We’ve already run down the albums you should look out for in 2016, and the movies, but one of our favorite aspects of looking ahead has to do with what bands and musicians we will get to see out in the world. Our list includes rising stars and known commodities, ranging from pop stars to underground rockers, with venue sizes ranging from tiny clubs to football stadiums.
And even beyond what we’ve picked out as the best of the known commodities, we also have a ton to look forward to that is currently unknown. Will Radiohead play shows in support of their next album? Probably. What about that LCD Soundsystem reunion tour? Likely. And will Kanye West bring Swish to an arena near you? Hopefully! As always, we’ll probably have to update these by summer, but for now, here are the 25 concert tours we’re most looking forward to in 2016.
25. Vince Staples
Photo by Philip Cosores
If 2015 was the year Vince Staples introduced himself to the world outside Long Beach, 2016 is the year he brings Long Beach to the world. The rapper has already toured the country as an undercard with Danny Brown on the A$AP Rocky and Tyler, the Creator show, but he recently announced that he’ll be headlining his own 23-city tour in support of his double-LP debut, Summertime ‘06, one of our top 50 albums of 2015. The tour will also take him to a handful of notable music festivals around the globe, including Delaware’s Firefly and Denmark’s Roskilde. Wherever he goes, the 22-year-old can’t help but be the main attraction. His youthful physicality allows him to keep flowing long after his peers would be gasping for air, and his volatile personality is rarely less than captivating. Even hometown audiences have a hard time discerning when Staples is joking and when he’s taking himself deadly seriously. When he takes his show on the road, the potential for explosiveness will be high. –Collin Brennan
Vince Staples Circa ’06 2016 Tour Dates:
01/30 – Singapore, SG @ Laneway Festival
02/01 – Auckland, NZ @ Laneway Festival
02/05 – Port Adelaide, AU @ Harts Mill
02/06 – Bowen Hills, AU @ Brisbane Showgrounds
02/07 – Rozelle, AU @ Sydney College of the Arts
02/09 – Moore Park, AU @ Max Watt’s Sydney
02/10 – Melbourne, AU @ Max Watt’s Melbourne
02/13 – Footscray, AU @ Footscray Community Arts Centre
02/14 – Fremantle, AU @ Esplanade Park
02/26 – San Francisco, CA @ Social Hall
02/28 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
03/01 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
03/02 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theater
03/04 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
03/05 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
03/07 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
03/08 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II
03/09 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
03/11 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe
03/12 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners
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24. Justin Bieber
Anticipating a Justin Bieber tour may have some wondering “What Do You Mean?”, but alas, here we are — with a polished and PR-crafted, apologetic, and possibly tamed version of a former man-child gone wild. His latest album, Purpose, is appropriately named considering there is somewhat substantial meaning behind most of the lyics, with generous cushioning from synths and electronic beats. It seems logical his tour would follow a similar trajectory, purposely relying on his handful of latest hits — 17 of which made Billboard’s Hot 100 — and leaving songs from his bowl cut haircut days in the past with his innocence. Bieber’s Purpose World Tour (the 58-date North American leg begins March 9 in Seattle and ends July 18 at the iconic Madison Square Garden) should shed the juvenile behavior of Bieber’s past (keyword being should) and showcase his new, more sensitive self, tears and all. In a time when teen pop stars from Selena Gomez to Nick Jonas are venturing into their more mature and sensual selves, considering Bieber’s collection of WTF moments, he may be the most entertaining to watch of them all. –Lyndsey Havens
Justin Bieber 2016 Tour Dates<:
03/09 – Seattle, WA @ KeyArena at Seattle Center
03/11 – Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live! at Rogers Arena
03/13 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center @ at Rose Quarter
03/15 – Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Arena
03/17 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center at San Jose
03/18 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
03/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center
03/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center
03/25 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
03/26 – Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
03/29 – San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center
03/30 – Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena
04/02 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
04/04 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
04/06 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
04/07 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
04/09 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
04/10 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
04/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
04/19 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
04/20 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
04/22 – Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
04/23 – Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
04/25 – Auburn Hills, MI @ The Palace Of Auburn Hills
04/26 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
04/28 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
04/29 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
05/04 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
05/05 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
