MCB Real Estate, Midtown Baltimore, and Bloom Arts Strategy have partnered to launch the Fitzgerald Activation, which will transform the unoccupied retail space at The Fitzgerald into a creative hub and economic engine for Baltimore this fall.

From October to December 2024, local artists and cultural organizers will offer a diverse lineup of arts-based events and activities at The Fitzgerald, located at 1201 W. Mt. Royal Ave. The Fall 2024 Artistic Partners include Wordsmith and Rise with a Purpose, Ernest Shaw, Kelly L. Walker, M.A.G.I.C. Center of the Arts, Birch & Pen, Oh to Dream, The Stylette, and Good Quemistry.

The Fitzgerald Activation provides artists and makers with access to the space and resources for free. They may use the space to rehearse, perform, create, and connect with the community. Some groups are offering recurring events, and some are offering one-time-only experiences. Genres include music, dance, theater, spoken word, fashion, film, visual art, and more.

“As a community-focused developer and investment firm, we know how arts, entertainment, and culture enhance the health and vibrancy of a city. In Baltimore specifically, we’re excited to elevate The Fitzgerald with these offerings and take pride in shaping places that serve as strong foundations for thriving communities,” said Louis J. Kousouris III, Managing Director of MCB Real Estate.

The Fitzgerald Apartments, in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, are steps from Penn Station and the Light Rail, offering easy access for artists and public spectators in the Station North Arts District. The idea to offer artists free access to unused retail space was conceived in August 2023, with plans taking shape in early 2024. Nearly 50 local creatives submitted proposals to the open RFP issued in spring 2024. Of the applicants, 42% were small businesses and 63% of those businesses were led by BIPOC women.

“In addition to providing opportunities for artists to engage the community with their work, the Fitzgerald Activation offers Baltimore’s creative entrepreneurs a unique, low-risk opportunity to test ideas as a proof of concept, build their audience base, and fine tune their business models,” reads the press release.

“We know that artists lack access to affordable, clean, safe space to pursue their creative endeavors, and when you remove barriers to that access, not only will the artists benefit, but the communities in which they work will benefit, as well,” said Stacy Handler, CEO & founder of Bloom Arts Strategy. “This space will now be filled with music, dance, theater, creative commerce, and more. I am grateful to MCB and Midtown for being such supportive partners in this endeavor and collaborating with us to bring this idea to life to serve Baltimore’s artistic community.”

Some of the events and classes are closed to the public, like most rehearsals for certain performances, and the MICA Mural Class with Ernest Shaw. Some groups, however, offer the occasional “open” rehearsal wherein the public is invited to watch. There will be rehearsals and performances by M.A.G.I.C. Center of the Arts, a Sip, Swap, & Shoot event hosted by The Stylette, and an art exhibition featuring works by Kelly L. Walker.

Wordsmith, the BSO Artist in Residence, will be holding workshops and rehearsals for the youth artists in his organization, Rise with a Purpose, as well as performances and events for his own band and work. Most rehearsals will be closed, but several are open to the public. The Fitzgerald Activation will also offer a holiday market curated and hosted by Birch & Pen, and a bi-monthly immersive storytelling event series called Zora’s Room celebrating Black culture, womanhood, and queer identity hosted by Good Quemistry.

For a full listing of The Fitzgerald Activation’s Fall 2024 groups, activities, and events, along with public viewing, attendance, and ticketing information, click this link.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Stacy Handler’s name.

As if walking through the galleries of the National Aquarium wasn’t dream-like enough, imagine doing it in the evening, with original music inspired by ecosystem feedback loops performed live and echoing throughout.

Baltimoreans will have that opportunity during the sixth installation of Voyages, the National Aquarium’s adults-only event series where conservation, science, and art converge in a completely original experience.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, attendees will be immersed in this sonic journey courtesy of Baltimore-based recording artist, composer, and performer Dan Deacon. His original musical composition will be performed by a collective of Baltimore musicians, whose soundscape will flow throughout the Aquarium’s galleries.

Deacon was inspired by research at the Aquarium and insight from Patuxent Riverkeeper, Fred Tutman to create a piece based upon the concept of feedback loops. The term “feedback loop” refers to how natural systems react to environmental changes and how these same systems undergo exponential transformation.

He envisions guests interacting and engaging with the musicians, thereby influencing the music and helping shape the dynamic soundscape that evolves from their interactions. Deacon imagines this echoing the intricate balance found within different ecosystems.

“I hope voyagers leave (this upcoming chapter) feeling a greater connection to and role in the feedback loops they are a part of—their actual ecosystem, those around them, and within themselves,” Deacon said. “My favorite part about interaction is that even by choosing not to participate, you’ve interacted with the work that’s asking you to participate. That’s been an aspect of my performance practice for many years now, but I think this performance will expand upon it in ways I’ve never done before.”

He added, “I’m hoping the performance, and the audience’s role in it, will help highlight the endless fractalizing of the connectivity we all have with everything around us.”

After exploring the Aquarium’s exhibits, guests are invited to end their night with fellow voyagers at an exclusive after-party featuring an intimate performance by Deacon. The evening will also include a curated bar menu crafted by Cane Collective, alongside delicious offerings from local eateries, including Ekiben, Arepi, Sistah’s Sweets, and Crust by Mack. 

Voyages: Chapter 6 takes place on Nov. 21, from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. This event is for guests 21 years of age or older. Tickets cost $60. To learn more about the experience, and purchase tickets, click this link.

 The Aquarium is located at 501 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD.

There’s an autumnal chill in the air, but Baltimore is hot with events to attend this weekend.

From the return of the Baltimore Speakers Series, to concerts by the band Hanson, there’s plenty in store.

Check it all out in our weekend events roundup:

Grow Session, Thursday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Waverly Commons. Get free mulch, free trees, and resources and information about gardening, greening, recycling and growing.

Dining Out For Life, Thursday, Oct. 10, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Silver Queen Cafe. Help raise money for Moveable Feast, which serves people experiencing food insecurity and chronic illness.

Artists-in-Residence, Thursday, Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., virtual. Ainsley Burrows and Vonne Napper, the 2024 JJC Summer Artists-in-Residence at MICA, will discuss their work from the residency. The conversation will be livestreamed on the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Dan Schøener, Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Harbor East Cinemas. Mentalist and mindreader Dan Schøener will get inside your head during “Mind Over Magic.”

