Gender-Diverse Lineup to Feature National and Local Artists on July 26 and Pre-Fest Events from July 21-25.

The inaugural This Could Go Boom! Music + Culture Festival will take place on Saturday, July 26 at Bladensburg Waterfront Park and on stages across Hyattsville, Maryland. Headlining artists include Speedy Ortiz, River Shook, and Crys Matthews, as well as local performers. Streetcar 82 Brewing, Maryland Meadworks, and Sangfroid Distillery will host satellite stages with performances on the day of the festival. 

This Could Go Boom! (TCGB!) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to empower and advocate for gender diverse marginalized musicians through community engagement and education to dismantle barriers, promote diversity, and ensure that everyone can express themselves and enjoy music without discrimination.  

“TCGB! is truly a grassroots effort. We were founded around a kitchen table where women and nonbinary musicians spoke freely about feeling defeated, harassed, left out, and manipulated by the industry. We put our feelings into action—350+ artists in paid performances, gallery talks, records released, and a skills-sharing program. TCGB! is truly grown from the ground up,” said Erin Frisby, co-founder of TCGB! and festival organizer. “We can't wait to see everyone at the inaugural festival because the way forward is through community. Join with these necessary and powerful voices of diverse experiences, connections and histories as we imagine an irresistible future.” 

“Before I ever knew how to write songs, I thought I was going to be a high school band director,” explains Americana artist and social justice music-maker Crys Matthews, a festival headliner. “And in band, as in any type of music, it's always sweeter with other voices present. Being part of a festival where this idea is not only understood, but that advocates loudly for diverse voices is so refreshing. As a woman who is also Black and a lesbian, I have worked hard to be comfortable enough in my skin to show up as my fullest self on and off stage. It means a lot to an artist like me when festival organizers see and celebrate my full humanity.” 

In addition to headlining artists, more than 35 local and regional artists will perform on four stages and at pre-fest events, showcasing the breadth of talent across the Washington, DC metro area. Performers will include 50 Foot Woman, Alena Ciera, Ammonite, Ari Voxx, Be Steadwell, Cynthia Marie, Flora and the Fauna, Kinda Evil, Lightmare, Mac N' Toss, More AM than FM, Neon Habits, Petrichor, and Witch Weather. 

Leading up to the main festival, pre-festival events will be held from July 21-25, 2025, including:  

• Open Mic Night at Denizens Brewing on July 21 at 7 p.m., hosted by Flowerbomb’s Abby Rasheed. FREE. RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite. 
• Youth Night at Colmar Manor Community Center on July 22 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., in collaboration with Girls Rock! DC and Music and Arts featuring Petrichor. FREE. RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite. 
• DC Bushwick Book Club, at the Bladensburg Library on July 23 from 6:00-8:30 p.m., will be hosting live performances inspired by the book Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. The event will feature BBC founder Susan Hwang with Mya Byrne headlining. FREE. RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite. 
• A Punk Show at Colmar Manor Community Center on July 24 from 7:00-11:00 p.m. with Professor Goldstein and other acts. FREE. RSVP on Facebook or Eventbrite. 
• A one-night-only revival of beloved DC spoken word series mothertongue at Joe’s Movement Emporium on July 25 from 7:00-9:30 p.m., featuring mothertongue co-founder Ruth Dickey. Music by Mya Byrne and Be Steadwell. Tickets available on Eventbrite. 

“As a trans woman in music, it’s often hard to get heard, and I’ve found myself bubbling under more often than not—so I’m excited as heck to get up to a full-on boil headlining at the inaugural TCGB! It’s important to champion undersung and overlooked voices in art—especially trans ones—not just for equity’s sake, but because our art can carry a gravitas of life lived in process and discovery; our personal tales are not niche; they are universal, and I’m thrilled that TCGB! recognizes that," said singer-songwriter Mya Bryne who is headlining both the mothertongue and Bushwick Book Club events leading up to TCGB! Fest. “We’re more than diversity quotas. We are diverse artists with diverse, relatable stories.” 

The festival will also feature a variety of vendors, community organizations, and food trucks, as well as family-friendly activities. 

The TCGB! Music + Culture Festival is funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. "Maryland invests in cultural tourism through the Heritage Area program, and we're thrilled to see the program support a unique new cultural festival in Prince George's County,” said Meagan Baco, executive director of Anacostia Trails Heritage Area. 

In addition to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, the festival is made possible through the support of sponsors and community partners Art Works Now, Denizens Brewing, Girls Rock! DC, Jersey Mike's, Lil’ Bowl Thai and Japanese Cuisine, Maryland Meadworks, Music and Arts, Patent Brewing, Roxplosion, Sangfroid Distillery, Streetcar 82 Brewing, Takoma Radio WOWD LP, and The Port Towns. To become a sponsor, email support@thiscouldgoboom.com. 

The festival will take place on July 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is free for all ages, with accessible facilities. For more info and to subscribe for updates, visit https://www.thiscouldgoboom.com/.

To learn more about This Could Go Boom!, please see the following web resources:

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• Spotify