Artwork by Cap Blackard
With school letting out, the weather getting warmer, and daylight extending into the early evening, choices for how to spend your hard-earned dollars and precious time off have a lot of competition in 2015. There seem to be more summer music festivals than ever; meanwhile, online services like Airbnb and Uber make travel increasingly manageable. Needless to say, the Internet has made the world smaller and more accessible for many.
Summer concert tours remain a big attraction in the US and beyond, with many artists using festivals as springboards to connect with the rest of the country, plotting their stops between larger festivals and creating a bevy of options for fans looking to experience large arena gigs or more intimate club shows. In the pages that follow, we’ve collected some of the most notable artists to hit the road this summer, from huge rarities to some of music’s most exciting emerging talent.
Enjoy.
–Philip Cosores
Contributing Editor
AC/DC
Photo by Philip Cosores
With their original booking as a Coachella headliner, AC/DC turned some heads, prompting questions as to both their continued relevance and their drawing power. But if their huge ‘chella audience wasn’t a good enough indication, maybe their stadium tour this summer, beginning in Europe and then coming to the US, will convince naysayers. Playing both iconic football yards like the homes of the Patriots and the Giants (and Jets), and beloved baseball stadiums like the homes of the Cubs, Giants, and Dodgers, AC/DC will turn yards infrequently used for concerts into havens for rock ‘n’ roll. —Philip Cosores
AC/DC 2015 Tour Dates:
05/29 – Barcelona, ES @ Estadio Olympic
05/31 – Madrid, ES @ Estadio Vicente Calderon
06/02 – Madrid, ES @ Estadio Vicente Calderon
06/05 – Zurich, CH @ Letzigrund
06/07 – Zurich, CH @ Letzigrund
06/19 – Cologne, DE @ Jahnwiesen
06/21 – Hannover, DE @ Messe
06/25 – Berlin, DE @ Olympia Stadium
06/28 – Glasgow, UK @ Hampden Park
07/01 – Dublin, IE @ Aviva Stadium
07/04 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
07/06 – Dessel, BE @ Graspop Metal Meeting
07/09 – Imola, IT @ Autodromo
07/12 – Gelsenkirchen, DE @ Veltins Arena
07/15 – Roskilde, DK @ Roskilde Festival Site
07/17 – Oslo, NO @ Valle Hovin
07/19 – Stockholm, SE @ Friends Arena
07/22 – Hameenlinna, FI @ Open Air Park
07/25 – Warsaw, PL @ National Stadium
08/22 – Foxborough, MA @ Gillette Stadium
08/26 – E. Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
08/28 – Quebec City, QC @ Plains Of Abraham
08/31 – Montreal, QC @ Olympic Stadium
09/03 – Ottawa, ON @ TD Place
09/05 – Moncton, NB @ Magnetic Hill
09/08 – Detroit, MI @ Ford Field
09/10 – Toronto, ON @ Downsview Park
09/15 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field
09/17 – Winnipeg, MB @ Investors Group Field
09/20 – Edmonton, AB @ Commonwealth Stadium
09/22 – Vancouver, BC @ BC Place
09/25 – San Francisco, CA @ AT&T Park
09/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium
11/04 – Sydney, AU @ ANZ Stadium
11/12 – Brisbane, AU @ QSAC
11/21 – Adelaide, AU @ Oval
11/27 – Perth, AU @ Domain Stadium
12/06 – Melbourne, AU @ Etihad Stadium
Alabama Shakes
Photo by Philip Cosores
Now that Alabama Shakes’ sophomore album has reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts, maybe fans won’t mind the omission of the band’s signature tune from its setlist. Earlier this year when the quartet previewed Sound & Color at dates scattered across the US, including Coachella, “Hold On” didn’t make the cut. Pretty ballsy move for a group so young. If the Rolling Stones can dig up “Satisfaction” at every show over the last 40 years, the combustible Brittany Howard surely can’t squelch the Boys & Girls standout after only three. This tour, which takes a European detour before landing in North America just in time for Lollapalooza, finds the Shakes adding to its ranks with two additional instrumentalists and three backing singers fluent in gospel. Not that Howard needs the help, but the extra pipes intensify the multiple climaxes at the end of each song’s slow burn. —Janine Schaults
Alabama Shakes 2015 Tour Dates:
05/13 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy Birmingham
05/15 – Brighton, UK @ The Great Escape
05/28 – St. Louis, MO @ The Fox Theatre $
05/29 – Kansas City, MO @ THe Starlight Theatre $
05/30 – Minneapolis, MN @ Hall’s Island $
06/02 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park $
06/03 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre $
06/05 – Seaside Heights, NJ @ Gentlemen of the Road
06/06 – Toronto, ON @ Field Trip Music & Arts Festival
06/07 – Hunter Mountain, NY @ Mountain Jam Festival
06/09 – Charlottesville, VA @ nTelos Wireless Pavilion !