Liz Cheney, Thursday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) will kick off the 2024/2025 season of the Baltimore Speakers Series. Cheney chaired the House Republican Conference and served as Vice Chair of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. She has campaigned in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’s run for president.

Pokémon Sleepover, Friday, Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m. (overnight into Saturday, Oct. 12), Maryland Science Center. Do you want to be the very best like no one ever was? Are you on a mission to catch ’em all? Put your knowledge of Pokémon evolutions to the test; make a trading card; battle and trade Pokémon; and then sleep overnight at the Science Center alongside fellow Pokémasters. This event is for children age 5 and older. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Kidz Bop Live, Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m., Pier Six Pavilion. Listen to Kidz Bop versions of pop songs in this live show.

Hanson, Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12, Rams Head Live. Enjoy a two-night appearance by the band Hanson as part of their “Underneath: Experience Tour.” The first night will be an acoustic show featuring special guest Matthew Sweet. Then on night two, enjoy an electric show featuring special guest Phantom Planet.

Bop to the Top, Friday, Oct. 11, doors open at 8:30 p.m., show starts at 9 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. Get the best of both worlds at this celebration of Hannah Montana and your favorite Disney Channel anthems. There will be a lip sync battle, dance off, costume contest, and more.

Marco Antonio Solís, Saturday, Oct. 12, doors open at 7 p.m., event begins at 8 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. Mexican musician Marco Antonio Solís will perform in Baltimore as part of his “Eternamente Agradecido World Tour.”

Barrio Fiesta, Sunday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m., Power Plant Live! Celebrate Filipino culture with vendors, live entertainment, and more.

Spooky Expo, Sunday, Oct. 13, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Ottobar. At the “Macabre Menagerie of Mysteries,” enjoy a mini-expo full of dark and spooky live performances, special effect make-up demonstrations, taxidermy classes, macabre vendors, and meet & greets and book signings with authors of dark books and comic books.

Indigenous People’s Day Performance, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., The Walters Art Museum. Flutist and storyteller Aio “Blue Heron” Sifu will perform in honor of Indigenous People’s Day.

Get into an autumnal mood and spooky spirit with an array of fun Baltimore events this weekend.

From a festival dedicated to Edgar Allan Poe, to a witchy concert, explore it all in our weekend events roundup:

Schooner Race, Thursday, Oct. 3, 12 p.m., Chesapeake Bay. Catch a glimpse of the ships competing in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

Medieval Monsters, Thursday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m., Guilford Hall Brewery. What better way to start spooky season than with a talk about the monsters that scared people in the past — and that might just haunt the present. This installment of the “Profs & Pints” series will be led by Lilla Kopár, a Catholic University professor of medieval literature and culture who teaches courses on medieval monster lore and Norse mythology.

Seasons of the Witch, Thursday, Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m., George Peabody Library. Kicking off the 2024/25 In the Stacks Concert Series, enjoy musical performances about the history of witchcraft and the persecution of women who were called witches.

New/Next Film Festival, Thursday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 6, The Charles Theater. Enjoy four days of features, shorts, and other films at the New/Next Film Festival.

Charm City Fringe Festival, Thursday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 6, The Peale Museum. Charm City Fringe Festival continues this weekend with theatrical, musical, and other performances.

Billie Eilish, Friday, Oct. 4, doors open at 5:30 p.m., event begins at 7 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. Birds of a feather will be flocking to the Billie Eilish concert at CFG Bank Arena on Friday. She will be making a stop in Baltimore as part of her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour to celebrate her album of the same name.

Zoo Boo, Friday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 6, Maryland Zoo. With fall upon us, it’s time for the return of Zoo Boo. The series of events will kick off this weekend and run through Oct. 27. Navigate a hay maze, enjoy hay rides, watch an elephant smash pumpkins, meet animal ambassadors, trick or treat through the zoo, and more.

Edgar Allan Poe Festival, Friday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 6, Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum. Celebrate one of the fathers of horror writing during the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards. This weekend also marks 75 years of honoring Poe’s legacy at the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum.

Victorian-Era Walking Tour, Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m., Seton Hill. Historian Emma Katherine Bilski will lead a walking tour of Baltimore’s Seton Hill neighborhood, where attendees will hear stories about Baltimore’s Black Catholic history, student pranks, asylums, and America’s oldest Gothic Revival masterpiece.

Peace and Wellness Festival, Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ruscombe Mansion Community grounds. Embrace peace and wellness with a drum circle, qi gong, healthy cooking demonstrations, a botanical beverage bar, and more.

Plants and Prints, Saturday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., BMA Lexington Market. Vonne Napper will lead this workshop about exploring plant life through relief printmaking. Participants will be able to make their own stamp and use it to create nature-inspired prints.

Sabrina Carpenter, Saturday, Oct. 5, doors open at 6 p.m., event begins at 7 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. If you have good judgement and good taste, you might find yourself at the Sabrina Carpenter concert this weekend. Known for her hits like “Please Please Please,” “Espresso” and “Taste,” Carpenter will perform in Baltimore on Saturday.

Brad Williams, Saturday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. With multiple comedy specials and frequent guest appearances in TV and film, comedian Brad Williams will next take the stage in Baltimore this Saturday.

Fell’s Point Fun Festival, Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, Fells Point. Enjoy food, drinks, shopping, live music, and fun for the whole family at the Fells Point Fun Festival.

Blockbuster Broadway, Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. New York’s top vocalists will perform a selection of songs from “Wicked,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Annie,” “Jersey Boys,” “The Sound of Music,” “Chicago,” “CATS,” “The Lion King,” and “A Chorus Line.”

If you’re lookin’ for a festival this weekend, Baltimore has plenty of ’em!

From oysters to pig races, there’s a little something for everyone.

Check it all out in our weekend events roundup:

Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, Thursday, Sept. 26, doors open at 6:30 p.m., event begins at 7:30 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. A pair of rising musical stars, Charli XCX and Troye Sivan are coming to Baltimore on their “Sweat” tour. Whether you’re a brat or you just got him started, you’re bound to have a good time. The concert will also feature special guest Shygirl.

World is Your Oyster Festival, Thursday, Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., The B&O Railroad Museum. Enjoy local oysters, seafood, and drinks; learn to shuck oysters and cheer for professionals in a shucking competition; and learn about why oysters are important to restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.

& Juliet, Thursday, Sept. 26, through Saturday, Sept. 28, Hippodrome Theatre. Watch a musical based on one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, “Romeo & Juliet,” but with a major twist: what if Juliet didn’t die? What life would she go on to live? The music weaves modern pop songs, like Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time,” with the reimagined Shakespearean classic.

