Hot summer sounds: Guide to blazing concert season
Concert season is upon us – and that means plenty of options for spending your entertainment dollars. Whether you are nostalgic for your youth, rocking on a budget, or looking for something different, Charlotte venues have plenty of acts booked. There are country, R&B, rock and soul, as well as a few hot tickets that may have you scouring the Internet for a seat at this late date. Here’s our guide to find just what you’re looking for.
Recommended
Coldplay/Robyn: A new appreciation for pop music’s heir to U2 forms after seeing Coldplay live, where their tunes and performances provide a spiritual reaction from the crowd, much like U2. Swedish dance pop star Robyn should be bigger in the states with her infectious tracks and wacky dancing. 7 p.m. July 3. Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St. $38.45-$116.60. www.ticketmaster.com.
Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band: Ritter has been called the new Bob Dylan with his infectious, wordy story songs and tight band. Both garnered him a growing loyal following. 7:30 p.m. July 26. Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St. $25.50-$29.50. 704-372-1000.
My Morning Jacket: The modern Southern rock band creates dreamy atmospheres with their convergence of jam-band aesthetic and indie-rock-gone-grand. Likeminded Carolinians Band of Horses opens. 7 p.m. Aug. 25. Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.. $40-$57.85. www.livenation.com.
End of Summer Weenie Roast: Both a beacon for ’90s nostalgia and a return to a Charlotte fixture, the resurrected Weenie Roast boasts the Offspring, Garbage, Switchfoot, Eve 6, Flogging Molly, Our Lady Peace, Coheed & Cambria, Anberlin and Evans Blue. 12 p.m. Sept. 16 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 707 Pavilion Blvd. $19.50-$55. www.livenation.com.
Under $100
One Direction: The British boy band storms the states – Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre to be exact – 6:30 p.m. June 27. $33.85-$71.20. www.ticketmaster.com.
Fresh Music Festival - Doug E. Fresh hosts this hip-hop and R&B flashback, which includes native sons K-Ci and Jo Jo, Keith Sweat, SWV, and Guy. 7 p.m. July 1. Time Warner Cable Arena. $52-$90.10. www.ticketmaster.com.
311/Slightly Stoopid: The stoner hip-hop and hippie funk outfits team up for the former’s annual feel-good Unity Tour. Tight ska unit the Aggrolites opens. 6:30 p.m. July 22. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. $22.50-$61.85. www.livenation.com.
Splurges
Brothers of the Sun with Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw: While some seats are $53 or less, most range between $91.50 and a whopping $275.50 (after fees) to witness these two country powerhouses turn Bank of America Stadium (800 S. Mint St.) into a massive concert venue. 4:30 p.m. June 24. www.ticketmaster.com.
Roger Waters: The Wall Live: Tickets to see the Pink Floyd co-founder re-create the historical production of “The Wall” begin at $46.65, but the best seats cap out at $221.75. 8 p.m. July 10. Time Warner Cable Arena.
Back to the Future
’90’s edition: The Last Summer on Earth and Summerland Tours (July 13 and July 15, respectively) group a bevy of ’90s rock and pop acts together. Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Cracker and Big Head Todd & the Monsters make up the former, while Everclear, Sugar Ray, Lit, Marcy Playground, and Gin Blossoms make up the latter. Tickets are $39-$81.70 and $34-$57.85, respectively. Both shows 7 p.m., TWC Uptown Amphitheatre. www.livenation.com.
’80’s edition: Hard rock holdouts Kiss and Motley Crue and hair metal holdovers Def Leppard, Poison, and Lita Ford play separate tours at Verizon. The former plays 7 p.m. July 25, $46.50-$194.50; the latter’s Rock of Ages tour is Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. $20-$145. www.livenation.com.
’70s edition: The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd stir up memories of classic rock, blues and Southern rock when the pair team up at Verizon 7 p.m. Aug. 3. $33-$80.40. www.livenation.com.
Country’s best bets
Alison Krauss & Union Station with Jerry Douglas: The bluegrass songstress and her band, which includes Dobro master Douglas, brings sweet harmonies and acoustic expertise to TWC Uptown Amphitheatre. 8 p.m. July 28. $38-$69. www.livenation.com.
Rascal Flatts: The Grammy-winning trio brings Little Big Town, Eden’s Edge and Eli Young Band to its return to Verizon. 7 p.m. Aug. 9. $40.25-$79.60. www.livenation.com.
New or different
This is the ’60s: Part retro concert/part theatrical stage show, this rocking roll down memory lane includes 35 classic songs performed live and vintage footage of the era all performed by Charlotte-based artists. 8 p.m. July 13. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. $41.55- $73.40. www.ticketmaster.com.
Under the Stars Charlotte Uptown Jazz Fest: In its third year, Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre’s two-night smooth jazz festival features Pieces of a Dream, Innertwyned, and Soul of Summer June 22 and Boney James and Incognito 7 p.m. June 23. $45.35-$72.50. www.livenation.com.
I Am Music Fest ’12: Promoter Michael Kitchen hosts his first concert festival with India Arie and Mint Condition heading up the soul bill. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10. Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. $45. 704-372-1000.
Sell-outs
Tickets may be very hard to come by for these shows. Try eBay, Craigslist, or StubHub.
Tenacious D: Jack Black’s over-the-top theatrical comedy-metal duo with Kyle Gass has already sold out. 8 p.m. June 26. The Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.
Iron Maiden: The British legends kick off their Maiden World Tour at Verizon. Alice Cooper, who turned in a reportedly formidable set at Bonnaroo (which included a cover of “Born This Way”) opens the show. 7 p.m. June 21.
Jackson Browne: The veteran songwriter delivers a rare solo acoustic show. Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins opens. 8 p.m. July 14. Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.
Jason Aldean: One of country’s hottest men headlines Verizon July 26; openers Luke Bryan, Rachel Farley and his party-starting deejay DJ Silver. www.livenation.com.
This story was originally published June 14, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Hot summer sounds: Guide to blazing concert season."