05/07 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
05/10 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
05/13 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
05/14 – Quebec City, BC @ Videotron Centre
05/16 – Montreal, BC @ Bell Centre
05/18 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
05/19 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
06/11 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
06/13 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
06/14 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
06/16 – Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
06/18 – Fargo, ND @ FARGODOME
06/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
06/21 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
06/22 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
06/24 – Cincinnati, OH @ U.S. Bank Arena
06/25 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
06/27 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
06/29 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
06/30 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
07/02 – Miami, FL @ AmericanAirlines Arena
07/06 – Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
07/07 – Baltimore, MD @ Royal Farms Arena
07/09 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
07/10 – Hartford, CT @ XL Center
07/12 – Buffalo, NY @ First Niagara Center
07/13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ CONSOL Energy Center
07/15 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
07/18 – New York City, NY @ Madison Square Garden
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23. Mac DeMarco
Photo by Philip Cosores
There are two sides to Mac DeMarco: the sentimental crooner on his records and the mischievous jokester who exists in every facet of his public life. His live show is no exception to the latter. Despite his songs sounding like blissful A.M. radio romps, he’s been known to stage dive from upper balconies and include prolonged rasta jams in the middle of his sets. Even when he’s not performing daring feats, his mannerisms alone keep audiences fixated on the stage or keeling over in laughter. Whether it’s his Groucho Marx eyebrow waves or winks, it’s like being in the presence of a Tim and Eric character come to life. DeMarco is his own brand of punk rock, using easygoing vibes instead of power chord riffs to bolster his rebellious spirit. Oh yeah, and he still sounds great. –Dusty Henry
Mac DeMarco 2016 Tour Dates:
01/10 – Busselton, AU @ Southbound Festival
01/13-14 – Auckland, NZ @ Kings Arms Tavern
01/15 – Wellington, NZ @ Bodega
01/16 – Woolston, NZ @ Gustavs
05/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
05/16 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
05/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
05/21 – San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
05/22 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Rio Theater
05/25 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
05/27 – Vancouver, BC @ Malkin Bowl
06/02-05 – Nelsonville, OH @ Nelsonville Music Festival
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22. Joanna Newsom
Photo by Amanda Koellner
Divers, the new album from serene songstress Joanna Newsom, marked not only her first record in five years, but also sparked the hope of indulging in the somewhat rare opportunity of hearing the power of Newsom’s voice live. Lead single “Sapokanikan” is already spellbinding as a studio track – one can only imagine its potency in the flesh. Yes, Newsom will quite possibly find her name atop the lineup posters for several marquee festivals next summer, but with all due respect to the rambunctious monster that is a music festival, Newsom’s brand of music will be best enjoyed on her current club tour. Bonus points to Newsom’s team for snagging Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold to open for her with what he promises will be all new solo material. –Zack Ruskin
Joanna Newsom 2016 Tour Dates:
01/19 – Melbourne, AU @ Hamer Hall
01/21 – Sydney, AU @ Sydney Opera House
01/23 – Brisbane, AU @ QPAC Concert Hall
01/26 – Osaka, JP @ Osaka Club
01/27 – Tokyo, JP @ Christ Shinagawa Church Gloria Chapel
01/28 – Tokyo, JP @ Christ Shinagawa Church Gloria Chapel
02/24 – Brussels, BE @ Palais de Beaux-Arts #
02/25 – Hamburg, DE @ Kampgnagel #
02/27 – Groningen, NL @ De Oosterpoort #
02/28 – Nijmegen, NL @ Concertgebouw De Vereeniging #
03/01 – Liverpool, UK @ The Philharmonic Hall #
03/02 – Glasgow, UK @ Glasgow Royal Concert Hall #
03/03 – Dublin, IE @ Olympia Theatre #
03/26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre #
03/27 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater #
03/28 – Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall #
03/29 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre #
03/30 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre #
03/31 – Spokane, WA @ Bing Crosby Theater #
04/01 – Boise, ID @ Egyptian Theatre #
04/02 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot #
04/03 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater #
# = w/ Robin Pecknold
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21. Protomartyr
For their upcoming coast-to-coast US tour (plus one Vancouver date), Detroit’s Protomartyr will be supported on a chunk of West Coast shows in March by Chastity Belt of Washington state. Both bands put out a very good album last year (The Agent Intellect from Protomartyr; Time to Go Home from Chastity Belt), each of which arrived within a year and a half of yet another very good album (Under Color of Official Right; No Regrets), and they’ll be armed with a surplus of fresh material ready to be fine-tuned ontage through the end of winter. –Steven Arroyo
Protomartyr 2016 Tour Dates:
01/20 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
01/21 – Nashville, TN @ Stone Fox
01/22 – Bloomington, IN @ Blockhouse
01/23 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
01/24 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
