From Janet to Jay-Z:
Your guide to fall music in Phoenix.
U2 bring their tour celebrating “The Joshua Tree” to the Valley in a season packed with stars. Luke Bryan, Jay-Z, Fall Out Boy, Janet Jackson, Halsey, Bruno Mars, Florida Georgia Line, Imagine Dragons, Nickelback and Depeche Mode are among the bigger concerts playing Phoenix this fall. We also have the Arizona State Fair Concert series to look forward to, as well as the inaugural Lost Lake Festival with Chance the Rapper.
9/7: Lifehouse
Post-grunge alternative rockers Lifehouse hit the ground running with a debut single, “Hanging By a Moment,” that was named the biggest song of 2001 by Billboard magazine. Other hits include “You and Me,” “First Time” and “Broken.” Switchfoot hit the mainstream in 2002 after placing four songs in the Mandy Moore film, “A Walk to Remember,” and going double platinum with the following year’s “The Beautiful Letdown.” In 2011, they took home best rock-gospel album from the Grammys for “Hello Hurricane,” their seventh album. Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7. The Van Buren, 401 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. $49.50-$69.50. thevan burenphx.com.
9/8: Ricardo Arjona
A Latin-music troubadour in the tradition of Franco de Vita, Arjona offers songs that are sometimes romantic, sometimes heavy with social commentary. The blend works: His latest disc, this year’s “Circo Soledad,” topped the Latin Pop Albums chart in Billboard. Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $70-$365. 602-379-2800, livenation.com.
9/9: Nickelback
The Canadian rockers, led by guitar-playing singer Chad Kroeger, cracked the U.S. market with a sixtimes-platinum breakthrough called “Silver Side Up” in 2001, and followed it with an eight-times-platinum triumph called “All the Right Reasons” four years later. The only foreign act to sell more albums in the States between 2000 and 2009 was the Beatles. Their hits include the chart-topping “How You Remind Me,” “Someday” and “Photograph.” Details: 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $25-$125. livenation.com, ticketmaster.com.
9/10: Florida Georgia Line with Nelly
The country duo and Nelly are touring together, of course, because of their collaboration on the remix of “Cruise,” a bro-country landmark that five years later remains the biggest-selling digital release the country genre has produced. Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $31-$315. livenation.com, ticketmaster.com.
9/10: Luis Fonsi
Thanks to the crossover summer sensation “Despacito,” Fonsi is picking up a lot of new fans from the dance floor. But the Puerto Rican musician is a veteran Latin-music star who is actually best-known as a soulful balladeer, thanks to tunes like “Imaginame Sin Ti” and “No Me Doy Por Vencido.” It will be intriguing to see how he blends the old and new in concert. Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $45-$185. 602379-2800, livenation.com.
9/16: Gloria Trevi vs. Alejandra Guzman
Joint tours are one of the latest trends in Latin pop, with successful treks by Mijares and Emmanuel and OV7 and Kabah. Guzman and Trevi, both headliners, now join the fray. Both are raspy-voiced vixens with turbulent personal lives, but Guzman’s music — angsty, rough-edged power pop — has held up better over the years. Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $35-$257. 623-7723800, ticketmaster.com.
9/17: The Beach Boys
Wouldn’t it be nice if Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks had stuck around after the 50th-anniversary tour to make this feel more like a Beach Boys concert? Yes, it would. But Mike Love has kept the Beach Boys on the road through thick and thin and he knows how to entertain a crowd that’s more concerned with hearing “Fun, Fun, Fun” than counting the number of people on stage who sang and/or played on the “Fun, Fun, Fun” session. The answer is one, but that one has surrounded himself with musicians who know how to capture the magic of those records, from Jeffrey Foskett to the great John Cowsill on drums. Details: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. $45-$99.50. 480-644-6500, mesaarts center.com.