06/10 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park +
06/12 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
06/24-28 – Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury
06/27 – Beuningen, NL @ Down the Rabbit Hole
06/28 – Werchter, BE @ Rock Werchter
06/30 – Leipzig, DE @ Conne Island
07/01 – Gdynia, PL @ Open’er Festival
07/04 – Dublin, IE @ Marlay Park
07/05 – Belfort, FR @ Les Eurockeennes
07/06 – Koln, DE @ Live Music Hall
07/08 – Lucca, IT @ Summer Festival Lucca
07/10 – Rotterdam, NL @ North Sea Jazz Fest
07/12 – Kinross, UK @ T in the Park
07/30 – Louisville, KY @ Iroquois Amphitheater
07/31 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/01 – Council Bluffs, IA @ Harrah’s Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel
08/04 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Harden
08/05 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Botanical Garden
08/07 – Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield *
08/08 – Redmond, VA @ Marymoor Park
08/09 – Squamish, BC @ Squamish Valley Music Festival
08/12 – San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre *
08/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre *
08/14 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
08/16 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Ampitheatre %
08/18 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie %
08/21 – Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
09/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Mann Center for the Performing Arts %
09/18 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion %
09/19 – Queens, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium %
09/22 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark
09/25-27 – Boston, MA @ Boston Calling
10/02-04 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival
11/18 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
11/19 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
% = w/ Drive-By Truckers
$ = w/ Father John Misty
! = w/ Strand of Oaks
+ = w/ Courtney Barnett
* = w/ Blake Mills
Joey Bada$$
The most meaningful live event of Brooklyn rapper and Pro Era leader Joey Bada$$’s summer won’t be a regular tour stop, but rather Steez Day, a festival that Joey and Pro Era are putting on to honor the fallen Capital Steez. You could say Joey has been honoring Steez (who committed suicide on Christmas Eve in 2012) with all his new music, too, most notably B4.DA.$$, his great debut album from January. Full of both heart and displays of technical skill, B4.DA.$$ is a statement of youthful intent, which partly explains the title of Joey’s summer tour, World Domination (also the name of a song on his breakthrough mixtape, 1999). Divided into West Coast shows (the “Westside Connection” phase) and international outings (“Worldly Festivities”), the tour will also feature Chicago’s Mick Jenkins and Florida’s Denzel Curry. –Michael Madden
Joey Bada$$ 2015 World Domination Tour Dates:
06/10 – Mesa, AZ @ Club Red *
06/11 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory *
06/12 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory *
06/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda *
06/14 – Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theatre ^
06/16 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst *
06/17 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency *
06/18 – Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall *
06/19 – Portland, OR @ Wonder ^
06/20 – Seattle, WA @ KUBE Radio Show *
06/25 – Norrköping, SE @ Bravalla Festival
06/26 – Seinäjoki, FI @ Provinnsrock Festival
06/27 – Odense, DK @ Tinderbox Festival
07/03 – London, UK @ Wireless Festival
07/04 – Tilburg, NL @ Woo Ha! Hip Hop Festival
07/05 – Brussels, BE @ Coloeur Café Festival
07/07 – New York, NY @ Steez Day Festival
07/09 – Zamárdi, HU @ Balaton Sound Festival
07/10 – Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefaehrlich
07/11 – Berlin, DE @ Splash Festival
07/15 – Island of Pag, HR @ Fresh Island Festival
07/17- Tonsberg, NO @ Slottsfjell
07/18 – Stuttgart, DE @ Hip Hop Open
07/24 – Tokyo, JP @ Fuji Rock Festival
08/21-23 – Amsterdam, NL @ Lowlands Festival
* = w/ Mick Jenkins & Denzel Curry
^ = w/ Denzel Curry
J. Cole w/ Big Sean, Jeremih, and YG
Photo by Philip Cosores
The real is back, the ’ville is back. J. Cole released his underrated 2014 Forest Hills Drive with very little publicity before the record dropped at the end of last year, but the Roc Nation rapper is pulling out all the stops for this tour, which will hit up Madison Square Garden, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and a home state gig at Charlotte’s PNC Music Pavilion. Jermaine will be assisted by YG, Jeremih, and Big Sean, whose Dark Side Paradise ranks as one of this year’s better hip-hop albums. —Killian Young
J. Cole w/ Big Sean, YG, and Jeremih Tour Dates:
07/12 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
07/14 – San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
07/17 – San Diego, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre
07/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
07/21 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
07/24 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
07/25 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre**
07/26 – Indianapolis, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
07/28 – Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
07/30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
07/31 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
08/03 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
08/04 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/06 – Boston, MA @ Xfinity Center
08/07 – Montreal, BC @ Bell Center
08/08 – Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre
