THE HEAT IS ON
The outdoor concerts we’re waiting for this summer
The sun, the temperatures near or in the 80s, the blossoming trees — even, yes, the rain. All signs that it’s time for the outdoor summer concert season to begin.
The season kicked off this weekend with Whiskey Myers performing at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights. The Meadow Brook Amphitheatre follows four days later with Haim on May 25, while the newly renamed Pine Knob Music Theatre kicks off its 50th anniversary season with AJR on May 27 and the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre on the Detroit River revs up in June.
With another couple months of shows after 2021’s pandemicdelayed venues, there will be the usual amount of music under the stars between now and October — and possibly more since so many acts bided their time to get back on the road. Nearly 100 concerts are on the books so far for the outdoor venues, a proverbial so many shows, so little time situation. How to choose? As the season looms, here’s our pick of 15 amphitheater nights that should not be missed.
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, June 6 at Pine Knob: The duo’s 2008 concerts in support of their Grammy Award-winning “Raising Sand” collaboration were absolutely spectacular, and the case should be the same as they hit the road in support of last year’s “Raise the Roof.” 313471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• The Chicks and Patty Griffin, June 22 at Pine Knob: We haven’t seen the formerly Dixie Chicks here since 2016, and their first new album in 14 years (2020’s “Gaslighter”) puts some heat behind a tour we’ve been waiting two years to see. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown, June 25, Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre: The New
Orleans trombonist and his band Orleans Avenue always bring it on stage, and this year they’re bringing pals such as Tang & the Bangas, Big Freedia, Dumpstaphunk and more for what promises to be a Crescent City throwdown. 313-393-7128 or TheAretha.com.
• 99.5 WYCD Hoedown, June 25 at Pine Knob: Brooks & Dunn’s first metro area stop since 2010 makes the festival’s latest edition a big deal, with a formidable undercard featuring Tennille Townes, Scotty McCreery, Joe Nichols, Parmalee and more. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Barenaked Ladies’ Last Summer On Earth Tour, July 3 at Pine Knob: The Pine Knob favorite from Canada has also been waiting two years to take its latest package on the road, with Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket in town. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• The Doobie Brothers, July 4 at Pine Knob: Few acts are more appropriate for Independence Day than the Doobies, whose 50th anniversary concert — and reunion with Michael McDonald — has been postponed twice since 2020. But that’s allowed the group to release a new album (“Liberte”) and band memoir (“Long Train Runnin’) during the interim. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra, July 10 at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre:
The DSO continues a summer tradition, this time playing “The Magical Music of Harry Potter.” 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Chris Isaak and Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, July 17 at Meadow Brook: Droll humor and a legacy of fabulous live performances put this pairing on the top echelon of the summer’s double bills. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• British reggae stalwarts UB40 open a summer North American Bigga Baggariddim Tour tour promoting a new album, “Unprecedented,” on Aug. 19 at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre. The Original Wailers, Maxi Priest and Big Mountain will also be on the bill. 313393-7128 or TheAretha.com.
• Dwight Yoakam and Old Crow Medicine Show, Aug. 26 at Meadow Brook: See above listing for Chris Isaak and Lyle Lovett and apply the same merits to this two-fer of dependably pleasing Americana acts. 313471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert Tour, Aug. 27 at Pine Knob: You CAN talk, and even sing, about Bruno when the hit Disney film is shown with a live, on-stage band and vocals however many thousand show up on that pre-Labor Day Weekend Saturday. 313-471-7000