8 can't-miss concerts in the D.C. area this June
This month's concert calendar presents such an embarrassment of riches that even rundowns of music festivals and WorldPride events can't contain the multitudes. Along with micro-fests and underground dance parties, June includes several anniversary shows and benefit concerts worth attending.
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Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
I'm a drag queen in NYC whose bookings for Pride Month have plummeted this year. I'm trying to work smarter, not harder.
Brita Filter, 39, is a household name in drag entertainment. Her popularity went mainstream when she appeared on season 12 of "RuPaul's Drag Race," and she's made appearances on "Saturday Night Live," "Broad City," and "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah." I first heard of Brita in 2023 when my then-employer, PayPal, was trying to book her for a Pride happy hour near our NYC office. But Google had already booked her for the same coveted time slot: post-work drinks the Thursday before New York City Pride — what Brita says was usually her busiest time of year. This year, she says her corporate bookings are down by about 60% compared to last year. Another drag entertainer Business Insider spoke to, Holly Box-Springs, said the few June Pride bookings that have come through for her have been last-minute. Corporate interest in Pride is softening elsewhere; around 25% of corporate donors for NYC's Pride parade (taking place Sunday, June 29) have reportedly canceled or scaled back their support, citing economic uncertainty and fear of retribution from the Trump administration. We asked Brita about how this shift in interest is affecting her career. These are her words, edited for length and clarity. 'I've never had this much downtime in June' I started doing drag over a decade ago — around the same time as Holly Box-Springs, actually. And I've seen the highs and lows. This year feels especially slow. I've never had this much downtime in June since I started. All year long, at least twice a month, I fly all over the US to perform — Alabama, Boston, Seattle, Denver, Detroit, Atlanta, Hawaii. Usually I'd fly out on a Thursday, do a show on a Friday or Saturday, and fly back by Sunday for my regular set at a bar in New York City. But during Pride, drag queens are like Santa Claus during Christmas — everyone wants to book them at the same time. A typical week leading up to New York City Pride used to be nonstop for me. In 2019, during World Pride, I worked 43 days in a row — no breaks. I was hired by big companies. Some days, I had multiple gigs, back to back. I kept count because it was the year I filmed "RuPaul's Drag Race." In one month alone, I made enough money to buy a brand new Toyota Prius. This year? I only have eight gigs total for the month. It's a complete 180. I used to have a manager, assistant, and publicist, but I've been doing it on my own for the past two years. I don't have any corporate bookings at all this year. I'm just working a regular bar shift on the 29th — the day of the Pride parade — at Hardware Bar in Hell's Kitchen, where I perform weekly year-round. This week, I hosted a big activation event in Union Square for National HIV Testing Day. The community events — the more politically-focused or pro-LGBTQ charity events — are still happening, but the corporate big-ticket gigs just aren't there. 'We'll do anything for a comma' When I was booked solid during World Pride in previous years, I'd take as many gigs as humanly possible. If that meant waking up at 6 a.m. and being in drag until 4 a.m. the next day, I did it. We all did. Sleep, skincare, physical exhaustion — it didn't matter as long as the check had a comma in it. We used to say, "We'll do anything for a comma." You just pushed through because that kind of money didn't come year-round. July was for recovery. This year, I'm not taking July off. I might have to work straight through the month. I'll pick up more shows and cover for people who are out of town. Moneywise, I'll have to figure things out; I'm not sure how. I'm grateful. Because of my situation [being on TV], my rates are higher. I'm given more opportunities and at times bigger checks. I'm working smarter, not harder. About 50% of my income is from influencer partnerships and content creation for private companies that pay me to spread political messaging. But I'm spending money as soon as it comes in. For every gig, I have to talk to designers, get a new dress, a new wig, take new photos, do new press. Almost everything I make has to go back into the craft because it's all about the look. My entire job is the look. Or I'm spending money on getting 10 dancers, a rehearsal room, a choreographer, costumes — I'm like my own little Broadway show, except I'm the producer, the artistic director, and the star. 'Corporate interest has changed' A few years ago, Pride was global. You could feel it. People flew in from all over the world. This year's World Pride in D.C. earlier this month didn't feel global at all. It was mostly Americans. I barely met anyone from outside the country. I think a lot of folks are hesitant to come to the US right now. Things have shifted. Budgets are different. Corporate interest has changed. But the work that supports the community directly, such as Pride galas — that's still going. That's what's always mattered most to me anyway.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Washington Post