08/09 – Washington, DC @ Jiffy Lube Live
08/11 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend
08/12 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
08/13 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Farm Bureau Live
08/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre
08/16 – Tampa, FL @ MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
08/18 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre
08/21 – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
08/22 – Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater
08/23 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
08/25 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
08/29 – Fayetteville, NC @ Crown Colliseum
Toronto, ON @ TBA
D’Angelo and the Vanguard
Album releases after a decade-plus hiatus seem to be all the rage lately, but D’Angelo’s Black Messiah carries none of that baggage. It’s already a standalone piece of experimental R&B glory. Pino Palladino’s low-end thumbprint lends the same perfect undertow as it did on Voodoo, and with the Vanguard behind him, D’Angelo’s tour is sure to be one of the best this summer. Archer has always been a slow moving creature, but the 2012 Bonnaroo super-jam was an indelible reminder of his oft-unspoken talents. 2015’s incarnation sees a fit D’Angelo back on point with self-aware lyrics: “I used to get real high, now I just get a buzz.” Me too, D’Angelo, me too. —Kevin McMahon
D’Angelo 2015 Tour Dates:
06/07 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
06/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia
06/10 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater
06/11 – Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
06/13 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
06/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
06/16 – Dallas, TX @ The Bomb Factory
06/17 – Houston, TX @ The Warehouse
06/20 – Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
06/21 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
06/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Keswick
06/25 – Washington, DC @ The Fillmore
06/27 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
06/28 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
07/03 – Gdynia, PL @ Open’er Festival
07/06 – Rome, IT @ Parco della Musica
07/07 – Milan, IT @ Estathe Market Sound
07/08 – Montreux, CH @ Montreux Jazz Festival – Stravinsky Hall
07/10 – Rotterdam, NL @ North Sea Jazz Festival
07/12 – Liege, BE @ Les Ardentes
07/13 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
07/15 – Grimstad, NO @ Skral Festival
07/16 – Oslo, NO @ Fjord Festival
07/17 – Molde, NO @ Molde International Jazz Festival
08/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands
08/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Festival
09/04 – Chicago, IL @ North Coast Music Festival
Death Cab for Cutie
Photo by Samantha Saturday
If you’ve ever seen Death Cab for Cutie live, then you know there’s something extrasensory about the whole experience. Everything is just a little bit louder, sharper, and harder, and a band that you thought you knew as purveyors of soft, sad songs about heartbreak transforms into a much more complex beast. International dates with The Antlers, Explosions in the Sky, Best Coast, and a slough of other bands with loyal followings of their own are already making the tour for their latest release, Kintsugi, an event of major proportions. I already have tickets to their September 13 show in Columbia, Maryland, but I wish I were seeing them in Zagreb, Paris, or Dusseldorf instead. —Katherine Flynn
Death Cab For Cutie 2015 Tour Dates:
06/04 – Porto, PT @ Optimus Primavera Sound
06/08 – London, UK @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
06/09 – London, UK @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
06/10 – London, UK @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
06/12 – Aarhus, DK @ NorthSide Festival
06/13 – Oslo, NO @ Rockefeller
06/14 – Bergen, NO @ Bergenfest
06/15 – Stockholm, SE @ Munchenbryggeriet
06/17 – Zurich, CH @ X-Tra Hotel
06/19-21 – Neuhausen, DE @ Southside Festival
06/19-21 – Scheessel, DE @ Hurricane Festival
06.20 – Tillburg, NL @ Best Kept Secret Festival
06/23 – Zagreb, CH @ inMusic Festival
06/25 – Paris, FR @ Bataclan
06/26 – Werchter, BE @ Rock Werchter
06/27 – Dusseldorf, DE @ Open Source Festival
06/28 – Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Music Festival
07/08 – Portland, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield %
07/09 – Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheatre %
07/11 – Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre Berkeley %
07/12 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl *
07/15 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rock Amphitheatre *
07/16 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Twilight Concert Series
07/24 – Bryon Bay, AU @ Splendour in the Grass
07/26 – Melbourne, AU @ 170 Russell
07/27 – Melbourne, AU @ 170 Russell
07/30 – Canberra, AT @ Anu Bar
07/31 – Wollongong, AU @ Uow Unibar
08/01 – Sydney, AU @ Sydney Opera House
08/04 – Adelaide, AU @ HQ Complex
08/06 – Perth, AU @ Metro City
09/10 – Manchester, NH @ Verizon Wireless Arena
09/11 – Boston, MA @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion &
09/12 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden &
09/13 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion &
09/15 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater #
09/17 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE #
09/18 – Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center #
09/19 – Columbus, OH @ The LC Pavilion #
09/21 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater #
09/25 – San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
09/26 – Santa Barbara, CAR @ Santa Barbara Bowl !
