This February, musicians from The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” will present the music of Janelle Monáe.

Since stepping onto the music scene in 2007, Janelle Monáe's work has spanned musical genres including R&B, funk, soul, hip-hop, and rock and roll. Beginning with her first conceptual EP titled Metropolis, Monáe has relied heavily on the tropes of Afrofuturism to tell stories that uplift those who are marginalized and to fight for justice for the oppressed. This concert seeks to explore the music of Janelle Monáe through the lenses of Love, Liberation, and Joy. When used to examine the ever-unfolding journey of Black America, these three ideas in tandem with the Afrofuturistic aesthetic movement, provide the tools to help carry the weight of a history that is as deep and rich as it is painful. Simultaneously, her music gives us the courage to continue envisioning better and brighter worlds for all of humanity. This is a free, inclusive, and family-friendly concert.

This performance is presented in collaboration with the Veterans and the Arts Initiative at George Mason University.