Daily Archives: June 1, 2017

Blogs | Jun. 1, 2017

Mary has vanquished Christian enemies for centuries. It is time we call upon her again to conquer all that is opposed to her and to her Son.

Several months ago, I raised the question as to whether our age is marked by anantimary movementseen in progressive feminism. If there is such a thing as an antimary, what would it look like, I asked:

Well, these women would not value children. They would be bawdy, vulgar, and angry. They would rage against the idea of anything resembling humble obedience or self-sacrifice for others. They would be petulant, shallow, catty, and overly sensuous. They would also be self-absorbed, manipulative, gossipy, anxious, and ambitious. In short, it would be everything that Mary is not.

In case we needed further evidence of how entrenched the antimary is, the recent news cycle features Planned Parenthood abortionists laughing about dismembering babies while Glamour Magazinegives instructionsfor DIY abortionpillsthat pair nicely with Chardonnay. (Okay, they didnt add the wine, but it isnt a stretch). Truly our zeitgeist is captivated (or captured) with distinctive antimary markings. This unprecedented movement of destruction, where a culture is led by female vice, not male brute force, has bled into every area of our culture with no man, women, child(or fetus) left untouched.

One of the more curious and revealing taboos seen in radical feminists, however, is their silence on women in Islam female genital mutilation, headscarves and burkas, polygamy, child marriage, 24-hour marriages to justify rape, and limited career opportunitiesall get a pass by this easily outraged group. Why? The answer seems to lie in the fact that radical Islam is guided by a similar spirit the spirit of an antichrist. Beheadings, rape, torture performed like sport while targeting Christians, Jews, and the innocent, are their calling card. The antimary and this new antichristian movement are opposite sides of the same demonic coin. The two came together with Kathy Griffin's beheading stunt this week.

They share a common mission: to eliminate all that is good, true, beautiful, and holy.

There is a catch, however. While these two are working in tandem now, like all unions with the devil, there will be a bloody divorce. The first stirrings of it are now surfacing in Europe, as we saw with the Manchester massacre.

While the New York Times still cant figure out what could have possibly motivated the suicide bomber, killing 22, Mark Steyn, spells out the issue in a fittingly titled article, Dangerous Woman Meets Dangerous Man. He writes:

Conversely, most other western citizens believe that, to invert Trotsky, if you're not interested in Islam, Islam won't be interested in you. Ariana Grande was eight at the time of 9/11, and most of her fans even younger. They have passed their entire sentient lives in the age of Islamic terror, yet somehow assume it's something compartmentalized and sealed off from them. "Dangerous Woman" is meant to be an attitude, nothing more - an edgy pose in a pop culture that lost any edge long ago; a great T-shirt, like the ones last night scavenged from the merchandising stands and used to bandage the wounded. It must come as a shock to realize there are those who take your ersatz provocations as the real thing, and are genuinely provoked by them.

As Steyn makes clear, women have been playing tough, but there is a chasm between their words and their actions. All the antimary tactics that have worked in the west to keep men in check tantrums, destroying reputations with inflated rhetoric, illogic are not going to be effective against this sort of antichrist.

Among the contributing factors to this antimarian rise are a libertine spirit, declining respect for the rule of law,and our never-seen-before financial wealth. No longer does poverty demand that we live together to scratch out a living with a division of labor suited to male and female gifts. Women simply havent needed men for their safety or material needs. But this too is changing, as women no longer feel free in Europe to go where they want, when they want, how they want. Trains arestarting to offerfemale only cars, pools have women only hours, and blonds are dying their hair black to avoid harassment. Something as commonplace as going to the theatre at night has women (and men) thinking twice about their safety.

Until we start to view the problem of Islamic Terrorism as a spiritual one and one that requires thatwechange there will be more of the same. We will continue to endure wholesale destruction of all that is good, true, and holy either until these two battle it out, with one clear winner. (Good money is on the side that has no fear of spilling blood, and not the side that remains willfully blind.)

There is a third alternative, however, that offers hope and a future. Christians must return to their faith and to the spiritual elements that we know destroy Christs enemy. As I wrote inThe Marian Option: Gods Solution to a Civilization in Crisis,after 2000 years, we know what these are: Mass, Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary, confession, Marian consecration. We know these things work. And there is more than enough evidence that Mary has been behind the vanquishing of Christian enemies for centuries. It is time we call upon her again to conquer all that is opposed to her and to her Son.

Read more:

Are We Witnessing the Battle Involving an Antimary and an Antichrist? - National Catholic Register (blog)

Full confession: I'm one of those people who is, and always will be, drawn towards white painted walls, almost against all reason.

So much so, in fact, that my husband likes to describe the aesthetic of our house, with its cream and timber palette, as "Depressed Hipster".

But it seems that the zeitgeist is against me. After years of pared-back, minimal interiors, the wheel of fashion has once again turned towards the more dramatic and, well, colourful.

Nowhere is the trend more apparent than the paints we are choosing for our interiors.

Deep, dark blues, spanning shades ranging from navy to ultramarine and sapphire, started popping up in magazine spreads and social media feeds several years ago and are showing no signs of going anywhere any time soon.

As a feature colour, they are often teamed with metallic accents such as copper and brass and used to lift an overall neutral palette of greys or whites. But they are also being used as a broadwall shade, too.