01/29 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
01/30 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
02/10 – Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class
02/11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox
02/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
02/13 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
02/14 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
02/16 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle (Back Room)
02/17 – Savannah, GA @ The Jinx
02/18 – Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder
02/19 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheater
02/20 – Miami, FL @ Gramps
02/21 – Ybor City, FL @ New World Brewery
02/23 – Birmingham, AL @ The Saturn
02/24 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
02/25 – Houston, TX @ Walters Downtown (Bad Ass Weekend IV)
02/26 – Austin, TX @ The Sidewinder
02/27 – Dallas, TX @ RBC
02/28 – Norman, OK @ Opolis Production
03/01 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
03/02 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
03/03 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echo
03/04 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
03/05 – Sacramento, CA @ Blue Lamp
03/07 – Portland, OR @ The Doug Fir Lounge
03/08 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Fortune Sound Club
03/11 – Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
03/12 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
03/13 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency
03/31 – Dublin, Ireland @ Workman’s Club
04/01 – Liverpool, England @ Magnet
04/02 – Glasgow, Scotland @ Broadcast
04/04 – London, England @ 100 Club
04/05 – Reims, France @ La Cartonnerie
04/06 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Het Bos
04/07 – Groningen, Netherlands @ Vera
04/08 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
04/09 – Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Motel Mozaique — Rotown
04/11 – Dusseldorf, Germany @ Zakk
04/12 – Stuttgart, Germany @ Club Schocken
04/13 – Munich, Germany @ Orangehouse
04/14 – St. Gallen, Switzerland @ Palace
04/15 – Bologna, Italy @ Covo Club
04/16 – Rome, Italy @ Monk
04/18 – Ljubljana, Slovenia @ Gala Hala
04/19 – Zagreb, Croatia @ Culture Factory
04/20 – Vienna, Austria @ Chelsea
04/21 – Prague, Czech Republic @ Basement Bar
20. Coldplay
Photo by Robert Altman
Look out world: Coldplay is coming to the Super Bowl. The boys from Britain are hitting San Francisco — well, technically Santa Clara — on February 7. Before they (likely) join forces with Bruno Mars and Beyoncé for their Super Bowl 50 festivities, the lads will tour South America and Europe behind A Head Full of Dreams. While their latest album received a tepid reception, Coldplay’s backlist is stocked with catchy anthems and swooning ballads that are sure to work fans into a tizzy. With a North American tour likely to occur amidst festival appearances next summer, and rumors swirling that the band may call it quits or at least take a break following this touring cycle, this may be one of your last chances to catch Chris Martin and co. for the foreseeable future. –Zack Ruskin
Coldplay 2016 Tour Dates:
03/31 – Buenos Aires, AR @ Estadio Unico de La Plata
04/03 – Santiago, CL @ Estadio Nacional
04/05 – Lima, PE @ Estadio Nacional
04/07 – Sao Paulo, BR @ Allianz Parque
04/10 – Rio de Janeiro, BR @ Maracana
04/13 – Bogota, CO @ Estadio El Campin
04/16 – Mexico City, MX @ Foro Sol
05/24 – Nice, FR @ Stade Charles-Ehrmann
05/26 – Barcelona, ES @ Estadi Olimpic
06/01 – Gelsenkirchen, DE @ Veltins-Arena
06/04 – Manchester, UK @ Etihad Stadium
06/07 – Glasgow, UK @ Hampden Park
06/11 – Zurich, CH @ Stadion Letzigrund
06/16 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
06/18 – London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
06/23 – Amsterdam, Amsterdam Arena
06/29 – Berlin, DE @ Olympiastadion
07/01 – Hamburg, DE @ Volksparkstadion
07/03 – Stockholm, SE @ Friends Arena
07/05 – Copenhagen, DK @ Telia Parken
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19. Lil Wayne
Photo by Philip Cosores
Since his official 2014 announcement of Tha Carter V, his alleged final LP that he’s since been unable to deliver, Lil Wayne has tried just about everything within his power to hold his audience over. In an especially tumultuous 2015, Wayne put out a pair of sequence mixtapes, reunited his band Hot Boyz at his own Lil WeezyAna Fest, and sued Birdman over blocking the album’s release. But 2016 will feature him hitting the road for 19 US shows with support from Rae Sremmurd on all but one. Wayne’s Dedication Tour will run from January through at least March and is “dedicated to all of his fans in cities he has rarely visited on his past tour runs,” according to a press release. –Steven Arroyo
Lil Wayne 2016 Tour Dates:
12/05 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
12/19 – Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum
01/21 – El Paso, TX @ El Paso County Coliseum
01/23 – Hidalgo, TX @ State Farm Arena
01/24 – Corpus Christi, TX @ American Bank Center Arena
01/28 – Southaven, MS @ Landers Center
01/29 – Lafayette, LA @ Lafayette Cajundome
01/31 – Bossier City, LA @ CenturyLink Center
02/04 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Coliseum
02/05 – Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre
02/18 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
02/20 – Rochester, NY @ Blue Cross Arena
02/21 – Saint Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena
02/23 – Bethlehem, PA @ Sands Bethlehem Event Center
02/25 – Toledo, OH @ Huntington Center
02/27 – State College, PA @ Bryce Jordan Center
02/28 – Youngstown, OH @ Covelli Centre
03/01 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
03/03 – Bloomington, IN @ Indiana University Assembly Hall
03/06 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
18. Dixie Chicks
