CALL TO PARTICIPATE: Fun-A-Day DC 2026

Fun-a-Day starts January 1st! Here’s the idea: Pick a project or activity, do it every day(ish) in January, and (if you want) show your work in the Fun-A-Day Showcase in February.

Fun-A-Day DC exists to help folks embrace creative endeavors, big or small.  It’s about starting the year off on a positive, creative note. It’s about growing something beautiful in the dead of winter. Everyone is welcome and you can join at any time in January. Participation is always free, non-juried, and all ages. Stay loose, stay cool. It’s not about the numbers, it’s about the action. It’s about trying to make creativity a part of your daily life.

Your project could be artistic (working on one object/task or creating something new every day/few days.) It could be learning/practicing a new skill (creative, musical, physical.) Or it could be something that brings you joy like reading, writing, exploring, stretching, etc.

If you’d like to participate in DC's Fun-A-Day, you can sign up here!  Need a little inspiration for your own project idea? Check out previous year's projects to get some ideas for your own project.

Exhibit runs January 11 - February 1
Opening Reception: Sunday January 11, 3-5pm
Artist Talk: Thursday January 15, 7:30pm
Live Portraiture Demonstration: Tuesday January 20, 7:30pm
Closing Reception: Sunday February 1, 3-5pm
Open during all events, or email us (info@rhizomedc.org) to schedule a different time to view

Rhizome DC presents “Faces of America,” a Solo Exhibition by Selena Noir Jackson - A Living Archive of Untold Stories and Contemporary Identity - Curated by: Babatunde Olufon

What sets Jackson’s work apart is the depth of connection behind many portraits. Longstanding friendships, such as her 14-year relationship with Michaelanne from Anacostia, generate portraits filled with authenticity and lived knowledge. Her choice to paint artists including Lew, Roxxy, Paulino, Var, and Niki reflects her investment in creative communities and mutual recognition across marginalized groups.

“Trained in classical oil techniques, I use the language of the old masters to build a visual practice rooted in care, inquiry, and dignity. Each figure I paint is rendered with attention to light, surface, and symbolism—mirrors, natural elements, and compositional choices that speak to protection, reflection, and transformation. These are not passive representations; they are living embodiments of memory and becoming.”

Friday January 16 * doors at 7, music at 7:30 * $10-15 * TICKETS

Henbane (from Philadelphia) was formed in the summer of 2023 by Kohoutek percussionist Scott Verrastro and bassist Griffin Vernor Drutchas based on the framework of 1968-1970 Fairport Convention, covering a repertoire of traditional British Isles folk ballads, lyrical gems from '60s and '70s songwriters, and original compositions. Henbane has been called “Dirty Three with Sandy Denny singing” and compared to acts such as Mazzy Star, Palace, and Neko Case.

Mia and the Argonauts - A new quartet from Washington, DC featuring all teachers from Jackson-Reed High School, formerly known as Wilson. Singer-songwriter Mia Chu on guitar and vocals, with James Kelly (Boys Club) on lead guitar, Marc Minsker (MFS JMB & Co.) on bass, and Tom Murphy on drums.

Sagecraft - Long ago, the four genres lived together in harmony: rock, indie, pop, and emo. Everything changed when numetal attacked. Only Sagecraft, master of all genres, could tie them together, but when the world needed them most, they disappeared.

Saturday & Sunday January 17 & 18 * $125 - $225 (scholarships available) * REGISTER (you can also email us to register without paying large processing fees - info at rhizomedc.org)

Rhizome Writers’ Retreat: Calling all writers who need time and space and no distractions! Whether you are just starting a project, thick in the middle of it, or needing to finish it, come spend two full days with other writers at RhizomeDC. You will have your own table and space to throw papers and books on the floor, and lots of quiet. Space will be shared but not tight (if you’ve been to Rhizome, imagine two people in each room, each with their own table). Coffee, tea, snacks, lunch, provided. Wine or beer at the end of the day. The Rhizome Writers Collective knows how hard it is to enter that writerly trance/get sh*t done. We’re here to facilitate the magic! We have space for 8 people.

