Mental health and music events in DMV this weekend

From live concerts and soulful brunches to a blend of poetry, wine and hip-hop, May is ending with a bang in the DMV!

Whether looking for community and celebration, or to close out Mental Health Awareness Month with tips for the future, check out a handful of the many events happening this weekend — and dive into the Washington Informer Calendar for more.

Thursday, May 28

Strength Not Stigma: How Our Mental Health Journeys Shape Our Lives

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | $17.85

1300 17th Street North #1500, Arlington, VA 22209

Rock Recovery is closing out Mental Health Month with an evening of connection, conversation, and community. 

Join a special moderated panel event that invites the community to explore a powerful truth: mental health matters—it shows up in how one leads, collaborates, communicates, and cares for themselves and others at work and at home.

Attendees will hear from professionals across a range of industries (clinical, nonprofit, government, corporate, and more) as they share how their mental health journeys shaped their experiences, and how that influences both their personal and professional lives today.

Friday, May 29 

NY | Curator Tour: “Native New York” — From the Bronx to Buffalo

11 a.m. | Free

National Museum of the American Indian, Independence Avenue SW & 4th Street SW, Washington, D.C., 20024

Reflect on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a special curator-led tour of the museum’s ongoing exhibition: Native New York. Learn more about Indigenous history on both frontiers of the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) in relation to the Mohican, Oneida, and Cayuga communities and in the war’s aftermath at Buffalo Creek.

Scratch, Sip & Paint: Words Beats & Life Hip-Hop Experience

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | $60.54

Words Beats & Life HQ, 1525 Newton Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, D.C., 20010

Dive into this hands-on workshop in Columbia Heights to learn the basics of DJing and graffiti art, and catch a vibe with complimentary drinks alongside friends and new people.

Wine and non-alcoholic alternatives will be provided within the ticket price. No outside alcohol or controlled substances are allowed.

Saturday, May 30

Nerd Nite DC: Math Trivia, Cheddar, and D.C.’s Redlight History

6:30 p.m. | $19.57

DC9 Nightclub, 1940 9th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

Cue it up: Three experts. Dozens of cheeky slides. A bar full of gifted kids gone feral who love special interest deep dives. This is Nerd Nite DC.

Discussions will include some of the places that now house well-known D.C. establishments, such as the Old Ebbitt Grill and the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. After listening, guests will be itching to tell someone, “Do you know that restaurant used to be a brothel!”

Ari Lennox: The Vacancy Tour

8:30 p.m. | $270+

The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Ave., Forest Heights, MD 20745

Neo-soul singer Ari Lennox’s sound and persona on the stage are simultaneously elegant and organic, both dreamy and down-to-earth. Some know her best by her 2019 hit “Shea Butter Baby,” on which she paired up with her producer, R&B/hip-hop icon J. Cole, but whatever tune she lends her lungs to, Lennox breathes deep, soulful life into every single line.

Check out the Washington, D.C. native, who recently released the album “Vacancy,” live in concert May 30 and 31.

Sunday, May 31

The Soulful Sunday Go-Go Brunch

1 p.m. | $160

The Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20036

Join a celebration of culture, community, and hometown pride— paired with great food, good energy, and a purpose that matters.

The ladies of The Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. are ready to kick the summer off with the Soulful Sunday Go‑Go Brunch. The event brings the heartbeat of the city to life with D.C.’s own Suttle Thoughts delivering that unmistakable live go‑go groove and DJ Flava Show on the ones and twos, keeping the floor hot all afternoon.

A Fine Madness

2 p.m. | $25

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20004

Step into a bold and immersive theatrical experience with “A Fine Madness,” a world premiere from Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company that reimagines what storytelling can be. Created and performed by Justin Weaks, this genre-defying work blends poetry, music, storytelling, and audience interaction to transform theater into a living, evolving archive.

More than a performance, this is an invitation to gather, reflect, and imagine new ways of being together — here through June 28.