Laura Jane Grace, Illuminati Hotties to perform at Ekko Astral-curated Liberation Weekend

Last year, D.C. band Ekko Astral held their inaugural Liberation Weekend, and they’re doing it again in 2026. The group have announced the second installment of their curated festival in Washington, D.C., being held April 24-26 at the venues Transmission and Black Cat. Proceeds from the festival will be donated to Gender Liberation Movement and No More Dysphoria, a mutual aid organization that provides financial assistance to help trans people through their transitions. 

This year’s festival will feature performances from Laura Jane Grace, Illuminati Hotties, Ezra Furman, Pool Kids, Pissed Jeans, Bambara, Ragana, Pretty Bitter, Pinky Lemon, Snowing, Gladie, Spring Silver and more, with more artists and DJs to be announced ahead of the festival as well.

“We cannot rely on institutions to save us. We can only rely on ourselves and the community we have to fight for trans America — and that now includes throwing a badass 3-day benefit music festival,” said Jael Holzman of Ekko Astral in a statement. “Let this incredible lineup be seen as a way of using art as a cultural battering ram against the people trying to erase us.”

See the full lineup at the festival website or on the flyers above.