Click through for schedule details

Saturday January 17 * doors at 6:30 * $10-20 * TICKETS

Bed Maker
https://bedmakerdc.bandcamp.com

Dream Punch
https://dreampunch.bandcamp.com/

Embroidered Bird
https://embroideredbird.bandcamp.com/

Sunday January 18 * doors at 6:30, music at 7 * $12-24 * TICKETS

In Anastasia Coope's world, there is little difference between a confrontation and a welcoming gesture. Listening to her music, one is struck by her gift for vocal harmony and rich personal vision that borrows as much from the light and color of painting as it does from experimental music. The release of Darning Woman in 2024 saw critical acclaim and international success as she pushed the idiom of folk music to its limits. Coope has now responded to the success of Darning Woman by enclosing the space around her voice and casting aside the baggage of her folk forebears. On DOT, her first EP on Bonzo, Coope extends a generous invitation into her inner life, and inside a new musical language built from the gorgeous and the mundane, an everyday sublime. The result is a beauty that is light on its feet and almost abrasive in its clarity, avant-garde and as easy as turning on the radio: What's that song...? 

Autobahn is a three piece band from New York: Findlay Fullarton, Liam Barton, and Louisa Tantillo.

Alligator Hands blends alt-rock, rap, and pop into something honest and hard to define. The Baltimore band formed in late 2024 after Brady Scott (vocals/ukulele) brought a binder of lyrics and chords, written over the past five years, to Ryan Fitzgerald (drums) and AJ Lockner (bass).

Monday January 19 * 6pm * Free * RSVP

TELAS Theater Collective invites you to a free, public film screening series exploring: Forced Migration; Intervention & Extractivism; Mass Incarceration & Policing. Through documentary films, we’ll come together for collective dialogue, creative movement, and social theater exercises, building strategy and action rooted in our local context of militarization and ongoing attacks on Venezuela and the Caribbean.

TELAS Theater Collective les invita a una serie de proyecciones de documentales gratuitas y abiertas al público que exploran: Migración forzada; Intervención y extractivismo; Encarcelamiento masivo y control policial. A través de estos documentales, nos reuniremos para el diálogo colectivo, el movimiento creativo y ejercicios de teatro social, con el fin de construir estrategias y acciones arraigadas en nuestro contexto local de militarización y los ataques continuos contra Venezuela y el Caribe.

Wednesday January 21 * 7pm * $10-20 * TICKETS

Caleb Duval is a improvisor, and bassist from Manchester, Connecticut. He has performed with Joe Morris, Tony Malaby, Tatsuya Nakatani, Brandon Lopez, James McKain, Jack Wright and Mike Pride. He is founder of the record label firstnamelastname, co-organizes the FIM Improvised Music concert series and record label in New Haven, and regularly performs and records with his Connecticut-based extreme metal band Beth. FIM has hosted over 100 shows in the Connecticut area and has presented the music from musicians all over the world.  His work has been featured in The New Haven Independent and Jazz Podium, on BBC3 Radio’s Freeness and at the 2022 Catalytic Sound Festival.

Jeff Surak - distressed sounds for distressed moments.

Rumpus Room - DC-based movement collaborative.

Thursday January 22 * 7pm * $10-20 * TICKETS

@_opensecret_  arrival imminent @rhizome_dc Washington DC. 

OS is an international internet-spawned phenomenon of movies made site-specifically for the web. Its form is defined by a cloud drive that lands in various localities and transforms into a physical screening experience. 

Act 1 presents the core participants of the OS project. Act 2 represents the local curation and unique embodiment of OS in Washington, DC. A performance by Jeremy Ray links the two acts, bridging the gap between human and web through the ephemeral realm of sonic arts. Come and see something you never knew existed, but has always been ready at the touch of a finger.

Act I e.g. Core OS curated forever by @dansdansrev Featuring Films by: @dansdansrev @redactedcut @poorspigga @carcrashdaddy @the.ontological.turnt

Live Performance by @sealedcontainer

Act II e.g. Yotta Meltdown curated by @lumen_floss Featuring Films by: @survival_dance @janice.kei @antimemoria_____ @lumen_floss 

Friday January 23 * doors at 6:30, music at 7 * $20-30 * TICKETS

Transparent Productions presents Pearring Sound with Jeff Pearring (sax), Jon Elbaz (piano), Evan Palmer (bass), and Lou Grassi (drums).

JEFF PEARRING has released four critically endorsed albums under Pearring Sound, and continues to perform under the Pearring Sound moniker with trios, quartets, quintets, and a double trio all formed from thoughtful combinations of world class musicians.

JON ELBAZ is a pianist and composer from New Jersey. His compositional and ensemble approach incorporates interest in the 20th century’s written structures and systems, as well as its many pioneers of improvisation and creative thinking.

EVAN PALMER (they/them) is a bassist, multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator based in Brooklyn. Through improvisation, composition, and an arsenal of traditional and extended techniques, they are developing a deeply personal artistic language and concept that can be heard across their many different projects, from solo bass performances, to hard-hitting free jazz ensembles, to jazz standards and more.