Andrea Lucena-Orr, a colour expert for Dulux, says dark blues can create a calming, tranquil ambience, or inject a sense of moodiness, depending on how they are used.

"In a large room, with lots of natural light, you can use blue to make it more cosy and to give it some sort of atmosphere," she says.

"It's a colour that draws you into a space and makes you want to stay for longer."

Greige - a handy portmanteau word to describe a tone that resembles a warm grey, or cool beige, depending on how you look at it - is terribly fashionable as a soft, versatile alternative to off-white.

And no discussion of colour could be complete without mention of millennial pink - a washed-out, 21st-century reinterpretation of the saturated hue beloved of Barbara Cartland, Paris Hilton and Barbie. (In truth, the term is something of a catch-all to describe a range of subtle, toned-down variations on blush, rose, salmon and peach.)

Lucena-Orr says millennial pink can be used almost like a neutral tone, making it surprisingly easy to work with in an interior colour scheme.

"It is light and neutral enough for people to use as a broadwall colour," she says.

"Neutral pinks work so beautifully with other colours - shades with a brownish undertone can be mixed back with taupes, greiges and other warm neutrals, as well as deep teals."

Textured paints, such as those with a metallic or suede finish, or formulations containing sand, are another emerging direction, in keeping with the growing desire to add depth, interest and character to interior spaces.

"Rough" application techniques, where the lines of the brush remain visible in the finished paint work, are another extension of the trend.

Chloe Matters, founder of interior design firm TomMarkHenry, says the renewed interest in colour and texture is driven by several broader design directions.

"It's a mix between a whole lot of things," she says.

"It's partly the revival of the '70s arts and craft movement, a little bit of art deco and industrial influences, plus an Australian flavour, reflecting the organic, natural materials we have here and our beachy lifestyle."

The story Setting the mood: The interior colours that are back on trend first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.

Visit link:

Setting the mood: The interior colours that are back on trend - North Queensland Register

The final volume in Kwans trilogy, Rich People Problems, arrived last week (The previous books were Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend), and a movie of the first book is in the works, with Jon M. Chu directing.

I dont know about you, but I gobbled all three volumes of Kevin Kwans gossipy, name-droppy and wickedly funny Crazy Rich Asians trilogy as if they were popcorn. (Really fresh, still-warm popcorn, with that good European butter but I digress.) The novels, set among three intergenerational and ultrarich Chinese families and peppered with hilarious explanatory footnotes, are set mostly in Singapore but flit easily from one glamorous world city to another, with Young family heir Nick and his American-born girlfriend (later wife) Rachel as our levelheaded tour guides.

The final volume in the trilogy, Rich People Problems (Doubleday, 416 pp., $26.95), arrived last week to the chagrin of those who arent quite ready to say goodbye to Nick and Rachel and their irresistible world. (The previous books were Crazy Rich Asians, published in 2013, and China Rich Girlfriend in 2015.) Kwan, born and raised in Singapore but now settled in New York, answered some questions via email for me last week about the novel, the upcoming movie of Crazy Rich Asians (which began filming last month), and his many inspirations, including Dynasty.

Q: Did you always conceive this as a trilogy? (Meaning, any chance of another book in the series?)

A: From the very beginning, even before I started writing the first book, I knew I wanted to make it a trilogy. I knew it would take three books to get the full story out, and though I really need a break from the Young clan right now, nothing is ever definitive and if readers truly want more, they just might get it!

I had the entire story arc of the three books more or less in my head. I knew where I wanted to go with each of the characters, although the journey itself was a meandering one. As I began to write, my characters really would speak to me and take me on rides filled with unexpected twists and turns.

Q: Your footnotes are delightful. How did they evolve?

A: When I began the first book, I realized that there were just so many things that needed translating or further explanation. But I felt it would interrupt the flow to put them into the text, so I tried experimenting with footnotes. In the beginning, the footnotes were very formal and a bit dry. So I started trying to make them more humorous, and the idea really took shape. I should note that the voice of the footnotes isnt me its actually all done in [Nicks cousin] Olivers voice!

Q: I love big family sagas, complete with family trees to keep everyone straight. Do you have any favorites in that genre that inspired you?

A: I love Anthony Trollopes Dr. Thorne and his Palliser Series, Evelyn Waughs Brideshead Revisited, as well as everything Jane Austen has written. I have to admit that being a child of the 80s, I was also inspired by family sagas on TV: Dynasty, Falcon Crest and more recently Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones!

Q: Whats been the reaction from your family in Singapore?

A: Each of my characters is inspired by many people sometimes a mix of family, friends and people Ive just observed over the years. My family in Singapore is so big and sprawling; the reactions have been so diverse. Some love my books, some are completely baffled by them, and one relative actually flipped through my second novel, China Rich Girlfriend, as if it was a rotting piece of fish and said, Kevin, I cant think of anyone in Singapore who would want to read this!

Q: Youve spoken of doing a lot of nonfiction reading as research. Can you share a few titles?

A: Sure! Forgotten Armies: Britains Asia Empire and the War With Japan, The Soong Dynasty by Sterling Seagrave, Empress Dowager Cixi by Jung Chang, and The Dragon Behind the Glass by Emily Voigt, just to name a few.

