Advertisement
| Jimmy Buffett |
| Through October 25th Tickets $30-$226 |
Photo:Getty |
"I have no problem playing 'Margaritaville' for the 700,000th time," says Buffett, who's hewing to tradition by breaking out his "Big Eight" hits. "There are some songs you gotta do or get killed." But he is also bringing out obscurities like 1988's "Homemade Music," and in August he'll do a stripped-down appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. "I'm gonna be a folkie again," says Buffett.
 |
 Listen to Take the Weather With
You
Watch Jimmy Buffett perform "Son of a Sailor," "One Particular
Harbor," "Chanson Pour les Petit Enfants" and "Antour Du Rocher" in
Anguilla |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Coldplay |
| June 29th-Fall 2008 Tickets $50-$85 Opener TBA |
Photo:Getty |
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin says the band members have been looking forward to their U.S. tour for a year and a half — which is how long they've been working on their new album, Viva La Vida. The disc comes out June 17th, and the band plays a free show at New York's Madison Square Garden a week later.
When you're in the studio, do you think about how the
songs will sound live?
The knowledge that you're going to play something live has a huge
influence on whether or not you record it. You know you've crossed
a line into self-indulgence if you can't play it live. That
probably means it's not worth it.
Are you planning anything new this tour?
We have some tricks up our sleeve. When we go to concerts we get
quite bored unless it has things that you wouldn't expect. There
will be a mini-acoustic set. We've got some visual things, some
technical things, some emotional things, some
audience-participation things, some gymnastic things — the
only rule is no flying.
How do you decide which songs to play?
We're gonna play a nine-hour set and provide mattresses when people
need to sleep. We're going to play all our catalog and all Bruce
Springsteen's. No, we're not idiots. We're not gonna just play B
sides.
Why does New York get a free show?
At the beginning of our last tour, we fucked up in New York and
played a couple of shit concerts, and we were embarrassed about it.
We thought, "What's the best way to say thanks for putting up with
us last time?" Plus the fact that no one's ever done a free show
there before.
|
|
Watch Coldplay perform "Talk" Live
View all tour dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| The Cure |
| Through June 21st Tickets $35-$135 Opener 65daysofstatic |
Photo:Getty |
On their last tour, the Cure surprised audiences by playing their 2004 album, The Cure, in its entirety. "Looking back, it was such a stupid thing to do," Robert Smith says. "When you're playing in front of 15,000 people, maybe 500 of them would love that." On their current arena jaunt, the set is leaning heavily toward classics, including "Friday I'm in Love" and "Boys Don't Cry." "We're celebrating what we did as a group," Smith says. "I've found it the most enjoyable tour in a long, long while."
|
|
Photos: The Cure Launch Tour in Fairfax, VA |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Eagles |
| Through August 2nd Tickets 50-$190 |
Photo:Getty |
Touring to support Long Road Out of Eden, the foursome are showing off a new $1 million stage that features 6,000 pounds of clear plastic flooring, so the Eagles and their nine backup players can glow from below. The biggest visual, though, is a colossal video screen. During Don Henley's solo hit "Dirty Laundry," it shows a listing of the worst ideologues in media. "We may have to change some of it, but we'll wait until someone calls us on it," says Henley. "We get our copyrights violated every day. We figure this is fair play."
|
| Listen to Long Road Out of
Eden
Watch the Eagles Perform "Tequila Sunrise" and "I Can't Tell You
Why" Live
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Melissa Etheridge |
| June 15th-September
9th Tickets $35-$108 |
Photo:Getty |
In keeping with the political and social themes Etheridge addresses on her latest album, The Awakening, the singer plans to give her 48-city summer tour of midsize theaters — her first in two years — an element of consciousness-raising. Over a 165-minute set that mixes old hits like "I'm the Only One" and new songs, Etheridge will drop in observations about war, religion and peace: "A couple of years ago, I started saying things between songs that were more than just the little rock & roll things I used to say. People seemed to be moved. There's a reason I called this the Revival Tour."
