This week, Boston audiences will have the rare chance to experience one of music’s most iconic voices up close and personal. Two-time Grammy nominee Martha Wash, the legendary singer behind some of the most enduring anthems of the past four decades, will take the stage at City Winery Boston on Wednesday, August 20, at 7:30 p.m. for a one-night-only performance as part of her nationwide Love & Conflict Tour.

Best known for belting out club-shaking hits like “It’s Raining Men” and “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now),” Wash has long been celebrated as a vocal force of nature. But in her latest tour, she is taking fans into new, unexpected territory. The show highlights music from her acclaimed album Love & Conflict, a collection that leans into blues-rock and adult contemporary sounds while maintaining the intensity and emotional power that have defined her career.

Produced by Sami Basbous, Love & Conflict is a bold evolution for the singer. Its songs explore love, heartbreak, and resilience with a raw edge that has resonated deeply with audiences across the country. “My producers pushed me outside my comfort zone into a new musical direction, and the result is both uplifting and thought-provoking,” Wash has said of the project. “I believe everyone will find something to connect with in these lyrics.”

The critical response has been glowing. Rolling Stone hailed the single “Never Enough Money” as “a stomping, rough-around-the-edges blues rocker anchored by a righteous vocal performance,” while The New York Times praised Wash’s “full gospel-rooted grit and mounting fury” on the same track, calling it “a pounding funk-Afrobeat indictment of greed.” Live, those songs become even more powerful, with Wash’s dynamic stage presence and unmatched voice giving them urgent immediacy.

Audiences in New York and Chicago have already experienced sold-out performances on the tour, with critics noting not just the emotional depth of the new material but also the electric way Wash weaves her storied career into the show. Fans can expect to hear both the classics that made her a dance-floor icon and the new songs that prove she’s still an artist pushing her boundaries.

Wash’s journey to becoming the “Queen of Clubland” began in her parents’ San Francisco church, where she sang gospel before studying opera and touring Europe. Those early years gave her the vocal versatility that would later allow her to dominate ballads, pop hits, and club bangers alike. Her breakthrough came with Izora Armstead as part of the duo Two Tons O’ Fun, later rebranded as The Weather Girls, whose 1982 smash “It’s Raining Men” became an enduring anthem of empowerment, joy, and unabashed camp. From there, her unmistakable voice powered chart-toppers by C+C Music Factory and Black Box, securing her status as one of the most important and recognizable vocalists in dance music history.

But Wash has never been content to rest on past glories. Love & Conflict showcases her ongoing evolution as a performer and songwriter, bringing to light new layers of grit, vulnerability, and storytelling. The tour offers audiences the chance to witness an artist who continues to grow while still delivering the firepower that made her famous.

Beyond her artistry, Wash has long been admired for her philanthropy. She has lent her time and voice to causes ranging from HIV/AIDS research to LGBTQ+ advocacy, working with organizations like amfAR and remaining a tireless supporter of communities that have embraced her music for decades.

For Boston fans, the August 20 performance promises not only a concert but an intimate, soul-stirring journey through one of music’s most remarkable careers. Whether you’re reliving the exhilaration of the dance floor or discovering the new depths of Love & Conflict, Martha Wash’s show at City Winery is poised to be a highlight of the summer.

Tickets are available now at citywinery.com/boston. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy dinner and wine before the performance, with a $25 per person food and beverage minimum in effect. With seating limited, this unforgettable evening with a true musical icon is sure to sell out quickly.