Heritage of Tattooing, Friday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m., Guilford Hall Brewery. In this latest edition of the Profs & Pints lecture series, learn about the “world heritage of tattooing.” Hear from Lars Krutak, a Washington D.C.-based anthropologist, research associate at the Museum of International Folk Art, author or editor of books about tattooing, and former host of the Discovery Channel’s “Tattoo Hunter.”

Stoop Storytelling, Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m., The Green Room (underneath the Bluebird Cocktail Lounge). Hear stories about “Friends, Foes, and the Fences in Between” in this Stoop Storytelling event. The event will also include musical guest Caleb Stine.

Neon Disco Bike Party, Friday, Sept. 27, meet at 6:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Park. Bicyclists are encouraged to put on their best and brightest for this neon disco-themed ride.

Charm City Fringe Festival, Friday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Sept. 29, The Peale Museum. Charm City Fringe Festival kicks off this Friday and runs through Oct. 6, featuring a range of funny, funky, and fringe performances and events.

Lauraville Fair, Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Harford Road and Parkside Drive. Shop vendors and mix & mingle with Lauraville community members at the 38th Annual Lauraville Fair.

Asia in a Bite Festival, Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Rash Field Park. It’s the final Asia in a Bite Festival of the year. Enjoy flavors from various Asian cultures.

Vino in Vogue, Saturday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m., Harbor East. Visit Aliceanna Street for an afternoon of wine tasting and shopping.

Pigtown Festival, Saturday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m., Pigtown Main Street. You’ve heard of the Preakness, but what about the Squeakness? Cheer on your favorite swine in the pig races at the 22nd Annual Pigtown Festival. The festival will also include live music, food and drinks, a kid zone, and more than 70 arts and crafts vendors.

Science Arcade, Saturday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Maryland Science Center. Make a cardboard pinball machine, turn yourself into an 8-bit video game character, and more when the Maryland Science Center becomes a Science Arcade for the afternoon.

Tellerfest, Saturday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Patterson Park Observatory. Enjoy this free music, arts, and wellness festival while raising funds for the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts. The event will feature performances by Seven Teller, Gordon Sterling & The People, Uncle Kunkel’s One Gram Band, 5 Spot, and Walsh Kunkel.

Rat Race, Saturday, Sept. 28, 5 p.m., The Ottobar. Participate in a short foot race and scavenger hunt. Costumes are encouraged. Prizes will be awarded.

Charm City Cross, Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, Druid Hill Park. Participate in amateur and professional Cyclocross races through Druid Hill Park. The event is free to spectators. In addition to races, there will be food trucks, a beer garden, and and expo area.

Lyric Baltimore is transitioning away from their current ticket provider, Ticketmaster, and entering a new partnership with independent ticket provider Etix.

Etix’s web-based ticketing system sells admissions both online and on-site.

“As an historic independent venue, we’re always looking for ways to stay closely connected with our patrons,” said Steve Palmer, Chairman of the Lyric Foundation Board of Trustees, in a statement. “This exciting partnership will make it easier for customers to access tickets and engage with us. Etix provides the personalized, seamless experience that our audiences deserve.”

Collaborating with Etix is latest effort by Lyric Baltimore to improve customer service. In early 2024, the Lyric installed a $500,000 sound system that matches its amplification and sound technology with the historic venue’s unique acoustics, giving patrons the best possible sound quality.

“Etix’s dedication to supporting and uplifting independent venues perfectly aligns with our core mission to provide world class entertainment to the people of Baltimore and beyond,” said Chris Heacock, general manager at the Lyric. “As we continue to elevate our role in Baltimore’s arts community, our partnership with Etix will enable us to better serve our patrons by streamlining ticket access and ensuring a convenient, user-friendly experience.”

In May 2024, Maryland joined 28 other states, the District of Columbia, and the Justice Department in an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment (Ticketmaster’s parent company.) The lawsuit claims Live Nation has violated federal and state laws, including Maryland’s. Ticketmaster and Live Nation are alleged to hold a monopoly in the live entertainment industry that hurts fans and concertgoers, in addition to engaging in unscrupulous business behavior in Maryland regarding Oak View Group, which owns and operates Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena.

Starting Oct. 1, all ticket sales for Lyric events and performances will be processed through Etix and available online at lyricbaltimore.com and etix.com.

If a customer has already bought tickets through the Lyric’s previous ticketing system through Ticketmaster, they will be notified directly with instructions on how to obtain their new tickets within the Etix platform.

“Etix is deeply committed to preserving the legacy of independent venues, and fundamentally understands the need for agile technology that doesn’t sacrifice the core mission and values of historic community spaces,” said Etix CEO and founder Travis Janovich in a statement. “We are excited and proud to partner with the Lyric and its long-standing tradition of bringing unforgettable performances to the Baltimore community.”

September is Underground Railroad Month, and the B&O Railroad Museum is honoring this history with a concert by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) during which Wordsmith will perform his original song.

Fifth and eighth graders from Baltimore area schools will be special guests at the concert, titled “Network to Freedom.” The concert is part of a larger launch of an online educational tool that will be available to all children in the United States to help bring the story of the Underground Railroad to life.

“Legacy of the Underground Railroad” is a website that brings original source material from the Museum’s “The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad” exhibit into classrooms and homes. The exhibit is housed in historic Mt. Clare Station and includes an immersive 180-degree multimedia experience. Visitors can hear a recording of Henry “Box” Brown’s song, produced in collaboration with Howard University’s Department of Music.

Central to this new website is “Network to Freedom,” which is a musical telling of the B&O’s Railroad’s history and its role in the Underground Railroad. The musical was composed by Baltimorean and lyricist Wordsmith, who will perform it with a string trio from the BSO on Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.

All are invited to celebrate the launch of this new educational tool and commemorate Underground Railroad Month by attending the live concert and immersing yourself in the stories of freedom seekers who used the railroad on their path to freedom.

The concert is free and begins at 1 p.m. Doors open at 12 p.m., and attendees are invited at that time to tour the Underground Railroad Exhibit before the concert begins.

The B&O Railroad Museum is located at 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD.

Learn more about the museum and concert, along with other museum upcoming activities by clicking this link.

Writer and filmmaker John Waters is a big fan of country music, and one of his favorite country stars is the gay, mask-wearing musician Orville Peck.