|
| Listen to The
Awakening
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Foo Fighters |
| July 9th-August 9th Tickets $25-$50 Opener TBA |
Photo:Getty |
Guests and set designs are still pending, but drummer Taylor Hawkins says the band knows what the repertoire will be for its summer arena tour: "We can't not play 'Monkey Wrench,' we can't not play 'Best of You' — even though it kills [singer] Dave [Grohl] almost every time." They also can't not rock: "I do a drum solo in our show with no irony whatsoever."
|
| Listen to Echoes, Silence, Patience
& Grace
Watch Foo Fighters Perform "This is a Call" Live
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Gnarls Barkley |
| Dates TBA Tickets TBA |
Photo:Getty |
Little is known about Gnarls Barkley's forthcoming tour, even to singer Cee-Lo himself. "It's changing more and more every day," he says. Here's what we do know: The psychedelic-soul crew will hit the road with an eight-person backing band in July and August, stopping at Lollapalooza and the Hollywood Bowl. There will be costumes involved, and the band will trot out some unexpected covers. "We usually try something to amuse ourselves," Cee-Lo says. "I'll let that be a surprise."
|
| Listen to The Odd
Couple
Watch Gnarls Barkley's Music Videos for "Run," "Smiley Faces,"
"Gone Daddy Gone" and "Crazy" |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Jack Johnson |
| June 13th-August 24th Tickets $24-$50 Openers Rogue Wave, Mason Jennings |
Photo:Getty |
"We weren't sure we were going to do a full tour, so we said yes to a lot of festivals," says Johnson, who will hit Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, All Points West and the Virgin Fest. He has booked 16 dates around his festival-hopping; expect the shows to draw primarily from his new Sleep Through the Static while leaving room for surprises. He adds, "I'll slide into an old Cars song — once in a while a little Jane's Addiction."
|
| Listen to Sleep Through the
Static
Watch Jack Johnson Perform "Adrift" Live
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Jonas Brothers |
| July 4th-August 31st Tickets $21-$200 Openers Demi Lovato |
Photo:Getty |
On July 4th, Disney phenoms the Jonas Brothers kick off their Burning Up arena tour. Guitarist Kevin Jonas promises plenty of pyro, lights and lasers. "You'll be able to feel the heat from the stage," he says. Even ticket-holders in the cheap seats will have flushed cheeks: At most stops, a 45-foot catwalk will allow the brothers to stroll deep into the crowd.
|
| Listen to Jonas
Brothers
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Linkin Park |
| July 16th-August 23rd Tickets $20-$80 |
Photo:Getty |
Linkin Park reached out to Chris Cornell for the fifth edition of their Projekt Revolution Tour after playing with him in Australia. "You get his solo stuff, Audioslave and Soundgarden — he's a three-in-one," says Mike Shinoda. Nine acts will be joining the new-metal superstars, who are offering concertgoers a digital souvenir pack that includes a recording of the band's entire set. "That puts extra pressure on us to make sure our set is different every night," says Shinoda.
|
| Listen to Linkin
Park
Watch Linkin Park's Music Videos for "Breakin' the Habit,"
"Somewhere I Belong" and More |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Maroon 5/Counting Crows |
| July 25th-October 4th Tickets $21-$197 Openers Sara Bareilles |
Photo:Getty |
"Bands these days don't have a touring ethic," says Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine. "But the more you play, the better you get." Levine and his crew will have their chance to prove that when they head out with Counting Crows for a 41-date trek. Five years ago, Maroon 5 opened for the Crows, but this time they're splitting headlining duties — "We'll get a dartboard and throw at the cities we want," Levine says — and hopefully getting together for some onstage collaborations.
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Dave Matthews Band |
| May 30th-September
7th Tickets $32-$75 Openers The Black Crowes, Paolo Nutini |
Photo:Getty |
The Dave Matthews Band are taking a break from recording their eighth studio album to head out on the road, as they do most summers. As usual, they're going ecofriendly — using biodiesel fuel for buses and biodegradable goods for catering — and fanfriendly: Buy a seat through Ticketmaster and you'll get a free download of tour highlights.
