American Football

American Football, the seminal Midwest emo band, returns for two nights at the 9:30 Club in July 2026, with both shows featuring support from Ian Sweet. The first night (Saturday, July 11) sold out quickly, prompting the addition of a second performance on Sunday, July 12. The band originally formed as a University of Illinois indie rock project led by Mike Kinsella, Steve Holmes, and Steve Lamos, releasing their self-titled debut in 1999 before disbanding. Over the following fifteen years, word-of-mouth and early file-sharing turned that debut into a cult classic, and the band reunited in 2014 to international acclaim. Since then, they have released two more self-titled albums (2016 and 2019) and toured extensively, including a sold-out world tour for the 25th anniversary of LP1. Their sound has evolved toward post-rock, post-punk, and experimental influences, and they have collaborated with artists such as Hayley Williams, Rachel Goswell, and Ethel Cain. The band is partnering with PLUS1 to donate one dollar from every ticket sold to organizations protecting immigrant rights and supporting deportees, migrants, and refugees.

When: Saturday, July 11, 2026 (sold out) and Sunday, July 12, 2026 (second show added – tickets available).
Showtimes: Doors open at 7:00 PM on Sunday; set times are subject to change.
Tickets: Price was not disclosed. Tickets are non-transferable until 72 hours prior to show time; any tickets suspected of being purchased solely for resale may be cancelled at the discretion of the venue/Ticketmaster.
Lineup: American Football (headliner) with support from Ian Sweet.
Background: American Football is widely regarded as a defining pillar of Midwest emo, with their 1999 self-titled debut (LP1) hailed by Pitchfork as “the most influential album in the genre.” The band has since been covered by Alternative Press, The FADER, GQ, The Guardian, NME, NPR Music, KEXP, Vulture, Rolling Stone, and others.
Note: A portion of each ticket sale will go to PLUS1’s immigrant rights and refugee support partners. Opening acts, door times, and set times are always subject to change.
Venue: 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, Washington, DC 20001. The venue offers accessible entry and services; contact the box office for specific accessibility needs.
Ages: The 9:30 Club is an all-ages venue unless otherwise noted for a specific event; age restrictions may apply – check with the box office.