Q: The books are full of amazing details of life among the Singapore ultrarich such as plastic surgery for pet fish. Do you have a favorite from the books? Are any of them made up?

A: I love all my crazy details, so its really hard to play favorites. One detail I do love in the new book concerns the two Thai aristocrats that married into Catherine Young Aakaras family (Nicks aunt who lives in Thailand): Its mentioned that the two ladies only eat shellfish, and this was directly inspired by a story a chef once told me about having to prepare an entire meal for a Thai princess whose entire diet consisted of shellfish. NOTHING is made up In my books!

Q: I would like to be Astrid [Nicks glamorous, preternaturally poised cousin]. Thats not really a question, just a statement.

A: Not only do I get [that] all the time, I get sent poetry and artwork inspired by Astrid from her fans, and Im told that quite a few women in Singapore and Hong Kong have gone around claiming to be the inspiration for Astrid!

Q: Tell me about the movie! (Fun local fact: Screenwriter Pete Chiarelli is a Tacoma native and a University of Washington alum.)

A: I did everything I could to be helpful to Pete as he worked on the script. I think hes done a fabulous job!

Ive been involved in almost every aspect of the film from the very beginning I first worked with the producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force to select the screenwriter that would adapt the book into a script, and then we focused on finding the perfect director to make the film. After Jon M. Chu came on board, we went into full casting mode and then very quickly into production. Since then Ive worked with the costume designer Mary Vogt and the production designer Nelson Coates, and its all been so exciting. I think very few authors have been as involved in the film adaptation of their book as I have, and I feel very lucky to have had this experience. Everyone involved is so brilliant, and Im thrilled by the way theyre bringing the book to life on screen.

Q: This movie seems to be arriving at exactly the right moment in the zeitgeist for Asian performers in Hollywood. Do you think theres extra pressure because of that?

A: Certainly. There really seems to be a whole movement behind this film and its become a symbol of hope not just for Asian performers, but for Asian communities all over the world. I think everyone working on this film from Jon to the actors to everyone on our incredible crew feels that sense of excitement and expectation, and its really inspiring everyone to give that much of themselves to the movie. I think audiences are going to be crazy happy with the results!

More here:

A Q&A with Kevin Kwan, of 'Crazy Rich Asians' fame - The Seattle Times

The neo-populist wave that swept Donald Trump to power poses at least three challenges to elite philanthropy, which we define as both wealthy individual donors and foundations.

The first challenge is that elite philanthropy owes its wealth to an economic system at the heart of the neo-populist critiquean economic system based on job-draining automation, on job-redistributing processes of globalization, and on neoliberal policies. Second, much elite philanthropy embraces strategies driven from the top down by donors and cosmopolitan technocrats, whom neo-populists view with suspicion or even disdain. The third challenge is that elite philanthropy tends to focus on public problems (e.g., climate change) and constituencies (e.g., poor people of color, feminists, environmentalists, immigrants) that many neo-populists view as opponents in a zero-sum contest for societys benefits. These three factorsthe indebtedness to neoliberalism, the prioritization of elite approaches, and the orientation toward post-materialist progressive causeswould seem to put much philanthropy at odds with the political zeitgeist.

And yet, even as philanthropy faces these challenges, its legitimacy interests and moral commitments call it to action. At their best, philanthropic patrons help cultivate democratic norms and practices within civil society, thereby empowering citizens to live peaceably together and to counter antidemocratic moves by the state. Scholars have long observed philanthropys role in helping nondemocratic countries democratize, but philanthropy may be equally important in preventing established democracies from backsliding. In the present context, asTed Lechterman has argued, donors find themselves in the throes of a dilemma between redressing the democratic deficits that have given rise to contemporary populism and taking a forceful stand against the waves anti-democratic impulses. What are donors to do?

We have been monitoring how the largest foundations, their leaders, and the nations most generous philanthropists have been answering this question. Since January, we have followed 20 of Americas most generous independent foundations (the Top 23 by giving in 2014, minus two that have effectively no web presence and one that has ceased operations). We have examined what they have proposed formally about any changes in programming relevant to the initiatives of the new administration. This data collection effort includes what foundation leaders have said in interviews, speeches, and tweets; whats been said in articles about these philanthropies; and what the foundations have posted on their web sites. Our assessment focused on new initiatives and programs or statements of intent to establish new programs; statements or restatements of core values were not considered indications of change. We also have reviewed public statements and tweets by more than 100 leading individual philanthropists with major policy interests, those whom Goss has termedpolicy plutocrats.

Regarding the big foundations, almost all of them support causes threatened by the new administration, including environmental and climate protection, internationalist foreign policy, assistance to the poor, and the rights of marginalized groups. These (mostly progressive) foundations give away billions each year, and we might expect some of these dollars to be redirected toward the emerging resistance movement. Nevertheless, what we have found in our initial research (through May 1st) is that few foundations are shifting programmatic resources toward contesting those Trump initiatives that run directly counter to foundation priorities. One can review major foundations websites and see not the slightest hint of trouble in the policy areas they work on. For example, the Packard Foundation is a forceful proponent of arresting global climate change, yet theres not a word on its website about the Trump administrations hostility to climate change regulation. There could not be a more passionate advocate of expanding healthcare to all than the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, but you wouldnt know the Affordable Care Act is under attack from the foundations formal statements.