Some people argue that the live experience is sort of
inherently "un-green."
There's no doubt that it is. The whole joke of Live Earth was how
wasteful it was. But the idea that touring will end is sad. I'd
like to think that the traveling minstrel is not a thing of the
past, but the methods of travel have to be improved.
Will you test songs from the upcoming album on the
road?
In the past we have, but I want to let this album evolve on its
own. There's music on the album, and there's music that we perform
live. There's crossover, but they're not necessarily the same. And
I think that makes it interesting for fans.
What do you do on the road to relax?
I always have ambitions to read 30 books but rarely do. Between a
bottle of whiskey and a book of poetry, I'll find time to
relax.
|
|
Watch Dave Matthews Perform a New Song in the RS
Offices
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| John Mellencamp |
| July 8th-August 2nd Tickets $17-$125 Opener Lucinda Williams |
Photo:Getty |
The Hoosier's 13-date amphitheater trek will feature him and his six-piece touring band playing most of the expected hits — though he won't do "Hurts So Good" — and a good dose of tunes from his forthcoming album, the T Bone Burnett-produced Life, Death, Love and Freedom. Mellencamp adds, "This time it will be a lot more musical and less about show business."
|
| Listen to Freedom's
Road |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Mötley Crüe |
| July 1st-August 31st Tickets $25-$100 Openers Buckcherry, Papa Roach |
Photo:Getty |
Mötley Crüe are headlining the first-ever CrüeFest, a multi-act tour featuring Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Trapt and Nikki Sixx's side project Sixx: A.M. The bassist promises an elaborate show that will rival the Crüe's 2005 carnival-theme spectacular. The exact setup remains a secret, though he promises pyro. "Most artists say, 'Can you keep that fire away from me?'" Sixx says. "We want to be in the fire!"
How will you balance out the set between new and old
songs?
As the headliners, we just have 90 minutes, so we can barely fit
our hits. There are some hits that we'll have to not play —
and we'll sneak in four or five new songs.
How is the tour going to be different from
Ozzfest?
I love Ozzfest, but it's a sausage-fest — real heavy on the
dudes. For Mötley, it's always been 50-50. The guys come, and
they dig the rock & roll, and they've got all the stuff they
love — titties and beer.
Will the Titty Cam be back?
We may have worn it out, though it always seems like a good idea
once you get out there. It makes everybody happy; it should be
called the Happy Cam!
I imagine the backstage of a Crüe concert is an
insane orgy. Is that true?
Let's just say that you're not far off.
|
| Listen to New Tattoo
Watch the Music Video for "Girls, Girls, Girls" |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| New Kids on the Block |
| Through November 26th Tickets $35-$200 |
Photo:Getty |
"We're not going to butcher any of the old songs," says New Kid Joey McIntyre of the OG boy band's first tour in 15 years. "We're gonna play it like you wanna hear it." At their upcoming arena performances, the now 30-something fivesome will run through late-Eighties hits like "You Got It (The Right Stuff)," "Cover Girl" and "Hangin' Tough" (plus some new tunes from their upcoming album, out this fall) — while busting out dance moves. "The first time we went into the dance studio and started stretching and choreographing that first song, we got some tingles," McIntyre says.
|
|
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Nine Inch Nails |
| July 25th-September
6th Tickets $30-$62 |
Photo:Getty |
After releasing Nine Inch Nails' new album, The Slip, for free online, Trent Reznor is taking his fan-centric attitude on the road: For his first U.S. tour since 2005, the best seats will go to fans who register at NIN.com — they will have their names printed on the tickets to prevent scalping. Expect intense, arena-size versions of recent NIN material from a touring band that now includes returning members Robin Finck (guitarist) and Josh Freese (drummer). "We haven't toured North America since With Teeth," says Reznor's manager, Jim Guerinot. "There's three albums of new music to play. We can't wait."