The three country rebels from Dallas are back. Ever since getting the (cowboy) boot from their genre for criticizing George W. Bush in 2003, the three members of the critically and commercially huge Dixie Chicks have taken a step away from the limelight. Their last album was in 2006 and their last tour in 2013. That said, the group will be back in a big way this year, touring not only across North America but Europe as well. The hope is that the trio might use this time together as a springboard for new material, but after 10 years without an album, we wouldn’t hold our breath. –Philip Cosores
Dixie Chicks 2016 Tour Dates:
06/01 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
06/03 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Amphitheater
06/04 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
06/05 – Chicago, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
06/08 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
06/10 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
06/11 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
06/13 – New York City, NY @ Madison Square Garden
06/14 – Boston, MA @ Xfinity Center
06/16 – Bangor, ME @ Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
06/17 – Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre
06/18 – Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion
06/21 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
06/22 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
06/24 – Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium
06/25 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
07/07 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
07/08 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater
07/09 – Portland, OR @ Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
07/12 – San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheater
07/13 – Sacramento, CA @ Toyota Amphitheater
07/15 – San Diego, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheater
07/16 – Las Vegas, NV @ Las Vegas Arena
07/17 – Phoenix, AZ @ AK-Chin Pavilion
07/20 – Irvine, CA @ Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
08/05 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
08/06 – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchel Pavilion
08/07 – Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater
08/10 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Farm Bureau Live
08/12 – Raleigh, NC @ Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
08/13 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
08/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Alpharetta Amphitheater
08/17 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
08/19 – Tampa, FL @ MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater
08/20 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Perfect Vodka Amphitheater
08/24 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
08/25 – Indianapolis, IN @ Klipsch Amphitheater
08/27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Minnesota State Fair
08/30 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
09/01 – Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
09/02 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheater
10/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
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17. Sigur Rós
Photo by Philip Cosores
Sigur Rós live is always a treat with an otherworldly stage designed to transport atmospheric arrangements. Having reached a level of respect and creative freedom through multiple world tours and eight albums, the band have decided to do something different for this highly anticipated 2016 festival tour. Rather than promote a new record, Sigur Rós promise new songs to be performed alongside timeless tracks from records past. The band have taken creative risks the past few years from their most recent album, Kveikur – which is essentially a metal album (for them) – to embarking on a film project where they invited filmmakers and artists to create short films inspired by the songs on Valtari. The chosen festivals prove to be in the vein of evolution and creativity. Citadel in London – co-creators of Bonnaroo and Outside Lands – held its inaugural year in 2015 and boasts a one-day lineup and arts-driven program. This one, like the others, seems like a perfect fit for Sigur Rós to dip their toes in whatever uncharted waters they’ve set out to sail. –Amanda Mayo
Sigur Rós 2016 Tour Dates:
06/16 – Bergen, NO @ Bergenfest
06/18 – Aarhus, DK @ NorthSide Festival
07/03 – St. Petersburg, RU @ Stereleto Festival
07/08 – Trencin, SK @ Pohoda Festival
07/12 – Linz, AT @ Ahoi the Full Hit of Summer
07/16 – Dour, BE @ Dour Festival
07/17 – London, UK @ Citadel Festival
08/10-13 – Luhmühlen, DE @ A Summer’s Tale
08/18 – Trondheim, NO @ Pstereo Festival
08/20 – Biddinghuizen, NL @ Lowlands Festival
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16. Iron Maiden
To say that Iron Maiden returned to form in 2015 is a bit of an overstatement. There’s not a true dud among the heavy metal band’s first 15 studio albums, and Bruce Dickinson and Co. have already enamored critics twice this century (with 2003’s Dance with Death and 2006’s A Matter of Life and Death). But The Book of Souls is a different kind of beast: a double album filled with some of the most inventive and exploratory material of the band’s long career. The Book of Souls World Tour couldn’t have arrived soon enough, even if it had arrived on time; unfortunately, it was pushed back to 2016 to allow Dickinson to fully recuperate from his recent cancer treatment. Now that Maiden is locked, loaded, and set to perform in 35 countries across the world beginning in February, we finally get to hear the epic “Empire of the Clouds” in person. Nobody’s more excited than the thousands of headbangers in China and El Salvador who will have the chance to meet Eddie and the gang for the very first time. –Collin Brennan
Iron Maiden 2016 Tour Dates:
02/24 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ BB&T Center
02/26 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