Thinking beyond particular policy issues, philanthropy is a critical element in the American system of interest articulation and representation. Philanthropic dollars support civil society organizations, which provide a voice to everyday people. The election has provoked a surge in democratic engagement as evidenced by large and sustainedprotest marches, booming membership in legacy organizations such as theLeague of Women Voters, and theformation of political organizationsurging constituents to speak out and even run against their elected officials. Spontaneous individual donations of money and time have fueled this surge in engagement, yet thus far there is little evidence that leading foundations see a new or expanded role for themselves in these movements.

To be sure, some leading philanthropies and their donors have responded to the times. They have done so by verbally affirming their support for progressive causes, by providing new funds to organizations representing those commitments, or both. In terms of funding, the Rockefeller Foundationhas given $1.5 millionto buttress civil rights and liberties, the California Endowmenthas allocated $25 millionto support healthcare for vulnerable children, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundationhas pledged $20 millionfor reproductive health organizations harmed by the revived global gag rule. Pierre Omidyar has announceda $100 million effortto shore up journalism, and George Soros haspledged $10 millionto combat hate crimes. Likewise, the Center for Effective Philanthropy found ina recent surveythat almost 30 percent of 162 foundation CEOs intended to make changes in light of Trump administration initiatives. Its possible that such changes havent been implemented yet. Perhaps Americas foundations are lumbering giants that just move slowly.

Wealthy individuals responses to the new administration are harder to track but nevertheless instructive. Beyond the contributions of Omidyar and Soros, we found little trace of new donations by policy plutocratsperhaps because they have chosen not to make their contributions public. However, a small but critical mass of these individuals has taken to the media, including Twitter, to publicly challenge the Trump administration. Some, includingBill GatesandRichard Bransonhave reaffirmed support for policies that the administration may threaten, such as U.S. foreign aid and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Others, includingMarc BenioffandNicolas Berggruen, have criticized the administration for undermining traditions of diversity and inclusion. And still others, includingPierre OmidyarandTom Steyer, have blasted specific Trump policies and framed the administration as a threat to the Constitution and rule of law. Supporters of Trump, includingCarl IcahnandT. Boone Pickens, have largely praised the presidents early moves, including his inaugural speech and Cabinet appointments. Although we cannot determine if donors have backed their statements with contributions to charities and advocacy organizations, it is reasonable to assume at least some have done so.

As we continue our research, we are especially interested in whether philanthropies will reorient their givingand their public voicein a sustained way to counter threats to a high-functioning, civil, and inclusive democracy. Such grantmaking might entail a deeper commitment to constituencies left especially vulnerable by domestic and global developmentsor it might entail new commitments to strengthening the norms and institutions of democracy itself. These two approaches have areas of overlapdefending liberty for some protects liberty for all, for example. But these approaches also reveal different perspectives on the fundamental challenges of our age. The hopeful perspective is that democracy is a flawed system that needs a little boost; the pessimists view is that democracy is existentially threatened. As this larger debate swirls around us, few leading foundations and philanthropists appear to be grasping what may be at stake.

This essay was initially published by HistPhil in its series, Political Scientists and Philanthropy.

Read this article:

Are Foundations Part of the Resistance? Challenges to Elite Donors in a Neo-Populist Age - The Nonprofit Quarterly (registration)

By Going Out Guide staff By Going Out Guide staff June 1 at 1:00 PM

In the age of Spotify streams and surprise albums, it seems that the only reassuring constant in music is the summer concert season three reliably glorious months of sprawling crowds and splashy pyrotechnics, all beckoning us back to outdoor pavilions and football stadiums for singalongs on a massive scale.

Proof: U2 returns as one of this summers most coveted tickets, filling FedEx Field to capacity to mark the 30th anniversary of its landmark album, The Joshua Tree. Hall & Oates, unironically beloved by a new generation of fans, is here, too, this time pairing with fellow 1980s hitmakers Tears for Fears at Verizon Center. Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, better known as one-half of Fleetwood Mac, will belt out the favorites at Wolf Trap, while Jiffy Lube Live will lure crowds with country-music heavyweights Chris Stapleton and Lady Antebellum.

Not every big show, of course, takes place under the stars. Mark your calendars for Kendrick Lamar, who gave Coachella fans a captivating glimpse of the performance-art staging of his tour, soon arriving at Verizon Center; and the D.C. Jazz Festival, which spreads across the city this month, including the air-conditioned halls of the Kennedy Center.

Which performer will provide the soundtrack to your summer? Read on for our guide to the seasons most anticipated concerts.

Jump to: Rock/Pop | Hip hop/R&B | Country/Americana | Perennial favorites | Buzzy artists | Jazz/blues

U2 On its current international stadium jaunt, U2 is looking back 30 years to its landmark 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. Its no surprise at this point that shows on the tour, launched in May, feature a full reading of the record, which includes the chart-topping anthems With or Without You and I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For. But Bono and company have been keeping it interesting with additional hits, intriguing visuals and special guests, such as Eddie Vedder in Seattle. The band has also been offering a glimpse of whats on the horizon by including the new song The Little Things That Give You Away in recent set lists. Jedd Ferris See them: June 20 at FedEx Field. Sold out. Tickets available on the secondary market.