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Panic at the Disco |
| Through June 14th Tickets $24-$40 Openers Phantom Planet, Motion City Soundtrack |
Photo:Getty |
Don't expect circus-style spectacle on Panic at the Disco's current outing (their last major tour featured contortionists and elaborate costumes). "We're dressing the stage up with a lot of flowers," says guitarist Ryan Ross. "We're trying to make it look less rock & roll and more like you're outside." The hippie vibe suits the band's set — a mix of cuts from its new Sixties-influenced album, Pretty. Odd., and "less distorted" versions of "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" and other emo-pop hits from its debut. But the group's teen fans haven't slowed down. "In Tulsa, the crowd was moshing to 'Northern Downpour,'" says Ross, who calls the folky love song "the worst one" to thrash around to. "I don't think they were even listening.
|
| Listen to Pretty.
Odd.
Watch Panic at the Disco Answer Fan Questions
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Paramore |
| TBA Tickets TBA Opener Jack's Mannequin |
Photo:Getty |
After five dates on the Warped Tour, Paramore kick off a month of headlining shows. Singer Hayley Williams says the two experiences are "night and day" but equally awesome: "You always want one when you have the other."
You've been touring behind your breakthrough disc, Riot!
for a year. How will you change things this summer?
We're able to do more as far as production goes, like having a
light show, a bigger backdrop and scrims. We were never able to
afford any of that.
What about the set list?
We're taking out a couple of songs, like "My Heart," which we've
ended every show with since Day One. We're opening the set with
"Let the Flames Begin." [Drummer] Zac Farro actually goes out by
himself and starts off the song.
Did you ever go to Warped as a fan?
I didn't! My mom was really wary about letting me go to that type
of stuff. All she knew was that there was supposed to be tons of
drugs, and she was very nervous. I missed out on a lot.
How does she feel about you headlining Warped
now?
She's stoked, man.
|
| Listen to Riot!
Watch Paramore Perform "Pressure" Live |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Pearl Jam |
| June 11th-30th Tickets $42-$77 Openers Kings of Leon, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists |
Photo:Getty |
Pearl Jam planned on taking the summer off, but when Bonnaroo dangled a headlining slot, they couldn't resist. "We said, 'Let's try to build something around it,'" guitarist Mike McCready recalls. "You have to do the same amount of preparation for one show that you do for a monthlong tour." With no new record to support, McCready says the group plans to dig deep over the course of its two-hour-plus show. "We'll pull from all the records and do some obscure B sides and some hits," he says. "We'll probably end up playing covers and maybe some new songs."
|
| Listen to Pearl Jam
Watch Pearl Jam Perform "World Wide Suicide" |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Robert Plant and Alison Krauss |
| Through July 19th Tickets $25-$125 Openers Sharon Little |
Photo:Getty |
On April 19th, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss opened their 2008 tour in support of their hit album, Raising Sand, with a stunning two-hour show in Louisville, Kentucky, that included surprising Zeppelin cuts and Krauss' bluegrass and country-spiritual roots. The next day, Raising Sand's producer, T Bone Burnett, explained why he is playing guitar on the entire tour as well. "I haven't done this since Rolling Thunder," he says, referring to Bob Dylan's 1975-76 road revue. "But I could not pass up a chance to work with two singers this good."
Why do you think Robert and Alison are able to sing
together so naturally?
They are both full of tone. Robert, when he was 20, had a tone like
nobody else. And either of them can create a sound that would scare
the pants off a normal person. The weird thing is they come from
such different worlds. Alison wants the freedom Robert has, and
Robert wants the restraint Alison has.
How did you choose the Zep songs?