02/28 – Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center
03/30 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
04/05 – Detroit, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
04/06 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
04/11 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
04/13 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
04/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
04/29 – Christchurch, NZ @ Horncastle Arena
05/01 – Auckland, NZ @ Vector Arena
05/04 – Brisbane, AU @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
05/06 – Sydney, AU @ Allphones Arena
05/09 – Melbourne, AU @ Rod Laver Arena
05/12 – Adelaide, AU @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre
05/14 – Perth, AU @ Perth Arena
05/18 – Cape Town, SA @ Grand Arena
05/21 – Johannesburg, SA @ Carnival City Festival Lawns
15. Carly Rae Jepsen
When Carly Rae Jepsen announced North American tour dates for 2016, I rejoiced, but also breathed a sigh of relief. Since the Canadian pop singer released her third album, Emotion, in August last year, the musically inclined corners of the internet have relentlessly and sometimes fruitlessly parsed everything about Jepsen, from whether she can really shake “Call Me Maybe” to how the critically acclaimed album ended up a commercial flop. Some of this exercise has been fascinating, but most of it has only been tiring, especially because Emotion, with all its purity of feeling, begs to be celebrated without all that baggage. The album’s ecstatic, larger-than-life ’80s sound demands a dance party with your best friends and fellow fans as Jepsen herself gleefully leads and oversees this communal effervescence. She’ll take America to the feeling on her headlining Gimmie Love Tour over February and March before opening for pop-rock group Hedley back home in Canada in the spring. –Karen Gwee
Carly Rae Jepsen 2016 Tour Dates:
02/12 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
02/13 – Charlotte, NC @ Fillmore Charlotte
02/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
02/15 – Orlando, FL @ Plaza Live Orlando
02/17 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor
03/19 – Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
02/20 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater
02/21 – Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
02/24 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
02/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda
02/26 – Anaheim, CA @ City National Grove Of Anaheim
02/27 – San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
02/29 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
03/01 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
03/02 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House
03/04 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
03/05 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
03/07 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
03/08 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
03/09 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
03/11 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
03/12 – Chicago, IL @ Metro / Smart Bar
03/13 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
03/14 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
03/17 – Covington, KY @ Madison Theater
03/18 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre
03/19 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
03/20 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
03/22 – Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall
03/23 – Providence, RI @ Fete Ballroom
03/25 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
03/26 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
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14. Animal Collective
Photo by Jeremy D. Larson
When you purchase tickets to see Animal Collective, you’re picking up dice and trying your luck. That much is no secret. The psych-rock weirdos are notorious for hit-or-miss live sets, especially when it comes to playing their hits. A tempo divide on “Purple Bottle” could lead to them skipping it altogether, or a double-digit jam on an EP deep cut could leave casual fans clueless. That doesn’t mean you should skip this tour. With Deakin stepping out of the frame once again and an eclectic set of electronica pop setting into the frame, 2016 is a new year for the band. Heck, it’s worth it just to dance to “FloriDada” live. Given their 10th album, next month’s Painting With, holds heavy ties to dinosaurs, it’s safe to assume their colorful stage decorations and absurd inflatables will leave another lasting impression. –Nina Corcoran
Animal Collective 2016 Tour Dates:
02/19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
02/20 – Portsmouth, NH @ 3S Artspace *
02/22 – Boston, MA @ Royale Boston *
02/23 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza *
02/26 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall *
02/27 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall *
02/28 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
03/01 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre *
03/02 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot *
03/04 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune *
03/05 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater *
03/07 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater *
03/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre *
03/11-13 – Phoenix, AZ @ McDowell Mountain Music Festival
04/01 – Brussels, BE @ Le Botanique Orangerie ^
04/02 – The Hague, NL @ Rewire Festival
04/04 – Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefahrlich ^
04/05 – Berlin, DE @ Postbahnhof ^
04/07 – Milan, IT @ C2C Festival ^
04/08 – Stans, CH @ Stanser Musiktage Festival
04/09 – Paris, FR @ La Cigale ^
04/11 – London, UK @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire ^
04/13 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy ^