09/28 – Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Theatre !
09/30 – Missoula, MT @ Adams Center
10/01 – Spokane, WA @ INB Performing Arts Center
10/03 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
10/04 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
10/05 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
11/02 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy
11/03 – Manchester, UK @ Academy
11/04 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
11/05 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
11/17 – Vienna, AT @ Gasometer
11/23 – Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz
11/24 – Madrid, ES @ Barclaycard Center
^ = w/ The Antlers
% = w/ Built to Spill
* = w/ tUnE-yArDs
& = w/ Explosions in the Sky
# = w/ Twin Shadow
! = w/ Best Coast
Death Grips
What could be more anticipated than a band you’re not even sure will show up? Death Grips‘ breakup last summer was one of the most talked about moments of 2014 — or so we thought. It seems, as always, that MC Ride and company might have been trolling us all. As a veteran of three Death Grips concerts, I can safely say if they do show up, it will be one for the books. MC Ride has a stage presence to match his coarse vocal timbre, and the sensory overload of their recorded music carries the same force live. Also, it will be one of the rare occasions where fans can see Zach Hill, MC Ride, and Andy Morin all on stage together. Rumor (and by rumor, I mean Reddit conjecture) has it they may even be joined by Jenny Death guitarist Nick Reinhart. God, I hope they show. —Kevin McMahon
Death Grips 2015 Tour Dates:
06/19 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox
06/20 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
06/21 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
06/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
06/24 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
06/26 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
06/27 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
06/28 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
06/30 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
07/01 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall
07/03 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
07/04 – Montreal, QC @ Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre
07/05 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
07/07 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
07/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
07/11 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
07/12 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
07/14 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
07/15 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
07/17 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
07/18 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
07/19 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
07/21 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
07/22 – Tucson, AZ @ The Rialto Theatre
07/23 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
07/25 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
08/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Fest
Lana Del Rey and Grimes
Photo by Heather Kaplan
A Lana Del Rey and Grimes tour almost sounds too good to be true. In fact, the Internet (where both ladies have cultivated a mega-devout following) seemed to almost cave in on itself upon the announcement. Both are stars of the pop world, but each reigns supremely on opposite sides of its spectrum: Del Rey makes somber ballads filtered through the lens of California’s wistful, sunbaked haze, while Grimes does surreal electropop that’s just a tad too weird for the Top 40 crowd. Is it going to be pandemonium? Probably. Should fans have bought tickets months ago? Abso-fucking-lutely. It’s a no-brainer that this is one of the most bizarre yet brilliant pairings of the year, not just the season. —Michelle Geslani
Lana Del Rey 2015 Tour Dates:
05/28 – Noblesville, IN @ Klipsch Music Center ^
05/30 – Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre ^
05/31 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Hall ^
06/03 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Ampitheatre ^
06/04 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre ^
06/09 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Centre ^
06/11 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live ^
06/13 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion ^
06/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Ampitheatre at Lakewood ^
06/16 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Coral Sky Ampitheatre ^
^ = w/ Grimes
Desaparecidos
Photo by Philip Cosores
It’s been 13 years since Conor Oberst’s punk project Desaparecidos last released an album, but they’re unlikely to pull any punches — on vinyl or on the road. If early samples like “City on the Hill” are any indication, they’ve spent the last 13 years sharpening their teeth. Desaparecidos have put out scattered songs and played a few shows since their 2012 reunion, but young punks will finally get to see them in full swing with an album to support, and diehards will get to see Oberst really let it rip like he did in the old days. —Adam Kivel
Desaparecidos 2015 Tour Dates:
06/25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium
06/26 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
07/16 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe
07/17 – St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
07/18 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
07/19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
07/29 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
07/30 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook
