Local multi-instrumentalist Rowan Corbett is turning FIFTY in November, and we’re going to celebrate him with music from almost all his bands! Rowan built his musical credentials while touring across the country with Renaissance Festivals and his Celtic / Irish / Progressive rock band Tinsmith, drawing inspiration from Irish, English and Scottish folk tunes, as well as modern Rock and Electronica artists like Ani DiFranco, Kim Thayal of SoundGarden and Portishead. His versatility, creativity and dedicated work ethic have led him to be a coveted performer on djembe, cajon, bodhrán, guitar, plectrum and clawhammer banjo, bouzouki – and most prominently – Irish rhythm bones. This led him to tour with first the Grammy Award-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops and more recently as a member of the (also Grammy Award-winning) Rhiannon Giddens’ touring band.

In the Baltimore / Washington DC area Rowan Corbett is also one of the singer/songwriters behind some of the geekiest songs in WAMMIE Award-winning Baltimore-based acoustic grunge act ilyAIMY’s repertoire, in which he has performed for the past 25 years. Rowan’s fascination with process, respect for tradition, and joy in the creation of NEW rhythmic and sonic palettes have also led him to join forces both Live and on albums with the Acacia Sears Band, Mosno Al-Moseeki, and The Great Outdoor Fight.

To celebrate Rowan’s 50th birthday, we’ll have performances from

IO : Rowan Corbett and Sharif playing Nine Inch Nails and Tori Amos covers!
The Acacia Sears Band : Rowan Corbett playing percussion for the passionate singer/songwriter stylin’s of Acacia Sears!
Tinsmith : 21st-century neo-Celtic music from Rowan, Brooke Parkhurst and Henry Cross!
And ilyAIMY : percussive acoustic rock from Baltimore, MD in which Rowan Corbett is 1/3 of the singer/songwriting power

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Listen to iconic music with a performance by The VI-Kings—the 60s/70s Soundtrack of Your Life in Glen Echo Park's historic Bumper Car Pavilion! Performing music by The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Byrds, Creedence Clearwater, Dylan, Motown, Eagles, Tom Petty Fleetwood Mac, James Brown, The Traveling Wilburys and Pink Floyd, and more! The six members of this band have been together for over 15 years and have a total of 300 years of performing experience in the DC area. The passion The VI-Kings have for the music of the 60s/70s is as relevant and vibrant as it was the day this music was released.

Food and drink available for purchase; no BYOB allowed at this National Park site.

Admission: 
Advance online sales: $20 + $2.13 credit card fee (advance online sales end at 11:59 pm on July 25)
$22 at the door, with an additional fee of $1.22 for credit card sales.
All tickets held at Will Call. No Refunds. Kids under 10 are free!

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For over 20 years, the award-winning singer/songwriter duo of Heather Aubrey Lloyd and rob Hinkal have co-fronted the percussive acoustic rock-folk group ilyAIMY (ill YAY’ mee). Based out of Baltimore, MD they’ve toured the entire country sharing their sound, their vision, their humour and hope from coast to coast. The Frederick News-Post describes them as “extremely versatile, incredibly skilled and uniquely diverse; reflecting influences from indigenous tunes… an unstoppable driving force.” Acoustic guitars, cello, Irish bones, bodhran, piano and 4-part harmonies from a group of friends who’ve literally spent half their Lives performing together. This afternoon ilyAIMY celebrates rob’s 50^th Birthday in the Ballroom Backroom at Glen Echo – and whether you’re an old friend or new – they’d Love to celebrate with YOU!

“rob Hinkal is arguably the most important figure to local music in the Baltimore / DMV area. His legendary innovative band ilyAIMY continues to explore the finer points of rough house folk music that pulses with energy, wit and an iconoclastic irreverence. rob is also the resource and inspiration for so many local songwriters and musicians.” - Jay Keating, President of Songwriters Association of Washington

$15 | Get Tickets Here 

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Get ready to elevate your piano skills! Join us in Washington Conservatory's Recital Room and take your craft to the next level. Clayton Stephenson, a renowned expert in the field, will be sharing valuable insights and techniques that will inspire and empower you. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from the best in the industry. Secure your spot now!

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Washington Revels Jubilee Voices and the Office of Historic Alexandria’s Division of African American History will celebrate African American music, history and culture in a free concert exploring the themes of freedom, resistance and resilience, from the Civil War through the present day. Join us for an afternoon of traditional African American spirituals, poetry, dance, stories, and audience participation. OFFSITE at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum. 

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Join the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices for an OFFSITE performance at the Opening Ceremonies of an annual Frederick Douglass Birthday Celebration. This free celebration includes music by the Jubilee Voices, a puppet show by Ebony Sonshine, and a Jazz performance by the Finn Murphy Quartet. 

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The Washington Conservatory of Music and Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture presents a A FREE FAMILY EVENT titled “Opera in a Basket”, produced by and in partnership with The CAAPA – Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 10 am in the Bumper Car Pavilion.

This free family event presents opera and its history in a fun way suitable for children of all ages. Come and discover the highlights of opera found in a basket!

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The Washington Folk Festival returns this year after a one-year hiatus on October 19, 12pm to 8:30pm. Now a one-day event, expect a jam-packed roster full of music, dancing, and storytelling ranging from American to International styles: bluegrass to Celtic, Klezmer to Americana, blues to Zydeco, we cover folk music from around the world! Five stages, hundreds of performers, food trucks, a picnic area, and it’s all free! Donations gratefully accepted. Please note that parking is on-site this year so car-pooling is highly recommended.

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The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture is pleased to present a family-friendly Music FREE-for-All over Labor Day Weekend! Join us for FREE live music concerts with music you can dance to—it's like an extended day-long summer concert! Live music will fill the Bumper Car Pavilion from 12pm to 6pm on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Nowhere Men (Beatles acoustic tribute) | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Karen Collins & the Backroads Band | 1:30pm - 2:30pm

Carly Harvey Trio | 3:00pm - 4:00pm

The Experience Band & Show | 4:30pm - 5:30pm

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RSVP preferred, not required. There is no check-in at this event.

In between concerts, be sure to check out the 54th Annual Labor Day Art Show in the Spanish Ballroom, 12:00pm - 6:00pm.

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Tuesday, April 29th 2025 at 7:30pm, come explore the beauty and mystery of the natural world as found in poetry and music. A free concert in Glen Echo’s iconic Bumper Car Pavilion featuring the poetry of Robert Frost, songs of Joni Mitchell, alongside poems submitted by artists from the DC metro area and around the globe, in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Performances include: Helen Hayes award-winning actors Rick Foucheux, and acclaimed vocal artist Christopher Lane, plus, Helen Hayes nominated actor Chris Stezin, Hamner Theater artistic director Boomie Pedersen, Grammy-recognized Chicago trumpeter Markus Rutz, acclaimed jazz pianist Adrian Ruiz, composer and guitarist Richard C. Washer and vocalist Kathleen Manuel.

*This concert is presented in cooperation with The Glen Echo Partnership for Arts & Culture.

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