Wolf Trap announced its 2024 summer performances at the Filene Center. The star-studded acts range from Brittany Howard to Gladys Knight. Many of your favorites will return, including John Legend, Lyle Lovett, and Wynton Marsalis.
Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, February 16. Additional summer artists and the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods performances will be announced in the spring.
Here’s some of what the lineup looks like, so far:
The Beach Boys
June 2
Sing and dance along to iconic summer songs like “Fun, Fun, Fun” and “Good Vibrations” with The Beach Boys, led by Mike Love.
John Legend
June 4–6
You see him as a coach on The Voice. Now see the multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and producer who has 12 Grammy awards as he comes back to Wolf Trap for three shows with his band and the Wolf Trap Orchestra. Last year, he regaled the audience with poignant stories about himself.
Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight
June 8
The friendship between the legendary duo has spanned more than six decades. They’ve taken the stage together many times before. See them belt some of their best R&B classics during this special show.
Gary Clark Jr.
June 9
The Austin, Texas, blues guitarist who released four new songs in January makes a debut at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center. Expect to hear music from his newest album, JPEG Raw, which his bio said picks up where his last album, This Land, left off. This Land earned Clark three Grammys and a fourth nomination.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
June 15
Big brass sounds will be in the air as Trombone Shorty brings the language of the Big Easy to Wolf Trap for one night. Of course, if you really want to see him sooner as well, he’s playing Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in March and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in May.
Gipsy Kings
June 16
Over the years the pop-flamenco group from the south of France has added a little bit of everything from Cuban music to reggae to jazz to its work. There’s no doubt that lead singer Nicolás Reyes will have you wanting to dance.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
June 18–19
Last year, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were supposed to play Wolf Trap, but poor air quality from the Canadian wildfires postponed the show until this summer. Expect the former lead singer for Led Zeppelin and the bluegrass queen to bring together some harmonies you’ll never forget for two nights.
Wilco
June 20
A little over a week before Wilco’s Sound Solid three-day concert festival begins in Massachusetts, lead singer Jeff Tweedy and the rest of the Chicago alt-rock band take the stage at Wolf Trap.
Così fan tutte
June 21, 23, 27, & 29
Enjoy Mozart’s whimsical opera about two sisters and their soldier boyfriends as they play a complicated game of gender versus gender.
Brittany Howard
June 22
Brittany Howard, the Alabama Shakes lead singer who’s now a solo artist, brings her soulful vocals to Wolf Trap’s Out & About Festival that celebrates Pride on three stages. Set to play the festival with Howard are indie icon Jenny Lewis, alternative rocker Kim Gordon, Quinn Christopherson, Tiny Habits, Okan, Be Steadwell, and Laura Doherty & The Heartbreakers. Howard’s new single “Prove It To You” just came out, and hers is the voice you will hear in the upcoming Netflix movie, Thelma the Unicorn, out on May 17.
Shreya Ghoshal
June 28
Indian singer and Bollywood megastar Shreya Ghoshal brings her music to Wolf Trap for one night. Expect to hear some romantic ballads from the now Indian Idol judge.
Star Wars: A New Hope
July 13
The National Symphony Orchestra plays John Williams’ Oscar-winning score to the 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope.
La bohème
July 19
Giacomo Puccini’s tribute to bohemian Paris comes to the Filene Center as the Wolf Trap opera presents La bohème with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Neil Gaiman
July 20
Bestselling author Neil Gaiman describes what he does as: “I make things up and write them down.” He returns to the Filene Center. The English writer, known for Good Omen and the award-winning comic book series, The Sandman, was one of Time Magazine‘s most influential people of 2023.
Michael Feinstein
June 26
This singer-songwriter will perform a powerful tribute concert to the career of Tony Bennett, accompanied by The Carnegie Hall Big Band. Together, Feinstein and the band will perform interpretations of songs like “Rags to Riches” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
Black Pumas
July 28
The psychedelic soul duo of singer-songwriter Eric Burton and guitarist-producer Adrian Quesada makes a debut appearance at the Filene Center, just a day after playing at FloydFest in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!
August 1
National Public Radio’s Peabody Award–winning news quiz takes the stage for an entertaining evening that will keep you laughing.
Lauren Daigle
August 3
Another artist appearing for the first time at Wolf Trap is contemporary Christian pop star Lauren Daigle. The two-time Grammy winner’s most recent self-titled double album that came out last fall infuses a little hip-hop, soul, and acoustic ballads into the mix.
Lyle Lovett
August 9
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band never disappoint as Wolf Trap regulars. The Americana singer-songwriter from Texas offers up witty lyrics and a fun night of music. Lovett, who has a total of four Grammys and 18 nominations overall, most recently won the Americana performance category in 2023.
Silent Night
August 9, 11, 15, & 17
Kevin Puts’ Pulitzer Prize–winning opera comes to The Barns at Wolf Trap for four performances. It recounts a spontaneous cease-fire that occurred during World War I among Scottish, French, and German troops.
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
August 15
Expect a wide-ranging repertoire as the world-renowned jazz musician, trumpeter, and composer directs the orchestra.
Boyz II Men and Bell Biv Devoe
August 17–18
Boyz II Men brings “Motownphilly” to Vienna. The iconic 1990s group from Philadelphia returns with smooth harmonies and soulful ballads. And with the band will be Bell Biv Devoe, the hip-hop and R&B group that came out of New Edition.
Andrew Bird with Amadou & Mariam
August 21
Look for indie rock artist Andrew Bird to wow the crowd with his ability to play multiple instruments, sing, and whistle. The music of husband-and-wife duo, Amadou & Mariam, music mixes rock, blues, and influences from their native Mali.
Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge
August 25
The Indigo Girls of “Closer to Fine” fame and Melissa Etheridge, known for “Come to My Window,” are on a joint summer tour. Expect an evening of memorable tunes as they take the stage.
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack with the National Symphony Orchestra
August 28–29
Grateful Dead founding member Bobby Weir plays with the Wolf Bros — Don Was, Jay Lane, and Jeff Chimenti. They’re bringing The Wolfpack, a string and brass quintet, to the two-night party, where they’ll also be joined by the NSO.
Waxahatchee
September 6
The indie rocker Katie Crutchfield, aka Waxahatchee, makes her Wolf Trap debut, joined by Snail Mail and Tim Heidecker, a comedian and musician. Waxahatchee describes her songs as two Katies in conflict. Her next album, Tigers Blood, comes out March 22.
Julieta Venegas
September 7
Pop-rock vocalist Julieta Venegas is an American-born Mexican singer who sings in Spanish. Last year, she won best pop vocal album for Tu Historia at the Latin Grammys.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
September 11
The renowned Alabama-born songwriter and award-winning musicians will bring their brand of Americana and Southern music back to Wolf Trap.
James Taylor
September 12, 14, 15
James Taylor brings his All-Star Band back for three September shows that will have you singing along all night.
Kristin Chenoweth & Alan Cumming
September 13
Broadway stars Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming take to the stage. Chenoweth always delights with her honest humor and vocal range.
Editor’s Note: The original version of this story misidentified which orchestra would play with John Legend.
Feature image courtesy Wolf Trap
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