07/31 – Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hal
08/01 – Montreal, Quebec @ Osheaga Festival
08/02 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
08/04 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
08/06 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
08/07 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
08/08 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
08/09 – Atlanta, GA @ The Wrecking Ball Festival
09/18 – Toronto, Ontario @ Urban Roots Festival
10/30 – Gainesville, FL @ The Fest
Earl Sweatshirt
Photo by Philip Cosores
Make whatever jokes you want about Odd Future and their gimmicks, but don’t bother when it comes to Earl Sweatshirt. The rap group’s youngest member is also the sharpest of the bunch. His lines hit with poignant accuracy, plunging into everything from millennial depression to parental disassociation. Live, he plays off a lot of his song’s emotions with a random assortment of swears, but hearing him address his issues so openly — and so quickly — never fails to amaze. Seeing a kid that young spilling his heart over gritty beats is an excellent reminder that anyone, no matter how young, is capable of changing things up. —Nina Corcoran
Earl Sweatshirt 2015 Tour Dates:
05/30 – Dublin, IE @ Forbidden Fruit Festival
06/01 – Birmingham, UK @ Institute
06/02 – Bristol, UK @ Trinity
06/03 – London, UK @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
06/05 – Mildenhall, UK @ Boom Bap Festival
06/06 – Brighton, UK @ Wild Life Festival
06/07 – Manchester, UK @ Parklife Festival
06/08 – Glasgow, UK O2 ABC
06/11 – Oslo, NO @ Rockefeller
06/12 – Aarhus, DK @ NorthSide Festival
06/13 – Helsinki, FI @ Sideways Festival
06/18 – Zurich, CH @ Touch the Air Festival
06/19-21 – Hilvarenbeek, NL @ Best Kept Secret Festival
06/21 – Berlin, DE @ Mauerpark
07/19 – Pemberton, BC @ Pemberton Music Festival
07/23 – Wellington, NZ @ Bodega
07/24 – Auckland, NZ @ The Studio
07/25 – Sydney, AU @ Max Watt’s
07/26 – Byron Bay, AU @ Splendour in the Grass
08/11 – Joliet, IL @ Mojoes
08/12 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
08/14 – Somerset, WI @ Summer Set Festival
08/16 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House
08/18 – Syracuse, NY @ The Westcott
08/19 – Providence, RI @ Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
08/21 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
08/22 – New York, NY @ Best Buy Theater
08/23 – Washington, DC @ The Fillmore
08/25 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
08/27 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southend
08/28 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
08/29 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
08/30 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
09/01 – Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
09/02 – Miami, FL @ Grand Central Live
09/03 – Orlando, FL @ Firestone Live
09/06 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
09/08 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
09/10 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
09/11 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City
09/12 – New Orleans, LA @ Republic
09/13 – Jacksonville, FL @ Maverick’s
09/15 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
Faith No More
Photo by Sasha Geffen
Whenever a seminal band gets back together after a long hiatus, you can usually smell the desperate need for money coming off them. I know I felt that way about the reunion of the mighty Faith No More, one of my all-time favorite bands. But that fear turned out to be baseless. Their latest album, Sol Invictus, is solid as hell, and Mike Patton remains one of the greatest unheralded vocalists ever. Go check them out before they disappear for another decade or two. —Don Lewis
Faith No More 2015 Tour Dates:
05/29 – Nurburgring, DE @ Grune Holle Festival
05/31 – Munich, DE @ Rockavaria Festival
06/02 – Milan, IT @ Sonisphere Festival
06/04 – Vienna, AT @ Vienna Rocks Festival
06/05 – Hradec Kralove, CZ @ Rock For People Festival
06/06 – Berlin, DE @ Zitadelle
06/08 – Krakow, PL @ Tauron Arena
06/12 – Landgraaf, NL @ Pinkpop Festival
06/13 – Donnington, UK @ Download Festival
06/20 – Clisson, FR @ Hellfest
06/21 – Dessel, BE @ Graspop Festival
06/23 – Hamburg, DE @ Sporthalle
06/26 – Norrkoping, SE @ Bravalla Festival
06/27 – Seinajoki, FI @ Provinssirock
06/28 – Odense, DK @ Tinderbox
07/26 – Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
07/28 – Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
07/30 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Music Park *
07/21 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater *
08/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ Skyline Stage at the Mann Center *
08/02 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion *
08/04 – Boston, MA @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion *
08/05 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden *
08/07 – Toronto, ON @ Ricoh Coliseum *
08/07-09 – Montreal, QC @ Heavy Montreal
09/06 – Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot
09/18 – Bogota, CO @ Teatro Royal Center
09/20 – Buenos Aires, AR @ Luna Park
09/24 – Sao Paolo, BR @ Espaço das Americas
09/25 – Rio de Janerio, BR @ Rock in Rio
09/28 – Santiago, CL @ Hangares Suricato
* = w/ Refused
Foo Fighters
Photo by Philip Cosores
Foo Fighters have kept busy for months by filming the Sonic Highways HBO miniseries, releasing a new album by the same name, and closing out the last Letterman show. Now, the band has a stretch of arena shows ahead with emerging UK rockers Royal Blood as the opening act. With a frontman like Dave Grohl, high energy and a highly satisfying show are pretty much a guarantee. Even if you’re not a fan of the new record, the ‘90s nostalgia is surely enticing enough. —Lyndsey Havens
