Opening May 30 with jazz icon Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet, Strathmore’s new 120-seat Patio Stage will be the place to gather comfortably this summer for live music. The covered, open-air space will be located on the Music Center’s Trawick Terrace. Tickets will be sold as pods—with tables that sit one to four people to allow for physical distancing.
The Patio Stage’s lineup will be varied and inclusive of the myriad of genres Strathmore typically presents. In addition to Marsalis, the Patio Stage offers a unique opportunity to see some of music’s brightest names in an exclusive setting. The outstanding trio that is The Lone Bellow will perform their earthy three-part harmonies on June 17. And Sean and Sara Watkins, the sublimely talented siblings who, together with Chris Thile, are better known as Nickel Creek, bring their Watkins Family Hour show to the Patio Stage on August 7.
Devotees of Strathmore’s long-established Music in the Mansion series can revel in chamber music concerts by the likes of celebrated cellist Matt Haimovitz and the Grammy-winning Parker Quartet. The brilliant young musicians of Strathmore’s Artist in Residence program will also be featured on the Patio Stage. Fans of Strathmore’s club venue AMP will notice some familiar names on the calendar: Latin Grammy winner Nella takes the stage on June 30 and jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan channels Jimi Hendrix on July 8.
This new outdoor venue takes advantage of Strathmore’s lush campus by providing views of the parklike setting, and the Music Center’s breathtaking façade serves as the backdrop for a comfortable, breezy summer season of concerts. The space will have a roof overhead to provide protection from the elements and open sides allow fresh air to circulate.
Tickets will go on sale in waves to ensure county guidelines for capacity are met. Even at full capacity, the venue will be incredibly intimate.
“Wynton and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra typically sell out two nights in the Concert Hall—that’s nearly 4,000 seats,” Strathmore’s Artistic Director Joi Brown explains. “At the Patio Stage, these world-class musicians will be playing for just over 100 patrons at once—it’s a very special experience.”
While Strathmore has continued to support artists, present music, and keep its fans entertained and inspired during these long months of physical distancing, Brown and her colleagues are excited to get back to the communal experience of enjoying live music. Artist and audience feed off each other’s energy, and the thrill of the moment gets dampened when filtered through our screens.
“For centuries audiences have gathered in shared spaces to experience live music,” reflects Brown. “I take comfort in knowing that what was disrupted was not fragile and young but established and embedded in our history and culture. This pause has ultimately strengthened our understanding of this essential space and shared experience.”
To ensure all attendees are comfortable during their visit, the arts center is continuing to prioritize the health and well-being of patrons, artists, volunteers, staff, and the community. To maintain seating distance and keep an appropriate low capacity, two concerts will be offered for most performances, each 60 to 70 minutes long and without intermission. Learn more about how Strathmore is managing these events and how you can play your part at strathmore.org/
The Patio Stage will be in full swing through September! Check out the lineup at strathmore.org/
Tickets to shows on the Patio Stage are sold as pods to ensure plenty of space for every guest. Each pod comes with four seats, centered around small bistro tables, with at least six feet of space between groups. Ticket buyers can choose to seat all four at each table seats or enjoy more space seating fewer.
Sun, May 30: Opening Night. Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet
Thu, June 3: A Night of Wonder Celebrate Stevie Wonder with Mark G. Meadows & The Movement
Thu, June 10: Matt Haimovitz, cello and Laura Colgate, violin
Wed, June 16: AIR: Lucas Ashby
Thu, June 17: The Lone Bellow
Fri, June 18: Joni Mitchel & Bob Dylan Album Tribute
Wed, June 23: AIR: Nataly Merezhuk
Thu, June 24: Parker Quartet
Wed, June 30: AIR: Christian Douglas
Sat, July 3: Dar Williams
Wed, July 7: AIR: Jake Blount
Thu, July 8: Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi Hendrix
Sat, July 10: The Commonheart
Sun, July 11: Oliver Wood, of The Wood Brothers
Wed, July 14: AIR: Ellington Carthan
Fri, July 16: Ann Hampton Calloway, The Linda Ronstadt Songbook
Wed, July 21: AIR: Sheyda Do’a
Thu, July 29: Alsarah & The Nubatones
Fri, July 30: Nella
Thu, July 22: Dalí Quartet
Sat, July 31: Voices of Classic Soul
Sun, Aug 1: Livingston Taylor
Wed, Aug 4: AIR: Aaron Feeman
Thu, Aug 5: Natalie Cressman & Ian Faquini
Sat, Aug 7: Watkins Family Hour
Wed, Aug 11: AIR: Becky Hill
Thu, Aug 12: Mike Farris
Fri, Aug 20: Susan Werner
Thu, Aug 26: Lark & Thurber
Thu, Sept 2: Steppin’ at the Junction
Fri, Sept 3: Freddy Jones Band
Wed, Sept 8: AIR: Rui Fu
Thu, Sept 9: Skerryvore
Fri, Sept 10: Sofia Rei
Fri, Sept 17: The Sweet Remains
Sun, Sept 26: Alfredo Rodríguez & Pedrito Martinez
Wed, Sept 29: AIR: Ceylon Mitchell
Thu, Sept 30: Amythyst Kiah
About Strathmore
Strathmore presents and produces exemplary visual and performing arts programs for diverse audiences; creates dynamic arts education experiences; and nurtures creative ideas and conversations that advance the future of the arts. The Mansion at Strathmore is located at 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD, one half-mile north of the Capital Beltway and immediately adjacent to the Grosvenor-Strathmore station on Metro’s Red Line. For further information or tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.
