When people think of Washington, D.C., they normally think of politics. But Brian Nelson-Palmer hopes to change that. As the director and host of DC Music Rocks, a syndicated FM radio show operating out of Arlington that spotlights and plays local D.C. area artists, Nelson-Palmer knows that D.C. is more than what most people make it out to be.
“The concept came from when my friend asked, ‘Oh, the local D.C. music scene, how is it?’” he says. “I’d tell him it’s incredible but most of the community itself, the people who are in the local music scene, have a hard time finding it.”
He compares the experience of finding local talent as finding “hidden treasure.”
“Oftentimes these people … you’re gonna see them kill it on stage and then might run into them the next day at the grocery store because they live in your neighborhood, a few blocks away, right down the street,” Nelson-Palmer says. “You have an opportunity to have a relationship with the music, it’s not just something you hear on the radio from somebody who lives on the other side of the country. It’s your neighbor who happens to create great art and you can have a relationship with that art.”
In his experience, Nelson-Palmer points out the D.C. region’s culture serves as an incubator for unique and talented artists.
“D.C. is home to some of the smartest people in the country, and really brilliant people oftentimes have side hobbies making really amazing art,” he says. “It’s home to a very healthy community of full-time musicians but just as many if not more of the bands that you find are made up of people with full-time jobs that do art on the side because they love it. It turns out that art is incredible because just like they’re super talented in their day jobs and are really good upstanding professionals, they’re incredible artists.”
For those that want the opportunity to explore the local scene, DC Music Rocks will host its second annual festival at the 9:30 Club on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.
The festival will showcase five local bands, including Fellowcraft and Pebble to Pearl, ranging in genres from hip-hop and funk to pop and classic rock. There will also be two singer-songwriters, Maryjo Mattea and Justin Shapiro, which were voted as fan favorites.
“The joy for me in creating this festival is giving the opportunity to local artists,” Nelson-Palmer says. “They’re playing at these out of the way places, but they do such a great job that I love the opportunity to have a great stage, a great venue and great local artists all together as a celebration for our community right here in town.”
A portion of the proceeds from the show will be given to Girls Rock! DC, a local music organization that hopes to educate and inspire girls, non-binary and trans youth to develop self-confidence and build a sense of community through music.
In the future, Nelson-Palmer hopes that the festival will grow and expand to bigger venues. However, Nelson-Palmer believes that the festival is more than just a concert. He believes that it’s a welcoming event for the community to experience something new.
“It’s an invitation to come join the local music community because it really is an incredible part of life in D.C. and I hope that it’s a part of your life in D.C. as well,” he says. “Make it an adventure.”
Those interested in learning more about local music can tune into DC Music Rocks every Tuesday at 5 p.m. on 96.7 FM. // www.dcmusicrocks.com