Waters got to enjoy both – and commune with his inner cowboy — when he traveled to Nashville recently to host Peck’s Sixth Annual Rodeo, a gathering of country singers and fans who came together for three days of performances at three different venues in the Music City.

Waters was the emcee for the biggest event at the Rodeo, a six-hour concert at Ascend Amphitheater featuring Peck and other musicians, including Tanya Tucker, Mickey Guyton and Noah Cyrus. The show was a reunion of sorts for Peck and Waters, who was the “special guest host” for Peck’s multi-artist “Rodeo at Red Rocks” concert in Colorado in 2021.

This year Waters picked up where he left off, again singing Peck’s praises. In a monologue crafted just for the Rodeo, he also shared some of his views about country music and other subjects he doesn’t ordinarily address in his popular spoken-word shows around the country. He wondered, for example, if today’s “new non-binary kids” know about all the old country songs he hears on Willie’s Place on SyriusXM, and he speculated about what they do for fun.

Waters, who’s based in Baltimore, started by offering to sing The National Anthem (he was joking) and then telling the country fans in Tennessee that he’s part Southerner like them. He admitted that he’s not much of a horseback rider, though:

“The first time I got on a horse was the last time I got on a horse,” he confided. “I never got on again.”

Still, Waters said, he’s a cowboy at heart.

“I’m a cockeyed cowboy, that’s what I am,” he told the audience. “And many of us here today are crackpot country in many ways. We’re hillbilly hipsters, we’re rock-and-roll radicals…we’re queer cowboys…bisexual brats…gender-bender yodelers. And guess what? We only have one pronoun: Y’all. I’m from Baltimore, which is half the south, so I can half say that right.”

‘Fractured fruitful future’

Waters, 78, is well known for films such as “Pink Flamingos” and “Hairspray,” books such as “Shock Value” and “Role Models,” his speaking tours, visual art creations, and occasional appearances on TV shows ranging from “Chucky” to “Real Time” with Bill Maher.

At Peck’s Rodeo, Waters wore a black and gold swirl-patterned sports jacket designed by the late Issey Miyake. His main job was to introduce the singers and set the stage for what he called the “fractured, fruitful future of country music we’re gonna hear today.”

In addition to Tucker, Guyton, Cyrus and Peck, the performers at Ascend Amphitheater included Goldie Boutilier; Medium Build (the stage name of Nicholas Carpenter); Waylon Payne and Fancy Hagood     

Waters didn’t just introduce the singers. He talked about their music and what it meant to him, or took a gentle jab at them. He called Guyton a “Black trailblazer” who performed at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and noted that her song “Black Like Me” was “based on a book that was so important to me when I was in junior high.” He called Medium Build “hot-ish” and “cool as a cuckoo-cumber.” He described Tucker as “the heat index and the wind chill factor in one perform storm.” He lauded Boutilier, a singer, DJ and model now based in Paris, for clawing her way to “the best place here, the bottom of the bill.”

Waters saved his most effusive praise for Peck, who’s having a big year with the release of his Stampede album and related videos. Stampede contains 15 tracks, all recorded as duets between Peck and other artists of various genres, including Elton John, “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)”; Beck, “Death Valley High,” and Kylie Minogue and DJ and music producer Diplo, “Midnight Ride.” The first single off the album was Peck’s duet with country legend Willie Nelson, singing Ned Sublette’s “Cowboys are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other,” written in 1981.

“He…startled the world by doing a gay country duet with Willie Nelson, which is so great,” Waters told the audience. “Can you imagine how confused some people were: ‘What? Willie Nelson’s gay?’ No, he’s straight and great and without hate like our other great hetero brothers and sisters here.”

Mutual admiration society

Waters and Peck have had a mutual admiration society ever since Waters talked about Peck during one of his spoken-word shows in 2019, and the singer called him to say thank you. Peck said in a 2020 interview that he admired Waters more than anyone when he was growing up.

“John Waters was my absolute No. 1 idol, inspiration, when I was a teenager,” he said on Sloppy Seconds with Big Dipper and Meatball, a podcast hosted by rapper Dan Stermer and drag artist Logan Jennings. “John Waters changed my entire perception of art and life, really.”

Peck was between shows during a tour in Australia when he made the call, not sure if he was going to wake Waters up or if he would even answer his phone. He said he got Waters’ private number from his agent because they both had the same booking agency, but he held onto it for weeks before working up the courage to call.

“Do I text him? Does he even have a cell phone? He’s like a weird guy,” Peck said on the podcast. “And so we’re sitting in this lobby and we were in Sydney or Melbourne, I think, and we were waiting for the transport to take us to the festival, and it was going to be like an hour in the lobby. I just thought, like, OK, f**k it, I’m just going to call him, just try it. I didn’t even know what time it was in Baltimore.”

Waters answered the phone and knew exactly who Peck was.

“I call him and I just hear, like, (deep voice) ‘Hello?’ and I was like, ‘Hi, is this John?’ And he goes, ‘Who is this?’ And I said, ‘Oh, hi John, this is, this is Orville Peck.’ And he said, ‘Orville Peck? Well, I’m a big, big fan.’ And then, I mean I obviously just like disintegrated and like left my body and then he basically just chatted with me for like 45 minutes and I was laughing so hard people were staring at me.”

Peck said Waters turned out to be exactly what a fan might expect.

“If you’re a fan of John Waters, if you’ve seen any of his films or read any of his books or anything, he is exactly the person you think he will be,” he said. “He’s so knowledgeable and he just wants to chat about history and references and the kind of funny oddity of mundane life. He was cracking me up so hard I was like crying-laughing.”

Waters said he has admired Peck since he first heard his music, and that’s why he talked about him in his Christmas show in 2019. He said he was turned on to Peck’s music by a friend, Scott Huffines, the original owner of Atomic Books in Baltimore.

“I love him.  I’m such a huge fan of his,” Waters said of Peck. “He just has an amazing voice, that’s all. Plain and simple. The very first time I heard his voice, it was just amazing. And I think the fact that he’s gay and maybe has a little bit of a punk rock background and country altogether, it couldn’t be more up my alley…He could be singing with a bag over his head and he’d be a star, if you ask me.”

After their initial phone conversation, Peck asked Waters to be in one of his videos, “Legends Never Die” with Shania Twain. Then he asked Waters to host his concert at Red Rocks, an outdoor venue that Waters has described as “Hollywood Bowl meets Jurassic Park.” He told an interviewer this year that of all the people in the world, living or dead, Waters would be his ideal dinner guest.

