Third Eye Blind and Dashboard Confessional

When: June 17, 2015
Where: Peir 6 Pavilion
Tickets: Ticketfly 

Tell the angst-ridden teen in you that is freaking out over this to take a couple of deep breaths and then reassure them that yes: this is indeed real. The emo royals who once ruled your AIM profile (don’t lie) and sang about “screaming infidelities” is reuniting for the first time in 5 years with none other than Third Eye Blind. Need I say more?

Panda Funk

ft. Dirty Audio, Deorro, Zoo Funktion, and Iez

When: June 26, 2015
Where: Echostage
Tickets: Wantickets 

“What good is art if no one gets to enjoy it?” Excellent question, Deorro. Panda Funk, lead by Deorro himself, is a west coast record label that prides itself on discovering new artists and letting them explore their capabilities. They aim to keep music as authentic and real as possible, and their show this summer at Echostage should prove to any skeptics just what they’re about.

Foo Fighters 20th Anniversary Blowout

When: July 7, 2015
Where: RFK Stadium
Tickets: Ticketmaster

Saying that this is a concert of colossal proportions would still be putting it mildly. To celebrate their 20th anniversary as one of the greatest, most influential rock bands alive (not to mention the coolest – have you ever read an interview with Dave Grohl? What a guy), the band is bringing together many of the groundbreaking American acts featured in their HBO docuseries, Sonic Highways: Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr., Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, LL Cool J feat. DJ Z-Trip – the list just goes on.

In the words of Wayne and Garth: We’re not worthy!

Taylor Swift

When: July 13-14, 2015
Where: Nationals Park
Tickets: Tickets.com

Leave a blank space in your calendar open! It’s time to party like it’s 1989! If you can’t make it one day, shake it off because there’s a second show!

I’ll stop.

But in all seriousness, my girl T-Swift deserves some credit: Her last album shattered the sales of whatever it was Justin Beiber put out and that is something everyone can get on board with. She’s also broken a few Guinness records that haven’t been touched (or realized) since the pre-Napster and mp3 days when TRL was the deciding factor of who achieved platinum status (#throwback #missyouCarson #rememberwhenDiddyranonthattreadmill?). And she’s coming to DC’s beloved Nationals Park.

Adventure Club

When: July 17, 2015
Where: Echostage
Tickets: Wantickets 

The Montreal duo started out as a pop-punk band, but after getting bored they switched to the high energy dubstep genre of EDM, generating their initial fan base with a remix of Brand New’s “Daisy”. Taking influence from Echostage veterans such as Tiesto, Skrillex, and Flux Pavillion, Adventure Club’s high energy Christian Srigley and Leighton James are no strangers to the festival circuit: appearing at both EDC Vegas and Ultra Miami in the past few years – their DC show will most definitely be worth checking out.

Nicki Minaj

When: July 22, 2015
Where: Jiffy Lube Live
Tickets: Live Nation

Nicki Minaj’s The Pinkprint Tour hits Jiffy Lube Live this July, bringing special guests Meek Mill, Rae Sremmurd, Tenashe, and Dej Loaf with her. If the trap/rap/pop mix on her December ’14 album is any indication of this tour’s direction, it’ll definitely be a rager on pace with the over-the-top style and attitude we’ve all come to know and love.

Flo Rida

When: July 24, 2015
Where: Echostage
Tickets: Ticketmaster

Southern rapper Flo Rida makes his Echostage debut this July following his October 2014 EP release My House. Having performed and worked with artists such as DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, and, of course, T-Pain (a collab which resulted in a Grammy win for “Low”), this show is sure to be a blowout. Tables and tickets are still available for now, but will more than likely sell out soon. If you want to be a part of this party, I’d get on it quick.

Milky Chance

When: July 27, 2015
Where: Echostage
Tickets: Ticketmaster

The German duo Milky Chance are quickly rising to fame with their laid-back blend of slinky dance beats, acoustic details, and soulful vocals. Their hit single “Stolen Dance” came out in 2013, but didn’t catch on stateside until late 2014.  When it did, though, the song shot to #39 on the Billboard Top 100 in just a few short weeks. Still not sold? Give “Down by the River” and “Flashed Junk Mind” a listen, I dare you to not immediately purchase tickets.

Moonrise Festival

When: August 8-9, 2015
Where: Pimlico Race Course
Tickets: Ticketmaster

Oh. Shit.

It’s back: two days of the best music Glow DC has to offer – which, coming from the people who put the #2 club in the country on the map, is a whole lot. Think Coachella just for EDM, but Coachella in it’s pre-commercialized golden days when it was more about the music and less about who was in attendance wearing godknowswhat (although, to be honest, the fashion will probably still be pretty awesome). Not as awesome as the acts themselves, though: check ClubGlow.com for lineup announcements leading up to the big day.

J. Cole

with special guests Big Sean, Jeremih, and YG

When: August 9, 2015
Where: Jiffy Lube Live
Tickets: Ticketmonster 

J. Cole brings his Forest Hills Drive tour to VA this Summer, accompanied by hiphop artist Big Sean, contemporary R&B singer Jeremih, and Compton rapper YG (you may recognize those last two from the radio-regular earworm “Don’t Tell ‘Em”). Approved and promoted by Jay-Z, J. Cole has been known to put on a energetic, diverse show: blending rap with jazz, R&B, funk, and neo soul with a love of storytelling. If anything, you should go to this purely for the “I heard it first” bragging rights –  Billboard is predicting big things for guy’s future.

Twenty One Pilots

with special guest Echosmith

When: September 8-9, 2015
Where: Echostage
Tickets: Ticketmaster

Anyone who has lived in the DMV area knows that September still counts as Summer, so finish yours off with a show that has been selling so well and so fast they added a second night. Animated indie-rockers Twenty-One Pilots mix elements of hip hop, hard rock, and pop into performances that have consistently left fans wanting more. Bonus: Echosmith is their special guest. Be there and be like the cool kids (zing!).