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At shows, always the more, the merrier -
better for the fans, the bands, and the venues.
Recommendations:
Thursday night, head over to American Prime to catch Naked Grace, and then you may as well stay for the rest of the GovJam 2026 lineup.
Friday, check out the Westover Knights performing at the Westover Beer Garden for charity.
On Saturday, don't miss Sally Baby's Silver Dollars (NPR Tiny Desk finalist) when they play the Rosslyn Jazz Fest. Earlier this summer, they flew in from New Orleans to play the Sculpture Garden, but rain forced them to pop up instead at Clare and Don's—and they blew the roof off the place. They were incredible.
If the weather is nice, check out the fun Stringtown at The Stratford Garden, then afterward head over to rock out with the Rockits at Solace Outpost. I did that exact same combo last month, and it was a blast.
Thursday (9/10)
- The Renegade: Metamorph with Gothic Lizard (Goth / Darkwave / Industrial) 7–11 PM
- Signature Theatre: Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim Musical Theatre) and Something Wonderful: Broadway’s Leading Ladies (Broadway Cabaret) 8 PM
- O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub: Britton James (Acoustic / Rock / Reggae / Covers & Originals) 8:30 PM–Midnight
- Karaoke: Freddie’s Beach Bar 8 PM–1:30 AM
FALLS CHURCH
- Clare & Don’s Beach Shack: Cathy DiToro and Katy Morse (Acoustic Pop / Rock) 6 PM
- JV’s Restaurant: Sol Roots (Blues / Funk / Soul / Rock) 8 PM
TYSONS / McLEAN
- American Prime: GovJam 2026 featuring Naked Grace, Wildflower Revival (Tom Petty Tribute), The “V” and DJ OneLuv (Rock Showcase) 5–10 PM
- Starr Hill Biergarten: Live Music (Performer and Time TBA)
- Karaoke: Shipgarten 7 PM–Midnight
Friday (9/11)
ARLINGTON
- Island Time Bar & Grill: Austin Dean Miller (Acoustic Country / Rock) 5 PM
- Westover Beer Garden: Westover Knights Band—Concert for a Cause (Rock / Pop) 6–9 PM
- Signature Theatre: Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim Musical Theatre) and Something Wonderful: Broadway’s Leading Ladies (Broadway Cabaret) 8 PM
- Bronson Bierhall: Josh Knapp (Solo Acoustic) 8 PM–Midnight
- Three Whistles: The Jazz Trotters (Traditional Jazz / Pop) 8–10 PM
- Samuel Beckett’s: Yasmin 9–11:30 PM
- Celtic House: Live Music 9:30 PM–12:30 AM
- William Jeffrey’s Tavern: Dan Fody 9:30 PM
- Ireland’s Four Courts: Live Music 9:30 PM
- Ragtime: Steve Bray (Acoustic Rock / Pop) 9:30 PM
- Karaoke: Highline RxR 7:30–11:30 PM; Freddie’s Beach Bar 8 PM–1:30 AM
FALLS CHURCH
- JV’s Restaurant: Kevin Dudley (Americana / Western Swing) 4 PM; The Cactus Liquors (Americana / Party Rock) 8:30 PM
- Clare & Don’s Beach Shack: Scuffletown (Acoustic Roots / Blues / Bluegrass) 5:30 PM
- The Casual Pint: The Bad Manors (Folk / Rock / Country Covers) 7 PM
- Clare & Don’s Listening Room: Ben Tufts Birthday Roast 7 PM
- Solace Outpost: Live Music 8–11 PM
- Dogwood Tavern: Brad Pugh (Acoustic Rock / Pop Covers) 9:30 PM
TYSONS
- PenFed Plaza: The Flying Ivories (Dueling Pianos / Audience Requests) 6–8 PM
- Starr Hill Biergarten: LUSH (Party Rock / ’90s and 2000s Covers) 6:30–10 PM
- Capital One Hall: Novasian Chorus—A Decade of Harmony (Choral / Contemporary Pop) 7:30 PM
- Starr Hill Brewpub: DJ Bounce (DJ / Dance) 9 PM–12:30 AM
Saturday (9/12)
ARLINGTON
- Rosslyn Jazz Fest at Gateway Park: Festival runs 1–7 PM