LOU GRASSI is internationally known for his work in both the traditional and the avant-garde jazz worlds. He has literally played from Ragtime to No-Time. Lou appears on more than 80 recordings including more than 30 as a leader or co-leader.

Saturday January 24 * 12pm * $20 * REGISTER

A.R.T. Artists Recovering Together

Expressive painting can help us release stress and gain emotional resilience by uncovering subconscious thoughts and feelings that are difficult to put into words.

In this workshop we will use acrylic inks to create process-based paintings in community with others recovering from addiction. Goals include connection with others, gaining a deeper understanding of our inner worlds, and discovering new ways to use art as a coping mechanism. Facilitated by Kanchan Balsé. Materials included. Email info@rhizomedc.org for scholarships.

Saturday January 24 * doors at 3pm, event at 3:30 * $10-20 * TICKETS

"INDELIBLE" is a hybrid documentary series highlighting performing artists in the DMV and Baltimore. Since 2018, series creator Antonio Hernandez (aka "Electric Llama") has published 15 episodes, and has screened unique edits of the film at venues such as Busboys and Poets, Suns Cinema, Eaton Hotel and The Village Cafe. This will be the first time the project is screening at Rhizome.

Singer, songwriter and producer Jenna Camille, star of Episode 8, will perform live.

Saturday January 24 * 7pm * $10-20 * TICKETS

Sylvia Jones lives in Baltimore, MD, and teaches creative writing at George Washington University. She is poetry editor for Black Lawrence Press—and senior reader for the journal, Ploughshares. Her debut collection —Television Fathers (Meekling Press, 2024) was published last fall. It’s follow-up, Dope Callisthenics—is forthcoming from Relegation Books. Her writing appears in DIAGRAM, Smartish Pace, Shenandoah, R&R Journal, Blackbird, the American Poetry Review, and elsewhere. She earned her M.F.A. from American University in Washington D.C.

Sommer Browning is a poet and writer, mostly. Her latest book is Good Actors (Birds, LLC; 2022). She’s the author of two other collections of poetry, Backup Singers and Either Way I’m Celebrating, as well as the artist book, The Circle Book (Cuneiform Press), the joke book, You’re On My Period (Counterpath), and others. Her poetry, art writing, and visual art have appeared in Hyperallergic, Bomb, Artforum, The American Poetry Review, The Comics Journal, and elsewhere. She lives in Richmond, Virginia.

Sunday January 25 * noon-4pm * $5-10 suggested * RSVP

The DC Modular Society is a group focused on learning, teaching, and performing electronic music with modular synths. DCMS meetups are open to all with an interest in electronic music, modular and other hardware synths, and hybrid systems for creating and performing music. We encourage and support building a diverse and inclusive community—if you’re wondering if you belong—the answer is yes! No equipment is necessary to attend meetups, but feel free to bring gear if you like. Mixer and PA system provided. We frequently do informal demos of synths and electronic music techniques.

Sunday January 25 * 7:30pm * $5-10 * TICKETS

Jam nights are an opportunity for people to show up and create art together. Bring a guitar, sticks, sketch pad, didgeridoo, or your dancing shoes and come vibe. Amps, speakers, drum set, and microphones are provided. Featured artist: Jude Carrisosa @vyscera

Monday January 26 * 7pm * $15 * TICKETS

CHEMICAL-X
hardcore punk from North Jersey
https://chemical-x1.bandcamp.com/

SAAFEWAAY
evil grocery store punk music from DC
https://saafewaay.bandcamp.com/

LIMIT BREAK
Super saiyan hardcore from Baltimore
https://limitbreakbchc.bandcamp.com/

Tuesday January 27 * 7pm * $10-20 * TICKETS

Featuring: Will Mulaney / Jonathan Williger & Alma Laprida / Naoco Wowsugi

ZZZZZZZZZZ is a transcendental sound dozing experience, weaving tones including gong baths, theremins, plant synthesizers, cassette loops, poetry, ambient drones, vinyl DJ sets and more. Drift into a nap, wrapped in experimental soundscapes. Bring a mat, blanket, and water as you wish.

ZZZZZZZZZZ （ズズズズズズズズズズ）は、ゴングバス、テルミン、植物シンセサイザー、カセットループ、詩、アンビエントドローン、そしてヴァイナルDJセットなどの音色を織り交ぜた、超越的なサウンドうたた寝体験です。実験的な音の風景に包まれながら、心地よい眠りへと漂いましょう。マット、毛布、水など、必要に応じてお持ちください。

Source image for flier: instrument by Will Mulaney / Molasses Industries

Wednesday January 28 * 7pm * $10-20 * TICKETS

Jason Anderson is an award-winning indie/folk artist based in New Brunswick, Canada. He has collaborated with Mount Eerie, toured with Kimya Dawson, and worked with a number of seminal independent labels including K Records and Salinas. His songs celebrate the poetry of the present tense, and his legendary live show is a connective, communal experience. Personal and passionate, Anderson's music crackles with life. 