Peck is a contributor to the lavish coffee table book that accompanied the filmmaker’s career retrospective exhibit at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, “John Waters: Pope of Trash.” His contribution was a set of questions for Waters to answer in the book, interspersed with questions from other celebrities, including Ricki Lake, Debbie Harry, Kathleen Turner, Johnny Knoxville and Iggy Pop.

“Did you ever think the late, great Divine would have the massive culture impact she has? Did you know how famous of an icon she would become?” Peck wanted to know. Also: “What is your favorite memory of the incredible Edith Massey?” and “Is there anything you know now that you wish you had known in the early days?”

‘Country music made me gay’

Rodeo at Red Rocks was the concert where Waters announced that “country music made me gay,” after watching Elvis Presley when he was growing up in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

“When I first saw Elvis Presley gyrating and I heard him twitching and moaning and hiccupping through that song, “I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine,” oh when I heard him go, ‘We’re gonna kiss and kiss and kiss again,’ I tell you, I knew something was up down there, but I didn’t know what it was,” he told the Colorado crowd.

Waters wrote about his love for country music in his 2019 book of essays, Mr. Know It All: The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder. “If you can’t appreciate country music,” he said, “you have no soul.’

At Red Rocks, he told the crowd how much he appreciates Peck.

“Yippie-ki-yay can he sing, in that voice The New Yorker says the Yee-Haw Generation deserves, and I agree,” Waters said. “He goes walkin’ after midnight for all of us. Roy Orbison isn’t the only lonely here tonight. There’s no lovin’ feelin’ lost when he does the Righteous Brothers.”

As for Peck’s looks, “he’s Liberace and Versace, peeking out from under that mask with a little stubble like a Tom of Finland character without all the agony,” Waters said. “He’s a rural rebel, and that’s hard to say, but it’s even harder to be – showing a little of Chris Isaak’s swagger and a lot of Tammy Wynette’s honky-tonk.”

Dueling masks

Orville Peck is the stage name of Daniel Pitout, a South African singer-songwriter who’s based in the U. S. and Canada and known for wearing a mask and not showing his face publicly. Stampede is his third studio album, following Pony in 2019 and Bronco in 2022. He also released the EP Show Pony in 2020.

Peck, 36, has said he wears a mask so people will pay attention to his music, not his appearance. His deep baritone voice has been compared to Orbison’s and Roddy Jackson’s, and he’s gained a loyal following of LGBTQ “cowfolx” with songs such as his gender-bending cover of “Fancy” and his country road version of “Born This Way” with Lady Gaga.

In recent shows, Peck has performed without the long-fringed masks that he previously wore, but he still wears a Lone Ranger-type mask around his eyes. Even before the latest change, his fringed masks had been getting shorter and revealing more of his face. Some fans think he’ll eventually shed his masks altogether.

At the concert that Waters hosted, Peck sang most of his songs with a tan mask around his eyes only. When called back for an encore, he sang his final two songs wearing a fringed mask.

“We were slipping into something more comfortable,” he quipped.

Waters didn’t wear a mask when he talked about the other performers.  But when he introduced Peck, he wore a mask, too — a red one that he sported over his forehead and then quickly took off. One of his assistants, Caitlin Billard, made it just for the occasion.

Waters said after the show that he wore a mask to pay homage to Peck, and that he asked Peck if it was alright before he did so.

“He approved,“ Waters told the audience. “I wouldn’t have done it otherwise,” he said after the show.

Waters reminded the audience that he had appeared onstage with Peck before.

“I hosted for our headliner three years ago in Denver, at Red Rocks, and so I’ve seen his face without a mask,” Waters said. “And this year I’ve seen the magazine with his bare ass [a reference to a cheeky photo spread in Paper magazine]. I wish he’d do the whole show nude tonight.”

Waters suggested that he and Peck sing a duet together someday, or maybe that Peck record new soundtracks for his movies.

“Orville has done so many great duets with so many great people – Elton, Trixie [Mattel], Beck, who I offered the title part of “Pecker” and he turned me down and we’re still friends,” Waters said. “And also, DJ Diplo. I loved in the press when he said, ‘Well, I’m not not gay.’ That’s my type: not not gay.”

Who else is Waters’ type?

“Let me see,” he said. “Lucinda Williams’ leftover male groupies. Or the new minority – strags. That’s straight guys who only [have sex with] fag hags. There’s nothing wrong with the term fag hags, either. They’re a part of our gay country. Let’s give them a salute.

“And also, I’m embarrassed to admit that I have the hots for the Brawny paper towel man,” Waters said. “That cardboard roll inside could make a pretty good glory hole, if you know how to work it. I’m also attracted to roofers, yeah, real roofers. The ones without their shirts on the roof. Not doing roofies, but working on your shingles after they got the shingle shots. I mean, maybe they could fall down on top of me. Is that a country song?”

What he likes most about Peck, Waters said, is that “he’s the real thing from top to bottom, so to speak…He’s country through and through. He’s a new young version of an old country singer. There’s no irony with him. None at all. He’s a crab-free cowboy. A punk pony. A stud on a stampede. A butch Broadway buckaroo.”

Happy and healthy

Peck’s setlist at Ascend Amphitheater included: “Big Sky,” “Turn to Hate,”  “C’mon Baby, Cry;” “No Glory in the West;” “Hexie Mountains;” “How Far Will We Take It?” with Noah Cyrus; “Conquer the Heart;” “Drive Me, Crazy;” “Blush;” “The Curse of the Blackened Eye;” “Where Are We Now?” with Mickey Guyton in their live debut; “Any Turn;” “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other;” “Outta Time;” “Dead of Night;” “Rhinestone Cowboy” with Waylon Payne and Fancy Hagood, and “Bronco.”

 Peck started by saying he has three rules for fans at his concerts.

“Rule number one is: You have to sing along even if you don’t know the words — because that’s funnier for us,” he said. “Second rule is, If you are able to and you feel like it, please dance along because we really, really, really like that, OK? And the third one is kind of serious: If at any point during the show you feel like crying, you have to cry. Can we follow those three simple rules? Fabulous!”

Between songs, Peck interacted with his fans — asking how they’re doing, dedicating “Drive Me, Crazy,” his song about truck drivers in love, to a mask-wearing trucker in the audience named Jerome. He recalled the time he was told that “this old guy from Texas” wanted to do a duet with him, and then found out it was Willie Nelson. “Not only did Willie Nelson want to do a song with me,” Peck said, “but he wanted to do a song about gay cowboys, which, it’s very comparable for me, because I’m…a…gay…cowboy.”

