by Kirstin N. Fuller
On BlackandMarriedwithKids.com June is Staycation Month”...We are also celebrating June as Black Music Month.
Summer is officially here! Families are planning summer vacations to great destinations like Florida or the Cayman Islands. Others are planning a fantastic cruise with Disney, Carnival or Norwegian cruise lines. One of my friends likes to vacation at home – LOL. So Mr. Smith this article is for you. We’re featuring great music-themed things to do in the DMV this summer.
For the month of June we will feature events in DC, Maryland and Virginia that will make your summer staycation great and close to home.
Celebrating Black Music Month, the DC Jazz Festival is going on now through June 13 at various locations throughout the city. It is the largest music festival in DC with over 100 performances. On Saturday June 11 at 7:30 p.m., Grammy award-winning artist Bobby McFerrin takes the stage at the Warner Theater with Howard University’s Afro Blue Reunion Choir for a memorable performance. Tickets prices range from $39-$71.50.
Jazz on the National Mall in the Sylvan Theater starts Sunday afternoon off with a bang featuring popular artist Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor and the exciting salsa star Eddie Palmieri and his All-Star Salsa Orchestra. Jazz on the National Mall concerts start at 1 p.m. and are FREE! Monday (6/13) night at 7:30 p.m. the Kennedy Center comes to live with the sounds of New Orleans. “A Night in Treme: The Musical Majesty of New Orleans,” features performers from the wildly popular HBO series “Treme.” Funky trombonist Big Sam Williams and the Rebirth Brass Band are two of the featured performers. Visit www.kennedy-center.org for tickets (prices range from $20-$65). For information on other DC Jazz festival concerts, please visit www.dcjazzfest.org or call 202-457-7628.
Friday nights are home to free concerts at the Navy Yards Park. Now through August 19, you can enjoy a variety of great music every Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This Friday enjoy the Caribbean stylings of Sam “˜O. On June 24 artist Jimi Smooth takes us back to Motown for classic R&B. On July 1st the group FrameWerk brings a little funk and R&B to the park and reggae sensation JahWorks gets the party started on July 8th. Grab the kids and a few friends and head on over to the Navy Yards Park and enjoy free live music and a variety of food & drinks. The Navy Yards Park is near the Navy Yard metro station. For the complete Friday concert lineup please visit www.yardspark.org or call 202-465-7080.
Enjoy your summer staycation!
–The Travelin Diva (Kirstin N. Fuller of Reservations Travel Guide)