Majda Gama was born in Beirut to a Saudi father and American mother. Her hometown is Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and her roots Hijazi, but she also has a long, complicated relationship with Northern Virginia where her father was stationed in the 1970’s. Majda is the author of the debut poetry collection In the House of Modern Upbringing for Girls, winner of the Wandering Aengus Press prize for poetry, and the chapbook The Call of Paradise selected by Diane Seuss for the Two Sylvia’s press chapbook prize.

Ronya-Lee and the Light Factory is a musical project created by Ronya-Lee Anderson. The Light Factory names that she creates with many lights: collaborators, ancestors & witnesses. A Jamaican singer-songwriter from Washington, DC, her musical stylings fuse folk, soul & rock with underlying strokes of psychedelia. Her enchanting soprano & well-crafted lyricism reveal a unique blend of pop.

Friday January 30 * doors at 6:30, music at 7:15 * $10 * TICKETS

Gifts Ungiven (Virginia Post Hardcore)
https://giftsungiven.bandcamp.com/album/demo

Sesiba (WV Panhandle Hardcore)

Chunder (VA Experimental Hardcore)
https://soundcloud.com/1-only-868540323

Emma Wrath (MD CyberGrind)
https://emmawrath1.bandcamp.com/album/the-adversary-ep

Saturday January 31 * 12-5pm * $15-30 * REGISTER

Mt Plantry is back at Rhizome on January 31st for 4x4x5: An Alternative Darkroom Fair! When you enter, we'll snap a 4"x5" portrait (of you, your art, an object you love, anything!) which you'll develop in coffee. Then you'll take the negative to 3 different stations, each with its own alternative printing process to make 3 very different printed interpretations of your negative. So you'll leave with 4 4x5s (aka 4x4x5!). Keep an eye out as we reveal each of the alt processes over the next few weeks! Admission is $15, with donations over $15 going to DC Migrant Mutual Aid.

Saturday January 31 * doors at 7, show at 8 * $5-15 / sliding scale * TICKETS

Show may contain adult themes.

Sunday February 1 * 11 am * $15 suggested * REGISTER

Learn how to fix that hole on your sleeve with a crochet patch. We will learn the basics of how to make and attach shapes that add detail to projects or can be used to repair holes. No experience necessary, but recommended for best experience: slip knot, single crochet, chain stitch. Supplies will be provided, but bring your own if you like!

Sunday February 1 * 7pm * $15-25 * TICKETS

Prabir Mehta: Prabir will be playing music from his latest album "Prabir From Yoga, Meditation, and The Rest of Life" - a guitar based exploration of various ancient raags. A collection of songs curated for a yoga and meditation practices. Prabir reaches deep into his family roots and offers a new approach to these sacred, treasured aspects of life on the subcontinent of India. Offering some sounds that lead the ear to calm.

Naoco Wowsugi is an interdisciplinary, community-engaged artist. Wowsugi’s extensive fieldwork includes community gong baths that activate the gong as an instrument for deep, broad, and collective listening experiences, often offered on a moon-cycle basis. 

Maya Glicksman draws from her background in earth science and personal connections with land to imagine an environmentally just and resilient future. Her work explores intersections of food, community wellness, and climate resilience in Washington DC. Sound and fermentation are core components of her experimental practice.

Wednesday February 4 * 7pm * $10-30 * TICKETS

Outside Time presents a night celebrating the release of Tone Keepers, a new album of compositions for flute and piccolo by Rachel Beetz.

Rachel will begin the evening by performing Tone Keepers in its entirety. Each piece revolves around a simple but inventive technique for generating acoustic sound coupled with a discrete mode of electronic processing, spinning out variations on the unique effect it produces. She encourages sounds to crystalize rather than expand, uncovering new permutations and emotional dimensions as curiosity leads her forward. The evening will culminate with Rachel leading a performance of James Tenney's "In A Large Open Space," scored for "any 12 or more sustaining instruments." The audience will be invited to move freely among the musicians, who will be spread throughout Rhizome. Performers will be drawn from throughout the DMV's vibrant experimental music communities.

