Here at ATG, we rarely write about a band so closely affiliated with ourselves. We pride ourselves on bringing you new music from around the world. However, we would be remiss if we did not inform you of the final opportunity to see DC’s Fear of Virginia.

Fear of Virginia is the kind of band we all wish we could play in; a group of DC residents (including ATG writer David) who just wanted to find a way to jam and blow off some steam after work. FoV started out just playing covers and pissing off neighbors with their loud late-night jams, but have developed a sound very much their own. A folk-alt-rock sound that the band describes as “Friday night rock” is both agreeable to the ear and causes spontaneous foot stomping.

What makes their live show so fun is that the band and audience can relate over the same tedium that occurs during the course of their workweek. Their shows are poignant reminders, that though not all of us are rockstars during the day, for a few hours each week, we can sing along and pretend to be rockstars once the weekend starts.

Sadly, the realities of adulthood have caught up with FoV and tonight will be their final show before they scatter their separate ways. Do yourselves a favor and join the boys (and girl) tonight at Rock and Roll Hotel at 9 PM — tickets are only $10 — for one last celebration of “Friday night rock.”

Here are some tracks from their EP  recorded in a shed on H Street.

MP3: Fear of Virginia – Weary Wind
MP3: Fear of Virginia – Take It Out On Me
MP3: Fear of Virginia – Long Day

Despite the overcast weather and eventual downpour, DC sustainable restaurant Sweetgreen’s Sweetlife Food and Music Festival filled the Merriweather Post Pavilion’s main stage tent as thousands more looked on from the expansive lawn area Saturday, April 28th. Boasting a diverse and exciting line-up as well as a variety of eco-conscious food options, it’s no wonder that the festival was packed–even with the rain forcing many who weren’t lucky enough to make it into the tent to don ponchos and open up umbrellas.

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All Things Gold returns to its regularly scheduled programming on Thursday, May 17th with another line-up worthy of U Hall’s sound system. We’re going heavy on the DJ’s this time, enlisting the proven skills of ATL’s best, Le Castle Vania. Supporting this electro-dance heavyweight behind the decks is San Francisco’s Viceroy, who’s name has been plastered all over the Hype Machine charts these past few months. On stage, we’re welcoming back All Things Gold alums Ghost Beach, who after a string of successful SXSW dates are back with a brand new three-piece line-up, drummer included. Dust off those dancing shoes people. This is one you don’t want to miss.

Join us at U Street Music Hall Thursday, May 17th at 9PM. Tickets are available now for $12, or $15 at the door. Place is sure to be packed so get tickets while you can.

STREAM: St. Lucia – “Closer Than This (Viceroy Remix)”

STREAM: Ghost Beach – “First Time”

This past Friday All Things Go took over the Water St. Project space in Georgetown for a night of amazing art and music. Philly’s Nicos Gun killed it on stage while Penguin Prison and Lightwaves had some of the best DJ sets we’ve seen a while. Mr. Glover even said it himself. Check out photos from the night after the jump, courtesy of Laura Lopez.

STREAM: Penguin Prison – “Fair Warning”

STREAM: Nicos Gun – “Control”

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If there’s one thing we could have used at last year’s Sweetlife Festival, it was more music. Looks like the folks at Sweetgreen have heeded our call and added a brand new Treehouse Stage for the festival’s second go-around. The Treehouse’s line-up is stacked from start to finish. Make sure to get there by 12:55pm to catch the amazing Haim sisters, who wow’ed us at least three times over at SXSW. It’s going to be hard to decide between here and the main stage throughout the rest of the day with artists like Twin Shadow, Delta Spirit, Zola Jesus, RAC, and of course our homeboys in the Knocks. Stick around the Treehouse, though, and you won’t go wrong. Check out tracks from these artist below and after the jump.

Sweetlife released set times for the entire festival today, so get to work on your schedule for Saturday.

STREAM: Haim – “Forever”

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Last Thursday the one and only Alex Winston played one of her first shows in the States for a long while at a special edition of All Things Gold. Fortunately, U Hall now allows concert photos so we were able to capture her, along with fantastic openers Long Walks On The Beach, on camera. Scroll through some fantastic shots of the night, courtesy of the always-amazing Laura Lopez, after the jump.