9/19: U2: The Joshua Tree Tour
The Joshua Tree” is U2’s “London Calling,” the masterpiece that dared you not to pay attention. All wideopen spaces and stadium-ready choruses, it filtered Bono’s youthful quest for spiritual enlightenment through a newfound obsession with all things American and backed it up with killer tunes. “Where the Streets Have No Name” pulls you in and they finish you off with two chart-topping singles, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “With or Without You.” Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19. University of Phoenix Stadium, Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, Glendale. $35 and up. livenation.com, ticketmas ter.com.
9/21: Janet Jackson
With sales of more than 160 million records worldwide, Jackson stands as one of the best-selling artists of all time with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture, from “What Have You Done for Me Lately” to “Miss You Much,” “That’s the Way Love Goes” and “I Want You.” Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson Streets, Phoenix. $34-$656. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
9/26: Imagine Dragons
Imagine Dragons are launching their tour in support of “Evolve” at Talking Stick Resort Arena with special guests Grouplove and K.Flay. The album’s first single, “Believer,” spent six consecutive weeks at No. 1 at alternative radio and broke a record that had stood for more than 13 years for number of spins at the format, besting Linkin Park’s “Faint” in the process. Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson streets, Phoenix. $39-$972. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
9/27: Depeche Mode
New Wave legends Depeche Mode are returning to Ak-Chin Pavilion on Wednesday, Sept. 27, on the U.S. leg of the Global Spirit tour. Depeche Mode – Martin Gore, Dave Gahan and Andy Fletcher – released a new album Friday, March 17. Q Magazine has called “Spirit” “the most energized Depeche Mode album in years.” Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. See websites for ticket prices. livenation.com and ticketmaster.com.
9/27: Paramore
They’re bringing Tour Two to Comerica Theatre in support of “After Laughter,” their first album in more than four years. Paste magazine summed it up as “an undeniably hooky record that strays from its grungerock roots and finds the band in a place where they’ve found the fun in their craft once again” while DIY magazine noted, “It may just be perfect.” Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. Tickets start at $35. 602-379-2800, comericatheatre.com.
10/5: Flaming Lips
It takes a certain breed of entertainer to lead the members of an audience on an emotional journey from the smile-inducing spectacle of ‘Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1,’ with Wayne Coyne surrounded by giant inflatables, including Santa Claus, to the existential majesty of ‘Do You Realize??,’ which will have you weeping. Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $40-$50. ticketmaster.com.
10/6: Gary Allan
He’s topped the country charts with four singles since hitting his stride in the early 2000s — “Man to Man,” “Tough Little Boys,” “Nothing On But the Radio” and the platinum “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” which hit the top in 2013. He hasn’t had much luck with hits since then, despite releasing songs with names that should sound right at home at country radio (“It Ain’t the Whiskey” and “Hangover Tonight”). Details: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 19th Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix. $40-$60, including fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/7: Marco Antonio Solis
The former lead singer of Los Bukis has been awarded five Latin Grammy Awards and two Lo Nuestro Awards, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame. His latest album, “Gracias Por Estar Aquí,” topped the Billboard Latin charts in 2013. Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson streets, Phoenix. $65$200. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
10/7: Cake
These Sacramento rockers may be best remembered for their mainstream breakthrough in the ‘90s with a spoken-word novelty hit about going the distance. But their catalog is packed with songs that should appeal to anyone who loved “The Distance,” including the chart-topping modern rock hit, “Never There,” their take on the disco hit “I Will Survive” and any number of the better songs on “Showroom of Compassion.” Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 19th Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix. $40-$60, including fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/8: Scorpions and Megadeth
Founded in 1965, German rockers Scorpions topped the U.S. rock charts with 1982’s “No One Like You,” a soaring power ballad they soon followed with their first Top 40 single, “Rock You Like a Hurricane.” Their biggest U.S. hit came later with another ballad, “Wind of Change.” They finished 46th on VH1’s Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, and “Rock You Like a Hurricane” was No. 18 on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson streets, Phoenix. $40$425.25. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
10/14: Gin Blossoms
This year marks the 25th anniversary of “New Miserable Experience,” the quadruple-platinum triumph that took these Tempe rockers from headlining Long Wong’s to rocking the mainstream. Having recently taken their well-deserved place in the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame, they arrive at the Arizona State Fair with a brand new album they recorded with the R.E.M. production duo of Don Dixon and Mitch Easter to promote. Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 19th Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix. $40-$60, including fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/14: Harry Styles
The One Direction veteran topped the album charts in May with a self-titled solo debut, preceded by single “Sign of the Times,” a soulful, soaring gem that topped the charts in more than 84 countries the day it was released. Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. Sold out. ticketmaster.com.