Thursday February 5 * 7pm * $10-20 * TICKETS

I create documentaries about ordinary lives, nostalgia, and memory in rural China: micro worlds you don’t see on the news. I want to protect what existed before the Internet: an old style of life that has quietly continued for thousands of years but is now about to disappear in modern life.

This is my first Chinese documentary series, Before Disappearing. It records the unique dialects of my hometown through my grandma’s experience. I want to show you the voice and language that AI cannot recreate: spoken within a small town, carried through daily life, rarely found online, and vanishing as generations change.

Friday February 6 * doors at 7, music at 7:30 * OFFSITE at Tonal Park * $25-35 * TICKETS

Transparent Productions presents pianist Matthew Shipp, solo, at Tonal Park Studios. Tonal Park is at 7014-C Westmoreland Ave, Takoma Park, MD. Enter through the WOWD entrance at 7014-B. Any questions, email Transparent at transparentprods AT gmail DOT com; please don’t contact Tonal Park.

New York City-based pianist, MATTHEW SHIPP, has collaborated with, among others, David S. Ware, William Parker, Joe Morris, Roscoe Mitchell, Matt Maneri, Darius Jones, Michael Bisio, and Gerald Cleaver. Downbeat describes Shipp as “the connection between the past, present and future for jazzheads of all ages” and as “a musician who deserves a place of choice in the jazz piano pantheon.” He is the author of the book “Black Mystery School Pianists and Other Writings” which was published earlier this year. Shipp’s latest solo piano recording is “The Cosmic Piano” on Cantaloupe Music: https://matthewshipp.bandcamp.com/album/the-cosmic-piano

Friday February 6 * doors at 7, show at 8 * $15 * TICKETS

whitepicketfence -  Inspired by the likes of John Cage, Heroin (the band), The Dead C, and DC punk writ large, Chris Lauterbach (Your Majesty) and Katy Otto (Trophy Wife) have combined forces in their new outfit whitepicketfence. A project over fifteen years in the making, this guitar/drums overblown duo writes ear splitting songs of the quiet desperation and seething fury that modern life provokes.

little a - DC punks making their own noise. Previous members of1905, Birds and Wires, Blue Bodies, Body/Cop, Forensics, & Tiny Bombs.

Boat Burning - Founded by Andras Fekete (1956-2018), BOAT BURNING plays "maximum minimalism" -- elemental phrases that create towers of densely stacked harmonics. The resulting sound combines the wide-screen sweep of classical with the physical thrall of punk.

Saturday February 7 * 1pm * Free / donations * REGISTER

Live Action Role Play is a combination of improv, theater, physical movement, crafts, and just about any genre of story you can think of! All are welcome to these 2-hour LARPs hosted at Rhizome DC, whether you're completely new to the artform or a seasoned veteran.

On Saturday, February 7 from 1-3 pm we're getting into the spirit of Valentine's Day with Group Date by Sara Williamson. In this game for 4-9 people, two groups of players give voice to the different parts of two people's psyches and play out their first three dates before the 'define the relationship.' It's funny, fast-paced, and won't take up your date night!

Saturday February 7 * 3pm * $25 / scholarships available * REGISTER

This is an in-person workshop on the basics of vocal feminization: raising your pitch, shifting your resonance, and sustaining your trained voice. It'll be interactive, so come prepared to try the exercises in a judgment-free setting. Instructor: Jessica Austin

Scholarships available - please email info@rhizomedc.org

To find out more about me or schedule private lessons, visit my website: https://thetransjessicaaustin.com/

Saturday February 7 * doors at 7, show at 7:30 * $10 * TICKETS

Suicide Eyes (PA)
https://suicideeyes.bandcamp.com

False Salvation (PA)
https://rebirthrecordsphl.bandcamp.com/album/false-salvation

Flip the Switch (PA)
https://fliptheswitchlv.bandcamp.com/

Sluggo (DC)
https://sluggohc.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2025

Sunday February 8 * doors at 7, show at 7:30 * $15 * TICKETS

TRHÄ + BARBELITH - Combining black metal with elements of atmospheric & ambient music but with a concentrated improvisational core. https://barbelith.bandcamp.com/album/barbelith-trh

Mass Ego - Blackened Hardcore from Baltimore
https://massego.bandcamp.com/track/sinking-ship

Pilau - Hardcore Punk / Grind from DC
https://council-records.bandcamp.com/album/pressure

Thursday February 12 * 7pm * $15-25 * TICKETS

JeJaWeDa Quartet
Jeb Bishop – trombone, electronics
Jaap Blonk – voice, electronics
Weasel Walter – drums, percussion
Damon Smith – double bass

Instigated by Jaap Blonk, the quartet JaJeWeDa debuted in the spring of 2019 with a series of concerts in the US Northeast.