Foo Fighters 2015 Tour Dates:
05/25 – Sunderland, UK @ Sunderland Stadium of Light
05/27 – Manchester, UK @ Emirates Old Trafford
05/30 – Meath, IE @ Slane Castle
06/03 – Hamburg, DE @ O2 World
06/05-07 – Nürburg, DE @ Rock am Ring
06/05-07 – Nuremberg, DE @ Rock im Park
06/10 – Oslo, NO @ Telenor Arena
06/12 – Gothenburg, SE @ Ullevi Stadium
06/13-14 – Landgraaf, NL @ Pinkpop Festival
06/16 – St. Gallen, CH @ AFG Arena
06/19 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
06/20 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
06/23 – Edinburgh, UK @ BT Murrayfield Stadium
06/25-28 – Werchter, BE @ Rock Werchter
07/04 – Washington, DC @ RFK Stadium #
07/06 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center %
07/08 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Ampitheatre %
07/09 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Ampitheatre %
07/11 – Quebec City, QC @ Festival d’été de Québec
07/13 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center %
07/15 – New York, NY @ Citi Field %
07/16 – New York, NY @ Citi Field %
07/18 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park &
07/19 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park %
07/24 – Niigata, JP @ Fuji Rock Festival 2015
07/26 – Ansan, SK @ 2015 Ansan M Valley Rock Festival
08/12 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place %
08/13 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome %
08/14 – Walla Walla, WA @ Gentleman of the Road Stopover
08/16 – Denver, CO @ Fidler’s Green Ampitheatre %
08/17 – Denver, CO @ Fidler’s Green Ampitheatre %
08/19 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheater %
08/21 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center %
08/22 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center %
08/24 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre %
08/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
08/27 – Indianapolis, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
08/29 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field *
09/11 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
09/12 – George, WA @ Gorge Ampitheatre
09/14 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
09/16 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Ampitheatre
09/18 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
09/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
09/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
09/25 – Phoenix, AZ @ AK-Chin Pavilion
09/27 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Ampitheater
09/29 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Chesapeake Energy Arena
09/30 – Wichita, KS @ INTRUST Bank Arena
10/02 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
10/04 – Atlanta, GA @ Centennial Olympic Park
10/05 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
10/07 – Memphis, TN @ FedEx Forum
10/09 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
10/17 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
11/05 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome
11/06 – Cologne,DE @ Lanxess Arena
11/08 – Berlin, DE @ Mercedes-Benz Arena
11/09 – Cracow, PL @ Tauron Arena
11/11 – Vienna, AT @ Stadhalle
11/13 – Casalecchio di Reno, IT @ Unipol Arena
11/14 – Turin, IT @ Palaolimpico
11/16 – Paris, FR @ Bercy
11/17 – Lyon, FR @ La Halle Tony Garnier
11/19 – Barcelona, ES @ Palau Sant Jordi
% = w/ Royal Blood
& = w/ Mission of Burma
# = w/ Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr., Heart, Joan Jett, Trombone Shorty, LL Cool J featuring DJ Z-Trip, and Trouble Funk
* = w/ Cheap Trick, Urge Overkill, and Naked Raygun
Incubus and Deftones w/ Death From Above 1979
Photo by Philip Cosores
Certain bands survive eras we later look down on. Alas, nu metal, rap-rock, and basically anything that combined heavy, drop-tuned guitars and eclectic genre blends don’t get a lot of positive looks — but Incubus and the Deftones are two of the best, if not the best, bands from that ’90s alternative world that got left behind. Throw in Death From Above 1979 and this tour is unstoppable. —Dan Bogosian
Incubus and Deftones Co-Headlining Tour Dates:
07/22 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre *^
07/23 – Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre ^
07/25 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center *^
08/04 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center *^
08/05 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater *^
08/07 – Manfield, MA @ Xfinity Center *^
08/08 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center *^
08/09 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion *^
08/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood *^
08/13 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORDIA Credit Union Amphitheatre *^
08/14 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre *^
08/16 – New Orleans, LA @ Bold Sphere Music at Champion’s Square *^
08/17 – Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater *^
08/19 – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *^
08/20 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion *^
08/24 – Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre *^
08/26 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre *^
08/30 – San Diego, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre *^
* = w/ Death From Above 1979
^ = w/ The Bots
Madonna
Okay, so Rebel Heart sucks and “Bitch, I’m Madonna” is about the most annoying single she’s ever released and that whole Coachella/Drake kiss was just the lamest PR stunt to date, but still — still! — there’s always a good reason to see Madonna. Like 30 years’ worth of reasoning. Her back catalogue begs for descriptors like “rich” and “diverse” and her athletic performances are always spot-on, namely because this Material Girl lives for the stage and has seemingly dedicated her entire life to that craft. So, despite any claims of irrelevancy, know that this tour will be one of the biggest of the year. Just grab a poster or a bottle of water when she starts singing “Unapologetic Bitch”. —Michael Roffman