10/17: Evanescence
The Synthesis Live Tour shares a name with Evanescence’s fourth album, due this fall. Like the album, shows will feature Evanescence reimagining their best known work with a full orchestra, combined with electronics and, as you may have imagined, Amy Lee’s voice and piano. Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $51-$282. ticketmaster.com.
10/18: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers are bringing the Getaway Tour to Glendale for a concert at Gila River Arena with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. The tour takes its name from the Peppers’ 11th studio release, which hit the charts at No. 2 in June and has already sent lead single, “Dark Necessities,” to No. 1 on both the mainstream rock and alternative songs charts. The album, produced by Danger Mouse and mixed by Nigel Godrich, was praised by Rolling Stone for its “topshelf modern-rock splendor.” Details: Wednesday, Oct. 18. Gila River Arena, Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, Glendale. $49-$99. 800-7453000, gilariverarena.com.
10/20-22: Lost Lake Festival
The Killers, Chance the Rapper, Major Lazer, Odesza, the Roots, Run the Jewels, the Pixies, Haim and Ludacris are among the higher-profile artists set to play at the inaugural music festival. Superfly, the co-creators of the iconic Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and San Francisco’s Outside Lands Music Festival, will launch the multi-format Lost Lake Festival at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix. Details: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 20-22. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $164.50 for GA three-day pass, with VIP tickets starting at $499.50. LostLakeFestival.com.
10/21: Snoop Dogg
It’s been 25 years since Snoop Dogg grabbed the culture by the collar with a featured rap on Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang,” announcing his arrival with “Ready to make an entrance, so back on up.” It wasn’t long before he’d made good on the promise of that entrance with such early hits as “What’s My Name?” and “Gin and Juice.” He topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2004 with the Pharrell-assisted “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and returned to the top in 2010 as the featured guest on Katy Perry’s “California Gurls.” Details: 7 p.m. Saturday. Oct. 21. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 19th Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix. $40-$60, including fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/26: Luke Bryan
The country-pop sensation brings his Huntin’ and Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day Tour to town with Brett Eldredge and Granger Smith opening. Bryan’s latest album, “Kill the Lights,” hit Billboard’s country charts at No. 1, his third consecutive release to do so on its way to going double-platinum. His hits include country chart-toppers “Rain is a Good Thing” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby.” Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26. Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $34-$384. ticketma ster.com.
10/26: Marilyn Manson
The ‘90s alt-rock icon and cultural lightning rod will likely bring out highlights plucked from the mombaiting “Antichrist Superstar” album along with his Top 40 hit Eurythmics cover “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” Details: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 19th Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix. $40-$60, including fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/27: Rick Springfield
The point is never moot. This Australian rocker had a minor pop hit in the early ’70s with a single called “Speak to the Sky.” But Springfield’s proper mainstream breakthrough came a decade later when he topped the charts with “Jessie’s Girl” and followed through with Sammy Hagar’s “I’ve Done Everything for You.” Other hits include “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “Affair of the Heart” and “Human Touch.” Details: 7. p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 19th Avenue and McDowell Road, Phoenix. $40-$60, including fair admission. 602-252-6771, azstatefair.com.
