Washington, DC

Music connected to Washington

Step into Washington, DC, a city humming with history and a surprising musical legacy. While it's known as the nation's capital, its influence extends far beyond politics. This is where punk rock was born in the late 70s, and it's the birthplace of jazz icon Duke Ellington. From Kendrick Lamar's "Black Friday" to the Foo Fighters' "La Dee Da," the city's name and neighborhoods echo through countless songs.

DC's impact resonates across genres, inspiring artists like 2Pac, A$AP Rocky, and Bikini Kill. Whether it's Woody Guthrie singing about "Lindbergh" or Waka Flocka Flame dropping names at a venue, the city is woven into the fabric of American music. Despite being smaller than Boston and having a modest high point, it looms large in the cultural landscape, with 57 songs and 45 artists on RoadyGoat drawing inspiration from its powerful, politically charged atmosphere.

About Washington

• Duke Ellington, the famous jazz composer and pianist, was born in Washington, D.C.
• Punk rock music in the United States was born in Washington, D.C. in the late 1970s.
• The Residence Act of 1790 established it as the permanent capital of the United States.
• The White House has a bowling alley, built during the Nixon administration.
• The Great Blizzard of 1899 dropped over 20 inches of snow, paralyzing the city.
• Named for George Washington, it was established as the capital in 1790.
• With 689,545 residents, it's smaller than Boston, MA.
• The highest point is Point Reno at 409 feet, a small bump compared to Denver.
• Government and related services are the primary industries driving the economy.
• Powerful, historical, and politically charged, the city buzzes with ambition.
• The Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in 2018, ending a long drought.
• The Washington Redskins (now Commanders) won Super Bowl XVII in 1983, beating the Dolphins.