Gorillaz Damon Albarn, the leader of the Britpop band Blur, started Gorillaz as a fun side project. This cartoon band reimagined the Archies as angst-haunted adults, with Albarns partner, Jamie Hewlett, creating the spooky anime. Humanz, the first new album from Gorillaz in seven years, was released in April with multiple guest stars ranging from Vince Staples to Mavis Staples, all performing atop Albarns minimalist synth figures and looped beats. Some, but not all, of the guests showed up at the first few shows to support the record, and it was a different cast each time. The center of attention, though, was always Albarn, whose ringmaster role gave the shows more cohesion than the album, which resembles a typical mix tape, widely varying in styles and quality. Geoffrey Himes See them: July 17 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. $49-$199.

Feist No one could have predicted that, after toiling in the indie-rock world for more than a decade, Leslie Feist would find global success thanks to an iPod commercial. Thats exactly what happened in 2007, when the addictive 1234 propelled Feist to new heights, but success wasnt without its pitfalls namely, emotional exhaustion that prompted her to abandon music for two years. When she returned, she ran away from the poppy, if accidental, commercialism and slowed her world down with the dour, muted Metals. On Pleasure, her first album in six years, the spirit of quiet introspection of Metals is intact, but rather than strictly subtle, Feist occasionally grabs a live wire of ragged rock energy, strumming and singing past any remaining expectations. Chris Kelly See her: June 7-8 at Lincoln Theatre. $45. June 7 show is sold out.

Fleet Foxes Initially compared to Simon and Garfunkel for its tuneful harmonies, this Seattle-based modern folk group has developed an ethereal yet lush sound over the past decade that is completely its own. Fleet Foxes growing influence has reverberated throughout the ever-expanding genre, despite a six-year gap between albums and the 2012 departure of drummer Josh Tillman, who has remade himself as Father John Misty. The groups new album, Crack-Up, scheduled to be released this month, is arguably its strongest to date. Expect a full unveiling when the band takes the stage at Merriweather alongside the restlessly inventive Animal Collective, which has recently been veering toward pop. Christopher Kompanek See them: July 29 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. $41-$56.

Belle and Sebastian, Spoon, Andrew Bird This triple-headlining bill is the stuff of music-geek dreams. From Belle and Sebastians well-made melancholic songs to Spoons impossibly tight soulful grooves and Andrew Birds genre-defying brilliance, this mini-fest promises to be an epic day of indie rock. Expect Belle and Sebastian to play a couple of songs off their rumored upcoming album. Bird is as unpredictable live as he is consistently good; a recent Carnegie Hall show had him sharing the stage with Schoolhouse Rock composer Bob Dorough, mandolinist Chris Thile and avant classical pianist Gabriel Kahane. A jam with Britt Daniel and company of Spoon would be a fitting climax for this show. C.Ko. See them: July 30 at Merriweather Post Pavilion.$45-$55.

Kendrick Lamar On his previous two albums, Kendrick Lamar explored concepts political and personal, general and specific, recounting a day-in-the-life on the streets of Compton on Good kid, m.A.A.d city and paying tribute to the history of black music and the Black Lives Matter movement on the expansive To Pimp a Butterfly. From its title on down, his latest effort, DAMN., is blunt and belligerent. Abandoning the embellishments of his last album, Lamar returned with a hit parade of songs with all-caps titles that announce themselves like Hollywood signs in the collective consciousness. His palpable anger is focused with a laser sight, and hes as self-assured as ever. As he boasts on hit single HUMBLE., Im the realest n***a after all. Chris Kelly See him: July 21 at Verizon Center. Sold out. Tickets available on the secondary market.

[Is Kendrick Lamar the greatest of all time? (Don't ask. Listen.)]

John Legend John Legend begins his latest album, Darkness and Light, by singing, Some folk do what theyre told, but, baby, this time I wont. Building on his track record as a progressive-soul singer-keyboardist in the lineage of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, Legend pushes the limits of his established persona by working with rock producer Blake Mills (Dawes, Alabama Shakes), recording with Who bassist Pino Palladino and jazz keyboardist Larry Goldings, and co-writing songs with Mills, Bonnie Prince Billy, Zwans Matt Sweeney and One Direction producer John Ryan. These experiments dont dramatically alter Legends sound so much as they open it up to more impressionistic lyrics and music. Geoffrey Himes See him: June 20 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. $59-$499.

Chance the Rapper With last years Coloring Book, Chance the Rapper made the leap from promising upstart to voice of his generation. The Chicago talent took the gospel flirtations of The Life of Pablo, by his mentor Kanye West, and turned them into an album of full-on gospel-rap paeans. In February, Chance won the Grammy for best new artist, but in the same way that rapper doesnt fully capture the extent of his musical gifts, artist doesnt cover his pursuits. The 24-year-old has quickly become an able activist meeting with the governor of Illinois, donating $1 million to Chicago public schools so catch him onstage while you still can. C.Ke. See him: June 4 at Jiffy Lube Live, $59.50-$119.50. June 6 at Royal Farms Arena, $106.50-$116.50.

