Down in the Reeds is DC’s newest Fall music festival celebrating the power of music to heal across culture and community. 

Photos by Tom Hausman Photography.

Down in the Reeds is a day-long Fall celebration and music festival Happening on Saturday Oct 19th.

Our mission is to create an outdoor Fall gathering that brings together a mosaic of entertainment and activations reflective of DC’s cultural diversity and in celebration of the healing power of music. The ability of music to heal at the micro and macro level is one of music’s fundamental characteristics, bridging race, culture, and socio-economic status across all Wards. This one-day celebration seeks to highlight that common experience through performances from some of DC’s most vibrant musicians as well as workshops, arts ACTIVATIONS, community & Family engagement and more.

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Down in the Reeds is DC’s newest Fall music festival celebrating the power of music to heal across culture and community.  We hope you will join us on Saturday October 19th from 11:00am to 6:30pm at the Parks at Walter Reed for a full day of live music, workshops, live art, games, family arts and crafts, vendors, food trucks, beer garden and more. 

THE PARKS AT WALTER REED MAIN STAGE

Emcee - @REVIVE_POC
DJ - Lukumi People

12:00pm - 12:40pm Boundless Eclectic + Wychdokta + Tamara Wellons

12:55pm - 1:30pm New Sewell Conservatory 

1:45pm - 2:05pm Babby

2:10pm - 2:35pm Dove Lady 

2:50pm - 3:20pm Yasmin Williams 

3:35pm - 4:15pm Denise Henderson 

4:30pm - 5:15pm Aaron Abernathy 

5:15pm - 5:30pm Thraxx King 

5:30pm - 6:30pm Crank Lukongo

WORKSHOP STAGE Presented by HumanitiesDC 

Emcee - Jamila Bey 

11:30am - 11:50am Sunrise Review Welcome Raga 

12:00pm - 12:30pm Son Cosita Seria: Learning About the Roots and Traditions of Son Jarocho Music 

12:40pm - 1:00pm Making Plant Music with IMKA 

1:10pm - 1:40pm Author Talk Casey Rae - Zen of the Dead - The Grateful Dead and the American Pursuit of Enlightenment  

1:50pm - 2:10pm Robert Plagmann - A veterans journey through art spirituality and healing.

2:20pm - 3:00pm Jeneen Piccuirro and Tom Teasley - Sound Voyage 

3:10pm - 3:40:pm Uasuf Gueye - Healing Through African Rhythmic Traditions

3:50pm - 4:30pm The Sanctuaries Workshop: Healing in Session w/ Uptown Shane, Osa the Healer, and Ben Lasso 

4:40pm - ??? Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation - Piedmont Blues Demonstration and Open Blues Jam.

FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES

• MUSIC HEALING TENT - Our sound healing partners from Boundless Eclectic and Studio in the Woods invite attendees into a quite intimate space to decompress and enjoy some soothing sound scapes.  Learn about sound baths, sound reiki sound healing and create your own music healing mantra board. Metta Creative and Baltimore Arts Union will also be joining the festival and bringing a sound healing dome. Mettā Creative’s mission is to connect and inspire a metta driven community to live more sustainable through transformative experiences.

• FAMILY ARTS & CRAFTS - presented by Cultural DC, the Brightwood Community Association, Henson Arts in Learning, DC Public Library and Petworth Arts Collaborative.  Arts and crafts for the whole family and kids of all ages.  

• LAWN & OUTDOOR GAMES - courtesy of DC Fray

• LIVE ART - from Khalid Thompson presented by Art of Noize, Zenith Gallery, Henson Arts in Learning, Cultural DC liaisons and more. 

• COFFEE, TEA & JUICE - provided by Southeastern Roastery, Cultured Kombucha and Girl and the Vine

• FALL BEER GARDEN - sponsored by Atlas Brew Works 

• FOOD TRUCKS: Some of DC’s favorite food trucks will be joining us.  Full list TBA.

• ART & MAKER VENDORS: Check out booths from some of DC best makers and artists curated by Think Local First DC and Cultural DC 

The Festival is open to the public but we encourage all who can to make a suggested donation of $10 to support the amazingly talented musicians and creatives who will be performing and presenting all day.  To make that donation, visit https://downinthereeds.eventbrite.com .

This festival is a product of some amazing DMV partners and stakeholders including: the TPWR Development Team (Urban Atlantic, Hines, Triden Development), the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Planning & Economic Development, DC Department of Energy and Environment, Think Local First DC, Listen Local First DC, Dom Flemons, The American Songster, Mars on Gravity, Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Ward 4 Arts Council, Atlas Brew Works, Smithsonian Year in Music, CulturalDC, HumanitiesDC, DC Office of Cable Television Film & Entertainment, Solar Solution, Supreme Window, Shepherd Park Citizens Association, Brightwood Community Association, ANC 4A03, Uptown Art House, Multiflora Productions,The Sanctuaries, Boundless Eclectic, Short Eats, DC Fray DC Public Library, DC Fray, Chuck Levin’s Music Center, DMV Food Truck Association,Tenleytown Trash, The Infinite Goodness, The Archie Edwards Blues Jam Heritage Foundation, Art of Noize, Henson Arts, Sperry Entertainment, Rhizome, Petworth Arts Collaborative, Metta Creative, Baltimore Artist Union, Noah Friedman Studios and many more.  

DOWN IN THE REEDS PARTNERS:

Office of DC Council member Brandon Todd, Ward 4 Arts Council, Dom Flemons: The American Songster, Cultural DC, Smithsonian Year of Music, Shepherd Park Citizens Association, Brightwood Community Association, ANC 4A03, Uptown Art House, Multiflora Productions, The Sanctuaries, Boundless Eclectic, Short Eats, Chuck Levin’s Music Center, DMV Food Truck Association, DC Public Library, DC Fray, The Infinite Goodness, The Archie Edwards Blues Jam Heritage Foundation, Art of Noize, Sperry Entertainment, Petworth Arts Collaborative, Rhizome, Henson Arts in Learning, Metta Creative, Baltimore Artist Union, Noah Friedman Studios and many more.

MEDIA PARTNERS INCLUDE: Brightest Young Things, WPFW, On Tap Magazine, DC Music Review, Petworth News and @REVIVE_POC.