Peck told his fans that he felt a lot better after taking a break from performing in 2023.

“As a result of that, I’m now the happiest and the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life,” he said. “And honestly, I really have a lot of you to thank for that, for letting me go and take that time, and I’m sorry to anybody who missed out on a ticket last year because of it. Thank you for letting me do that.“

At the end of the night, Peck gave “a big shout-out” to all the “artists, friends, idols” who performed at his Rodeo – “and of course to John Waters for hosting, thank you very much.” There was an after-party at Tanya Tucker’s Tequila Cantina at Nudie’s Honky Tonk, and every ticket holder got free admission at Play Dance Bar on Drag Night and free entry the next night at the Lipstick Lounge.

Peck’s Rodeo received high marks from Nashville Scene critic Jason Shawhan, who called it a “dizzyingly queer event” and said Peck’s voice “has such power that it can’t even be fully registered on tape.” Like Waters, Shawhan noted Peck’s authenticity, calling him “a country artist, with no asterisk or subsequent elaboration needed,” and a performer who “doesn’t have to play the concealing game as to who his songs are about.” He wrote that Peck’s rendition of “Rhinestone Cowboy” with Payne and Hagood was “fun, a tad subversive and the kind of enjoyable cover that spans many eras and gets everyone on the same page.”

Shawhan raved about Waters, too.

“Host John Waters (!) was the perfect emcee for the five-act, six-hour show,” he said. “He was nimble on his feet and gave each of the artists all the respect and gentle ribbing they merited, and he let the crowd know where the aesthetic sensibility for the day was oriented. His welcome was comprehensive, proclaiming that we all had one pronoun, ‘y’all,’ and we better see that on a bumper sticker posthaste.”

“Give that man the key to the city,” he urged.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad trip for a certain cockeyed cowboy from the East Coast: a night of country music and a reunion with Orville Peck. Waters always says people ought to have a back-up plan in case all else fails. Hosting Rodeos for Orville Peck seems perfect for him.

Whether you’re positively pumped about pickles, or you’re looking to show off a costume inspired by your favorite comic book or other piece of media, this weekend in Baltimore has plenty to be excited about.

Check it all out in our weekend events roundup:

Where Baltimore Grows, Thursday, Sept. 19, doors open at 4:30 p.m., talk starts at 5 p.m., Cylburn Arboretum, Vollmer Center. In the first installment of the new “Where Baltimore Grows” speaker series, hear from Sonia Succar Ferré, founder and president of Futura Climate Strategies. Succar Ferré will talk about implementing nature-based solutions in urban settings.

Lindy Hop Championships, Friday, Sept. 20, 9 p.m., Mobtown Ballroom and Cafe. Dance partners will compete against fellow pairs in the Intergalactic Lindy Hop Championships, including fast dancing, slow dancing, and finals. The winning couple will receive $500.

Baltimore Comic-Con, Friday, Sept. 20, to Sunday, Sept. 22, Baltimore Convention Center. Meet your guests from your favorite comics and media, shop from vendors, compete in cosplay contests, and more at the 25th annual Baltimore Comic-Con.

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Friday, Sept. 20, through Sunday, Sept. 22, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will perform playwright August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” directed by Kenyatta Rogers. Opening night will be Sept. 20 and the production will run through Oct. 13.

African American Fiber Aesthetics, Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. Learn about the evolution of fiber arts by Black women in this special event, “Colloquium – Fiberations: The Evolution and Tradition of African American Fiber Aesthetics.” It will feature a discussion by fiber artists Bisa Butler, Joyce Scott, Sanford Biggers, Karen Baker, Murjoni Merriweather, Nastassja Swift, Vera Hall and Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither, moderated by curator Imani Haynes and Dr. Leslie King-Hammonds.

Pickle Party, Saturday, Sept. 21, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Power Plant Live. Enjoy pickles and pickle-related foods and drinks; compete in pickle-eating and brine-chugging contests; listen to music and more at The Big Dill World’s Largest Pickle Party.

Trash Wheel Fan Fest, Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m., Peabody Heights Brewery. Dress as a “Trashbuster” or a “Garabage Ghoul” to celebrate Baltimore’s Trash Wheel family. Attendees will help raise money for new booms for Professor Trash Wheel and support a Maryland Bottle Bill.

Maxwell, Saturday, Sept. 21, doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m. R&B and neo soul singer Maxwell will perform in Baltimore as part of his The Serenade Tour.

Yo-Yo Ma, Saturday, Sept. 21, 8 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma will join the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Jonathon Heyward.

Jo Koy, Saturday, Sept. 21, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Comedian Jo Koy will perform for two nights at The Lyric during his Just Being Koy Tour.

Plein Air Art Show, Sunday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Garrett-Jacobs Mansion. View and purchase paintings of one of Baltimore’s Mount Vernon Place, created by members of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association.

Preoccupied: Indigenizing the Museum, Sunday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Baltimore Museum of Art. Visit the “Preoccupied: Indigenizing the Museum” at the Baltimore Museum of Art during this Community Day event, featuring dance performances by the Baltimore-based Uhwachi-Reh Dance Troupe, opportunities to tour some of the artwork in the exhibits alongside their artists, a Native American beadwork workshop, and more.

The vibrant colors, rhythms, and traditions of India will come alive at the 6th Annual Festival of India, set to take place on Sept. 21- 22 at the Howard County Fairgrounds.

The festival is organized by the Indian Cultural Association of Howard County, with thousands of people coming together to celebrate the rich diversity of India. It was voted Best Festival of Howard County.

This two-day celebration celebrates Indian culture and heritage with music, art, dance, entertainment, and cuisine available in a family-friendly atmosphere, with entertainment for all ages. Attendance and parking are both free.

The diverse array of traditional and contemporary art forms from India will include classical dance performances such as Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi, as well as folk dances like Bhangra and Garba. There will also be live music ranging from soulful classical ragas to energetic Bollywood tunes. Over 300 talented professional dancers, musicians, and artists from the DMV area will be performing at the festival.

The Festival of India will offer shoppers a Bazaar of Indian clothing, jewelry, accessories, handicrafts, and more from vendors up and down the East Coast. This is a great opportunity to get an early start on your shopping for Diwali and other winter holidays! There will be a fashion show on both days of the festival.

