These are the shows that completely move me AND THEN have the added bonus of allowing me, post-show, to connect with the musicians to hug, gush, share words and stories, and nod our heads quietly, simultaneously, in understanding. 

• One of the more precious gems of Baltimore music scene Caleb Stine, is playing on March 19 at the most precious little mom and pop venue on the Baltimore scene, Rooster & Hen. Caleb's storytelling style and deep lyrics have been compared to Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, and Harvest-era Neil Young. Plus, he's one of the most humble and talented musicians around. Pair his music with the cozy and welcoming vibe of Rooster & Hen, owned by local musicians who support the DMV scene and sell local coffee, foods, and goods, you'll have yourself a lovely night filled with warm, satisfying serenades. 
• I have to plug these two events because these are so special to the DMV scene, especially if you love experiencing music unfold live before you, or if you a musician wanting to jump on stage for a solid jam. Head to the welcoming Gordon Sterling Presents: The Gypsy Sally's Jam on March 20 at Gypsy Sally's and/or the open-armed Neel Singh's Open Jam and Workshop on March 21 at Villain & Saint to experience and share some on-the-spot grooves.  Mistakes, risk-taking, letting go are welcomed here. 
• Okay, so I've seen these two DC bands, nah. and Pleasure Train, and am enamored with them. The band nah., fronted by the insightful and intelligent poet/songstress Emma Bleker, gently takes hold of your hand and doesn't let go. Their songwriting is personal, melodies transfixing, musicianship heartfelt, and their ability to reach out and connect with the audience makes you feel like you're among friends. Pleasure Train, fronted by the mesmerizing Valerie Vega, brings energy, sensuality, and groove with their fusion style of alt-jam-pop-house. These are two local bands who are making waves in the DMV, don't miss them on March 21 at Gypsy Sally's.
• Are you a musician, composer, arranger, and/or songwriter? Here is a really cool thing to do. Get to Finding the Groove in Your Songwriting with Drew Kid workshop on March 21 at Strathmore Mansion for an up-close and personal (and free!) master class with one of Strathmore's Artist-in-Residence, Drew Kid.  In this workshop you will analyze works from the best architects of soul, funk, and hip-hop. Using examples from Junie Morrison, Sly Stone, OutKast, and others, Drew Kid will show how composers can effectively articulate their vision and navigate competition within a band’s rhythm section. 
• The Jerry Tripsters are an all-star Jerry Garcia tribute band featuring members of local loves Better of Dead, Splintered Sunlight, and the DC Mystery Cats. They take the music of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, and Legion of Mary and add a modern, funky twist to the jams and transitions. If you think you've seen Jerry tributes, you haven't seen anything quite like this band where the joy is ridiculously infectious. Be sure to see them on March 22 at Gypsy Sally's for a real good time. 
• Here's your feel good ticket for the week: Skaii with 1 Identity on March 22 at Bossa. I'm super excited to get to this gig for my heart, because both of these bands have some and give some. Skaii was formed by the inspiring multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Stephanie Kaiser. This band makes music that is complex, accessible, it holds you like a hug and just feels so REAL. You watch these four friends close their eyes and then open them to smile on stage at each other, you know they are all happy to be a part of this very exciting new project. Pair them with the band 1 Identity, who says they formed, "to create music that could help and inspire people in today’s society. We hope that we can uplift those through our music." I mean, really, does it get any better than that?
• Support the best festival around at Womxn Fuck Shit Up DC on March 24 at Songbyrd. Inspired by the West coast Women Fuck Shit Up Fest that celebrates, empowers, and raises awareness to the music and art of womxn, the East coast is joining the badass-ery and has created a festival here. Featuring an incredible line-up including: The CooLots, Michi, WASI, Julia Weldon, BOOMscat, Sheila, The Txlips, Chelsea Shorte, More AM Than FM, Santa Librada, Luvchild, Lauren Ileana Sotolongo, LiKWUiD, Aurora Lloyd, Militia Vox, Kellyn Marie Goler, DJ KB, McWavy, Juxt, Tan 'Esintrik' Odom, Tomboy, Katie Hargrove, Xemiyulu Manibusan Tapepechul, and more. This year’s proceeds will benefit Casa Ruby LGBT Community Center. 
• To see this amazing Portland, Oregon folk-rock, Americana, soul, blues band, Fruition, at Gypsy Sally's on March 24 sort of feels like having this iconic yet accessible, bigger-than-life but homegrown band come play in your living room. Their newest album, Watching It All Fall Apart, is all about heartbreak and that intolerable pain that comes with it, transformed into something that makes you feel connected to that human condition. The DCMR staff are going nuts for this show, come join us there and feel all the feels that Fruition brings to the glorious surface. 
•  Gang Of Youths is an indie rock group originating in Sydney, Australia, where they have received several ARIA nominations (the Australian equivalent to the Grammys). Watching their live shows on the internet, I'm compelled to get to this show because they evoke so many different associations in my mind. (A little INXS, Springsteen, and Pearl Jam, at first blush?) Now these associations could be way off, I'll need to catch them live to full appreciate what they bring. Catching them at a smaller venue like Union Stage on March 24 is a rare chance to get to see this bigger-than-life band up close.
• On Sunday night, catch singer-songwriter Mike Doughty on March 25 at Rams Head On Stage. His free-formed, distinctive, spirited rock is odd, often upbeat, and full of surprise.