It was whichever ones Robert wanted to do. Alison wanted to do
"When the Levee Breaks." And how about Alison in "Battle of
Evermore"? It's chilling. That song has the same darkness you find
in bluegrass, in the murder ballads. There is something in that
darkness that Alison understands. She has that in her soul. She and
Robert are both soul singers.
|
| Listen to Rising
Sand
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| The Raconteurs |
| Through June 13th Tickets $25-$40 Openers The Black Lips |
Photo:Getty |
"We hadn't played live together in a year and a half," says Jack White of the Raconteurs, who were sidelined in 2007 while he toured with the White Stripes. "But we really picked up steam fast," The foursome have already done one leg of their North American tour, including a strong set at Coachella, where they mixed cuts from their March release, Consolers of the Lonely, and their '06 debut, Broken Boy Soldiers. Next up: a slew of big theaters and open-air venues before hitting Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, which they're pumped about. Says drummer Patrick Keeler, "It's a good opportunity to meet up with your homies."
|
| Listen to Consolers of the
Lonely
Watch the Raconteurs Perform "Steady as She Goes" Live
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Radiohead |
| Through August 28th Tickets $30-$75 Openers Grizzly Bears, Liars |
Photo: Coston/Retna |
The preparations for Radiohead's 24-date run through concert sheds — including three festivals — were intense, says bassist Colin Greenwood: "We just spent four weeks rehearsing 70 songs. There is a blackboard in the rehearsal room, with songs in different-colored chalk — which doesn't mean anything. It's just the nearest piece of chalk Thom has to his hand," he notes, referring to singer Thom Yorke. "He's very good at writing on a blackboard, actually. He would have been a very good teacher."
With seven studio albums to choose from, how did you
pick songs for a tour? And how much of that is Thom's
decision?
Thom put together a list of songs. There's not much from the first
record [1993's Pablo Honey], but everything else is
well-represented. And there are certain songs that will have their
time in the sun again, like "Myxomatosis" [from 2003's Hail to
the Thief], which I'm really enjoying again.
Are there new unrecorded songs on the blackboard that
you are playing?
That's [guitarist and Colin's brother] Jonny's big passion, to put
new songs in the show. There is one that reminds me of "Motion
Picture Soundtrack" [from 2000's Kid A]. It has that big,
epic atmosphere but is achingly sad as well. That's an emotional
key I respond to in Radiohead.
You are known for playing different sets every night.
But I've noticed that Thom often changes songs in midshow,
depending on his mood. Your crew must love that.
A lot of bands have the songs they're playing printed on the back
of a laminate for the next three months, and the lighting person
gets upset if you change the order. We have a compromise with our
guy. He knows we're going to play one of 70 songs — and he
spends a month programming all of the songs into his computer, just
in case.
I'm excited about the lighting. It will be LED onstage, which has low amp output, to reduce the carbon impact. We realized it is going to be quite chilly out there this time. Normally, it is hot onstage when you use incandescent lights. We thought maybe we should get some gas-powered patio burners to keep us warm. But we'll just put some extra layers on.
|
| Listen to In
Rainbows
Watch Radiohead Perform Live
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| R.E.M. |
| May 23rd-June 1st Tickets $24-$125 Openers Modest Mouse, the National |
Photo:Getty |
R.E.M.'s bassist, Mike Mills, says that their first tour in three years will focus on their rocking new album, Accelerate ? they'll play most of the disc every night. "As soon as they were written, we knew those songs would be fun to play live," says Mills, who is still in love with gigging 28 years after starting the band in Athens, Georgia. "We wouldn't be doing it if we weren't psyched. The work is too hard to do if you're not loving it."
What have you noticed about crowds at recent R.E.M.
shows?
They skewed older for a while. Now they're skewing younger again,
which is very exciting.
This summer, will you bring back songs that have been
retired?
We probably will. I'm looking through the catalog for songs we've
never played or haven't played in a long time.
Can you name a song you'll bring back?
No, because if I say something now, someone in the band will say,
"No, I don't wanna play that" [laughs]. Everyone has veto
power.
How much do you rehearse for a tour?
Well, you wanna rehearse enough to be comfortable with the songs,
but not so much that you get bored of them. It's a fine line.
What's on R.E.M.'s rider?
Fruit, cheese, red wine and lint-free towels. You can't go out
there with lint in your hair. You'll look stupid.
Do you have a favorite story from touring in the
Eighties?