The band features the great Dutch sound poet and improvisor Jaap Blonk, trombone virtuoso Jeb Bishop, and the versatile and powerful “rhythm section” of bassist Damon Smith and percussionist Weasel Walter.

Jaap Blonk (www.jaapblonk.com) is unique for his powerful stage presence and playful freedom in improvisation, combined with a keen grasp of structure. The frenetically prolific bandleader/composer/multi-instrumentalist Weasel Walter summons myriad timbres from a (mostly) conventional drum kit, while also bringing a strong performative element to the proceedings. Jeb Bishop is an extraordinary improviser, composer, and simply one of the finest living trombonists, and has been a major voice in improvised music for more than 20 years. Tireless organizer, improviser, and Balance Point Acoustics label head Damon Smith expands both the sound world of the double bass and the roles it can play in an ensemble.

The sonic result of this alchemical gamble is a wide-open, unruly field of play where anything can and will happen. The band’s performances run the gamut from delicate chamber textures to cracked-video-game burbling to all-out electronic meltdowns.

Sunday February 15 * 3-5pm * RSVP

Death Cafes are opportunities for people to enjoy refreshments together and discuss the topic of death. The objective is to “increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.” There are Death Cafes all over the country. What's on your mind about death and dying? Contact Death Cafe Facilitators Margaret Branch at margaret603@gmail.com or Monica Lynch at mlynch19@comcast.net.. Death Cafes are NOT therapy, grief support, or counseling sessions. Cost: Free (small donation for the space encouraged)

Monday February 16 * doors at 7pm * $10+ * TICKETS

DC for Palestine presents...

Put Your Hand On Your Soul and Walk - a film by Sepideh Farsi

An intimate window into life in Gaza amidst Israeli bombardment, captured through video calls with photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. 2025.

$10+ with all proceeds going to Gaza mutual aid efforts

Thursday February 19 * doors at 6:30, music at 7 * $20-30 * TICKETS

Washington DC-based ¡FIASCO! was first assembled in 2016 building a unique repertoire of sounds and materials rooted in droning folk songs, jittery hip-hop grooves, grunge, and punk rock. ¡FIASCO! was signed to Unit Records in 2023 and released their Unit debut Anger Artist in January 2024. Throughout years of club gigs, experimentation with original and re-imagined repertoire, and growing sophistication with electronics and effects, combining a jazz form with rock aesthetics and attitude, ¡FIASCO! built a following and a sound uniquely their own. Andrew Frankhouse (sax), Nelson Dougherty (guitar), Steve Arnold (bass), Keith Butler, Jr. (drums).

Hunter, Koray, and Zulfugar are a trio of improvisers with one foot in fusion, jazz, and funk, and the other in outer space. This high-energy group straddles this line, playing mind-bending impromptu compositions that expand horizons.

Friday February 20 * $10-20 * 7pm * TICKETS

Indigo Ranch: Reminiscent of C86-era pop music enveloped in a wall of hiss, Indigo Ranch is Emily Eichelberger (guitar, vocals) and John Pyle (bass, drum machine) of Philadelphia, PA, past and current members of Oaken Tower, Pleasure Island, and Louie Louie. Described as, “A contrite and rainy release, remnant of the saddest and most obscure UK 80s indie pop. The snare is only static as you pass through stations on the radio at 2am. The kick is your pulse. Every song is an unclear disclosure, late night confession, or phone booth lullaby. Neil Taylor would be proud." Or more concisely: Mazzy Star with muscle, Ladytron on cough syrup or if Joy Division was born in Sonora.

Weapons Envelope: harsh noise and power electronics by Emily Haugh (DC). War poetry for remembering.

Levogyre: Found and transmitted sound from DC.

Monday February 23 * doors at 6:30, music at 7pm sharp * $15-25 * TICKETS

Wrekmeister Harmonies: Pastoral doom, droning metal, sonic maximalism from Kingston, NY. On Thrill Jockey Records
https://wrekmeisterharmonies.bandcamp.com/

Sadness: Shoegazey, emotional black metal 
https://sadnessmusic.bandcamp.com/

Oldest Sea: Ethereal heaviness from New Jersey 
https://oldestsea1.bandcamp.com

Witch's Mirror: Magic hour doom from Washington, DC
https://witchsmirror.bandcamp.com/

Thursday February 26 * 7pm * $15-25 * TICKETS

The Wayne Horvitz and Sara Schoenbeck Duo navigate through original tunes and improvisatory soundscapes. With feet firmly planted in a genre-less zone, electronics and an ever-expanding textural palate serve to deepen the feel of a shared melodic language. Their first CD, entitled “Cell Walk”, was released on the Songlines label in May 2020.