04/28 – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge +
04/29 – Austin, TX @ LEVITATION
05/01 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom +
05/03 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant +
05/04 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre +
05/06 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works +
05/07 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre +
05/08 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel +
05/10 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club +
05/13 – Wilmington, DE @ World Café Live at the Queen +
05/14 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom +
* = w/ Ratking
^ = w/ GFOTY
+ = w/ Kaitlyn Smith
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13. Ween
Gene and Dean Ween have been sliming the edges of indie pop since the mid-’80s, but four years ago, it looked as if they’d hung up their hats and retired from their posts as music’s favorite acid-tripping uncles. Luckily, band breakups don’t last long in this century, and late last year the mighty Ween reemerged from hibernation. Not only will they take the stage alongside their longtime touring bandmates, but the duo has also promised some brand-new material to emerge from the depths of their sick, sick minds. “Ween is an extension of who we are. It’s not a persona that we put on to go onstage,” said Dean, aka Mickey Melchiondo, in a statement announcing the reunion. As much as the band has tried to escape themselves, it seems they can’t help being Ween — and thank gosh for that. –Sasha Geffen
Ween 2015 Tour Dates:
02/12 – Broomfield, CO @ 1STBANK Center
02/13 – Broomfield, CO @ 1STBANK Center
02/14 – Broomfield, CO @ 1STBANK Center
03/04-06 – Okeechobee, FL @ Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival
04/14 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
04/15 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
04/16 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
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12. Future
Photo by Philip Cosores
After conquering 2015 with an unparalleled run of mixtapes, albums, and collaborations, Future is taking some time away from cranking out new music at an exhilarating rate to embark on a Spring US tour. Often some of the best rap concerts come when artists choose to display a snapshot of the greatest hits that encompass their career, playing a minute or two from each of their many hits rather than sticking to full songs. With Future, he can craft a set full of greatest hits from his 2015 output alone, and in recent concerts, he has indulged fans by playing favorites from DS2, 56 Nights, Beast Mode, Monster, and What a Time to Be Alive. Beyond being one of the more prolific and beloved artists of the past few years, Future is also a skilled performer who knows how to work a crowd and give them exactly what they want. For fans who spent the past year debating which release was the best to gift to friends who only know “F*ck Up Some Commas”, Future’s tour is not one to miss. –David Sackllah
Future 2016 Tour Dates:
02/17 – Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theatre
02/18 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
02/19 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
02/21 – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room
02/25 – Ledyard, CT @ The Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort
02/26 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
02/27 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
02/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
02/29 – Washington, D. C. @ The Fillmore
03/02 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
03/04 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
03/05 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
03/06 – Okeechobee, FL @ Okeechobee Music Festival
03/07 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
03/10 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre
03/11 – Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
03/12 – New Orleans, LA @ BUKU Festival
03/13 – Houston, TX @ Revention Center
03/15 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
03/17 – Phoenix, AZ @ Pot of Gold Festival
03/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
03/19 – San Jose, CA @ Event Center at SJSU
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11. The Who
Photo by Joshua Mellin
Out of all the classic rock bands still touring, The Who are the only band still together that nail their songs without losing the speed of their youth. Mick Jagger’s got moves, but Keith Richards is ready to topple over. Sure, only two of the original four Who members are still alive, and sure, they’re certainly old (70 years old, in fact), but you wouldn’t guess their age by watching them windmill chords or whip the microphone in aerial loops. Saying farewell to the group responsible for hits like “Pinball Wizard”, “Baba O’Riley”, and “My Generation” is tough. The fact that this tour celebrates their 50th year as a band makes that goodbye wave a bit easier, especially with renowned bassist Pino Palladino filling in for John Entwistle and Zak Starkey filling in for Keith Moon. –Nina Corcoran
The Who 2016 Tour Dates:
02/27 – Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena
03/01 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
03/03 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
03/07 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
03/10 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
03/12 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
03/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
03/16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ CONSOL Energy Center
03/19 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
03/21 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Harris Bradley Center
03/24 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
03/26 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