Artists From Washington

18veno 1905 86 Mentality 9353 95 North A Day in Black and White A Sound of Thunder A. M. Homes Aaron Holt Adam West Alexia Bomtempo All Scars Alvin Risk Amari Amii Stewart Amy Keys Ana Gasteyer Andrew White Andy Paley Andy Razaf Angel Animals as Leaders Ari Lennox Army of Me Asheru and Blue Black of The Unspoken Heard Avatars of Dub B.G. The Prince of Rap Babu Backyard Band Bad Brains Bad Moves Bastro Battery Bearshark Beau Young Prince Beauty Pill Beefeater Ben Williams Betty BIGHAND-NO Bill Emerson Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun Bill Nye Billy Hart Billy Kilson Billy Stewart billy woods Blue Pinto Bluetip Bomani “D’mite” Armah Born Jamericans Borracho Brett Bridgit Mendler Broke Royals Bryan Lewis Saunders Buck Hill Bunker Hill Burning Airlines Butch Warren Canyon Capital Kings Carlos Rafael Rivera Cathedral Caverns Charlie Rouse Chaz French Chemlab Cherry People Chink Santana Chita Rivera Chris Haskett Christie Dashiell Chuck Brown Citizen Cope Coriky Corm Country Current Country Joe McDonald Craig Wedren Crippled Pilgrims Crom-Tech Dag Nasty Damnation A.D. Danny Frankel Danny Gatton Darien Brockington Darkest Hour Darryl Jenifer Dave Chappelle Dave Sherman David Van Tieghem Day Aches Daycare Swindlers Dead Meadow Deanna Bogart Deep Dish Deliriant Nerve Denyce Graves Destructo Diamond District Disciples of Christ DJ Spooky Don Raye Donald Miller Doug Lazy Douglas Armour Drew Minter Duck Baker Dudley Taft Duke Ellington Dust Galaxy Eastern Standard Time Ed Roth Edsel Edward Herrmann El Cousteau El Guapo Erik Deutsch Ethan Slater Eva Cassidy Exit Clov Exodus Quartet Faraquet Fort Knox Five Frank Solivan Frank Tate Frankie Frankie Gaye French Toast Frodus Fugazi Gallant Gayle Adams GEMS Gena Rowlands Band Genobia Jeter Genocide Pact George LaMond George Walker Georgie James Ginuwine Girls Against Boys Giuffria Go to Blazes Godhead Goetia Goldie Hawn Goldlink Good Clean Fun GoRemy Government Issue Greg Howard Gregory Itzin Grits Hamilton Leithauser Haram Harry Allen Heavy Breathing Henry Rollins Herb Harris Hillow Hammet Hiretsukan Hoover Howard University Jazz Ensemble Humble Tip Ignition Ilsa Ioanna Gika Ira Sullivan Irvin D. Yalom J. Holiday J. Robbins Jack Casady Jack Nimitz Jack Stamp Jake Blount James Ray Jane Don’t Jason Staczek Jason Stein Jawbox Jay Hoggard JC Chasez Jean Craighead George Jeff “Skunk” Baxter Jesuseater Jimmy Cobb Jimmy Hopps Joel Harrison John Bruce Yeh John Cephas John Duffey John Eaton John Philip Sousa Johnny Gill Jon Leidecker Jorma Kaukonen Kaiserbilly KAMAUU Kanii Kate MacLeod Keith Martin Kelela Kelly David Kenny Ascher Kenny Lattimore Kevin Ross Khemistry Kiko Kingpen Slim Lafayette Gilchrist Larry Eanet Le Loup Len Spencer Leo Parker Leonard Rose Les Rhinocéros Leslie Singer Lickity Split Lida Husik Liftoff Lilys Lissy Trullie Little Benny & the Masters Little Royal Liz Janes Lloyd McNeill Lorelei Louis C.K. Lynda Randle Marc Dorsey Marcus Hummon Marissa Nadler Martin Berkofsky Marvin Gaye Mary Timony Mass Movement of the Moth Measles Mumps Rubella Mercer Ellington Messenger Michael Hersch Michael J. Harner Michael Toms Michelle Nicastro Middle Distance Runner Mike Auldridge Mike Johnson Minor Threat Miya Masaoka Moses Stone Mother May I Muhsinah Mýa Nancy Ames Nate Bone Nathan Johnson Nigel Hall No/Más Nona Gaye Nothingface Novarium Nuclear Crayons Oddisee Oneness of Juju Origami Angel Orlagh Cassidy Orthrelm Osie Johnson Oswego Oteil Burbridge Panacea Partyline Paul Burch Paul D. Miller Peace Bureau Peaches & Herb Perpetuated Pete Huttlinger Peter Tork Phil Wiggins PlutoHB Pree Priests Psychodrama Punky Meadows Pygmy Children Q and Not U Rachel Naomi Kudo redveil Reflux Reuben Brown Reuben Radding Rick Cunha Ricky Fanté Rites of Spring Rob Garza Rob Sonic Roberta Donnay Robin Bullock Ron Holloway Ronnie Dyson Rostam Royal Trux Ryan Leslie Sam Riegel Samuel L. Jackson Sarah Aroeste Sarah Azzara Sarah Cahill Sarah Shannon See-I Sex Worker SHAED Shannon Sharkey Shirley Horn Shudder To Think Shy Glizzy Sickdeer Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul Skip Mahoney & the Casuals Skull Kontrol Soccer Team Stacy Lattisaw State of Alert Stephanie Nakasian Stephen Colbert Steve Coll Steven Bernstein Supersystem Sweetbelly Freakdown Swiz Tanya Blount Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Teen Mortgage Terry Gregory The 5:55 The Apes The Aquarium The Blackbyrds The Capitol City Dusters The Caribbean The Cassettes The Clovers The Country Gentlemen The Crainium The Crownhate Ruin The Dismemberment Plan The Dynamic Superiors The Faith The Fallen Angels The Fatales The Folger Consort The Fuzz The Goons The Hurricane Lamps The Knight Brothers The Make-Up The Max Levine Ensemble The Monorchid The Muffins The Nation of Ulysses The Nighthawks The Paranoid Style The Pietasters The Saturday People The Snakes The Soul Searchers The Space Cossacks The Three Pieces The Unifics The Warmers The Winstons Theodore Shapiro These United States Thievery Corporation Thud Thunderball Thurl Bailey Tim Buckley Tim Rose Tim Russ Time Machine Title Tracks Toby Chu Tomeka Reid Tone Trouble Funk Turner Layton Tuscadero Tyrone Brunson U.S. Royalty Van McCoy Vernon Burch Vestiges Void Vos Cantu Monemus Wale Walter Hartley Warren Jones Washington Social Club Wax Weird War William Chapman Nyaho William DeVaughn Wooly Mammoth Wristmeetrazor YahZarah Youth Brigade Yung Gleesh Yung Kayo Zak Bagans SlimeGetEm