Making sure there is food for all to enjoy, the festival promises an array of authentic Indian dishes for attendees to savor. “[F]ood stalls will represent the diverse culinary traditions of different regions, allowing everyone to explore the flavors of India,” reads the press release.

There will also be raffle drawings for travel vouchers, dinner vouchers, and lots of other exciting giveaways will take place throughout the festival.

Festival organizers have also arranged for free flu shots on Sept. 21. Walk-ins are welcome.

“We are thrilled to bring this experience to our community, offering a unique opportunity for people to connect, learn, and enjoy the richness of Indian traditions,” said Sanjay Srivastava, the president of the Indian Cultural Association, in a statement. “From the colorful performances to the exquisite cuisine, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

The Indian Cultural Association of Howard County (ICA) is a non-profit organization, established to bring the diverse communities of Howard County together, celebrate the very best of Indian culture and preserve it for future generations. ICA is engaged in community-building activities designed to build bridges, serve the underprivileged, and feed Howard County families.

“The Festival of India is more than just an event; it is a celebration of community and cultural exchange,” said Dr. Niti Srivastava, the executive director of the Indian Cultural Association of Howard County, in a statement. “It offers a platform for people of all backgrounds to come together, learn, and appreciate the diversity that Indian culture brings to the global stage. We invite everyone to join us in this celebration and experience the warmth and hospitality of Indian culture firsthand.”

For more information about the 6^th Annual Festival of India, please click this link.

Some top-notch musicians will take the stage in Baltimore this weekend, including the return of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Baltimore will also be the setting of some fun community festivals, including Love Groove Fest and the Fells Point Oyster Fest.

Check it all out in our weekend events roundup:

Bikini Kill, Thursday, Sept. 12, Baltimore Soundstage. If you missed Bikini Kill’s performance in Baltimore on Wednesday, a second performance has been added. The band will perform at Baltimore Soundstage again on Thursday, joined by the band Birthday Girl DC.

Fruit Talk, Friday, Sept. 13, 12 p.m., Cylburn Arboretum. Learn about the relationship between fruits and animals in this educational lecture and walk.

Super Science Sleepover, Friday, Sept. 13, 5:30 p.m. (overnight into Saturday at 9 a.m.), Maryland Science Center. Welcome to the Maryland Science Center’s Academy of Wizardry, where you will live out your Harry Potter dreams. Brew potions, practice Quidditch, design your own house crest, and more.

Friday the 13th Movie Night, Friday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m., Canton Waterfront Park. If you’ve been itching to get a headstart on spooky season, you’re in luck. Rec & Parks will host an outdoor movie night for the horror film “Friday the 13th.” Tickets are $5 (which includes headphones). Popcorn will be offered for free.

Styx, Friday, Sept. 13, doors open at 6:30 p.m., event starts at 7:30 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. The rock band Styx will perform in Baltimore, with special guest Jet Black Roses.

Bruce Springsteen, Friday, Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m., Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will return to Baltimore to perform at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He last played the venue in April 2023.

Hans Zimmer, Friday, Sept. 13, doors open at 7 p.m., event begins at 8 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. You know his music from films like “The Dark Knight” trilogy, “Interstellar,” “The Simpsons Movie” and more. Now, hear German composer Hans Zimmer perform live in Baltimore. (Editor’s note: This show has been canceled due to illness.)

Cat Video Fest, Friday, Sept. 13, through Sunday, Sept. 15, Warehouse Cinemas at the Rotunda. Watch cute, funny, and heartwarming cat videos on the big screen. A portion of proceeds will benefit local rescue animals.

Fells Point Oyster Fest, Friday, Sept. 13, through Sunday, Sept. 15, Broadway Square. Get your fill of oysters at the three-day Fells Point Oyster Fest this weekend. Read more about the festival in this Baltimore Fishbowl article.

Bike Party, Saturday, Sept. 14, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., The folks from Baltimore Bike Party will be doing a pop-up ride to Love Groove Fest (read more about the festival below). The group will ride about 9-10 miles, starting at St. Mary’s Park and ending at Robert C. Marshall Park.

Love Groove Fest, Saturday, Sept. 14, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Robert C. Marshall Park. Love is in the air in West Baltimore, where Love Groove Fest is taking over this Saturday. See works by both emerging and established artists, shop from more than 30 vendors, visit a petting zoo, play human-sized games, get your face painted, and more.

NorthBay Live!, Saturday, Sept. 14, 1 p.m., Patterson Park, 2601 E. Baltimore St. Staff from NorthBay in Cecil County, Maryland, will provide live entertainment, outdoor education, and more at Baltimore’s Patterson Park.

Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue, Saturday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will blend Queen’s rock music with George Gershwin’s jazz compositions.

Baltimore Dog Cat Rat Race, Sunday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Herring Run Park and Oliver Brewing Company. Part biking race, part scavenger hunt, all fun. The Baltimore Dog Cat Rat Race will take place this Sunday at Herring Run Park, with an after party at Oliver Brewing Company.

The historic Lord Baltimore Hotel and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) are collaborating to present Symphony in the Sky, a special event at the LB Skybar.

Symphony in the Sky is an intimate brass performance by BSO musicians against the backdrop of the Baltimore skyline at the LB Skybar, which is on the 19^th floor of the Lord Baltimore Hotel. It will take place on Oct. 11 from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The BSO performers will be:

• Rene Shapiro and Matt Barker, trumpet
• Beth Graham, French horn
• Jeremy Buckler, trombone
• Aubrey Foard, tuba

“We are incredibly excited to bring this unique musical experience to our LB Skybar in partnership with the world-class musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra,” said Sheila Wiegandt, managing director of the Lord Baltimore Hotel, in a statement. “This event is a perfect blend of culture, community, and the vibrant energy that defines Baltimore. Symphony in the Sky is just one of the many ways we continue to showcase the best that our city has to offer, all while providing an unforgettable experience for our guests.”

Tickets for Symphony in the Sky can be purchased for $10 per person by clicking this link. Those who dine at the LB Tavern before the event, however, can enjoy the performance free of charge with the presentation of a restaurant receipt.

In the event of inclement weather, Symphony in the Sky will be moved to the hotel’s lobby.

