Preview: The 22 Charlotte-area concerts we want to see most between now and 2023
Any big-name or buzzworthy band or singer planning to bring a tour to Charlotte sometime between now and the end of the year needs to understand this: They’ve got some tough acts to follow.
Over the course of the first seven months of 2022, on the heels of an unpredictable live-music landscape in 2021 due to the pandemic, we’ve seen a number of killer concerts that’ll stick with us for a long time. Jason Isbell in January. The Eagles in February. Maxwell in March. Billy Joel in April. Paul McCartney up in Winston-Salem in May. That Def Leppard-Motley Crue extravaganza last month. The Garth Brooks two-night two-fer two weekends ago.
But these back five months are definitely bursting with potential.
Whatever your pleasure — whether it’s rap, rock or reggaetón, be it from someone old, someone new, or someone in between, staged indoors or out — we hopefully have got you covered in this roundup of the remaining 2022 concerts we’re most excited about. (And if you don’t see something you like, email us to share what’s on your must list.)
Here we go, in mostly chronological order...
1. Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Big Steppers Tour’
The 35-year-old Compton native has been hip-hop’s king for years now, and for his current show, he’ll literally be wearing a crown: a diamond-encrusted one worth $3 million. Fans who saw him here five years ago know to expect other big-budget touches, too; though all that matters to us is a high-quality sound mix allowing his astonishing live flows to come at us with crystal-clarity.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 2.
Where: Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St.
Song to listen to on repeat: The bow-down-to-me anthem “HUMBLE,” which at his 2017 Charlotte concert was performed not once but twice — first by the crowd, and then with crackling authority by Lamar.
2. Alicia Keys’ ‘Alicia - The World Tour’
On the same night Lamar is in town, Keys — a Grammy winner 15 times over, for songs including but not limited to 2005’s “My Boo” and 2008’s “No One” — will headline a show on an outdoor stage less than two miles away. And her presence is an extremely rare treat: Keys hasn’t performed here since 2004, when she came to the long-since-razed Charlotte Coliseum as part of the “Verizon Ladies First Tour.” Her co-headliners? Rapper Missy Elliott, and a young woman by the name of Beyoncé.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 2.
Where: Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre, 1000 NC Music Factory Boulevard (at the AvidXchange Music Factory).
Song to listen to on repeat: Another Grammy winner, “If I Ain’t Got You,” which almost certainly will be her encore’s final song.
3. Styx and REO Speedwagon’s ‘Live and Unzoomed Tour’
The boys from Styx put out a new album last year, and they reportedly manage to sneak a song from it into their show; but otherwise, this will be a night dedicated to the bands’ respective catalogs of soft-rock gems from the ’70s and ’80s. (Speaking of the 70s ... REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin is 70. Styx frontman Lawrence Gowan, meanwhile, is just 65.) And to sweeten the nostalgic stew, Loverboy is set to open.
When: Saturday, Aug. 6.
Where: PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.
Songs to listen to on repeat: Classic-rock staple “Renegade” for Styx guitarist James Young’s smokin’ guitar solo, and Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend,” which (spoiler alert!) REO Speedwagon will cover to close its set.
4. Wiz Khalifa and Logic’s ‘Vinyl Verse Tour’
The early-August run of huge hip-hop shows climaxes with this co-headlining gig featuring weed-friendly rapper Khalifa, whose new solo album “Multiverse” dropped on Friday, and bespectacled nerd-rapper Logic, whose “Vinyl Days” album was released last month. It’s hardly the first time they’ve joined forces. In the past six years, they’ve rapped on songs together — most recently on Khalifa’s reefer-mad 2020 track “High Today.”
When: Thursday, Aug. 11.
Where: PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.
Songs to listen to on repeat: A good pop-rap ballad is hard to find, but Khalifa’s “See You Again” (with singer Charlie Puth on the chorus) is one of the best. As for Logic, we’ll never get tired of “1-800-273-8255” and its life-saving message.
5. Jack Johnson’s ‘Meet the Moonlight Tour’
Can’t make it to Hawaii this summer? Well then, the 47-year-old native of the Aloha State will bring the chilled-out vibe of the islands to Charlotte, for the first time in almost five years. As usual, he’s been peppering his setlist this summer with a rotating and diverse selection of acoustic-guitar-driven, Hawaii-flavored covers of iconic songs — something by Tom Petty or The Cure here, The Steve Miller Band or Stevie Wonder there.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 23.
Where: PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.
Song to listen to on repeat: Fan-favorite “Better Together.” There’s a reason why so many couples have chosen it as the first-dance song at their weddings.
6. The Lumineers’ ‘Brightside World Tour’
Although they’ve failed to match the commercial success they enjoyed shortly after arriving onto the scene in 2012, The Lumineers also managed to avoid the one-hit wonder trap and have become one of the hottest touring folk-rock acts of the current millennium. Yet while the band has performed in Asheville, Cary, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Charleston, S.C., it’s never played Charlotte. A planned May 2020 gig at PNC Music Pavilion was axed due to COVID.