- Dogo du Togo & The Alagaa Beat Band (Psychedelic Rock / Afrobeat) 1 PM
- Parlor Greens (Soul Jazz / Funk) 2:20 PM
- Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars (New Orleans Jazz / Blues / Swing) 3:45 PM
- Plena Libre (Puerto Rican Plena / Bomba / Afro-Caribbean Jazz) 5:30 PM
- Signature Theatre: Something Wonderful: Broadway’s Leading Ladies (Broadway Cabaret) 2 and 8 PM; Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim Musical Theatre) 8 PM
- Island Time Bar & Grill: Acoustic Loop (Acoustic Rock / Pop) 5 PM
- Westover Beer Garden: Front Porch Rockers (Classic Rock / Rock) 5–9 PM
- Three Whistles: Karafolke with Tommy Rueckert (Live-Band Karaoke / Acoustic Rock and Pop) 8–10 PM
- Ballston Local: Anthony Martin with Clint Anderson (Acoustic Rock / Pop) 8:30–11 PM
- Samuel Beckett’s: Spike Burton (Acoustic Rock / Pop) 9–11:30 PM
- Clarendon Ballroom: Ship Wrek (Electronic / Dance) 9 PM
- Celtic House: Live Music 9:30 PM–12:30 AM
- William Jeffrey’s Tavern: Chris Brunn Daly (Acoustic Rock / Pop) 9:30 PM
- Ireland’s Four Courts: Live Music 9:30 PM
- Ragtime: Eric Tubbs (Acoustic Rock / Pop) 9:30 PM
- The Renegade: 7 Deadlies (Classic Rock / Pop Rock) 10 PM
FALLS CHURCH
- JV’s Restaurant: Crowded Minds 4 PM; Fat Chance 8:30 PM
- Clare & Don’s Beach Shack: Jerry Loves Bears (Jam Rock / Grateful Dead–influenced Rock) 6 PM
- The Stratford Garden: Stringtown Band (Indie Rock / Originals and Covers) 7 PM
- Solace Outpost: Pocket Threes (Classic Rock / Country / Disco / Pop) 7:30–8 PM; The Rockits (Rock / Pop / Soul / R&B) 8–11 PM
- The State Theatre: The Legwarmers (’80s Tribute / Dance Party) 9 PM; doors 7:30 PM
- Dogwood Tavern: Meisha Herron & Company (Folk / Blues / Jazz / R&B) 9:30 PM–12:30 AM
TYSONS
- Starr Hill Biergarten: Keeton (’90s Alternative Rock Covers) 6:30–10 PM
- Capital One Hall: Gin Dance Company presents Lightning (Contemporary Dance / Music) 7:30 PM; Virginia Chamber Orchestra presents The Lights of Broadway (Broadway / Orchestral) 8 PM
- Ometeo: DJ Bizzy (Open-Format DJ / Dance) evening
- Starr Hill Brewpub: Justin Trawick & The Common Good (Americana / Folk Rock) 9 PM–12:30 AM
Sunday (9/13)
ARLINGTON
- Metropolitan Park: MoCA on the Move—Fall Family Day with live music and abstract painting with Zhenya Parish (Arts / Family) 10 AM–1 PM
- Signature Theatre: Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim Musical Theatre) and Something Wonderful: Broadway’s Leading Ladies (Broadway Cabaret) 2 PM; Merrily We Roll Along 7:30 PM
- Island Time Bar & Grill: Caleb Hacker (Soul / Pop / Acoustic) 5–7 PM
- Grace at Ballston Quarter: Rend Collective (Irish Folk / Christian Rock) 7 PM
FALLS CHURCH
- JV’s Restaurant: Shiny Jack Trio (Rock / Variety) 4 PM; Wolf’s Blues Show & Sit-in Jam (Blues / Open Jam) 8:30 PM
TYSONS / McLEAN
- Ometeo: Mariachi Oliveros (Mariachi / Mexican Traditional) during Sunday brunch beginning at 11 AM
- Capital One Hall: Good Beats Ensemble, Valentin Kovalev and Project Fusion—Symphonic Quest: Classical Music Meets Video Games (Classical Crossover / Video-Game Music) 5 PM; doors 4 PM
- Starr Hill Tysons: Live Music at Starr Hill Tysons (performer and exact time not yet posted)
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The SoundWave is for the fans, and by the fans. So if you have any ideas, requests, missing venues, bands to watch out for, etc, please email me at [email protected]. Thanks! - Matt


