Whether you are still in school or in the work force, the connotation of summer never really changes. Sure, you get a three-month vacation when you are younger, but professionals still treat the warmest months as a time for play. That’s part of the reason so many great concerts happen during the season, with outdoor venues fully functional and music festivals commencing every weekend.
What’s so special about this year? Quite a lot, actually. From one-of-a-kind pairings (AC/DC with Axl Rose) to the return of absolute favorites (Radiohead, The Cure, PJ Harvey), this year is lining up to be a memorable one in terms of entertainment. Hopefully you haven’t slept on getting tickets to these 25 tours, which span everything from hip-hop and rock to comedy and country. Put on some sunscreen and stay cool.
__________________________________________________________
25. Louis C.K.
Louis C.K.’s recent web-only TV series, Horace and Pete, is a dark, dark, dark tragedy that was through-and-through a creative success, and while it had laughs of its own to offer, they were usually much less comfortable and frequent than those his stand-up demands. Nobody is accusing Louie’s act of being light (re-watch his Saturday Night Live opening monologue about child molesters to quickly debunk that theory), but regardless, he’s getting back out there and bringing an edgy set of fresh material on the road for a 20-city tour between May and September. Louie wrote in an email to fans that his act is all new and said, “I think I’m better at comedy right now than I’ve been for a while,” and on that front, he’s never given us a reason to doubt him. –Derrick Rossignol
Louis CK 2016 Tour Dates:
05/17 – Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Theatre (early show)
05/17 – Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Theatre (late show)
05/18 – Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Theatre (early show)
05/18 – Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Theatre (late show)
05/19 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Paramount Theatre
05/20 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Paramount Theatre
05/20 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Paramount Theatre (late show)
05/25 – Mashantucket, CT @ Foxwoods Grand Theatre
05/26 – Mashantucket, CT @ Foxwoods Grand Theatre
05/31 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
06/01 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
06/02 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre (early show)
06/02 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre (late show)
06/03 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre (late show)
06/08 – Wikes-Barre, PA @ Mohegan Sun Arena
06/09 – Reading, PA @ Santander Arena
07/07 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
07/09 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
07/10 – Inglewood, CA @ The Los Angeles Forum
07/12 – Houston, TX @ NRG Arena
07/14 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
07/15 – Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
07/22 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
08/01 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Harris Bradley Center
08/02 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
08/03 – Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center
08/04 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
08/05 – Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena
08/06 – Springfield, MA @ MassMutual Center
08/12 – London, UK @ Wembley Arena
08/15 – Dublin, IE @ 3Arena
08/16 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome
08/18 – Jerusalem, IS @ Jerusalem Payis Arena
08/20 – Copenhagen, DK @ Forum Copenhagen
08/21 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia
08/22 – Prague, CH @ Prague Congress Centre
09/08 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
09/12 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
__________________________________________________________
24. Garbage
Photo by Frank Mojica
The Wisconsin-based, Scot-fronted rock act, with hits that include “Push It”, “Special”, and “I Think I’m Paranoid”, have the perk of being a throwback act that appeals to folks who grew up in the angsty 1990s when alternative was a lifestyle and nu-metal was considered a breakthrough. This means that the current wave of ’90s nostalgia constitutes perfect timing. Garbage could not pick a better year to tour, and if for no other reason, catch this to see Shirley Manson do what she does best: radiate pure cynicism and make you feel happy about it. –David Buchanan
Garbage 2016 Tour Dates:
05/24 – Reims, FR @ La Cartonnerie
05/26 – Dortmund, DE @ Rock im Revier Festival
05/27 – Frankfurt, DE @ Women of the World Festival
05/28 – Munich, DE @ Rockavaria Festival
05/30 – Amsterdam, NL @ The Paradiso
05/31 – Luxembourg, LU @ Den Atelier
06/01 – Nyon, CH @ Caribana Festival
06/03 – Lyon, FR @ Le Radiant
06/04 – Montereau, FR @ Montereau Confluence Festival
06/05 – Grenoble, FR @ La Belle Electrique
06/07 – Ljublijana, SI @ Center Urbane Kulture Kino Siska
06/08 – Milan, IT @ Fabrique
06/10 – Nickelsdorf, AT @ Nova Rock Festival
06/13 – London, UK @ Troxy
06/14 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
06/16 – Madrid, ES @ Mad Cool Festival
06/18 – Chicago, IL @ 101WKQX PIQNIQ
07/06 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
07/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre
07/08 – Omaha, NE @ SumTur Amphitheater
07/10 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
07/12 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
07/15 – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room
07/16 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
07/17 – Columbus, OH @ PromoWest Fest
07/19 – Knoxville, TN @ The Mill & Mine
07/20 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
07/22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
07/23 – Charlotte, NC @ Fillmore Charlotte
07/25 – Richmond, VA @ The National
07/27 – Sayerville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
07/28 – Boston, MA @ House Of Blues Boston
07/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philly
07/31 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!
