Summer is nearly here, and keeping with the schedule of the entertainment industry, that means that a bunch of artists will be on the road hoping to entertain you and separate you from a chunk of your discretionary income.
Though a Northeast Ohio stop isn’t on the first leg of some artists’ current summer itineraries, the area will get a big chunk of star power from both veterans and youthful upstarts. Plus, as always, country music rules Blossom Music Center.
Among the big artists who haven’t graced the North Coast venues in a few years are Irish Rock Hall of Famers U2, who haven’t toured the U.S. since 2015.
For 2017, the quartet, one of the few bands going more than 25 years still sporting all original members, will be performing their multi-platinum, award-winning, Best Albums of the ’80s list staple The Joshua Tree in its entirety to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Feel free to take a minute to absorb the fact that With Or Without You turns 30 this year. U2 lands at FirstEnergy Stadium on July 1.
OK, also in the “big damn deal” department is the return of former Michael Stanley Band opener Billy Joel, who will play Progressive Field on July 14.
Joel hasn’t released an album of new pop songs in nearly a quarter century, and seems in little hurry to start writing (although he recently hinted at a possible collaboration with pop singer Pink). But with a couple of decades’ worth of hits, no fans in the sold-out ballpark are likely to be disappointed by the lack of new songs.
Likewise, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who have put out a few albums since the ’90s, will play mostly the hits come June 10 at Quicken Loans Arena, as will Queen + Adam Lambert, when they get off their bicycles to play on July 21.
Meanwhile, the LaureLive Festival, held at Laurel School’s Butler Campus in Russell Township (laurelive.com), returns June 11-12 with a two-day lineup that includes The Head and the Heart, singer/guitarist Gary Clark Jr., alt-folk-rock act Dawes, and local acts Shivering Timbers and Kate Voegele.
A little further south, we have Blossom Music Center, which continues its run as the summer haven for country music fans.
This year’s slate includes:
• Lady Antebellum on July 21.
• Interstate rabblerousers Florida Georgia Line bring their Smooth Tour, featuring rapper Nelly, on Aug. 11.
• Critically acclaimed Nashville maverick and Grammy winner Chris Stapleton will bring his hat, beard and batch of rootsy, classic country-tinged tunes to Blossom on Aug. 18.
Also, Chicago emcee and hip-hop’s current indie king Chance the Rapper headlines Blossom on May 19. Chance has had a hell of a 24 months with his mixtape Coloring Book garnering three Grammys, the first streaming-only release to achieve that feat. He’s also racking up that sweet KitKat cash from his commercials.
Downtown Akron will also crackle with the sounds of summer. Canal Park hosts a rare concert when Rascal Flatts takes the field Aug. 5, and on Aug. 20, the Indigo Girls play the Akron Civic Theatre as part of the LGBT Akron Arts Festival.
Lock 3 Park (lock3live.com) is known for Friday night tribute and cover bands, as well as award-winning burgers and patriotic ribs. But it will also get funky this year with George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic on June 24, and Ohio’s own funk band Slave, of Just a Touch of Love fame, as part of the 36th Annual Akron African Festival. Things wind down on Sept. 2 with Jungle Boogie and Celebration creators Kool & The Gang.
Who, Where, When and How Much
Here is a look at some of the upcoming concerts under the stars (and a few roofs) through Labor Day. Check back each week in Enjoy! for music listings from area venues large and small.
Blossom Music Center
(1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 800-745-3000. ticketmaster.com)
Jason Aldean, 7:30 p.m. Friday, with Chris Young, Kane Brown and Dee Jay Silver, starting at $31.
Chance the Rapper, 8 p.m. May 19, $33-$93.
Future, 7 p.m. May 27, with Migos, Young Thug, Tory Lanez and Kodak Black, $34-$97.50.
Jack Johnson, 7:30 p.m. June 3, $35-$70.
Zac Brown Band, 7 p.m. June 9, starting at $31.
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, 7:30 p.m. June 14, $40.50-$95.
Train, 7 p.m. June 24, with O.A.R. and Natasha Bedingfield, starting at $18.
Vans Warped Tour, 11 a.m. July 18, starting at $52.
Lady Antebellum, 7:30 p.m. July 21, with Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young, starting at $32.
Dierks Bentley, 7 p.m. July 27, with Cole Swindell and Jon Pardi, starting at $32.
Rod Stewart with Cyndi Lauper, 7:30 p.m. July 28, $38-$157.50.
James Taylor, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9, with Bonnie Raitt, starting at $27.
Florida Georgia Line, 7 p.m. Aug. 11, starting at $31.
Nickelback, 6 p.m. Aug. 14, with Daughtry and Shaman’s Harvest, $24-$125.
Kings of Leon, 7 p.m. Aug. 16, with Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, $29.50-$79.50.
Chris Stapleton, 7 p.m. Aug. 18, with Margo Price and Brent Cobb, $30.75-$70.75.
Green Day, 7 p.m. Aug. 21, $38-$97.50.
John Mayer, 7 p.m. Aug. 30, starting at $27.
Canal Park
(300 S. Main St., Akron. 330-253-5151. milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t402)
Rascal Flatts, 7 p.m. Aug. 5, $45, $65.
FirstEnergy Stadium
(100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland. 800-745-3000. livenation.com)
U2, 7 p.m. July 1, with OneRepublic, starting at $120.
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
(2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland. 800-745-3000. livenation.com)
Paul Simon, 8 p.m. June 13, starting at $50.
My Morning Jacket, 7 p.m. June 23, with the Record Company, starting at $20.
Megadeth, 6 p.m. July 3, with Meshuggah, TesseracT and Lillake, starting at $150.
Third Eye Blind, 7 p.m. July 8, with Silversun Pickups and Ocean Park Standoff, starting at $29.
alt-J, 8 p.m. Aug. 1, with SOHN, starting at $37.
Goo Goo Dolls, 8 p.m. Aug. 5, with Phillip Phillips, starting at $20.
Yestival, 7 p.m. Aug. 20, with Yes, Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy, starting at $20.
Progressive Field
(2401 Ontario St., Cleveland. 877-538-6282. Indians.com/billyjoel)
Billy Joel, 8 p.m. July 14, starting at $49.50. Sold out. Check resale market.
Quicken Loans Arena
(1 Center Court, Cleveland. 888-894-9424. theQarena.com)
Daryl Hall & John Oates and Tears For Fears, 7 p.m. May 20.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 8 p.m. June 10, $49.50-$149.50.
Queen + Adam Lambert, 8 p.m. July 21, $49.50-$175.
Malcolm X Abram can be reached at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3758. Read his blog, Sound Check Online, at www.ohio.com/blogs/sound-check, like him on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1lNgxml and/or follow him on Twitter @malcolmabramABJ .