DC Music Review Staff are headed to/covering some of these incredible shows this week: 

• Washington Women in Jazz hosts the spectacular Washington Women in Jazz Festival (WWJF) from March 10-18 in various venues across DC. This annual festival celebrates the women of the DC jazz community with a wide array of concerts, jam sessions, lectures, panels, discussions, and masterclasses including the Young Artist Showcase, where high school and college women are given a platform to perform with well-known jazz artists. There is SO MUCH goodness at this festival, be sure to get details on the when and where at http://washingtonwomeninjazz.com/events/. 
• Although it's sold out, if you can get a hot ticket to see I'm With Her at the 9:30 Club on March 13, do it. Musicians Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O'Donovan have been gaining attention for weaving  gratifying, melodic harmonies sweet harmonies in ways that, as the New York Times describes, “... could be sweetly ethereal, or as tightly in tandem as country sibling teams like the Everly Brothers, or as hearty as mountain gospel.” Worth checking on Craigslist day of to get your lucky ticket. 
• If you missed the infectious groove of Dumpstaphunk this past Sunday, you have another chance to get awash in dirty funk with them on March 13 at Baltimore's 8x10.  Dumpstaphunk stands out among New Orleans' best as one of the funkiest bands to ever arise from the Crescent City. These soldiers of funk ignite a deep, gritty groove that dares listeners not to move. I can promise you, you will dance until you're a puddle. 
• On March 14, head to Hill Country Live to see two amazing bluegrass bands, Gangstagrass and The Dirty Grass Players. Ganstagrass knows how to get crazy with hot beats and banjo, sick emcees and laser dobro blasts, and Baltimore's up-and-coming Dirty Grass Players mix well-known covers and solid originals with their own special blend of bluegrass.
• DCMR staff are excited for Widespread Panic to return to the DMV for some solid, reliable, in-the-pocket, good time jams. Catch them on March 15-17 at the MGM National Harbor.
• Want to see an insanely innovative, free show? Catch  DCCIT presents Suzanne Ciani on March 16 from 6-7 at the Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Center. Suzanne Ciani is a five-time Grammy nominee pioneering artist who offers a unique synthesizer performance in quadraphonic sound on her Buchla modular synthesizer system. (You know it's going to be good when there's quadraphonic sound on a Buchla modular synthesizer system.) It's only an hour long so make it your pre-show show on Friday night. 
• Check out Anders Osborne with special guest Ryan Montbleau on March 16 at The Hamilton and again on March 17 at The Broadberry. His detailed songwriting delivered with soulful vocals and expert guitar work has Guitar Player calling him, "the poet laureate of Louisiana’s fertile roots music scene.”
• Ann Wilson, the powerful lead singer and songwriter of the rock band Heart, is giving a charity concert to raise money for the NIH Children's Inn -- a residential “Place Like Home’’ for families with children participating in research studies at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. Hear her larger than life voice fill this smaller scale venue at the Ann Wilson of Heart Charity Concert on March 17 at the Fillmore.  
• The DMV is lucky to have virtuoso and Baltimore-native Cris Jacobs perform back home on March 17 at Rams head. If you haven't seen his "inspired, poignant songwriting, virtuous guitar playing, and soulfully transcendent voice," get to this show and be a part of the the giant homecoming hug that only Baltimore can give to Cris.