08/01 – New York, NY @ Summerstage
08/03 – Washington, DC @ The Lincoln Theater
08/06 – Rheinfelden, CH @ River Nights
08/08 – Lokeren, BE @ Lokerse Festival
08/10 – Luhmühlen, DE @ A Summer’s Tale
08/12 – Landerneau, FR @ Fête du Bruit
08/14 – Riga, LV @ Kubana Festival
__________________________________________________________
23. John Carpenter
For over four decades, John Carpenter has dazzled film audiences with scores for iconic horror films (Halloween, The Thing), as well as pulse-pounding action flicks (Assault on Precinct 13, Escape from New York). Last year’s Lost Themes even inspired the CoS staff to dream up nine original films for the tracks. Now, the grandmaster of horror has returned with Lost Themes II and is touring theaters throughout the US. For these gigs, he’ll be backed by a six-piece band (including his son Cody on synths). The shows are billed as “live retrospectives,” and Carpenter estimates a 75-25 split between his classic movies and original compositions – perfect for letting your imagination run wild. “I’ve never played live music on this scale,” the filmmaker admitted in a CoS interview. “There aren’t a lot of things that scare John Carpenter, but that is one of them.” –Killian Young
John Carpenter 2016 Tour Dates:
05/27 – Athens, GR @ Piraeus Academy
05/28 – Athens, GR @ Piraeus Academy
05/30 – Copenhagen, DK @ DR Koncerthuset
06/02 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/14 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount
06/15 – Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer
06/17 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre
06/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum
06/19 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Mesa Center for the Arts
06/21 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
06/23 – Austin, TX @ Moody Theatre
06/24 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theater
07/03 – Asbru, IS @ ATP Iceland
07/06 – Neuchatel, CH @ International Film Festival
07/08 – New York, NY @ Playstation Theatre
07/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Keswick Theatre
07/10 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
07/12 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
07/15 – Detroit, MI @ The Masonic Temple
07/16 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
07/18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theatre
08/26 – Turin, IT @ Today’s Festival
08/28 – Rome, IT @ Auditorium Parco Della Musica
10/28 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
10/29 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
10/31 – London, UK @ Troxy
__________________________________________________________
22. Deftones w/Refused
Photo by Philip Cosores
Last summer’s most anticipated tours list had a few notable kings: Refused’s first time back since Coachella! Deftones with Incubus and Death from Above 1979! This year we get to combine those two: Refused open for Deftones fresh off their slick new record, Gore, playing some of the largest venues they can play: casinos! Coney Island! Outdoor amphitheaters! Knowing both bands mix electronic sounds with thrashing rock guitars, maybe they’ll end up throwing each other a bone and coming out during each other’s sets. One can dream, right? –Dan Bogosian
Deftones 2016 Tour Dates
05/24 – Sioux Falls, SD @ The District
05/25 – Wichita, KS @ Cotillion Ballroom
05/26 – Oklahoma, OK @ Criterion Theater
05/28 – El Paso, TX @ Neon Desert Festival
06/03 – London, UK @ SSE Arena Wembley
06/04 – Nürburgring, DE @ Rock am Ring
06/05 – Numberg, DE @ Rock im Park
06/09 – Nickelsdorf, AT @ Nova Rock
06/10 – Paris, FR @ Download Festival
06/11 – Leicestershire, UK @ Download Festival
06/14 – Cologne, DE @ Palladium
06/15 – Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle
06/17 – Aarhus, DK @ NorthSide Festival
06/18 – Reykjavik, IC @ Secret Solstice
08/02 – Bethlehem, PA @ Sands Bethlehem Events Center ^
08/03 – Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Concert Pavilion ^
08/05 – Brooklyn, NY @ Coney Island Amphitheater ^
08/07 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena ^
08/09 – Boston, MA @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion ^
08/10 – Asbury, NJ @ Stone Pony Summerstage ^
08/12 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Freedom Hill Amphitheatre ^
08/16 – St. Paul, MN @ Myth
08/17 – Clive, IA @ Seven Flags Event Center
08/18 – Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater
08/20 – Magna, UT @ Saltair Resort Main Pavilion
08/23 – Fresno, CA @ Woodward Park
08/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
08/25 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
08/30 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
08/31 – Mesa, CA @ Mesa Amphitheatre
^ = w/ Refused
__________________________________________________________
21. Beach House
Photo by Philip Cosores
Beach House’s Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally are no strangers to tour life. Releasing an album about every two years (or two albums in one year), the dream pop aficionados frequently find themselves on the road. This year, though, they came with a secret weapon. To keep themselves from losing creative steam, the Baltimore rockers have been traveling with a fiber optic installation, which only accommodates about 200 people per show. Therefore, this could be their most unique tour yet. They’ve already mastered the live show, which inflates their generally sleepy tracks to epic shoegaze-y proportions. Add some new creative juices to this formula, and we’re bound to see greatness. –Danielle Janota
Beach House 2016 Tour Dates:
06/01 – Bordeaux, FR @ Theatre Barbey
06/03 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/05 – Nimes, FR @ This Is Not a Love Song
06/06 – Nantes, FR @ Stereolux
06/07 – Toulouse, FR @ Bikini
06/10 – Porto, PT @ Primavera Sound
06/12 – London, UK @ Field Day Festival
06/13 – Bexhill, UK @ De La Warr Pavilion
06/14 – Paris, FR @ Casino de Paris
06/17 – Hilvarenbeek, NL @ Best Kept Secret
06/18 – Aarhus, DK @ NorthSide Festival
07/11 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
07/15 – Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
08/05 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
08/07 – Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon Music Festival
08/08 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
08/09 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
08/10 – Missoula, MT @ The Wilma
08/12 – Sioux Falls, SD @ The District
08/12-13 – Eau Claire, WI @ Eaux Claires Music Festival
08/14 – Iowa City, IA @ Englert Theatre
08/16 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe @ Old National Centre
08/17 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners
08/19 – Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note
08/20 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
08/22 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
08/24 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
08/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Fest
09/09 – Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Music Festival
__________________________________________________________