone, and Ken Noda, on the piano, will take the stage to perform “Die Winterreise.” The performance will take place at 3 p.m.

Tickets start at $42 and can be purchased online. This show does not have an intermission.

An Evening With JD Souther gives the audience a chance to listen to his music inspired by Southern California. He will perform on Jan. 15. The show will begin at 8 p.m. and the tickets are $42.

At 8 p.m. on Jan. 17, Bailen will perform. The group blends together folk-rock with pop influences to earn a spot on Sofar Sounds’ 2018 artist watch list. Tickets start at $22.

Concert-goers can pretend they are in the tropics from Jan. 24-25 when the Masters of Hawaiian Music takes the stage. Tickets start at $27 and the performances begin at 8 p.m. both evenings.

The concerts for the month will wrap up with two evenings of International Guitar Night from Jan. 29-30. To celebrate the 20th anniversary, the event page promises a diverse lineup with artists from around the world. Tickets begin at $32 and the events will take place at 8 p.m. both evenings.

Image via Bailen/Facebook

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