Songs About Washington

La Dee Da by

Civil War by

What It Feels Like by

Black Friday by

White House Blues by

Round of Applause by

Perfect Imperfection by

Institutionalized by

Wesley’s Theory by

Swag Surf by

Lindbergh by

Old Army Hat by

Just A Dream by

Line ’Em Up by

Daydreamin’ by

John McClane by

Laila’s Wisdom by

April the 14th, Part I by

Pimpin’ All Over the World by

Canal St. by

Open Letter by

Rainbow Stew by

Life Goes On by

Minnesota by

abraham lincoln by

Baby Shark by

Cowboys by

Criminal by

Mr. Lincoln by

All About U by

Staring Through My Rear View by

Welcome to D.C. by

Thurston Hearts The Who by

Don’t Blow It by

Feel So Good by

The Oracle by

Square Dance Rap by

Award Tour by

Coal Country by

President Song by

I've Been Everywhere by

Hard to Choose by

American Scandal by

Love You Like a Sunday by

What's Going On by

Let's Get It On by

Hood Politics by

Baby Ride Easy by

Campaign Speech by

Untouchable by

The South’s Gonna Rattle Again by

Black and White by

Brick To a Million by

What Goes Around by

everything by

HOUSTONFORNICATION by

Nearby Places

18veno 1905 86 Mentality 9353 95 North A Day in Black and White A Sound of Thunder A. M. Homes Aaron Holt Adam West Alexia Bomtempo All Scars Alvin Risk Amari Amii Stewart Amy Keys Ana Gasteyer Andrew White Andy Paley Andy Razaf Angel Animals as Leaders Ari Lennox Army of Me Asheru and Blue Black of The Unspoken Heard Avatars of Dub B.G. The Prince of Rap BIGHAND-NO Babu Backyard Band Bad Brains Bad Moves Bastro Battery Bearshark Beau Young Prince Beauty Pill Beefeater Ben Williams Betty Bill Emerson Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun Bill Nye Billy Hart Billy Kilson Billy Stewart Blue Pinto Bluetip Bomani “D’mite” Armah Born Jamericans Borracho Brett Bridgit Mendler Broke Royals Bryan Lewis Saunders Buck Hill Bunker Hill Burning Airlines Butch Warren Canyon Capital Kings Carlos Rafael Rivera Cathedral Caverns Charlie Rouse Chaz French Chemlab Cherry People Chink Santana Chita Rivera Chris Haskett Christie Dashiell Chuck Brown Citizen Cope Coriky Corm Country Current Country Joe McDonald Craig Wedren Crippled Pilgrims Crom-Tech DJ Spooky Dag Nasty Damnation A.D. Danny Frankel Danny Gatton Darien Brockington Darkest Hour Darryl Jenifer Dave Chappelle Dave Sherman David Van Tieghem Day Aches Daycare Swindlers Dead Meadow Deanna Bogart Deep Dish Deliriant Nerve Denyce Graves Destructo Diamond District Disciples of Christ Don Raye Donald Miller Doug Lazy Douglas Armour Drew Minter Duck Baker Dudley Taft Duke Ellington Dust Galaxy Eastern Standard Time Ed Roth Edsel Edward Herrmann El Cousteau El Guapo Erik Deutsch Ethan Slater Eva Cassidy Exit Clov Exodus Quartet Faraquet Fort Knox Five Frank Solivan Frank Tate Frankie Frankie Gaye French Toast Frodus Fugazi GEMS Gallant Gayle Adams Gena Rowlands Band Genobia Jeter Genocide Pact George LaMond George Walker Georgie James Ginuwine Girls Against Boys Giuffria Go to Blazes GoRemy Godhead Goetia Goldie Hawn Goldlink Good Clean Fun Government Issue Greg Howard Gregory Itzin Grits Hamilton Leithauser Haram Harry Allen Heavy Breathing Henry Rollins Herb Harris Hillow Hammet Hiretsukan Hoover Howard University Jazz Ensemble Humble Tip Ignition Ilsa Ioanna Gika Ira Sullivan Irvin D. Yalom J. Holiday J. Robbins JC Chasez Jack Casady Jack Nimitz