Washington, D.C.-based guitarist Anthony Pirog is a musician who knows no stylistic limits. Educated in jazz but enthusiastically embracing diverse forms from indie/punk-informed rock to ambient experimentation, Pirog has emerged as one of the most noteworthy artists on the 21st century D.C. area music scene, defying predictability with live appearances in myriad configurations.

Wednesday March 4 * doors at 6:30, music at 7 * $20-30 * TICKETS

Since his emergence on the west coast in the late 1970s, saxophonist/composer PHILLIP GREENLIEF has achieved international acclaim for his recordings and performances with musicians and composers in the post-jazz continuum as well as new music innovators and virtuosic improvisers. He has performed with Wadada Leo Smith, Meredith Monk, Rashaun Mitchell & Silas Reiner, and They Might Be Giants. Albums include two LANTSKAP LOGIC TRIO releases (w/ Evelyn Davis and Fred Frith), THAT OVERT DESIRE OF OBJECT with Joelle Leandre, ALL AT ONCE with FPR  (Frank Gratkowski and Jon Raskin), and OH THAT MONSTER with LA punk pioneers Thelonious Monster.

KEEFE JACKSON, saxophonist/clarinetist/improvisor/composer, arrived in Chicago in 2001 from his native Fayettevile, Arkansas. He performs regularly in the U.S. and in Europe with many musicians including Pandelis Karayorgis, Tomeka Reid, Tim Daisy, Dave Rempis, Jeb Bishop, Jason Roebke, Jason Adasiewicz, Mike Reed, Jason Stein, Josh Berman, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Frank Rosaly, Oscar Jan Hoogland and Marc Unternaehrer. "...the impeccable logic of his lines and the richness of his tone leave you wanting more... Jackson's high-register squiggles and coarsely voiced, rippling runs push the limits of the tenor's tonal envelope." Trio with Luke Stewart (bass), and Mikel Patrick Avery (drums).

Friday March 6 * 7pm * $15-20 * TICKETS

Ceremony East Coast is the bass and drums duo of John Fedowitz and Sandra Fedowitz playing raw love songs with distortion at glistering volumes. You get fuzz bass lines, ear piercing guitars, savage drums and intense vocals. Nothing polished, highs and lows. Each live show and record is raw, real and Ceremony style: #lovesongswithdistortion.

Osmia started as a recording project in Oregon, currently based in Maine. Sometimes fuzz pedals set to ten and sometimes spacey reverberations. Post rock / post punk genre derivations. Loud, quiet rock and roll for a folk soaked sea coast. This is their second time in DC..

JACKY COUGAR & THE VAMPIRES FROM AFRICA is the electro punk project from Jack Abok (Foul Swoops, Des Demonas, Sex Faces) melding his love of the delta blues, hip hop, post punk and Krautrock with Hana Racecar, his bandmate from Sex Faces ripping raw primitive beats.

Caustic Hologram is our hadean algorithmic cyberverse designed to fragment our souls into terminal consumption. They are also a band and a group of friends navigating this dystopian timeline together who believe in the unifying magic of repetitive rhythms and raucous dissonance.

Sunday March 8 * 1pm * in the backyard * $15-25 * REGISTER

Itching to get creative? Come dye with me! This class will cover making and dyeing with indigo, including the basics of shibori (Japanese tie-dye). You'll learn how to:-make an indigo vat-dye with indigo for long-lasting color-tie up the cloth for a variety of beautiful patterns-care for your indigo-dyed itemsEach participant will receive 1 bandana to dye with. All other materials provided. You may bring a few additional items to dye from home. Small to medium sized items with 50% or more natural fiber content work best.. In addition, wear clothing that you don't mind getting stained. Bring an apron if you wish, and rubber gloves if you have them.

Instructor: Sophie Kanter: www.thebluesti.com/

Sunday March 8 * 7pm * $15-25 * TICKETS

Peter Evans (trumpet) and Sam Pluta (electronics) have been collaborating since 2008 in a wide variety of contexts. Their music bridges Evans' efforts to explore new sonic worlds for a traditional acoustic instrument with Pluta's customized and highly flexible software. Their instruments are at some points fused into a unified sonic entity indistinguishable as two voices, while at others engaged in violent counterpoint. 

