SUNDAY, MARCH 6 , 2022. THE WASHINGTON POST EZ EE E7
it reminded you that funky things some-
times get funkier with age? Has it made
you want to peel your tired body off the
couch and dance to some of the most
reliably locomotive American music ever
made? Ok ay then.Ohio Players May 27-28 at the Birchmere.
birchmere.com.Aldous Harding
Whether she’s squeezing her airways into
new shapes or ju st speeding up the tapes, the
artful New Zealand songwriter’s voice seems
to have shot up an octave on her latest single,
“Lawn,” suggesting a reverse puberty, a
return to innocence or maybe something
else. Harding’s songcraft continues to skew
toward the transformative, but into what
remains up for grabs.Aldous Harding June 11 at Miracle Theatre.
themiracletheatre.com.fillmoresilverspring.com.DelFest
The annual bluegrass-and-more festival is
back on in Western Maryland, headlined by
its namesake, Del McCoury, who recently
turned 83. That might give the Del McCoury
Band seniority on this three-day festival’s
sprawling bill, but there’s no shortage of
heavies appearing at Del Fest 2021, including
banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck, Maryland-born
bluegrass heroes the Seldom Scene and
more.DelFest May 26-28 at the Allegany County
Fairgrounds. delfest.com.Ohio Players
This pandemic has made you older, but
has it made you wiser? Has it invited you to
contemplate the fact that even the most
legendary of bands will not exist forever,
and for that matter, neither will you? HasOlivia Rodrigo
When the pandemic’s big breakout pop
star finally gets to hit the road in support of
her magnetic and massive debut album
“Sour,” it’ll be fun to hear if her no-longer-
brand-new songs — including last year’s
chart-devouring “Drivers Licens e” — are
built for the long ride. Go, Olivia, go.Olivia Rodrigo May 4 at the Anthem. theanthemdc.com.070 Shake
“I don’t know if I’ll be here tomorrow,” 070
Shake sang on her early-2020 single “Mor-
row,” but thankfully, here she is. Fatalism and
perseverance have been reliable themes for
this New Jersey native, whose bright ideas
about hybridizing rap and pop once provided
some necessary sparkle to Kanye West’s
dimmest album, 2018’s “Ye.” Four years later,
the bright lights still beckon.070 Shake May 15 at the Fillmore.question for the ages. She’s written a when-
will-I-find-love song that speaks to the wider
anxieties of temporal existence, where the “it”
can serve as a placeholder for all kinds of
hopes and wishes. It’s a b road and generous
idea, delivered with personality and precision.Tenille Townes April 29 at Union Stage.
unionstage.com.Koffee
Koffee made the history books twice at last
year’s Grammy Awards by being the first
woman and the youngest artist to win the
trophy for best reggae album. The refrain of
her easygoing follow-up single, “West Indies,”
felt rightfully proud and aptly celebratory: “I
wanna just party.”Koffee May 3 at the Fillmore.
fillmoresilverspring.com.POP MUSIC FROM E6spring arts preview | pop music
CHARLES SYKES/INVISION/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Olivia Rodrigo performs at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 12. She’ll bring the songs from her debut album, “Sour,” to the Anthem on May 4.EMMA WALLBANKS
New Zealand songwriter Aldous Harding’s voice seems to have shot up an oc tave on her latest single, “Lawn.” Harding performs June 11 at Miracle Theatre.