O.A.R. to kick off 2025 Nats Summer Concert Series

Grab a hot dog, maybe some peanuts, and settle in for a show.

The Washington Nationals have announced that O.A.R. will open the 2025 Nationals Summer Concert Series, performing live at Nationals Park following the team’s home game on Friday, May 9. The postgame concert is part of an ongoing initiative by the Nationals to blend live music with the classic ballpark experience.

Similar sounds: Matchbox Twenty, The Revivalists, Switchfoot

Photo Credit: Zoe Rain

Now in its fifth year, the Nationals Summer Concert Series offers fans a chance to enjoy a live performance on the field immediately after select home games. Entry to each concert is included with the purchase of a game ticket, allowing attendees to watch the performance once the game concludes. The stage is set up behind second base, and fans are invited to stay in their seats as the stadium transitions from baseball to a live music menu.

O.A.R. (short for Of A Revolution) is a rock band originally formed in Rockville, Maryland in the mid-1990s. The group gained national attention in the early 2000s with its blend of alternative rock and jam band-style performances. Known for songs such as “Shattered (Turn the Car Around),” “Love and Memories,” and “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker,” the band has developed a reputation for energetic, improvisational live shows. Their local roots and strong fanbase in the D.C. area make them a fitting choice to open this year’s concert series.

The band's latest release, “Gonna Be Me (the friendship song),” taps in hip-hop producer DJ Premier and bassist Brady Watt for a track that blends live instrumentation with classic beat-driven production. Built around a theme of enduring friendship, the song was created through an in-studio collaboration that highlights each artist’s strengths—Premier’s sharp, layered beats, Watt’s groove-forward bass lines, and O.A.R.’s warm, anthemic songwriting. Now more than 25 years after their debut album The Wanderer, the band’s willingness to experiment while staying true to their roots is a testament to their staying power in an ever-shifting music landscape.

The full 2025 Nationals Summer Concert Series lineup includes:

• O.A.R. – Friday, May 9 vs. St. Louis Cardinals

• Natasha Bedingfield – Friday, June 6 vs. Texas Rangers

• Nelly – Friday, June 13 vs. Miami Marlins

• Sam Hunt – Friday, August 15 vs. Philadelphia Phillies

• Ja Rule & Ashanti – Friday, August 29 vs. Tampa Bay Rays

• Riley Green – Friday, September 26 vs. Chicago White Sox

  
  

Concerts begin approximately 30 minutes after the final out. Tickets and more information are available at nats.com/Concerts.

Additional O.A.R. tour dates are listed below:

• May 2, 2025 @ BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach, CA

• May 4, 2025 @ Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV

• May 9, 2025 @ Nats Postgame Summer Concert Series in Washington, D.C.

• Jun 3, 2025 @ Whale Jam in Boston, MA

• Jun 4, 2025 @ Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY

• Jun 14, 2025 @ The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey in Middletown, PA

• Jun 20, 2025 @ Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, CO

• Jun 21, 2025 @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO

• Jun 28, 2025 @ The TailGOAT in Baltimore, MD

• Jul 16, 2025 @ Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI

• Jul 17, 2025 @ Mid-Summer Classics Concert Series in Elk Grove Village, IL

• Jul 18, 2025 - Jul 20, 2025 @ Minnesota Yacht Club Festival in Saint Paul, MN

• Jul 25, 2025 @ California State Fair in Sacramento, CA

• Aug 1, 2025 @ Pelotonia in Columbus, OH

• Aug 21, 2025 @ The Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA

• Aug 22, 2025 @ Chautauqua Amphitheater in Chautauqua, NY

• Aug 23, 2025 @ New York State Fair in Syracuse, NY

• Aug 24, 2025 @ Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT

• Sep 26, 2025 - Sep 28, 2025 @ Ocean's Calling Festival in Ocean City, MD