Summer Spirit Festival For the 12th consecutive year, the Summer Spirit Festival returns to Merriweather Post Pavilion with a two-day adventure soundtracked by the best of R&B, neo-soul, hip-hop and everything in between. As ever, the festival is heavy on nostalgia, with the legendary Kenny Babyface Edmonds, 90s girl groups SWV and En Vogue, and influential rap trio De La Soul anchoring the bill. But the festival isnt just a jaunt down memory lane: It also features Bronx hybrid Tish Hyman and neo-neo-soul band the Internet, which makes the kind of old-meets-new music that will soundtrack the Summer Spirit Festivals of the future. C.Ke. See them: August 5-6 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. $54-$1,170.

J. Cole After teasing his retirement last summer, J. Cole returned in December with a documentary and a pair of songs, False Prophets and Everybody Dies, that immediately captured the rap zeitgeist. Largely read as diss tracks aimed at Kanye West and such newcomers as Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert, respectively, the songs collectively served as a marker for where Cole sees his place in the rap game: as a wise-beyond-his-years protector of the genre. Its a pose he assumed on his latest album, 4 Your Eyez Only, an introspective and mature offering that burnished his credentials as a rap classicist with plenty of stories to tell before his (eventual) retirement. C.Ke. See him: Aug. 8 at Verizon Center. $49.50-$125.50.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Following his Grammy-winning 2015 effort, Something More Than Free, country-rock tunesmith Jason Isbell decided it was time to crank up his guitar amp. On his new album, The Nashville Sound, which comes out June 16, Isbell rocks harder than he has since his days as a member of Drive-By Truckers. Standout Cumberland Gap is a fuzzy scorcher that still allows the songwriters usual vivid lyrics, full of blue-collar Southern imagery, to surface. The new material will be well served onstage in the hands of Isbells seasoned band, the 400 Unit. Hell be supported this summer by the Mountain Goats, the long-standing, folk-punk cult heroes from North Carolina. Jedd Ferris See them: June 30 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. $40-$55.

Lady Antebellum Near the end of Lady Antebellums 2015 Wheels Up Tour, the country trio announced that it would be taking a 1 1/2-year hiatus. During that time off, Charles Kelley released a hot-country solo album, The Driver, and then Hillary Scott released a Christian-pop album, Love Remains. Each album rose to No. 2 on the country charts, although neither yielded a top-25 country single. Country radio clearly preferred the three-part harmonies of Kelley, Scott and Dave Haywood, and though the groups reunion album, Heart Break, wont be released till next week, the albums first single, You Look Good, has already hit the country top-10. Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young are also on the bill at Jiffy Lube Live. G.H. See them: June 24 at Jiffy Lube Live. $33-$66.25.

Lucinda Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter When Lucinda Williams played Annapoliss Rams Head On Stage in May, the singer-songwriter played songs from all phases of her career: from Changed the Locks, off her 1988 self-titled breakthrough album, to The Ghosts of Highway 20, the title track from last years late-career-triumph album. When she returns to Wolf Trap in August, she will headline the show with Mary Chapin Carpenter, who turned Williamss Passionate Kisses into a top-five country hit in 1993. Carpenter, who got her start in Washingtons coffeehouses, had an even bigger country hit in 1991 with Down at the Twist and Shout, a song she wrote about the legendary nightclub in Bethesda. Geoffrey Himes See them: Aug. 12 at Wolf Trap. $28-$60.

Chris Stapleton Chris Stapleton proved people were still willing to pay for an honest tune when he sold more than 2 million copies of his 2015 debut solo album, Traveller. Last month, the gritty troubadour with a revivalist spirit unveiled the highly anticipated follow-up, From A Room: Volume 1, which debuted at the top of the country charts. Delivering honest, dusty ruminations with a hearty, soulful voice, Stapleton once an in-demand Music Row songwriter is now a modern outlaw headlining the countrys big stages. This summer hes fronting the All-American Roadshow, a package tour with a rotating cast of supporting Americana acts (Anderson East and Brent Cobb at this tour stop). J.F. See him: July 22 at Jiffy Lube Live. $30.75$70.75.

Greensky Bluegrass After a successful three-night stand at the 9:30 Club in the winter, jam-friendly string band Greensky Bluegrass is returning to the area to headline a new boutique amphitheater, Chrysalis, in Columbia. Nestled in the woods near the much-bigger Merriweather Post Pavilion, the venue features a bright green sculpturelike stage and an open lawn with standing room for 7,000 people. Greensky, which has built a loyal following across the country for its dynamic live shows, will be supported by fellow string expansionists Leftover Salmon, a band that blends bluegrass with Cajun rhythms and full-throttle rock grooves. J.F. See them: July 22 at Chrysalis-Merriweather Park. $40.

Paul Simon When singer-songwriter Paul Simon played in Queens, his childhood home, last summer, he hinted that it might be his final tour. While hes back at it this summer, the 75-year-old legend is donating all proceeds from this 17-show stint to the Half-Earth Project, scientist E.O. Wilsons biodiversity preservation initiative. From the intimate early Simon and Garfunkel songs to the syncopated levity of Graceland, Simon has a talent for capturing a persistent human longing. A thread of elusive searching flows through his songs, from Homeward Bound to 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. Sarah McLachlan opens this show with her own brand of deeply emotional tunes. Christopher Kompanek See them: June 9 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. $55-$175.

Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie arent the most famous members of Fleetwood Mac, but the songs they wrote for the band are certainly memorable. Buckingham penned the earworms Go Your Own Way and Second Hand News, while McVie wrote Dont Stop and Songbird, a gorgeous ballad that features her lead vocals. The two recently teamed up outside of Fleetwood Mac to write and record a new album, Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie, due out early this summer. On this tour, the duo will perform songs from those new recordings as well as their old hits. Catherine P. Lewis See them: June 26 at Wolf Trap. $45-$95.

Hall & Oates Hall & Oates werent about albums. They were about radio singles, but their hits were some of the most exquisitely crafted and emotionally satisfying songs of their era. They were incredibly prolific; while Bruce Springsteen was releasing eight albums in the 70s and 80s, Hall & Oates released 15. Anyone who listened to the radio in those two decades will experience a small flush of pleasure at the mere mention of such titles as Sara Smile, Rich Girl, Kiss on My List, I Cant Go for That (No Can Do) and Did It in a Minute. The duo scored 28 top-40 hits between 1976 and 1988, including six No. 1s. Theyre joined on this tour by Tears for Fears. Geoffrey Himes See them: June 26 at Verizon Center. $35-$129.50.

Merriweather Post Pavilions 50th Anniversary Concert Its unusual for a live performance to become a hit single; its so difficult to control the sonic qualities of a concert recording compared to a studio session. One of the most famous exceptions to this rule was Jackson Brownes 1977 live album, Running on Empty, which yielded not just one but two top-20 Billboard singles: the previously unreleased title track and the remake of Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs 1960 doo-wop classic Stay. The album was assembled from recordings at different stops on the 1977 tour, but both singles came from the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia. How better to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the venerable outdoor venue than with a return visit by Browne, joined by another Merriweather perennial, Willie Nelson, and two more recent regulars: Father John Misty and Grace Potter? G.H. See it: July 15 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. $55-$125.

Queen with Adam Lambert Sometimes, coming in second place isnt so bad. Adam Lambert, the American Idol runner-up (to Kris Allen in 2009), makes the perfect frontman for classic rock icons Queen. During time off from his solo career, Lambert has teamed with active Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor for several tours; his soaring range, theatrical delivery and flamboyant personality help him fill Freddie Mercurys seemingly inimitable shoes. Even more perfect? Lambert used Queens Bohemian Rhapsody as his initial American Idol audition song and performed alongside May and Taylor on the show. C.P.L. See them: July 31 at Verizon Center. $49.50-$175.

Gloria Trevi, Alejandra Guzmn For decades, Mexican rock stars Gloria Trevi and Alejandra Guzmn have been cast as incorrigible bad girls rivaling for the spotlight. Audiences will finally have a chance to see who can out-growl the other when the equally raspy, tough-as-nails singers unite at EagleBank Arena. Trevi, the rebellious wild child who rose to fame with her 90s anthem about unruly hair, has spent the latter half of her career moving past an infamous arrest in 2000 on charges of kidnapping, sexual abuse and corruption of minors. Guzmn has also had her slew of controversies, including drug addiction, airplane brawls and botched plastic surgery. Now, at age 49, the former scandal magnets have put their pasts behind them and focused on music, joining forces this year to release the duet Cuando un hombre te enamora. Julyssa Lopez See them: Aug. 13 at EagleBank Arena. $49-$153.

Kehlani On her debut album, SweetSexySavage, Kehlani aimed to capture the three elements of its title, and the Oakland singer-songwriter succeeded with flying colors. SweetSexySavage updates the crazy, sexy, cool R&B of TLC, Aaliyah and Brandy for millennial listeners and finds the 22-year-old equally adept at rap-fueled slow dances, guitar-strumming ballads and bubbly pop jams about learning from the hiccups and hookups of youthful relationships. Being a pop star in 2017 is tough some of those relationships have made her a target of Internet bullies but, as she sings on the album, Live for the challenge, only make[s] me stronger. Chris Kelly See her: July 13 at the Fillmore. Sold out. Tickets available on the secondary market.

St. Paul & the Broken Bones

St. Paul & the Broken Bones has increased in popularity pretty quickly for a group that formed in 2012; just four years ago, the Alabama soul band played the tiny Iota Club in Arlington. But headlining a show at Wolf Trap is a well-deserved step up for the young band: Its two albums boast catchy, well-orchestrated songs, which should translate beautifully to the big, open-air stage. Frontman Paul Janeways voice floats up to match the peppy horns behind him on Call Me, and he howls sorrowfully on That Glow. His vocal calisthenics add an engaging passion to these soulful songs. Catherine P. Lewis See them: June 16 at Wolf Trap. $30-$55.