Why drag queen Pattie Gonia is werking from the mountaintops
It's been a big year for Pattie Gonia: She lip-synched 'Defying Gravity' in front of Cynthia Erivo at the Out 100 party, performed a sold-out show during WorldPride in D.C. and became the first person to deliver a TED talk in full drag. These would be remarkable achievements for any drag queen. But Pattie Gonia is not any drag queen. She's a mustachioed, anti-capitalist, environmentalist activist drag queen.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ahead of Her Worldwide Pride Festival Tour, Kim Petras Drops New Jewelry Collab Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. Celebrating anyone who's ever been called 'too much', Awe Inspired (a luxury jewelry brand centered on giving back to advocacy groups) just debuted its fifth and latest Pride campaign starring global pop icon Kim Petras as their 'Queen of the Fairies' — launching just as she embarks on a worldwide Pride festival tour. More from Rolling Stone 'The Wizard of Oz' at Sphere: How to Get Tickets to See the Classic in Las Vegas Sink Your Teeth into Nautica's Bold New 'Jaws' Clothing Drop, Ahead of the Films 50th Anniversary How to Watch LA Dodgers Games Online Without Cable The German singer-songwriter recently performed at the 2025 World Pride Music Festival alongside Troye Sivan, Jennifer Lopez, Reneé Rapp and more, and is the first out trans woman to win a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Sam Smith. The 'Unholy' singer is also taking the stage at the SoSF Pride Festival, Nashville Pride Friday Concert, and more throughout June and July. But she's also taking time to turn on the magic as the muse of Awe's latest Pride collection, with the 'Queen of Fairies' being described as one who 'lives beyond the rules — an untamed force who bends nature to her will.' shop now on awe inspired Offering a luxe take on the 'fairycore' aesthetic trend you've probably seen fill countless Pinterest boards, Awe Inspired and Petras' Queen of the Fairies collection aims to reclaim the slur 'fairy,' transforming it into an emblem of enchantment, pride, and femme self-expression. Launching in three separate drops throughout the month of June, the jewelry is all crafted in 14K gold vermeil and sterling silver, and embraces the 'surreal elegance and escapism' of fantastical fairy iconography while keeping it grounded in a good cause. The first drop is available to shop now on while 'Secret Forest' will be shoppable on June 17, and the third and final drop, 'Bug Brooches,' goes live on June 24. From sculptural rings and intricate earrings to layered charms, delicate brooches, and a standout fairy nameplate necklace, the collection is meant to be equal parts whimsical and elevated. You'll find twisted botanical motifs, winged silhouettes, and delicate insect-inspired details — think dragonflies, beetles, and enchanted flora. shop kim petras queen of the fairies collection Prices range from $150–$1,240, and as part of the launch, the Queen herself (Petras) curated three of her favorite necklace stacks (two are currently in-stock online, while the final 'Secret Forest' set will be released with the June 17 drop). In celebration of Pride, $10 will be donated with the purchase of select pieces (labeled 'GLSEN Gives Back') to GLSEN, an organization working to ensure safe, inclusive schools for LGBTQ+ youth nationwide by supporting educators and advocating for policy change in school. This contribution supports critical resources and education as political attacks and funding cuts continue to intensify nationwide. With this campaign, Awe Inspired has added a new queer icon to its Goddess Jewelry Collection. Past Pride campaigns featured Indya Moore as Marsha P. Johnson and Zane Phillips as Achilles, with each launch supporting GLSEN's mission. Shop the of drops, while supplies last, at and for more ways to support the LGBTQ+ community, check out some other 2025 Pride Collections and queer-owned businesses to support this month and beyond. Best of Rolling Stone The Best Audiophile Turntables for Your Home Audio System