Jack Stamp Jake Blount James Ray Jane Don’t Jason Staczek Jason Stein Jawbox Jay Hoggard Jean Craighead George Jeff “Skunk” Baxter Jesuseater Jimmy Cobb Jimmy Hopps Joel Harrison John Bruce Yeh John Cephas John Duffey John Eaton John Philip Sousa Johnny Gill Jon Leidecker Jorma Kaukonen KAMAUU Kaiserbilly Kanii Kate MacLeod Keith Martin Kelela Kelly David Kenny Ascher Kenny Lattimore Kevin Ross Khemistry Kiko Kingpen Slim Lafayette Gilchrist Larry Eanet Le Loup Len Spencer Leo Parker Leonard Rose Les Rhinocéros Leslie Singer Lickity Split Lida Husik Liftoff Lilys Lissy Trullie Little Benny & the Masters Little Royal Liz Janes Lloyd McNeill Lorelei Louis C.K. Lynda Randle Marc Dorsey Marcus Hummon Marissa Nadler Martin Berkofsky Marvin Gaye Mary Timony Mass Movement of the Moth Measles Mumps Rubella Mercer Ellington Messenger Michael Hersch Michael J. Harner Michael Toms Michelle Nicastro Middle Distance Runner Mike Auldridge Mike Johnson Minor Threat Miya Masaoka Moses Stone Mother May I Muhsinah Mýa Nancy Ames Nate Bone Nathan Johnson Nigel Hall No/Más Nona Gaye Nothingface Novarium Nuclear Crayons Oddisee Oneness of Juju Origami Angel Orlagh Cassidy Orthrelm Osie Johnson Oswego Oteil Burbridge Panacea Partyline Paul Burch Paul D. Miller Peace Bureau Peaches & Herb Perpetuated Pete Huttlinger Peter Tork Phil Wiggins PlutoHB Pree Priests Psychodrama Punky Meadows Pygmy Children Q and Not U Quix*O*Tic Rachel Naomi Kudo Reflux Reuben Brown Reuben Radding Rick Cunha Ricky Fanté Rites of Spring Rob Garza Rob Sonic Roberta Donnay Robin Bullock Ron Holloway Ronnie Dyson Rostam Royal Trux Ryan Leslie SHAED Sam Riegel Samuel L. Jackson Sarah Aroeste Sarah Azzara Sarah Cahill Sarah Shannon See-I Sex Worker Shannon Sharkey Shirley Horn Shudder To Think Shy Glizzy Sickdeer Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul Skip Mahoney & the Casuals Skull Kontrol SlimeGetEm Soccer Team Stacy Lattisaw State of Alert Stephanie Nakasian Stephen Colbert Steve Coll Steven Bernstein Supersystem Sweetbelly Freakdown Swiz Tanya Blount Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Teen Mortgage Terry Gregory The 5:55 The Apes The Aquarium The Blackbyrds The Capitol City Dusters The Caribbean The Cassettes The Clovers The Country Gentlemen The Crainium The Crownhate Ruin The Dismemberment Plan The Dynamic Superiors The Faith The Fallen Angels The Fatales The Folger Consort The Fuzz The Goons The Hurricane Lamps The Knight Brothers The Make-Up The Max Levine Ensemble The Monorchid The Muffins The Nation of Ulysses The Nighthawks The Paranoid Style The Pietasters The Saturday People The Snakes The Soul Searchers The Space Cossacks The Three Pieces The Unifics The Warmers The Winstons Theodore Shapiro These United States Thievery Corporation Thud Thunderball Thurl Bailey Tim Buckley Tim Rose Tim Russ Time Machine Title Tracks Toby Chu Tomeka Reid Tone Trouble Funk Turner Layton Tuscadero Tyrone Brunson U.S. Royalty Van McCoy Vernon Burch Vestiges Void Vos Cantu Monemus Wale Walter Hartley Warren Jones Washington Social Club Wax Weird War William Chapman Nyaho William DeVaughn Wooly Mammoth Wristmeetrazor YahZarah Youth Brigade Yung Gleesh Yung Kayo Zak Bagans billy woods redveil Alexandria, VA Annapolis, MD Baltimore, MD Bethesda, MD Bowie, MD Chester, VA College Park, MD Deale, MD Easton, MD Ellicott City, MD