Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

Ended up in the overflow room at the Motown in DC panel event at the Anacostia Arts Center. Kinda interesting still.

Saturday night went to a Tropical Dome Dj event at Marx Cafe with a Colombian headliner DJ w a vocalist. They were preceded by DJs from Crown Vic , Charles from Leon City Sounds, DJ Neeko

Sunday saw the Slickee Boys history talk with various band members and their former manager circa 1981 talking to NBC’s Mark Segraves about the band at the Palisades church community center hub. Then they reunited downstairs for a 5 song reunion gig! Fun stuff

Sunday morning I found out the Sun Ra Arkestra was playing that night at the Birchmere in Virginia, and that they are doing shows celebrating Marshall Allen's 100th birthday this week. He wasn't able to be there but it was still a great show, and they'll be at Keystone Korner in Baltimore on Wednesday if anyone feels like making the trip.

I was at the Birchmere last night too, hello neighbor lol

I hope Allen is ok. He was with the Arkestra when I saw them open for Solange at the Kennedy Center some years back. I was away when they played at Franklin Park some months back. Toyed with going last night but just did the late afternoon Slickee Boys thing.

My contact said that Allen from Sun Ra's Arkestra got worn out at a Saturday gig in North Carolina, so he rested on Sunday and therefore missed Birchmere gig. Saw DJ Baby Alcatraz's IG story video from the Birchmere gig and it still looked good. Seeing them march through the crowd reminded me of when I saw 'em do that at the old F Street 930 Club and a bunch of folks from audience followed them like it was a conga line or a New Orleans jazz parade. Alas, Birchmere makes everyone sit and watch politely.

Allen seemed strong and well the 3 times (!) I got to see them last year. even came out on a cold February night to smoke up right next to me. amazing.

DC writer and DJ John Murph talked to longtime DC rapper, poet & more Kokayi for Downbeat

https://downbeat.com/news/detail/kokayi-taps-the-musical-power-of-language?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/listings/items/the-queen-of-go-gos-50th-birthday-celebration-june-1/

My preview of Ms Kim go-go birthday party in Bethesda Saturday

My preview of Brazilian guitar masters tonight and tomorrow night. The Saturday one with samba and bossa guy Joao Bosco is more interesting to me

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/719378/brazilian-guitar-masters-bill-evans-and-more-city-lights-for-may-30-through-june-5/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/05/29/best-concerts-dc-june/

Chris Kelly in Post on younger dc rock bands - Birthday Girl , Ekko Astral, Spring Silver , Outerloop and others

Posted my June 2024 concert calendar finally

Steve K blogspot

Been waiting!

I have already updated it since this morning. I left out some cool gospel gigs, and some Leon City tropical djs ones, but have now added them. The Green Zone has not posted all of their June djs & the djs who spin there that I follow haven't posted on Instagram that I can tell.

There are too many punk and indie pop and rock bands to keep up with; so I just list what interests me

Thanks it's a valuable resource

I also appreciate what you do. I especially appreciate the non-western music listings.

Thanks . That reminds me -

Seeing the phrase "For local teens" about the possible return of a rock music fest in a major newspaper article bugs me. If I edited or wrote the article I would have said "for local rock music loving teens" because I don't think teens into rap, go-go, reggaeton, dancehall & more cared about that. It’s presumptuous

HFSestival

No thanks to HFStival $175 upper section 300 level seats or even more expensive ones down below at Nats Park. Plus I don't care about seeing Incubus or Bush or Tonic. Just Death Cab and a few others maybe

he DC Council Chair Mendeleson (who spent years before 2020 making sure DC arts & Humanities $ mainly went to Arena Stage and Fords Theatre) is suggesting spending 5.3 million $ to buy the National Theatre & 6 $ million to renovate it in the new budget proposal, which is over twice as much as the $4 million allocated a few years back for the now being built DC go-go Museum. That doesn't even add in what the Council chair is also proposing for Arena Stage to help them pay off a loan and do renovations. Dr Natalie Hopkinson, AU Professor & Don't Mute DC activist is not happy. She says the DC Commission of Arts & Humanities money for DC go-go musicians was small. While yeah, Arena is now having Step Afrika and occasionally the National has Black touring musicals, this seems a bit much.

Lots of June live music and DJ events happening but can’t do em all. Did see and enjoy Swansea Sound at Quarry House, Samba Prime at Bossa , southern soul multi act bill at Gray’s Beach in Marbury Md on the Potomac; Go-go w/ Still Familiar & EU at MLK Library roof, and English Teacher at Atlantis.

Lots happening this weekend plus Juneteenth next week