Best concert photos of 2016

Our favorite moments from Oklahoma music events

Iset a goal to see 300 shows this year and fell short.

Roughly 225 isn’t too shabby though. As much as I loved sitting on the couch and watching every episode of “Luke Cage” and “Stranger Things” on Netflix, jumping in my car and catching a show dominated my calendar year. I love it, and my appetite for shows only continues to grow.

That’s the sorta attitude I’m interested to see take hold in Oklahoma City. As venues like the Tower Theatre and The Jones Assembly prepare to open in 2017, it’s the concert-going public that will make or break the metro area as a music destination. Big shows happen if big crowds show up. The Criterion led a new charge this year. The downtown Oklahoma City venue had an impressive 2016 concert lineup, attracting acts like Sturgill Simpson, Troye Sivan and Glass Animals before their inevitable arena stardom kicks in. (Full disclosure: I became The Criterion’s house photographer after the venue’s opening concert). The Zoo Ampitheatre also secured some big shows this year with packed performances from Twenty One Pilots, Chris Stapleton and Weezer.

Smaller venues like the Blue Door, Opolis, ACM@ UCO Performance Lab, Power House Bar and several others continue to field talent that normally skips over Oklahoma. These venues made up a majority of my tally this year. Although popular artists seemingly always sell out their shows in Oklahoma, that’s the case less often than you’d think. Just pick a venue and visit on a weeknight.

Sure, I loved seeing Bruce Springsteen at the Chesapeake Energy Arena and Black Sabbath at the BOK Center, but a lot of magic happens between the mega shows. Club venues and listening rooms are where you’ll see artists grind it out before they make it big, and there’s plenty of room for more patrons. 2017 could be an even bigger year for Oklahoma concerts. We’ll have more active venues than we’ve had in years. The question is, are you going to be there on a Saturday night AND a Tuesday night?

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy a few moments we captured at concerts this year.

Rae Sremmurd performs live at the OKC Farmers Public Market. The hip-hop duo landed in Oklahoma City the same week its song “Black Beatles” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Ryan Magnani performs alongside Chase Kerby and the Villains at Norman’s Summer Daze music festival. The Opolis hosted the free concert event. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Wil Norton performs alongside Husbands at Norman’s Summer Daze music festival. The Opolis hosted the free concert event. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Normanbased rapper Zie performs live at Norman Music Festival on the festival’s first curated hip-hop stage. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Ketch Secor, of Old Crow Medicine, performs live at G Fest in Muskogee. The festival acted as a tribute to Merle Haggard, who was originally the headliner before he passed away April 6. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros perform at Tulsa’s 3rd annual Hop Jam Beer & Music Festival during its biggest year yet. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHO-

Ryan Houck takes a break during the Illinois River Jam festival in Tahlequah. Tulsa’s Travis Linville organizes the laid-back concert, located on the banks of the Illinois River. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Bruce Springsteen performs with the E Street Band on April 3 at Chesapeake Energy Arena. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN]

The Hanson brothers raffling off a guitar at Tulsa’s 3rd annual Hop Jam Beer & Music Festival. The trio organize and help curate the festival. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Bruce Springsteen performs with the E Street Band on April 3 during a concert at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. [PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Isabella Lessard cheers in the crowd at Tulsa’s 3rd annual Hop Jam Beer & Music Festival. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHOMAN]

Ben Rector and his band perform at the opening of The Criterion. [PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE, THE OKLAHOMAN]