11 Must-See Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring

Spring in the DC area is stacked with live music. Whether you want a full festival weekend, an outdoor dance party, or a big-name concert, this season’s lineup offers a little bit of everything. From electronic music and bluegrass to rock, pop, and R&B, these 11 events bring major artists and distinct live experiences to venues across the region.

1. Project Glow Fest and Block Party

RFK Festival Grounds

April 18, May 30–31

Project Glow returns this spring with another high-energy weekend centered on electronic and dance music. The festival features three stages and more than 50 artists, DJs, and producers over two days. This year also adds a pre-festival block party on Pennsylvania Avenue with Chris Lake, giving fans another chance to keep the momentum going before the main event.

2. Black Coffee

Anthem Row

April 19

Black Coffee’s DC appearance has the scale and feel of a festival, even though it’s a single open-air concert. Teaming up again with Nu Androids, the Grammy-winning South African DJ brings his soulful house sound outdoors to Anthem Row. With art installations, a 360-degree bar, and open space for dancing, the setup is designed as much for atmosphere as for music.

3. M3 Rock Festival

Merriweather Post Pavilion

May 1–2

For more than 15 years, M3 Rock Festival has been a destination for fans of hard rock and metal. This year’s edition keeps that tradition going with veteran acts including Queensrÿche, Buckcherry, and Tom Keifer of Cinderella. It’s the kind of festival built for loud guitars, big hooks, and a crowd that wants to relive the glory of arena rock.

4. Del Fest

Allegany County Fairgrounds

May 21–24

Del Fest brings a different kind of spring music experience. Set in Cumberland, this family-friendly festival centers on bluegrass and roots music, with options to attend for a day or stay on-site for the full run. The Del McCoury Band and the Travelin’ McCourys headline a lineup that also includes Alison Krauss, Toy Factory Project, and others. Beyond the music, the festival includes camping, food vendors, yoga, a kids’ zone, and late-night concerts.

5. Hayley Williams

The Fillmore Silver Spring

April 15

Hayley Williams heads to Silver Spring for a solo performance tied to her third project, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party. Best known as Paramore’s frontwoman, Williams brings a more personal spotlight to this show, leaning into the storytelling and emotional directness that shape her solo work.

6. Lily Allen

Warner Theatre

April 19

Lily Allen stops at Warner Theatre in support of her album West End Girl. The record pairs soul-pop melodies with candid reflections on her relationship with David Harbour. That mix of vulnerability and sharp songwriting gives this show its appeal, especially for fans drawn to pop that feels personal without losing its edge.

7. RAYE

The Anthem

April 26

RAYE arrives at The Anthem with plenty of momentum behind her. Her song “Where is My Husband!” has become a viral hit, and this concert gives audiences the chance to hear more of her genre-blending material in a live setting. It’s a performance likely to draw both dedicated fans and listeners who discovered her through social media.

8. Bruno Mars

Northwest Stadium

May 2–3

Bruno Mars returns to DC after nearly a decade away from touring, bringing two large-scale shows to Northwest Stadium. Backed by the release of his new album The Romantic, he’s set to deliver the kind of polished, crowd-pleasing performance that has made him one of pop’s most recognizable live acts.

9. Sting

Wolf Trap

May 21–23

Few venues suit Sting better than Wolf Trap’s Filene Center. Over three nights, the longtime rock icon performs in the open-air amphitheater alongside Dominic Miller and Chris Maas. With a catalog that stretches back to the 1970s, Sting’s spring run offers the chance to hear legendary material in a setting built for a more immersive live experience.

10. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Nationals Park

May 27

Bruce Springsteen returns to DC with the E Street Band for another stadium show, this time at Nationals Park. After previous marathon performances in the city, he once again brings the kind of full-force concert fans expect: a sweeping rock set, a powerhouse backing band, and songs that tap directly into nostalgia.

11. Ari Lennox

MGM National Harbor

May 30–31

Ari Lennox closes out the list with a homecoming performance at MGM National Harbor. The DC native’s two-night run follows the release of Vacancy, a sensual album that includes references to the District. That local connection gives the shows extra weight, turning them into both a celebration of new music and a return to home turf.

Spring’s live music calendar around DC is unusually deep this year. Whether you want dance music in the open air, a multi-day bluegrass weekend, classic rock veterans, or major pop and R&B names, these 11 events offer plenty of reasons to get tickets and make plans.