Madonna 2015-2016 Tour Dates:
09/09 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
09/10 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
09/12 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
09/16 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/17 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
09/21 – Quebec City, QC @ Centre Videotron
09/24 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
09/26 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
09/28 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/01 – Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena
10/03 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
10/05 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
10/06 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
10/08 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
10/11 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
10/12 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
10/14 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
10/17 – Portland, OR @ MODA Center
10/19 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center at San Jose
10/22 – Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena
10/24 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
10/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Forum
11/04 – Cologne, DE @ Lanxess Arena
11/05 – Cologne, DE @ Lanxess Arena
11/07 – Prague, CZ @ O2 Arena
11/08 – Prague, CZ @ O2 Arena
11/10 – Berlin, DE @ Mercedes-Benz Arena (02 World)
11/11 – Berlin, DE @ Mercedes-Benz Arena (02 World)
11/14 – Stockholm, SE @ Tele 2 Arena
11/17 – Herning, DK @ Jyske Bank Boxen
11/19 – Turin, IT @ Pala Alpitour
11/21 – Turin, IT @ Pala Alpitour
11/22 – Turin, IT @ Pala Alpitour
11/24 – Barcelona, ES @ Palau Sant Jordi
11/25 – Barcelona, ES @ Palau Sant Jordi
11/28 – Antwerp, BE @ Sportpaleis
11/29 – Mannheim, DE @ SAP Arena
12/01 – London, UK @ O2 Arena
12/02 – London, UK @ O2 Arena
12/05 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome
12/06 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome
12/09 – Paris, FR @ Bercy
12/10 – Paris, FR @ Bercy
12/12 – Zurich, CH @ Hallenstadion
12/14 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Arena
12/16 – Birmingham, UK @ Barclaycard Arena
12/20 – Glasgow, UK @ The SSE Hydro
01/20 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
01/23 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
01/24 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
01/27 – San Juan, PR @ Coliseo de Puerto Rico
01/28 – San Juan, PR @ Coliseo de Puerto Rico
Paul McCartney
Photo by Joshua Mellin
Once again, Paul McCartney has decided to work for the summer. His Out There tour will travel through Europe before returning stateside. The former Beatle also has gigs planned at three major music festivals, including a long-awaited slot headlining Lollapalooza in July. Take it from me: Everyone should experience the joy of hearing “Hey Jude” live at once. —Zack Ruskin
Paul McCartney 2015 Tour Dates:
05/27 – Birmingham, UK @ Barclaycard Arena
05/28 – Liverpool, UK @ Echo Arena
06/05 – Marseille, FR @ Nouveau Stade Vélodrome
06/07 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome
06/08 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome
06/11 – Paris, FR @ Stade de France
06/19 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival
06/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
06/23 – Charlottesville, VA @ John Paul Jones Arena
06/25 – Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena
07/04 – Roskilde, DK @ Roskilde Festival
07/07 – Oslo, NO @ Telenor Arena
07/09 – Stockholm, SE @ Tele2 Arena
07/31 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
Mumford and Sons
The major storyline leading up to the release of Mumford and Sons’ newest album, Wilder Mind, was that the band would abandon their banjos to go electric. The British rockers warmed up for their revamped live performances by playing a handful of highly sought-after club dates in the US, UK, and Canada, and now will embark on an international stadium tour. Interspersed within the schedule are the band’s Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers, a tradition that has the band taking up residence in a small-market town or city for a couple days for a curated mini-festival, which will this time feature the likes of The Flaming Lips, Jenny Lewis, and Dawes, as well as co-headlining performances from Alabama Shakes (Seaside Heights, New Jersey), My Morning Jacket (Waverly, Iowa), and even the Foo Fighters (Walla Walla, Washington). —Killian Young
Mumford and Sons 2015 Tour Dates:
06/02 – Brooklyn, NY @ MCU Park at Coney Island
06/06 – Seaside Heights, NJ @ Gentlemen of the Road Stopover *
06/08 – Boston, MA @ Xfinity Center
06/10 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
06/11 – Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
06/13 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival
06/15 – Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON @ The Commons at Butler’s Barracks
06/16 – Clarkson, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theater
06/17 – Chicago, IL @ Montrose Beach & Park
06/20 – Waverly, IA @ Gentlemen of the Road Stopover *
06/29 – Verona, IT @ Arena di Verona
06/30 – Rome, IT @ Ippodromo Capannelle
07/01 – Pistoia, IT @ Piazza Duomo
07/03 – Gdynia, PL @ Open’er Festival
07/04 – Nijmegen, NL @ Goffertpark
07/05 – Arras, FR @ Main Square Festival
07/09-11 – Bilbao, ES @ Bilbao BBK Live
