Alexandria’s fall music calendar is packed with performances from Sept. 22 through Dec. 21, featuring Grammy winners, breakthrough artists, and community events across the city. Here are the standout shows:
The Birchmere
Alexandria’s fall season includes more than 60 shows at the venue alone, featuring multiple Grammy winners, comedy legends and breakthrough artists. The venue uses first-come, first-served general admission seating. Patrons should arrive early to receive an entry number for the best table locations.
Five-time Grammy winner Robert Cray brings his blues guitar mastery Sept. 24. Iris DeMent follows Sept. 25, then The Wallflowers with Brother Elsey perform Sept. 26-27. Saturday’s show is sold out, but Friday tickets remain available.
Ten-time Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval closes September on Sept. 28. The Kennedy Center Honors recipient will perform Afro-Cuban jazz at The Birchmere, the 500-seat venue that has anchored Alexandria’s music scene since 1980.
October opens with Pink Martini All-Stars featuring NPR’s Ari Shapiro on Oct. 2. Comedian Trae Crowder performs Oct. 3 — that show is sold out. Old No. 1 at 50 celebrates Guy Clark’s legacy Oct. 4, and three-time Grammy winner Lori McKenna performs Oct. 5.
Sierra Hull and John Craigie team up Oct. 8, followed by R&B legends The Whispers on Oct. 10-11. Jazz trio GoGo Penguin takes the stage Oct. 12, yacht rock band Yächtley Crëw performs Oct. 14, and singer-songwriter Joshua Radin with Brendan James plays Oct. 15.
Later in October: Young Gun Silver Fox (Oct. 16), Shaun Cassidy’s “Road To Us” tour Oct. 17 (sold out), and Grammy winners The SteelDrivers Oct. 18-19 (Saturday sold out). Squirrel Nut Zippers perform Oct. 21, Noah Reid takes the stage Oct. 22, and Thomas Dolby shares stories from his “Iconic ’80s” tour Oct. 23.
R&B icon Jeffrey Osborne closes the month with sold-out shows Oct. 24-25, followed by Phil Vassar Oct. 26 and Cam Oct. 28. October ends with Kathy Mattea on Oct. 30 and folk legend Tom Paxton on Halloween.
November features violinist John Violinist Nov. 1, jazz pianist Keiko Matsui Nov. 2, and guitar master Richard Thompson Nov. 3. Macy Gray celebrates her classic album’s 25th anniversary Nov. 4, and smooth jazz saxophonist Boney James performs Nov. 5.
Micky Dolenz of The Monkees performs Nov. 6, dobro legend Jerry Douglas takes the stage Nov. 7, and saxophonist Najee plays Nov. 8. Blackmore’s Night performs Nov. 9, followed by Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin Nov. 10. Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox brings their holiday tour Nov. 11-12, and Colin Hay performs Nov. 13-14 (Friday sold out).
Ukrainian folk quartet DakhaBrakha performs Nov. 15, Marshall Crenshaw plays Nov. 16, and Debbie Gibson delivers her greatest hits Nov. 19. Comedy duo Jonathan Coulton and Paul & Storm perform Nov. 20, comedian Paula Poundstone takes the stage Nov. 21-22, and singer-songwriter Vienna Teng performs Nov. 23.
Thanksgiving weekend features bluegrass legends The Seldom Scene and Dry Branch Fire Squad on Nov. 28, The Manhattans on Nov. 29, and Charles Esten on Nov. 30.
December shows include Aimee Mann and Ted Leo’s Christmas Show Dec. 2, blues master Tab Benoit Dec. 3, and a cappella legends Take 6 Dec. 4. Trumpet virtuoso Chris Botti performs Dec. 5-6, followed by A Peter White Christmas with Mindi Abair Dec. 7.
The season concludes with Musiq Soulchild Dec. 8-9, Stella Cole Dec. 10, Eric Benet’s Holiday Tour Dec. 11, and Bob Schneider and Steve Poltz Dec. 12. Jazz fusion group Pieces of a Dream performs Dec. 13, Don McLean delivers “A Starry Starry Christmas” Dec. 14, country songwriter Mac McAnally performs Dec. 16-17, Virginia band Carbon Leaf plays Dec. 18-19, filmmaker John Waters brings his Christmas stories Dec. 20, and Luther Re-Lives Holiday Show closes the season Dec. 21.
Sevareid House
Sevareid House hosts intimate house concerts featuring Walt Wilkins and Marc Douglas Berardo Sept. 27, Kim Richey Oct. 25, The Honey Dewdrops Nov. 8, and Jesse Terry Dec. 6.
Alexandria Choral Society
The Alexandria Choral Society opens its 2025-2026 season with “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Oct. 26, a collaboration with the Alexandria Children’s Chorus. The group’s December concert, “The Weary World Rejoices,” performs Dec. 13.
George Washington Masonic National Memorial
The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association performs at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial with “Wild, Wild West” on Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. The program includes Elmer Bernstein’s “Magnificent Seven,” William Grant Still’s “American Scenes: The Far West,” and Aaron Copland’s “Four Dance Episodes from ‘Rodeo.'” The holiday concert “It’s Magic!” Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. features Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1 “Winter Dreams” and holiday classics with soprano Joan Ellison.
The Lyceum
The Lyceum continues Alexandria’s tradition of hosting traveling musicians in the same hall that welcomed European performers in the 1840s and 1850s. The Traditional Music Series features Critton Hollow String Band Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Celtic duo House of Hamill Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m., and John Doyle and Mick McAuley performing “An Irish Christmas” Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Historic Christ Church
Historic Christ Church, where George Washington worshipped, hosts free lunchtime concerts the second Monday of each month at 12:15 p.m. Fall performances include organist Paul Byssainthe Jr. playing works by Bach, Willis, and Bridge Oct. 13; violinist Freya Creech performing fantasias for solo violin Nov. 10; and Gut, Wind, and Wire presenting Celtic Christmas music Dec. 8.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
The Washington Bach Consort brings historically informed baroque performance to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The Chamber Series features Chelys: the Voice of the Viol, Oct. 16-17 at 7 p.m., and The Cryes of London, Nov. 14-15 at 7 p.m.
Alexandria Jazz Fest Pop Up Series
The Alexandria Jazz Fest brings free jazz performances to neighborhoods across the city. The Improviso Jazz Band performs at Montgomery Park, 901 N. Royal St., Oct. 5 from noon to 2 p.m., with art activities and poetry readings. The series continues Nov. 2 from noon to 2 p.m. at Four Mile Run Farmers Market, 4109 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Community Events
Alexandria’s community events include Art on the Avenue on Mt. Vernon Avenue on Oct. 4, Alexandria Oktoberfest at the waterfront on Sept. 27, the Ethiopian Fall Festival on Oct. 12, and the Alexandria Cider Festival on Nov. 22.
Galactic Panther Art Gallery
Galactic Panther Art Gallery hosts live music showcases featuring emerging indie, punk, and experimental artists alongside art exhibitions.