Well, we shared a trailer with Ratt at a festival in Calaveras
County [California] in '84.
Weird. Did you talk to Ratt?
No, but we listened to them get "up" for the show. That's all I'm
saying.
|
| Listen to Accelerate
Watch R.E.M. Videos
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| RockStar Mayhem Festival |
| July 9th-August 19th Tickets $7-$60 Lineup Slipknot, Disturbed, Dragonforce, Mastodon |
Photo:Getty |
Slipknot, Disturbed, Dragonforce and Mastodon are teaming up to fill the metal void with a new touring package aimed at the Gen Y headbanger. "Ozzfest would draw an older crowd who'd wait in their seats for Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden to come on," Slipknot lead singer Cory Taylor says. "We have a younger crowd, so we're giving them a general-admission pit in front. Nothing gets us off like seeing people lose their fucking minds up front, throwing elbows." The 13-act fest will also feature newcomers like Black Tide, Five Finger Death Punch and Airbourne on two side stages. As the headliners, Slipknot plan on debuting songs off their upcoming album and putting together an elaborate stage setup. "It wouldn't be a Slipknot concert if there wasn't something onstage that could potentially kill us all," says Taylor.
|
| Listen to Slipknot's 9.0
Live |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band |
| July 27th-Late August Tickets $40-$97 |
Photo:Getty |
In mid-April, E Street Band organist Danny Federici died after a three-year struggle with melanoma, but the tour is rolling on — and Bruce and Co. have been breaking out excellent deep cuts, from 1973's "Wild Billy's Circus Story" to 2002's "Mary's Place." "Bruce just flips through [his catalog], and says 'Heyyy, remember this one?'" guitarist Steve Van Zandt says. "The wonderful freedom that our audience allows us is something that's fairly unique. We're able to do almost anything at any time, and people seem to dig it."
|
| Listen to Magic
Watch Bruce Springsteen Perform Live
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Steely Dan |
| June 8th-August 9th Tickets $29-$200 |
Photo:Getty |
While Walter Becker promises "what you want to hear: Steely Dan songs played more or less how they were recorded," there will also be special treats during their two-month Think Fast Tour. "We're revamping our show," he says. "In some cases we'll do rewrites or segues and make sure there's a fresh energy." With a killer band, the Dan will hit some of America's greatest venues — Berkeley's Greek Theatre, Colorado's Red Rocks and six nights at New York's Beacon Theatre.
|
|
Q&A: Walter BeckerListen to Everything Must
Go
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Stone Temple Pilots |
| May 17th-October 26th Tickets $19-$125 Openers Frank Black, Wolfmother |
Photo:Getty |
It's been more than five years since Stone Temple Pilots toured, and singer Scott Weiland, who recently left Velvet Revolver in dramatic fashion, says they plan to give crowds what they crave. "People want the hits," he says of the set list, which will include tracks like "Plush" and "Wicked Garden," but zero VR songs. "There will be classic songs, there will be acoustic songs, and the more avant-garde stuff as well."
|
|
Q&A: Scott Weiland
Watch Stone Temple Pilots Perform Live
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers |
| May 30th-August 29th Tickets $29-$150 Openers Steve Winwood |
Photo:Getty |
After spending the early part of 2008 touring with his old band Mudcrutch, Petty is returning to his day job of fronting the Heartbreakers. Without a new album, Petty plans on mixing up the set list more than in recent years and probably jamming with opener Steve Winwood. The three-month tour is also shorter than prior outings. "A lot of things I want to do keep getting put off because of lengthy tours," Petty says. "I want to put that time into another Heartbreakers record."
|
| Listen to Highway
Companion
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Rod Stewart |
| July 30th-August 28th Tickets $29-$250 |
Photo:Getty |
"The last five or six years have been the best years of my career, without a doubt," says Stewart, whose American Songbook collections have revitalized his live performances. Backed by the same band he's toured with for three years, Stewart will storm arenas and outdoor venues playing a mix of classic-rock covers and his biggest hits. "What else can I say?" Stewart quips. "This tour will be fantastic, because I'm fantastic!"