STREAM: Alex Winston – “Velvet Elvis”

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We’ve already made it pretty clear that if you’re going to do anything this weekend, it’s kicking off spring at the Sweetlife Food & Music Festival this Saturday, April 28th. With sets from the Shins, fun., Fitz and the Tantrums, Explosions In The Sky, A$AP Rocky and more, how could you go wrong? Lucky for you guys, we’re going to be giving away a few pairs of tickets this week, starting with one on the blog right now! To become eligible all you have to do is give us your favorite fake food-themed musician/band (or Food’lebrity, if you will) in the comments. Examples include Flan-a del Rey, Pita Frampton, and Tuna Melton John. See you in the comments, and keep an eye on the ATG Facebook and Twitter for more giveaways this week. For those of you who don’t win, general admission tickets for the Sweetlife Festival are still available HERE.

DOWNLOAD: The Sweetlife Festival Mixtape

The changing of the seasons from winter to spring has always been a long-awaited moment here in the District. Beginning last year, however, this change has taken on importance beyond its weather-related implications. Thanks to the folks at Sweetgreen, the springtime now marks the beginning of festival season in DC. Hope you got your shorts ready people because this Saturday, April 28th is the second annual Sweetlife Festival, a day-long celebration of great music and food at the Merriweather Post Pavillion. This year, Sweetlife is bringing us two stages stacked with amazing bands from start to finish. The main stage will feature headlining sets from Avicii and Kid Cudi, as well as performances from other heavy-hitters like the Shins, Explosions in the Sky, fun., Fitz and the Tantrums and more. As awesome as those bands are, we here at ATG are just excited for the second Treehouse stage, which will showcase up-and-coming artists like Haim, The Knocks, Zola Jesus, Twin Shadow, Delta Spirit and more.

If you live even remotely close to the District, then this is where you need to be on Saturday. If you’re still not convinced check out the Sweetgreen-curated Sweetlife mixtape below, a nine-track taste of what you’re in store for this weekend. If you like what you hear, make sure to snag tickets to the festival HERE.

DOWNLOAD: The Sweetlife Festival Mixtape

UPDATE: Want to score $5 off tickets for this awesome party? Head on over to the ticket page and use the code “atg-bingo” when making your purchase. This offer is only valid today and is limited to the first 50 people who use it. So get to it.

Our friends over at Brightest Young Things are bringing Underground Rebel Bingo Club — a group that throws secret parties in London, New York, Madrid as well as at major music festivals in the UK — back to the District for round two at the newly-christened Howard Theatre on Thursday, April 26th. URBC is unlike any game of bingo you’ve played before; people come to drink, dance, scream and shout – but above all – to play hardcore Rebel Bingo and win weird prizes. If you’re still confused, watch the above video and you’ll get an idea of what it’s all about. The night will feature DJ sets from Nancy Whang (LCD Soundsystem, The Juan Maclean), Bit Funk, Gavin Holland (Nouveau Riche) and Ted Dancin (Posh Cavern).

Lucky for you, we’re giving away a pair of tickets to this awesome event. All you have to do is yell Bingo in the comments. Loudest one wins. For those of you who don’t win, tickets and more info are available HERE.

Williamsburg’s Cameo Gallery – one of Brooklyn’s odder spaces, accessible only through the back of the Lovin’ Cup cafe – hosted Dawn Landes on April 14, but for me the real story was in first-opener Donora. The Pittsburgh trio turned up the reverb and gave every 80s baby ample reason to rock out that night.

Powered by a bass and guitar sound that’d be at home on a Cranberries record (or Wish-era Cure), the group worked through a good deal of their 2011 release, Boyfriends and Girlfriends, while also playing some tracks from their self-titled debut. Live they carry over all of the cuteness and sweetness from their recordings while adding an irrepressible energy. A lot of this has to do with lead vocalist Casey Hanner, who’s quite an expressive singer, but additionally the rhythms move faster, everything is louder, and from first note to last it’s hard not to break out into a huge smile. It’s even harder not to dance.

On one hand I think they’d be well served to bring a fourth musician to play the old school Casio keys from the record, but on the other it’s entertaining to watch drummer Jake Hanner and his epic beard play a sampler as if it were just another piece of his kit. From the big-time, anthemic, built-for-singalongs chorus in “Boom Boom” to the softly whispered verses of “Shhh,” Donora’s music is fun, engaging, and makes for a terrific show.

STREAM: Donora – “Boom Boom”