Queen tribute band Almost Queen will take the stage at the Reston Town Center Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 22, closing out the 33rd season of Reston Concerts on the Town with what organizers expect to be the biggest crowd of the summer.

It's the band's first Reston appearance.

Admission is free.

"We've welcomed crowds of more than 3,000 throughout the season, and we expect this show to be one of our strongest turnouts yet," Alexandra Young, BXP vice president of regional marketing, told Patch.

The Sip & Stroll opens at 6:30 p.m., with 11 establishments around the Pavilion selling beverages. Music starts at 7:45 p.m. The Pavilion at 1825 Discovery St. is covered, so the show goes on rain or shine. Free parking is available in Reston Town Center garages.

Almost Queen features Joseph Russo on lead vocals and piano, Steve Leonard on lead guitar, John Cappadona on drums and Randy Gregg on bass. The group has been performing since 2004, delivering sold-out shows across North America. Russo is also a veteran of musical theater, with lead roles in productions of "Evita," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Hair" in the U.S. and Europe.

The band covers Queen's full catalog, including "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Radio Ga Ga" and "We Are the Champions."

Robert Goudie, executive director of the Reston Town Center Association, noted the value for concertgoers: tickets on Almost Queen's ongoing national tour run upward of $100, but Saturday's show costs nothing.

The 15-performance summer series, organized by the Reston Town Center Association and BXP, ran every Saturday from May 16 through Aug. 22. This season's lineup included Pat McGee Band, RDGLDGRN, The Ocean Blue, Hell's Belles and Hard Day's Night, among others. Hyatt Regency Reston and Makers Union sponsor the Pavilion series, with Party DC booking performers and Meerkat Sound handling lighting and production.

What's next at the Pavilion

The concert series wraps Saturday, but two fall events are already on the calendar:

  • Saturday, Oct. 10: Second annual Rocktoberfest, headlined by Vertical Horizon with Everything and Virginia Coalition opening
  • Saturday, Oct. 24: Inaugural DJ Dance Party featuring three DJs

Both fall shows will include Sip & Stroll service.