|
| Listen to Still the Same... Great
Rock Classics of Our TimeView
All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| James Taylor |
| May 22nd-August 6th Tickets $20-$126 |
Photo:Getty |
"I didn't figure on this, being 60 years old and still doing it," says Taylor, who will hit amphitheaters this summer for his first full-band tour since 2006. He'll be backed by his usual 11-piece band of session aces who also played on an upcoming album of R&B and country covers, which may figure into the tour's set list — along with Taylor's own extensive back catalog. "I'm with these players who love playing still — it's like a force," Taylor says. "And I just feel like getting back out there again. And as long as the audience shows up, I'll probably keep going."
|
| Listen to One Man
Band |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Vans Warped Tour |
| June 20th-August 17th Tickets $23-$37 Lineup Gym Class Heroes, Cobra Starship, Say Anything, Against Me!, Angels and Airwaves, Horrorpops |
Photo:Getty |
Now in its 14th summer, the Warped Tour has broadened its scope to include poppier acts like snarky L.A. singer Katy Perry (whose "Ur So Gay" is getting spins on radio) and jazzy chanteuse Charlotte Sometimes. But the annual megashow hasn't totally abandoned its punk-rock roots: Against Me!, the Vandals, the Dillinger Escape Plan and Pennywise have all signed on. Expect lots of emo pop, too, as Cobra Starship, the Academy Is . . . and Say Anything are among the dozens of acts playing on the 46-date trek, which continues to expand its environmental mission by using biodiesel-fueled buses and vans, and solar power for one of the small side stages. First-timer Sometimes is stoked to be on board the teen-punk rite of passage. "It's going to be like summer camp," she says. "Except with a bunch of smelly dudes."
|
|
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Kanye West |
| Through June 11th Tickets $30-$175 Openers Rihanna, N.E.R.D., Lupe Fiasco |
Photo:Getty |
Kanye West's Glow in the Dark Tour caters to sci-fi geeks, hip-hop-heads and laser enthusiasts alike: There's an elaborate theme (West plays an intergalactic traveler lost in space); a career-spanning, hit-studded set; and a high-tech light show that rivals Daft Punk's. "Kanye's act is ridiculous," says Lupe Fiasco. "Everybody is supertalented. You got the coolest people in the game all together."
|
| Listen to Graduation
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Wilco |
| Through June 14th Tickets $24-$40 Openers Phantom Planet, Motion City Soundtrack |
Photo:Getty |
Fans who couldn't make it for Wilco's five-night Chicago residency in February — where the band played every track from its six records — will be psyched to know that many of those deep cuts (including songs from Summerteeth and A.M.) will be revisited on Wilco's summer trip through sheds, halls and festivals. Expect Jeff Tweedy and Co. to also road-test new material: They'll be in the studio before heading out, with the goal of having a new record next year. "We've got a few new jams," says bassist John Stirratt. "We've tried them a few different ways. I don't know what they'll sound like when we get onstage."
|
| Listen to Sky Blue
Sky
Watch Wilco Perform Live
View All Tour Dates |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| Also On The Road |
|
| Death Cab For Cutie |
| May 24th-June 24th Tickets $25-$45 |
| Mark Knopfler |
| June 24th-July 31st Tickets $30-$123 |
| John Mayer |
| July 2nd-August 2nd Tickets $21-$66 |
| George Michael |
| June 17th-August 3rd Tickets $45-$255 |
| The Police |
| Through August 5th Tickets $54$330 |
| 311/Snoop Dogg |
| June 24th-August 3rd Tickets $17-$50 |
| Tom Waits |
| June 17th-July 5th Tickets $65-$100 |
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
| 2008 Festivals |
|
Click here for the 2008 Festival Guide, featuring Bonnaroo,
Lollapalooza, Rothbury and more
See the entire list
of summer tours
Advertisement
• Jimmy Buffett
• Coldplay
• The Cure
• Eagles
• Paramore
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
• R.E.M.
• Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• Wilco