Heather Stebbins is a DC-based composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work explores the porous boundary between memory and emotion. She foregrounds cello, synthesizer, and an array of other electronics, creating music that is imbued with patience, unfolding slowly over the course of multi-movement suites.

Pianist Ning Yu emerges as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary music. Ning brings virtuosity and adventurous spirit to a wide range of music, both in solo performances and in collaborations with some of today’s most distinguished creative artists.

Erin Demastes is an experimental composer, performer, and sound artist. She uses everyday objects and hacked electronics for her installations and performances and subverts their use and perception with play and experimentation.

Wednesday March 18 * doors at 6:30, music at 7:30 * $20-35 * TICKETS

Presented by Transparent Productions in collaboration with the 2026 Washington Women in Jazz Festival. 

Alex Hamburger Quartet: Alex Hamburger (flute/voice), José Luiz Martins (piano), Tyrone Allen II (bass), Eliza Salem (drums)

Samantha Kochis Quintet: Samantha Kochis (flute), Judette Elliston (voice), Matei Predescu (piano), Finn Carroll (bass), Josh Mathews (drums) 

For the last decade, flutist, vocalist and composer Alex Hamburger has been creating her own musical direction. Her debut And She Spoke gave voice to female poets and composers while her acclaimed sophomore album, What If?, blended acoustic and electric textures to explore transformation and perception.

Samantha Kochis is a Brooklyn-based flutist, improviser, and composer who explores various creative environments as an artist of experimental music. In her creative works, Samantha draws from the tradition of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation to engage in sonic conversations with listeners and collaborators alike. Her playing is described as “deeply intentioned” and “sensitive yet powerful”.

Friday March 20 * doors at 7, music at 7:30 * $10-20 * TICKETS

Quiet Room is a grunge fusion rock band consisting of four musicians from across the greater DMV area. Quiet Room features guitarist Ja’Wuan Martin-Cooper, mountain dulcimer player Thiel Secrist, bassist Yvonna Liszewski, and drummer Arturo Carchedi exploring many different sounds at once to invite listeners in while simultaneously pushing boundaries.

Holy Terror is a progressive Cold Wave band from Silver Spring, Maryland. They compose music for the Dance Dance Revolution cabinets in Hell with lyrics circling mortality, the sacred, and human sacrifice. Holy Terror is a power trio featuring Robin Zeng on Drums and providing the live visual elements, Sly Samudre on Keys and Vocals, & Christopher Luis-Jorge on Bass and Lead Vocals. 

Kinoko is self-conscious, self-irreverent, diy emo.

Sunday March 22 * doors at 6, music at 7 * $15 * TICKETS

$500 is a three-piece rock band from Kingston, NY. Consisting of longtime musical collaborators and couple Kaitlyn Flanagan and Ian Donohue with Lilly Griffin on drums. They self-released their debut album Twelve Eyes in September of 2025. https://500dollars.bandcamp.com/album/twelve-eyes 

File Select are a three-piece band from Baltimore, Maryland. Their latest release is the 2019 EP , John Connor's Last Words.
https://fileselect.bandcamp.com/album/john-connors-last-words

The Armors (DC) combine hard-hitting classic rock swagger and punk rock urgency while nodding to the emo born out of DC’s Revolution Summer. https://thearmors.bandcamp.com/album/ep

Friday April 17 * doors at 6:30, music at 7 * $20-30 * TICKETS

The Brooklyn, NY based collaborative trio Ember sits at the crossroads of musical and personal exploration. Each of the members— Caleb Wheeler Curtis (stritch, sopranino, trumpet), Noah Garabedian (bass), and Vinnie Sperrazza (drums)— are integral parts of the NY jazz and creative music communities as leaders, collaborators and instigators. Founded in 2018, inspired by Arthur Blythe, Henry Threadgill/AIR, Steven Bernstein/ Sex Mob, and Jason Moran/Bandwagon, Ember’s music is open and expressive but down-to-earth, direct, and emotive. Their latest release, "August in March" is available everywhere via Imani Records.

Friday May 22 * doors at 7, show at 7:30 * $15 * TICKETS

Red Brick presents:

ROBBER ROBBER (Burlington, Vermont) - "Pinpointing the specific catalyst for an avalanche can be slippery — any combination of classic elements, human interference, or freak accident can trigger disaster — and documenting these precise moments often rests on serendipitous reflexes. On Two Wheels Move the Soul, Robber Robber offer themselves as ignition and capture every sound in the wake. Involuntarily thrust into the throws of rootless nomadism, Robber Robber ringleader Nina Cates collects a series of pressurized vignettes to assemble the Burlington quartet’s thrillingly explosive sophomore album….”