When: Saturday, Aug. 27.
Where: Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St.
Song to listen to on repeat: Their first and biggest hit, “Ho Hey,” is love-songwriting at its simplest — and catchiest.
7. Giveon’s ‘Give or Take Tour’
Another act making their Charlotte debut is this upstart R&B singer-songwriter, who rose to fame during the pandemic thanks to collaborations with Drake in 2020 (“Chicago Freestyle”) and Justin Bieber in 2021 (“Peaches”). Oh, and the 27-year-old southern Californian also scored a “Best R&B Album” Grammy nomination last year — on his own — for the EP “Take Time.” Catch him on a smaller stage before he graduates to bigger ones.
When: Sunday, Aug. 28.
Where: The Fillmore Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St. (at the AvidXchange Music Factory).
Song to listen to on repeat: “Peaches” is fine and all, but if you really want to get to know Giveon, cue up the pleasurably painful slow jam “Heartbreak Anniversary.”
8. Korn and Evanescence’s ‘Summer Tour’
Opportunities to see top-tier metal shows of any kind get fewer and farther between every year, but this double bill of alt-metal titans should satisfy fans of the genre who are in need of a fix. In 2021, readers of heavy metal/hard rock magazine Revolver voted Korn and Evanescence as two of the top five live bands. Old friends, the two acts haven’t done a full tour together 15 years ago.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 31.
Where: PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.
Songs to listen to on repeat: Korn’s “Freak On a Leash” should have a rightful place on any playlist stocked with nu-metal essentials; and Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life” still gets our adrenaline going, big-time, almost 20 years after its release.
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ ‘World Tour’
Last time RHCP was in town, in 2017, the rockers proved to be still, improbably, at the very top of their game. We predict this concert will be even more memorable, for a couple of reasons: One, this time the Chili Peppers are in a football stadium instead of a basketball arena, upping the scale to epic; and two, they’ll be reunited with John Frusciante, who was split from the band for most of the 2010s. Frusciante is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
When: Thursday, Sept. 1.
Where: Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St.
Song to listen to on repeat: “Under the Bridge,” because when you get to hear Flea completely shred the song’s bass line live, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for how incredible it (and he) is.
10. Twenty One Pilots’ ‘The Icy Tour’
Singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun bring their small band (yep, it’s just the two of them) back to Charlotte’s biggest indoor venue, on the heels of a high-concept 2021 tour that saw it make mini residency-style step-up runs in four U.S. cities. Fans won’t be required to wear face masks, but expect the duo to perform portions of the show while wearing them — as is their custom.
When: Sunday, Sept. 4.
Where: Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St.
Song to listen to on repeat: Nothing gets our head bobbing quite as effortlessly as 2015 smash “Stressed Out.” Even if we can’t quite recall what the reference to Blurryface is all about.
11. OneRepublic’s ‘Never Ending Summer Tour’
Originally, Ryan Tedder & Co. were planning to launch the tour in Charlotte, but the date was pushed back two months and Bristow, Virginia, got the honor instead. If it’s consolation, perhaps by then the pop-rockers’ live performances of newer hits like “I Ain’t Worried” (off the “Top Gun: Maverick” soundtrack) will be dialed in to perfection.
When: Friday, Sept. 9.
Where: PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.
Song to listen to on repeat: The ultra-infectious “Counting Stars.” Oh, and a pro tip: OneRepublic continues to close its encores with “If I Lose Myself,” and in the current show “Counting Stars” comes right before it; just in case you want to time your exit to beat the crowds to the parking lot.
12. Elton John’s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road - The Final Tour’
On the one hand, this is getting a little ridiculous. Sir Elton’s looooooong goodbye has lasted close to four years and (before the pandemic-induced hiatus) made stops in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, plus two visits to Columbia, South Carolina. On the other hand, he’s now 75 years old, so one has to wonder how many more chances there will be to see him. Plus, this is the first of his Carolinas “Farewell” shows to be staged in a football stadium.
When: Sunday, Sept. 18.
Where: Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St.
Song to listen to on repeat: His 2021 collaboration with Dua Lipa has been wildly successful, but its inspiration — “Rocket Man” — will never not be the right choice.
13. Karol G’s ‘$trip Love Tour’
If there’s a trend for fall it’s a steady diet of concerts by some of Latin music’s biggest stars ... starting with this one by this Colombian reggaetón hit-maker. Stateside, Karol’s crossed over by cutting tracks with folks like Nicki Minaj (2019’s “Tusa”) and the Jonas Brothers (2020’s “X”); meanwhile, this year she’s already churned out two chart-toppers in her home country with “Mamiii” and “Provenza.”
