With summer and festival-season coming to an end, it’s natural for music fans to be feeling a little down. But the colder weather and shorter days don’t mean that the parties stop! There are plenty of artists touring this fall and winter and plenty of shows to check out. Here’s a list of some must-see shows before the end of the year, for fans of all genres!
1) Glen Hansard, Nov. 21 at The Chicago Theatre
To those unfamiliar with the Irish musician, Hansard is probably mostly recognizable as the star of the award-winning 2007 film Once, for which the song “Falling Slowly” earned him and co-star Markéta Irglová an Academy Award for Best Original Song. With a new album, Didn’t He Ramble, due out September 18th, the folk-rock musician’s new tour promises to be amazing. And The Chicago Theatre is a perfect venue, with enough intimacy to allow fans to really feel the emotion with which Hansard performs all of his songs. Ticketing information can found at http://glenhansardmusic.com/tour.
2) Brandon Flowers, Sept. 11 at the Riviera
The Killers lead singer released his second solo album earlier this year, featuring singles such as “Can’t Deny My Love” and “I Can Change”. The album, The Desired Effect, has a funky, 80s pop-rock sound to it (perfectly embodied by the single “Lonely Town,” which Flowers has described as his own stab at a track like The Police’s “Every Breath You Take”), which is more similar to The Killers’ 2004 album Hot Fuss than their more recent works. The Desired Effect has been met with mainly positive reviews so far, and rumor has it that Flowers usually plays a couple of Killers songs at his solo shows – so this concert is certainly a can’t-miss! Tickets and tour information can be found at http://www.brandonflowersmusic.com/tourdates.
3) Zedd, Oct. 29 at UIC Pavillion
Zedd is now a household name, with hit singles like “Clarity (feat. Foxes)” under his belt. The Grammy-winning electronic artist released his second studio album, True Colors, in May, following a short, interactive promotional tour titled Zedd’s True Colors Experience. His True Colors Tour began in Asia earlier this month, and will make a stop in Chicago late October. It’s a must-see show for EDM fans, featuring Zedd plus guests Dillon Francis and Alex Metric. Head to https://www.zedd.net/tour for information and tickets.
4) Luke Bryan, Oct. 28/29 at the United Center
Bryan began his music career writing for artists Travis Tritt and Billy Currington, before releasing his debut album in 2007. 2015 has been a busy year for the country artist, with the release of his album Kill The Lights, receipt of the “Entertainer of the Year Award” at the ACMAs and the CMA Awards, and the opening of his current Kick the Dust Up Tour, one day after the conclusion of his previous tour. Bryan’s Chicago shows should be fantastic country nights, featuring Randy Houser and Dustin Lynch as support acts. Tour information, including links to purchase tickets, can be found at http://www.lukebryan.com/tour.html.
5) Josh Groban, Oct. 16/17 at The Chicago Theatre
Jokingly referred to as everyone’s mom’s favorite singer, Groban is an extremely talented vocalist whose “popera” (pop-opera) music resonates with fans of all ages. His latest album Stages, released April 28th, features a variety of covers of Broadway musical songs, and his corresponding tour kicks off September 12th. Longtime Grobanites and new fans alike are in for a treat, as Groban’s live performances are even more impressive than his recordings. Tickets for upcoming shows can be purchased at http://www.joshgroban.com/tour.
Did we miss any must-see concerts coming up this year? Let us know who you’ll be seeing in the comments below!