The Lord Baltimore Hotel is recognized as the “Best City Center Historic Hotel” by Historic Hotels of America, and as one of the “10 Best Historic Hotels” by USA Today. The hotel boasts at least 2,500 pieces of artwork and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It hosts an annual Couture Tree Competition and exhibition from Thanksgiving through the end of the year, and has hosted events like Night of 100 Elvises and participated in National Ghost Hunt Day.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs for more than 275,000 people every year throughout the state of Maryland. Jonathon Heyward is the BSO’s music director, making history as the orchestra’s first Black music director and the youngest of a major orchestra in the United States. His tenure began with the 2023/24 season, taking the reins from Marin Alsop. Alsop made history as well, as the first woman to win the Koussevitzky Prize for conducting and the first conductor awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. She was the first woman to lead a major American orchestra.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra‘s will mark the return of its free three-concert community series, Symphony in the City, starting with the first performance later this month at Morgan State University.

The first of three concerts will take place on Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Gilliam Concert Hall in the Murphy Fine Arts Center. Led by BSO Music Director Jonathon Heyward, the concert will feature selections from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral.” The performance will also showcase compositions by James Lee III, BSO’s new Composer in Residence.

“Beginning our season with a community concert at Morgan State University is deeply meaningful,” Heyward said. “This performance not only begins our musical journey for the year but also continues the BSO’s tradition of bringing music directly to the heart of Baltimore, honoring the Symphony’s roots as an orchestra founded by the city for its people.”

The Symphony in the City series intentionally aligns concerts and venues with community celebrations. Holding the first concert at Morgan State University marks the start of the new academic year, and honors the school’s connection to Lee, who is a faculty member at the university — Maryland’s largest historically Black university. Lee’s BSO residency will feature two world premieres during the 2024-25 concert season. It will also encompass an educational element with students from BSO OrchKids and the Baltimore School of the Arts, including compositions, mentorship, and workshop performances.

“The fact that the Morgan community, and the surrounding community at large, will have an opportunity to experience the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, led by their new Music Director Jonathon Heyward, live on our campus, is simply amazing,” said Eric Conway, chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Department and director of the choir at Morgan State University. “This moment is further elevated by having the work of a respected Morgan faculty member, Dr. James Lee III, on display for all to enjoy. We are fortunate and thankful to the BSO for selecting Morgan as the location for the season’s first Symphony in the City concert.”

The Symphony in the City series will have performances across Baltimore, including a tribute to veterans on Nov. 20 at War Memorial, and a celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 7 at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.

The first concert of the series program that Jonathon Heyward is conducting is below:

• BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral,” I. Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside
• LEE III Amer’ican
• BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral,” II. Scene by the brook
  LEE III Captivating Personas, III. Bored Comfort
• BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral,” IV. Thunderstorm
• BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral,” V. Shepherd’s song: Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm

The concert will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m., at Gilliam Concert Hall, Murphy Fine Arts Center, Morgan State University, located at 2201 Argonne Drive, Baltimore, MD.

Symphony in the City remains free to all. Reservations are appreciated, but not required. To make reservations and learn more about the series, click this link.

Chamber Music Maryland (formerly known as Candlelight Concert Society) will kick off its 52^nd concert season Oct. 5 with the world-renowned Academy of the St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble.

ASMF Chamber Ensemble, direct from London, will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Horowitz Smith Theater at Howard Community College. The ensemble draws upon principal players from the acclaimed Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Orchestra, founded by Sir Neville Marriner in 1958. Its current artistic director is violinist and conductor Joshua Bell.

The ensemble has released over 30 CDs through recording contracts with multiple labels. They’ve toured throughout Europe and North America extensively under the direction of violinist Tomo Keller.

This will be the debut performance at Chamber Music Maryland for the ASMF Chamber Ensemble. Their concert will showcase “contrasting string works written by two composers whose lives were profoundly shaped by the wars and terror of the 20th century, Dmitri Shostakovich and Erwin Schulhoff,” according to the press release. The ensemble will also perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings, composed when Mendelssohn was just 16 years old.

Adding to the evening’s music performance, WBJC-FM’s popular radio host Jonathan Palevsky will provide spoken notes throughout the concert.

Tickets for this event are $45 per adult. With the purchase of each adult ticket, an accompanying child up to the age of 17 will receive a ticket free of charge. Student tickets are $10, and for groups of 10 or more, tickets are $35 per person.

The concert takes place on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at the Smith Theater at Howard County Community College, located at 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD.

To purchase tickets and learn more about the concert, click this link.

The Baltimore Rhythm Festival is celebrating a decade of the revival of its free outdoor festival on Sept. 14 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

All are welcome to join both indoors and outdoors at the Baltimore City Public Charter Montessori School located in the Station North Arts and Entertainment District. On Sept. 13, the eve of the festival, there will a concert celebrating Nigerian Afrobeat and positive energy highlife at the 2640 Space.

The Baltimore Rhythm Festival will feature a variety of performances, workshops, and experiences designed to inspire joy and community and demonstrate what the city can be when it comes together. All performances and workshops are free and open to the public.

That Friday’s concert features Janealia Soul and the Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band. It takes place from 7 pm to 9 pm at 2640 Space, located at 2640 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD.

Then, on that Saturday, there are both indoor and outdoor festivities to be held on the grounds of the Baltimore City Public Charter Montessori School, located at 1600 Guilford Ave. in Baltimore City, as well as a portion of Lanvale and Federal Streets.

Outdoor activities and performances include a Homa Fire Ceremony, a Drum Circle, performances by the Baltimore Twilighters, Bele Bele Rhythm Collective, and more. Inside workshops will include a variety of yoga and movement classes, children’s activities including a puppet show, and percussion workshops.

“We believe that rhythm connects us in music and other cultural expression, but also see how we are all connected to the larger rhythms of nature and growth, and our well being depends on how we care for nature and one another in the cycles that sustain us,” said Rory Turner, co-founder and co-director of the festival, in a statement.

“As a musician and creative individual, I love to cultivate spaces for my peers,” said Menes Yahudah, co-founder and co-director of the festival, in a statement. “We consistently receive positive feedback from the artist community here in Baltimore, aiming to curate a lineup that is not only entertaining but also reflects the diversity within the arts.”

“It’s a familiar space now,” said Eboni Yahudah, co-director of the festival, in a statement. “Over the years, we’ve been able to bring some phenomenal artists to Greenmount West for our festival. It’s become an end-of-summer event the creative community eagerly anticipates.”

In 1995, the Baltimore International Rhythm and Drumming Society (BIRDS) hosted an annual festival to bring communities together to celebrate the power of rhythm. In 2014 Menes Yahudah and Rory Turner partnered to revive the festival under its current name, Baltimore Rhythm Festival.

To learn more about the festival and details about the lineup, click this link.