When: Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Where: Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St.
Song to listen to on repeat: Last year’s “El Makinon,” a club-ready concoction that will make you want to dance — and/or drive around en un Lamborghini.
(A quick footnote: Just missing the cut for this list was Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA — an ex of Karol G’s. He’ll headline a show at the same arena on Saturday, Oct. 8.)
14. Breakaway Music Festival - Carolina
This has become an annual staple for fans of EDM and its various sub-genres, and the 2022 edition will feature more than two dozen artists performing over two days for concertgoers of all ages. DJs Illenium and Tiësto are headlining Night One this year, while rappers The Kid Laroi and Quinn XCII are getting top billing on Night Two. And yes, Breakaway vets: The surprisingly awesome roller rink will be back.
When: Friday-Saturday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
Where: zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway, 6570 Bruton Smith Blvd., Concord.
Songs to listen to on repeat: Tiësto’s “The Business” and The Kid Laroi’s “Without You,” two of 2020’s chillest, earworm-iest songs.
15. Lizzo’s ‘The Special Tour’
Since her 2019 stop at Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre, the now-34-year-old hip-hop and R&B star has become a Grammy winner three times over (for her work on “Cuz I Love You,” which is what brought her to town); and the host of a TV series that’s been nominated for a Primetime Emmy (“Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” on Amazon Prime). Her latest album, “Special,” dropped July 15 and has already yielded a huge hit: “About Damn Time.”
When: Thursday, Oct. 20.
Where: Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St.
Song to listen to on repeat: 2017’s “Truth Hurts,” which will be a fists-in-the-air showstopper in concert.
16. Demi Lovato’s Holy F--- Tour’
The outdoor concert season in Charlotte comes to a splashy close thanks to Lovato, the Disney Channel sitcom star-turned-pop star and mental health activist who has a new album out on Aug. 19 — and then will celebrate turning 30 years old the next day. This marks Lovato’s first tour in over four years; that tour, the “Tell Me You Love Me World Tour,” ended four months prematurely following the headliner’s July 2018 hospitalization for a drug overdose (and a subsequent stint in rehab and treatment).
When: Friday, Oct. 21.
Where: Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre, 1000 NC Music Factory Boulevard (at the AvidXchange Music Factory).
Song to listen to on repeat: The guilty-pleasure-inducing anthem to her haters, “Sorry Not Sorry.”
17. Stevie Nicks’ ‘Live in Concert Tour’
Three-and-a-half years removed from her appearance in Charlotte with Fleetwood Mac, she returns to the same venue for one of the final shows of her 2022 tour. And in case there was any question: The 74-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will indeed perform both her solo hits (like “Stand Back” and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”) as well as Fleetwood Mac classics (like “Landslide” and “Dreams”).
When: Saturday, Oct. 22.
Where: PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.
Song to listen to on repeat: Her seminal smash “Edge of Seventeen” is as hauntingly beautiful as ever, and features one of the most iconic hooks of the 1980s.
18. ‘Daddy Yankee’s La Última Vuelta World Tour’
Hopefully a few more exciting shows eventually will come along to fill in the gap, but for now, the “king of reggaetón” is the sole major bright spot on the concert calendar for the last two months of the year. Like frequent collaborator Anuel AA (see above), Daddy Yankee will be performing Latin-music smashes like “Rompe” and “Con Calma” in the Carolinas for the first time.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Where: Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St.
Song to listen to on repeat: Though he’s best known in the U.S. for being featured on Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” we think the old-school reggaetón beats of “Rumbatón” are the way to go here.
And four acts worth the drive
19. Alan Jackson’s “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour” at Greensboro Coliseum Complex on Saturday, Sept. 10: When he was at Spectrum Center in 2019, the country legend’s renditions of songs like “Chattahoochee” and “Gone Country” still sounded as good as they did close to half a lifetime ago.
20. Pitbull’s “Can’t Stop Us Now Tour” at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., on Wednesday, Oct. 12: If you missed the Latin rapper known as “Mr. 305” / “Mr. Worldwide” when he came to Charlotte last October, aquí hay otra oportunidad.
21. Post Malone’s “Twelve Carat Tour” at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday, Oct. 15: The rapper/singer-songwriter is on fire right now, thanks to a string of hits — “One Right Now,” “Cooped Up,” “I Like You (A Happier Song)“ — off his new album. This will be one of the fall’s hottest tickets.
22. Iron Maiden’s “Legacy of the Beast World Tour” at Greensboro Coliseum Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 25: The heavy-metal icons headline the penultimate concert of a tour that, thanks to the pandemic, will have stretched across nearly 4-1/2 years.
Where to buy tickets
Tickets for every concert on this list are available at www.ticketmaster.com, or via the Ticketmaster app. There is currently no way to purchase tickets over the phone.
This story was originally published July 28, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
