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5 Summer Tours We’re Super Stoked About
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Is it just us, or is this summer flying by? Between warm days spent poolside, part-time jobs, and maybe even internship work, Summer 2018 is shaping up to be one for the books. But even though we’re halfway through the summer, there’s still so much fun to be had. Listen up, fans of Beyoncé, Kendrick, Taylor, Dave, and Rivers: carve out a space in your summer schedules. Your favorite acts are coming to town, and you won’t want to miss these jaw-dropping tours.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé, On the Run II Tour
Easily the most anticipated tour on the list, Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s On the Run II tour promises to be a phenomenal show, featuring high-energy set lists, dazzling costume changes, and – of course – the world’s most magnetic superstar couple.
On the Run II is the couple’s second tour together, following 2014’s massively successful eponymous tour. The initial tour raked in 109 million dollars in revenue with an average attendance of 57,634 fans per night. The latest installment of the Bonnie and Clyde-themed series will hit 48 cities across Europe and North America and will culminate in Seattle on October 4, 2018.
The first few shows of On the Run II have left entertainment journalists singing the praises of the power couple’s show, which so clearly illustrates that the duo are nowhere close to giving up their reign as pop and hip-hop royalty. Fans can expect to hear the Carters’ most popular tracks as well as cuts from their new release Everything is Love.
Perhaps best of all, tour tickets are available at a variety of price points. With some tickets as low as 35 dollars, there’s no reason not to see Jay-Z and Beyoncé in a city near you!
The Championship Tour, Featuring Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Schoolboy Q, and More
What do Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Schoolboy Q all have in common? They’re not only some of the year’s hottest rap acts, but also labelmates under Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). And this summer, TDE brings its heavy-hitting roster of artists to venues across the country.
The Championship Tour is set to feature Pulitzer Prize-winning Kendrick Lamar, breakout superstar SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and more. Aside from the obvious hits stemming from Lamar and SZA’s 2017 releases, the show will feature songs from the Black Panther soundtrack, which Lamar curated and developed with the help of many Top Dawg artists. Visually, fans can look forward to stages and special effects that promote the tour’s sports metaphor and affirm that all Top Dawg artists are, in fact, champions.
A showcase of sorts for the hip-hop label, this tour promises to be a great time for fans of today’s chart-topping artists as well as an excellent opportunity to hear more from the label’s newest talent additions.
Taylor Swift, Reputation Tour
Say what you will about Taylor Swift, but one thing is certain – the girl can put on a great show. Despite rumors that T. Swift’s fans aren’t coming out in droves anymore, the Reputation tour has already sold 54 million dollars in tickets and stands to bring in a projected 400 million dollars by the time Taylor completes all 53 stops in her six-month worldwide tour.
Taylor is no stranger to incredible, over-the-top performances, and the Reputation tour will be no exception. According to various reports by multiple entertainment journalists, fans can look forward to pyrotechnics, multiple stages featuring varying dance groups, huge inflatable cobras, shapeshifting sets, and even a witch-burning reenactment meant to drive home Taylor’s “good girl gone bad” schtick.
“Swifties”, take note: Taylor will be on tour promoting Reputation now through November 21st.
Dave Matthews Band
We can all agree that Dave Matthews Band and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly, right? If the answer is yes, you’ll be delighted to learn that the band is hitting the road this summer for the first time in two years for an extensive stateside tour. Despite forming in 1991, DMB continues to be a popular choice of music for fans of all ages, and their latest tour promises to bring feel-good music to the masses.
For a group that’s been playing essentially the same set list since the early 2000s, Dave Matthews Band approaches each show with surprising vitality and heart. Journalists who have caught the first leg of the tour can’t deny a certain sparkle in the band’s stage presence. And for many, the soothing tunes of Dave Matthews Band are a welcome change of pace from the day-to-day stress of modern American life.
One of our favorite things about Dave Matthews Band is the group’s commitment to community engagement. This year, the nonpartisan voter registration group, HeadCount, will be present at each show with registration materials for those interested. When you join DMB at one of their 40 tour stops, you’ll also be able to fulfill your civic duty while enjoying summer’s breeziest tunes. Now, that’s what we call a supersonic win-win.
Weezer and Pixies
It’s not every day that two alternative rock legends join creative forces on one stage, but that’s exactly what’s happening with Weezer and Pixies’ joint summer tour. The concert series promises a rockin’ time for fans nostalgic for the simpler sounds of “Where Is My Mind?”, “Island in the Sun”, and more.
Cited as one of Weezer’s biggest musical influences, the Pixies promise to deliver all the hits that established them as rock gods in the late ‘80s. Fans of the early noise pop purveyors will be happy to see them together again after disbanding in the early ‘90s and reuniting in 2004. And while die-hard Pixies fans may miss the presence of adored bassist Kim Deal, newcomer Paz Lenchantin is quickly gaining media attention for her seamless fit into this very unique group.
Known for a countless amount of smash hits ranging from the mid-1990s to present, headliners Weezer aim to bring down the house in the tongue-in-cheek manner that only they can deliver. Fans can look forward to quirky costume changes, tearaway cardigans, and even front man Rivers Cuomo wheeling through crowds on a scooter. Don’t miss this perfect summer show, coming to a city near you from now until August.
No matter your taste in music, this summer is chock-full of astounding artists making their way across the United States. Whether you prefer the laid-back tunes of Dave Matthews Band or the in-your-face aesthetics of Taylor Swift, you won’t want to miss any of the tours on this list!
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