As he tends to do, The Upstate Life has broken news of another show coming to the area. Orchestral indie darling Sufjan Stevens will be featured in a show celebrating the tradition of free music at the Kennedy Center. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Millenium Stage, Stevens and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra will join Naval jazz ensemble The Commodores, Alvin Ailey's American Dance Theater and the National Symphany Orchestra for the event on Febraury 5, with each act performing on a different stage best suited for their performance. We've all got some time to mull this over, as ticket information won't be posted until January. more ›

MONDAY >> If you're not high-tailing it to the Maryland end of the Orange line to see the Redskins take on the Vikings, you may want to pay the Black Cat's backstage a visit to see The Whigs. This trio from Athens, GA has been called the "best unsigned band in America" by Rolling Stone. $8, 9 p.m. >> The haunting, violin-driven alt country of the Black Swans is coming our way. Catch these boys... more ›

The music department took a bit of a siesta to watch fireworks, eat hot dogs, and catch Panacea -- the excellent hip hop outfit that rose from the ashes of RPM. As always, if you've got any other suggestions for this week, let us know in the comments. more ›

Monday: Canada's been busy lately, producing musical exports that bring the indie kids to their knees. Check out the latest offering from our neighbors to the north tonight, as Kiss Me Deadly comes to DC9, with the Spoils of NW and Five Four. $5, 9 p.m. more ›

Catherine Andrews contributed to these picks FRIDAY: >> Okay, so it's not quite as groovy as the sing-along versions that swept the country over the last few years, but if you're looking for something a little bit fun and a whole lot wholesome tonight, you could do worse than the National Symphony Orchestra accompanying "The Wizard of Oz" on the lawn at the Wolf Trap. 8:30 p.m., $18 to $38. SATURDAY: >> Chopteeth, a... more ›

MONDAY: >> The definite must-see show this evening is sure to be Q and Not U's performance at Fort Reno. As we reported earlier, the band is breaking up, and this concert will be one of their last. But if you can't make it tonight, don't worry too much - they're playing shows at the Black Cat September 22 and 23. Tonight, the politically-charged hip hop group Son of Nun opens, and the music gets... more ›

MONDAY: >> Didn't grab tickets to the now-sold-out Dinosaur Jr. reunion show at the 9:30 Club? May we suggest craigslist or French Toast, The Chance, and Caution Curves at Fort Reno for free? The Fort Reno show starts at 7:15 p.m.; you can check out some French Toast songs here. >> The DC Hip Hop Theater Festival, a project of the DC Commission on the Arts, features national and international artists and goes on all... more ›

Have you heard anything about Live on Penn making a comeback for the summer? Last summer when DCist was in super-secret beta mode, we actually answered this very same query when the concert series was abruptly stopped in July 2004. So no, no comeback in the works as far as we have heard. But have no fear, Fort Reno's summer lineup was just released today. The series kicks off tomorrow with The Rude Staircase, Sentai... more ›