10/28: Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
The old-time rock and roller fueled speculation that this could be a farewell tour when he released a video that included the tag line “one last time.” Earlier this year, his “Greatest Hits” album was certified diamond by the RIAA for 10 million U.S. sales. In 2015, the year of Seger’s last Valley appearance, he was honored with Billboard’s “Legend of Live” award at the 12th annual Billboard Touring Conference & Awards for his significant and lasting impact on the touring industry. Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson Streets, Phoenix. $60$625. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
10/28: Joe Bonamassa
Blues-rock guitar hero Joe Bonamassa is playing Comerica Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 28, in support of his latest studio album, “Blues of Desperation.” He’ll be backed by the musicians featured on his Grammynominated “Live At The Greek Theatre,” his 17th release to top the Billboard blues chart. Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. See website for ticket prices. ticketmaster.com.
10/28: Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi’s breakthrough single, “Day ‘N’ Nite,” was 2 years old before it peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 on its way to going triple-platinum. That was 2008 and it still doesn’t feel like a pop hit. In a good way. Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N. Center St. $50; $45 in advance. mesa amp.com.
10/31: Halsey
Spend Halloween with Halsey when the singer brings her U.S. tour to the Valley with PartyNextDoor and Charli XCX. The eight-week tour is in support of Halsey’s second album, “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom,” which topped the Billboard album charts in early June. Details: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson Streets, Phoenix. $15$665. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
11/3: Jay-Z
The 4:44 Tour shares a name with Jay-Z’s 11th consecutive chart-topping album, following such undisputed triumphs as the five-times-platinum “Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life” and 2013’s double-platinum “Magna Carta... Holy Grail.” Jay-Z’s hits include “99 Problems,” “Run This Town,” “Empire State of Mind” and “Holy Grail.” Details: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson Streets, Phoenix. $34$1,226. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
11/5: Bruno Mars
The Bruno Mars 24K Magic World Tour will bring the uptown funk to Phoenix. The tour takes its name from the Super Bowl Halftime Show champion’s latest release, a double-platinum effort that added two quadruple-platinum smashes to the singer’s hit parade – “24K Magic” and the chart-topping “That’s What I Like.” Details: Sunday, Nov. 5. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson Streets, Phoenix. $44.75-$120.25. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
11/12: Alabama
Formed in 1969, these country superstars have managed to sell more than 73 million albums while sending no fewer than 43 singles to the top of Billboard’s country chart, including such crossover smashes as “Feels So Right,” “Love in the First Degree” and “Take Me Down.” Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale. $40-$225. 480- 850-7734, talkingstickresort.com.
11/18: Fall Out Boy
Downtown Phoenix is the final destination on Fall Out Boy’s “MA N I A” tour, which shares a title with their long-awaited follow-up to “American Beauty/American Psycho,” a platinum effort that debuted at No. 1 on Billboard in early 2015. Their hits include “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” and “Centuries.” Details: Saturday, Nov. 18. Talking Stick Resort Arena, Second and Jefferson Streets, Phoenix. See website for ticket prices. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
11/20: Niall Horan
Having spent the past year working on his debut solo album, Horan is set to bring new music to his fans in a series of intimate shows. His debut single “This Town,” released in the fall of 2016, has sold more than three million track equivalent units globally while hitting No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 on its way to going platinum. Details: 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $49-$321. 800-745300, ticketmaster.com.
12/3: Trans-Siberian Orchestra
They may have lost their founder, Paul O’Neill, in April, but his vision will live on. The orchestra posted a message to fans saying that although they may be heartbroken to lose their leader, they’re also “determined to carry on the rock theater project to which he dedicated his life.” Details: 3:30 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Gila River Arena, Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, Glendale. Check website for prices. 800-745-3000, gilariver arena.com.
12/5: The Piano Guys
These four dads from Utah have climbed the Great Wall of China for their craft, landed atop the Billboard charts, sold out tour dates around the world, accrued a massive social media following and scored YouTube viewership of more than 730 million. Details: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. $29-$130. 800-745300, ticketmaster.com.
12/7: Tony Bennett
The man has won 19 Grammy Awards in the course of a career spanning more than six decades. His signature tunes include “Because of You,” “Rags to Riches” and “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” Details: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $78-$138. 602-267-1600 ext. 1, celebritytheatre.com.