Michael Kiwanuka While trying to kick-start material to follow up his breakout folk-soul debut album, Home Again, Michael Kiwanuka found an ideal collaborator in Brian Danger Mouse Burton, the in-demand producer for the likes of Beck and the Black Keys. The partnership yielded Kiwanukas sophomore effort, last years Love and Hate, which finds the London-based singer and guitarists earthy croon enhanced by sweeping strings, haunting backing vocals and vintage organ swells. The albums lead track, the icy, retro ballad Cold Little Heart, became a buzzy sensation this year when it accompanied the bizarre intro to HBOs Big Little Lies. While mostly busy on the international festival circuit this summer, Kiwanuka will squeeze in a few club dates, including a stop at a sold-out 9:30 Club. Jedd Ferris See him: June 4 at 9:30 Club. Sold out. Tickets available on the secondary market.

Mitski At times on her album Puberty 2, Mitski sings lyrics Tell your baby that Im your baby or Youre the one, youre all I ever wanted, for example that would be at home at any time in pop music history. But those lovey-dovey pleadings belie the darkness and violence of her work: I will go jogging routinely/calmly and rhythmically run, she sings on Fireworks, And when I find that a knife is sticking out of my side, Ill pull it out without questioning why. Puberty 2 is full of knives in your side and unanswered questions as the 26-year-old bounds from Pixiesque loud-quiet-loud dynamics to narcotic ballads to trebly punk meltdowns, all the while exposing the sordid underbelly of 21st-century romance. C.Ke. See her: July 8 at 9:30 Club. $20.

Little Dragon Since Swedens Little Dragon debuted 11 years ago, Yukimi Naganos soulful soprano has become a chic accessory for other peoples music. The halfJapanese singer has collaborated with Big Boi, Gorillaz, Flume and many more. Yet the band tends to go it alone on its own albums, including the recent Season High. It seems the four musicians dont need any help to craft songs that meld 80s-style synth-pop and slow-jam funk with contemporary touches. The vibe can be loungey, but the group channels Prince on such upbeat tunes as the new Sweet and Strobe Light, which party like its almost 1989. Mark Jenkins See them: Aug. 8 at 9:30 Club. $35.

Herbie Hancock Herbie Hancock is the rare jazz artist to gain considerable recognition outside the jazz world. In 2008, his River: The Joni Letters became only the second jazz album to win the Grammy Award for album of the year, besting fellow nominees Kanye West, Foo Fighters, Amy Winehouse and Vince Gill. In 2013, Hancock joined Billy Joel, Shirley MacLaine, Martina Arroyo and Carlos Santana as recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. In August, Hancock returns to the Kennedy Center with a quintet that features West African guitar virtuoso Lionel Loueke, Kendrick Lamar collaborator Terrace Martin, Joni Mitchell drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and Saturday Night Live bassist James Genus. Geoffrey Himes See him: Aug. 8 at the Kennedy Center. $39-$115.

Capital Jazz Fest Talk about blurred lines: Singer Robin Thicke will help open this genre-blending jazz and soul music fete. Of course, the 25th-anniversary edition is crowded with longtime festival favorites, including contemporary jazz titans George Benson and Lee Ritenour, whove influenced generations of guitar players. When the focus isnt shifting from, say, the Whispers to Stokley, women will command the stage, during performances by Corinne Bailey Rae, Maysa, Sheila E. and Candy Dulfer. Topping the Sunday finale: a special tribute to the late jazz and pop great Al Jarreau. Mike Joyce See it: June 2-4 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. $64.50-$104.50. Saturday is sold out.

DC Jazz Festival This sprawling jazz summit offers an array of crosstown concerts in venues large and small, indoors and out. Among the artists on tap are two veteran collaborators, guitarist Pat Metheny and drummer Roy Haynes, although theyll perform at different sites. Ever engaging at 91, Haynes brings his Fountain of Youth Band to the Howard Theatre on June 10, while Metheny, fronting an intriguing new quartet, appears at the Kennedy Center on June 12. Theyre festival highlights, no doubt, along with concerts featuring Gregory Porter, Jane Bunnett and numerous others. M.Jo. See it: June 9-18 at various venues in the District. Ticket prices vary.

Diana Krall A multiple Grammy winner, Diana Krall has pitched her tent at the top of the jazz charts for two decades. Producer Tommy LiPuma, who died in March, at 80, helped get her there. So this show is likely to produce some bittersweet moments when the Canadian vocalist and pianist revisits the vintage pop and jazz tunes on her new LiPuma-produced album, Turn Up the Quiet a now haunting reminder of their special chemistry. Count on guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist Robert Hurst, drummer Karriem Riggins and fiddler Stuart Duncan to provide inspired support. M.Jo. See her: June 24 at Wolf Trap. $43.75-$83.75.

La La Land in Concert La La Land harks back to the achingly idealistic movie musicals of the 50s and 60s, when lifes troubles were carried away by a sweeping dance mob, and there was always a catchy song to articulate how you feel. This screening, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Emil de Cou, seems like the model way to experience Damien Chazelles love letter to impossible dreams and the wonderfully rich culture of jazz. Justin Hurwitzs Oscar-winning score (with a previously unheard overture), filled with frenzied flourishes of improvisation, should play particularly well in an open-air, live setting. Christopher Kompanek See it: Aug. 4 at Wolf Trap. $40-$60.

READ MORE:

The 35 movies everyone will be talking about this summer

Our favorite burgers in Washington, from diner-style to splurge-worthy

Link:

Summer Concert Guide: 31 can't-miss shows, from Kendrick Lamar to U2 - Washington Post