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Bethesda Summer Concert Series
This year’s slate of free Thursday evening concerts in Bethesda’s Veterans Park includes local funk bands Blue Funk, The 8 Ohms Band, and Flo Anito. Thursdays at 6 p.m. May 2 to July 27 at Norfolk and Woodmont avenues, Bethesda. bethesda.org.
Brookside Gardens
Stop by the garden visitor’s center to hear local flamenco, reggae, and New Orleans roots bands. Tuesdays in June at 6:30 p.m. at 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. montgomeryparks.org/brookside.
Carter Barron
The Washington Post’s free concerts at Carter Barron have been canceled due to the federal budget cuts known as sequestration. At press time, no information was available about the remaining concerts at the park, but updates will be posted at Carter Barron’s website at nps.gov. 4850 Colorado Ave. NW.
Columbia Pike Blues Festival
The annual street festival returns this year with crafts, children’s activities, and food from local vendors. Blues artists, including B.G. and the Mojo Hands, Cathy Ponton King, and G.E. Smith perform throughout the day. June 15 at 1 p.m. at South Walter Reed Drive at Columbia Pike, Arlington. columbia-pike.org.
Del Ray Music Festival
Take in live music from Catie Curtis and other regional acts at this neighborhood food and music event in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. June 22 from noon to 9 p.m. at 2701 Commonwealth Ave., Alexandria.
Fort Dupont
Like Carter Barron’s concerts, events at Fort Dupont Park may be canceled due to sequestration. At press time, no information was available about concerts at the park, but updates will be posted on Fort Dupont’s website at nps.gov. 3600 F St. SE.
Fort Reno
At press time, no schedule had been posted for the annual concert series in Tenleytown, but expect a lineup dominated by local indie-rock bands. Mondays and Thursdays at 7:15 p.m. at Chesapeake Street and Nebraska Avenue NW. fortreno.com.
Friday Night Live
The city of Rockville sponsors free concerts in the town square from the beginning of May through the end of September. Fridays at 6:30 p.m. May 3 to Sept. 27 at 200 East Middle Lane, Rockville. rockvilletownsquare.com.
Indian Summer Showcase Concerts
Guatemalan performer Ranferi Aguilar and his band perform an updated version of ancestral Mayan music on June 8; on August 10, Grammy Award-winning Cherokee singer Rita Coolidge performs. 5 p.m. at the Outdoor Welcome Plaza at the National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street and Independence Avenue SW. nmai.si.edu.
Jazz in the Garden
Friday evenings this summer, the National Gallery of Art hosts the 13th edition of Jazz in the Garden, one of the District’s most popular free concert series. Local roots rockers Ruthie and the Wranglers kick off the season on May 24. Other scheduled artists include keyboardist Brian Simms, swing group Swingtopia, and soul singer Juanita Williams. Fridays at 5 p.m. May 24 to Aug. 30 at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. nga.gov.
Lubber Run Amphitheater Summer Concert Series
Blues singer Mary Ann Redmond opens the annual Arlington series on June 14, and the music continues all summer with Halau O’Aulani and the Aloha Boys, Margot MacDonald, and many more. Picnics welcome. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. June 14 to Aug. 3 (with special opening-week concerts on June 17 and June 19) at North Columbus Street and 2nd Street North, Arlington. arlingtonarts.org.
Potomac Overlook Regional Park
All summer, folk, blues, rock, Andean, and Klezmer ensembles perform on the lawn in this pleasant Arlington park. Picnics welcome. Every other Saturday at 7 p.m. May 25 to Sept. 14 at 2845 North Marcey Road, Arlington. nvrpa.org.
Rhythm in NoMa
The NoMA BID presents free evening and lunchtime concerts all summer. Evening concerts take place the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. from May 30 to Sept. 26 at the plaza next to 1110 Congress St. NE. Lunchtime concerts take place Fridays at 11:30 a.m. from June 7 to Aug. 2 (except July 5) at Union Center Plaza between 810 and 840 First St. NE. nomabid.org/concerts.
Rock at the Row
The 11th annual Pentagon Row concert series starts with Bon Jovi cover act Slippery When Wet and ends with Dave Matthews Band cover act Crowded Streets. Thursdays at 7 p.m. June 6 to Aug. 29 behind Champps Americana Restaurant, 1201 S. Joyce St., Arlington. facebook.com/PentagonRow.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The themes of this year’s Folklife Festival are “Hungarian Heritage: Roots to Revival,” “One World, Many Voices: Endangered Languages and Cultural Heritage,” and “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” June 26 to June 30 and July 3 to July 7 on the National Mall. festival.si.edu.
Yards Park
Live music and José Andrés’ Pepe truck give you two good reasons to check out Yards Park this summer. Fridays at 6:30 p.m. May 17 to Aug. 30 at 355 Water St. SE. yardspark.org.