07/10 – Lisbon, PT @ NOS Alive Festival
07/17 – Berlin, DE @ Waldbühne
07/18 – Berlin, DE @ Waldbühne
07/31-08/01 – Aviemore, UK @ Gentlemen of the Road Stopover *
08/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Music Festival
08/09 – Squamish Valley, BC @ Squamish Valley Music Festival
08/11 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
08/12 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
08/15 – Walla Walla, WA @ Gentlemen of the Road Stopover *
08/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
08/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
08/22 – Salida, CO @ Gentlemen of the Road Stopover *
08/28-30 – Reading, UK @ Reading Festival
08/28-30 – Leeds, UK @ Leeds Festival
Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers:
Seaside Heights, New Jersey, USA
June 5th + 6th – Mumford & Sons, The Flaming Lips, Alabama Shakes, The Vaccines, The Maccabees, Dawes, The Very Best, Jenny Lewis, Little May, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBA
Waverly, Iowa, USA
June 19th + 20th – Mumford & Sons, The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Dawes, Jenny Lewis, The Maccabees, The Very Best, Rubblebucket, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBA
Aviemore, Scotland, UK
July 31st + August 1st – Mumford & Sons, Primal Scream, Simian Mobile Disco, Ben Howard, Lianne La Havas, The Maccabees, Jack Garratt, Honeyblood + more TBA
Walla Walla, Washington, USA
August 14th + 15th – Mumford & Sons, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips, The Vaccines, Dawes, Jenny Lewis, TuneYards, James Vincent McMorrow, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBA
Salida, Colorado, USA
August 21st + 22nd – Mumford & Sons, The Flaming Lips, Dawes,
Jenny Lewis, The Vaccines, TuneYards, James Vincent McMorrow, JEFF The Brotherhood, Blake Mills + more TBA
My Morning Jacket
Photo by Ben Kaye
In support of their seventh studio album, The Waterfall, My Morning Jacket will take their cosmic Americana across North America — including a three-night residency at the Chicago Theater in June — before crossing the Atlantic for a European jaunt. It’s been an up-and-down couple of years for the band, but with The Waterfall being hailed as a return to form, things are looking up, and tour dates are beginning to sell out. —Jon Hadusek
My Morning Jacket 2015 Tour Dates:
06/03 – Cleveland, OH @ State Theatre *
06/04 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE *
06/05 – New York, NY @ Governors Ball Music Festival
06/07 – Toronto, ON @ Field Trip Festival
06/09 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre #
06/10 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre #
06/11 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre #
06/12-14 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
06/16 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore #
06/17 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore #
06/19 – Waverly, IA @ Gentlemen of the Road Stopover
06/20 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater *
06/23 – Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre *
06/24 – Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre *
06/26 – Minneapolis, MN @ Northrup Auditorium + /
06/27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Northrup Auditorium + /
07/17-19 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
07/21 – Charlottesville, VA @ nTelos Wireless Pavilion /
07/22 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Series /
07/26 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion %
07/28 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheatre /
07/29 – Charlotte, NC @ Uptown Amphitheatre /
07/31 – New Orleans, LA @ Champions Square /
08/01 – St. Augustine, FL @ Amphitheatre &
08/03 – Miami, FL @ The Fillmore ^
08/04 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live &
08/07 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre &
08/08 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre &
08/10 – Birmingham, AL @ BJCC Concert Hall &
08/12 – St. Louis @ The Peabody Opera House +
08/13 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre +
08/14 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre $
08/28-30 – Paris, FR @ Rock en Seine Festival
09/01 – Antwerp, BE @ Rivierenhof Amphitheatre
09/02 – Koln, DE @ Gloria
09/04 – Dublin, IE @ Electric Picnic Festival
09/05 – Larmer Tree Gardens, UK @ End of the Road Festival
09/06 – Manchester, UK @ The Ritz
09/08 – London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
09/10 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
09/12 – Groningen, NL @ Take Root Festival
09/13 – Berlin, DE @ Lollapalooza Berlin
09/30 – Portland, OR @ Keller Auditorium !
10/02 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre !
10/03 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre !
10/06 – Boise, ID @ Revolution !
10/07 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Magna Salt Pair Pavilion !
10/09 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl !
10/10 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl !
10/11 – Santa Barbara, CA @ County Bowl >
10/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Shrine >
10/15 – San Francisco, CA @ Nob Hill Masonic Center >
10/16 – San Francisco, CA @ Nob Hill Masonic Center >
10/17 – San Francisco, CA @ Nob Hill Masonic Center >
10/19 – San Diego, CA @ SDSU Open Air Theatre >
10/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theater >
10/22 – Austin, TX @ Music Hall >
10/23 – Austin, TX @ Music Hall >
10/24 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theatre >
* = w/ Floating Action
# = w/ Hiss Golden Messenger
+ = w/ Hippo Campus
/ = w/ Lizzo
% = w/ Jason Isbell
& = w/ Mini Mansions
^ = w/ Moon Taxi
$ = w/ Sylvan Esso
! = w/ Strand of Oaks
> = w/ Fruit Bats