03/29 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
04/26 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
04/29 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
05/01 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
05/04 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
05/06 – Saskatoon, SK @ SaskTel Centre
05/08 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
05/10 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
05/13 – Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
05/15 – Seattle, WA @ KeyArena at Seattle Center
05/17 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
05/19 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
05/22 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
05/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center
05/27 – San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center
05/29 – Las Vegas, NV @ Colosseum at Caesars Palace
10. Bon Iver
Photo by Zoe Prinds
Bon Iver’s continued existence was a giant question mark at this time last year. Even after the band’s first performance in three years at the Eaux Claires Music Festival, mastermind Justin Vernon was cagey about the project’s future. Then in November, it finally became clear that 2016 would see the return of Bon Iver with the group’s first announced tour dates. True, the shows are currently only scheduled for Asia (the first time the band’s traveled there), but it does raise hopes for a North American trek to be announced soon. Add that to the fact that they debuted new material at their only 2015 gig, and it seems like this year could be the one we’ve been waiting three years for from Vernon and co. –Ben Kaye
Bon Iver 2016 Tour Dates:
02/21 – Seoul, KR @ AX Hall
02/24 – Taiwan, TW @ TICC
02/26 – Singapore @ The Star Theatre
02/29 – Tokyo, JP @ Studio Coast
03/02 – Osaka, JP @ Zepp Namba
03/05 – Manila, PH @ Wanderland Music & Arts Festival
03/08 – Hong Kong @ MacPherson Stadium
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09. Ellie Goulding
Photo by Nina Corcoran
Getting booked at Coachella as direct support for LCD Soundystem on opening night is just one of many signs that British pop singer Ellie Goulding has fully arrived. Another is the arena tour she has scheduled leading up to it, the largest venues she has headlined in her still blossoming career. Many could say they saw it coming, from her topping the BBC’s Sound Of… poll in 2010 to her high-charting single “Lights” in 2011. However, it might be a movie soundtrack for 50 Shades of Grey and her contribution “Love Me Like You Do” that has really cemented Goulding as a mega-star. Seeing how she responds to an even brighter spotlight will be well worth the price of admission. –Philip Cosores
Ellie Goulding 2016 Tour Dates:
04/01 – Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
04/02 – Seattle, WA @ Seattle Center – Key Arena
04/03 – Portland, OR @ Rose Garden – Theater of the Clouds
04/05 – Sacramento, CA @ Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
04/06 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center at San Jose
04/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center Arena
04/09 – Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
04/12 – Broomfield, CO @ 1st Bank Center*
04/13 – West Valley City, UT @ Maverik Center*
04/16 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre*
04/18 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie*
04/19 – Cedar Park, TX @ Cedar Park Center*
04/23 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena*
05/05 – Saint Paul, MN @ Theater at Xcel Energy Center*
05/06 – Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena*
05/07 – Cleveland, OH @ Wolstein Center – Cleveland State University*
05/09 – Ypsilanti, MI @ EMU Convocation Center*
05/10 – Columbus, OH @ The LC Pavilion Outdoor Amphitheatre*
05/11 – Bethlehem, PA @ Sands Bethlehem Event Center*
05/13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE*
05/14 – Indianapolis, IN @ Farmers Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park*
05/16 – Saint Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena*
05/17 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheater*
05/18 – Oklahoma City, @ OK Zoo Amphitheatre*
05/20 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion*
05/21 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center*
06/02 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
06/03 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
06/04 – Orlando, FL @ University of Central Florida – CFE Arena
06/06 – Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
06/07 – Charleston, SC @ Volvo Cars Stadium
06/09 – Charlotte, NC @ Uptown Amphitheater at The Music Factory
06/10 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheatre
06/13 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
06/14 – Canandaigua, NY @ Constellation Brands Marvin Sands PAC
06/15 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
06/18 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
06/19 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
06/21 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
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08. Pearl Jam
Photo by David Brendan Hall
Well, bad news first: it seems unlikely that we’ll get a new Pearl Jam album this year, as the band made it known that they’ve yet to really hit the follow-up to 2013’s Lightning Bolt head-on yet. But the good news is that isn’t going to keep the band from touring, as they also announced they plan to make their way across the US this year. While we don’t have specific dates and locations yet, Consequence of Sound has personally confirmed one major stopping point for the Seattle legends: Bonnaroo. We’d guess that the rest of the tour might surround that June appearance in some way. Stay tuned. –Philip Cosores
Pearl Jam 2016 Tour Dates:
TBA
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07. Tool
