8 Queer Artists Set to Take the Stage at All Things Go DC

BY LIZ BAUMMER

In less than a month, Merriweather Post Pavilion will be packed for two days of incredible music during All Things Go. The festival has a history of drawing massive crowds for a multitude of reasons, the main one (in my opinion) being their lineup. All too often, when festivals are announced, men dominate the lineup as a whole and especially in the headlining spots, but All Things Go has been shaking it up with a lineup dominated by women and queer artists. And I firmly believe that that is part of the reason All Things Go, this year both DC and NYC, sell out as fast as they do. Nobody is cultivating lineups quite like All Things Go, and people are traveling from across the country and even around the world for this festival.

Check below to see eight queer musicians Out Jamz is excited to see rocking the stage at All Things Go DC:

Day 1

Remi Wolf – Remi Wolf is stopping by All Things Go as part of her The Big Ideas Tour which includes over twenty stops all around the US. The tour kicks off on September 10 in Santa Barbara, CA and finishes in Stanford, CA on October 18, Wolf has plenty of awesome music to pull from, especially with the release of her album Big Idea in July 2024. My favorite single from that album, Cinderella, is a fan favorite, and I’m optimistic we’ll get to see it onstage at All Things Go. With a tour about to be in full swing and an album that is barely two months old, Wolf has certainly been busy, but not too busy for even more cool, new music. Wolf also recently collaborated with Zedd on the track Lucky which was released in early August of this year.

Ethel Cain – ETHEL CAIN IS BACK AT ALL THINGS GO DC!!!!!!!!!!! And I know I’m not the only one who is feeling that excitement. Cain’s performance last year at All Things Go was incredibly moving, and I know it meant a lot of people in the transgender community. As Out Jamz founder Liam Gillin put it “The music industry has lacked crucial transgender representation for decades especially songs and performances. During these times of anti-transgender legislation and the 2024 election, it is vital for artists like Cain to be at the forefront in order to show that transgender artists are human too and deserve the same rights and opportunities as their cisgender counterparts in the music industry.”

Julien Baker – If you attended All Things Go last year (or watched any of the footage from last year) you remember the immeasurable hype surrounding the boygenius set on Day 2. This year Julien Baker returns to the All Things Go stage, plus in the added NYC festival, on her solo tour. Baker’s tour includes stops in the US, Canada, and England. On top of playing All Things Go, Baker has a sold out show at The Atlantis in DC, a replica of the original iconic 9:30 Club, the night before playing the festival. On top of being busy with music, Baker announced earlier this month that she is releasing a clothing collaboration, details yet to be disclosed, with Slowdown Dry Goods sometime this Fall.

Sammie Rae & The Friends – Sammie Rae & The Friends holds a special place in my heart. Their show in DC earlier this year was one of my first experiences with attending a show that had a majority queer crowd. Their show was easily one of the safest-feeling concert experiences I’ve had which allowed me to enjoy their amazing performance. This band is an incredible amount of fun on stage with all of their instruments and the camaraderie the band members clearly have which each other. There is a special place in my heart for bands that have saxophone players. I think they bring so much fun to a performance.  I can’t wait to see Sammie Rae & The Friends bring their incredible music and also the safe space their fans foster to Merriweather for All Things Go. Plus Sammie Rae & The Friends are releasing their first full length album on September 20th so I’m excited to see what new songs they add to their set!!!

Day 2

Chappell Roan – I mean who doesn’t want to see ‘Your Favorite Artist’s Favorite Artist’. Roan has been dominating the summer with hits such as Good Luck, Babe!, Femininomenon, and My Kink is Karma. I personally can’t wait to see the entire crowd doing the HOT TO GO! dance. On top of having the songs of the summer, Roan has been making headlines for insane crowds including the viral footage of her set at Lollapalooza. While All Things Go may not have as big of a venue, don’t underestimate the insane energy the fans are going to bring to this set. All Things Go has already unofficially confirmed via a post on their social medias that “it would be WILDDD if Chappell Roan wasn’t playing mainstage in DC this year… just wild!!!!!!”

Reneé Rapp – As a former theatre kid, Rapp holds a special place in my heart. I remember watching her in Mean Girls on Broadway before she solidified her rise to pop icon in the last couple of years. Rapp’s concerts have been known for their electric atmosphere and A+ fan interactions. Having watched an insane amount of concert footage from her previous on TikTok, I can’t wait to finally see her live. If I could choose any two songs for her to bring to her set, I would choose Not My Fault and Pretty Girls.

Towa Bird – When the lineup was released earlier this year, I was so happy to see Towa Bird was playing Day 2. I haven’t gotten to see her live yet and can’t wait to catch her set at All Things Go this year. I particularly love her queer rockstar vibes that translate to her incredible stage presence. All Things Go will be the second to last stop on her (American) Hero Complex Tour which also includes a stop on Day 1 of All Things Go NYC at Forest Hills Stadium. If you’re looking to catch up on Towa Bird’s current successes, she was recently featured in a Nylon article titled “Towa Bird's Rock Star Fantasy” where she dives into her album American Hero which released earlier this year and talks about becoming a queer role model.

The Japanese House – I’ve already had the pleasure of seeing The Japanese House at Merriweather once, and I have no doubt in my mind that this performance will be just as memorable. There is just something about her music that feels like it belongs in a big, open amphitheater. I’m hoping she’ll treat us to a performance of “:)” during the festival as it is one of my personal favorites at the moment. The Japanese House also recently played Reading and Leeds Festival so they are no stranger to incredible festival performances. All Things Go DC is the last of their four concert dates in the US for the remainder of the year. Additionally, The Japanese House is releasing a new song called Backseat with Fred again.. that comes out next week so I’m optimistic she will bring that to her set at All Things Go too!

These are just a handful of the incredible artists that Out Jamz is over the moon to see take the stage at All Things Go DC. All Things Go nails the lineup every year and are undeniable proof that fans want to see more women-led and queer artist-led festival lineups!