When Tool announced their 2016 tour dates, it initially looked very similar to their 2014 mini-run, when the band played California, Arizona, Texas, and not much else. But soon the tour expanded and now runs through all of January, hitting up much of the South as well. Without new music to debut, the move appears to be a quick jaunt to pad bank accounts for the continued work on their long-awaited follow-up to 10,000 Days, now 10 years old. But with a band like Tool, the reason for the tour is of less interest than the performance they put on. The band is promising to be dwarfed by giant video projections and is bringing Primus along for the ride, meaning hard rock fans will have reason to celebrate this winter. Just as long as they don’t live above the Mason-Dixon Line. –Philip Cosores
Tool 2016 Tour Dates:
01/06 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium *
01/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium *
01/09 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena *
01/10 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena *
01/13 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center *
01/14 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center *
01/16 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center *
01/17 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theatre *
01/19 – Southaven, MS @ Landers Center *
01/20 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center *
01/22 – St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Center *
01/23 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena *
01/25 – Atlanta, GA @ Infinite Energy Center *
01/26 – Charlotte, NC @ Bojangles Coliseum *
01/27 – Charlotte, NC @ Bojangles Coliseum *
01/28 – Orlando, FL @ CFE Arena *
01/30 – Pensacola, FL @ Pensacola Bay Center *
01/31 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center *
* = w/ Primus
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06. Black Sabbath
Photo by David Brendan Hall
The Ozzman Cometh. And the Ozzman Goeth. But not before a final jaunt 48 years after Black Sabbath’s inception in working-class Birmingham. Heavy metal founding fathers Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Ozzy Osbourne himself have had some of the wildest career turns in rock n’ roll. And while it’s a shame that on-going disputes will prevent original drummer Bill Ward from joining this last waltz, session drummer and substitute player Tommy Clufetos (also of Ozzy’s solo band) will make sure a thunderous percussion section is included in the ticket price.
Both Black Sabbath and Ozzy have toured extensively for decades, selling out arenas, headlining festivals, and even reuniting more than once at the frontman’s titular Ozzfest. Now, as the live era reaches its conclusion, the group has shared that this final tour “promises to surpass all previous tours and will feature the band’s most mesmerizing production ever.” New dates have also been added, meaning you’ll have plenty of chances in 2016 to bid farewell to your metal overlords. But please remember to refrain from biting the heads off winged animals. –Dan Pfleegor
Black Sabbath 2016 Tour Dates:
01/20 – Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center
01/22 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
01/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
01/27 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
01/30 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Centre
02/01 – Calgary, ON @ Scotiabank Saddledome
02/03 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
02/06 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
02/09 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
02/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
02/13 – Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center
02/15 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
02/17 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
02/19 – Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
02/21 – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre
02/23 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
02/25 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
02/27 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
04/15 – Perth, AU @ Perth Arena
04/17 – Adelaide, AU @ Entertainment Centre
04/19 – Melbourne, AU @ Rod Laver Arena
04/23 – Sydney, AU @ Allphones Arena
04/25 – Brisbane, AU @ Entertainment Centre
04/28 – Auckland, NZ @ Vector Arena
04/30 – Dunedin, NZ @ Forsyth Barr Stadium
06/01 – Budapest, HR @ Groupama Arena
06/08 – Berlin, DE @ Waldebuhne
06/11 – Donington, UK @ Download Festival
06/13 – Verona, IT @ Arena di Verona
06/15 – Zurich, CH @ Hallenstadon
06/17 – Dessel, BE @ Grasspop
06/23 – Halden, NO @ Tons of Rock
06/25 – Copenhagen, DK @ Copenhall
06/28 – Vienna, AT @ Stadthalle
06/30 – Prague, CZ @ O2 Arena
07/02 – Krakow, PL @ Tauron Arena
07/05 – Riga, LV @ Riga Arena
07/07 – Helsinki, FI @ Monsters of Rock
07/09 – Stockholm, SE @ Monsters of Rock
07/12 – Moscow, RU @ Olympisky Arena
08/17 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
08/19 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
08/21 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
08/23 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
08/25 – Boston, MA @ Xfinity Center
08/27 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
08/29 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
08/31 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theater
09/02 – Indianapolis, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
09/04 – Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
09/07 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
09/09 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Ampitheater
09/11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Ampitheater
09/13 – Portland, OR @ Sunlight Supply Arena
09/15 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
09/17 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
09/19 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
09/21 – Phoenix, AZ @ AK-Chin Pavilion
