List
21 Must-See Summer 2015 Tours
Sam Smith returns after surgery, 5SOS become arena headliners, Shania Twain does her final live run ever—read about everything you've gotta see this summer
What: The Pinkprint Tour's first North American run and second spin through Europe
When: June 4 – August 19
Why It's a Must-See: Dear old Nicki's in an amazing place right now, a place you wanna see her in. She dropped The Pinkprint in December; it's her most personal record yet, full of devastatingly clever and badass lines and sterling, disturbingly dope production. And she's been touring the album, sharpening the setlist and doing an exclusive video diary series on Tidal since March.
She's also engaged—or not engaged but basically engaged?—to Meek Mill, one of her openers on the tour. Throw in Rae Sremmurd, Tinashe and Dej Loaf, and why would you want to see any other concert? —Zach Dionne
What: The Boys of Zummer Tour
When: June 10 – August 10
Why It's A Must See: Pop-punk and hip hop aren't the most common bedfellows, and that's a shame. Fall Out Boy know the value of joining forces with the rap world, with a hot Jay Z feature and 2 Chainz' show-stealing spot on "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark." This year, Illinois' illest are co-headlining a frat-tastic tour with chart topping buddy Wiz Khalifa. Best of both worlds, we think. —Maria Sherman
What: The 1989 Tour
When: May 20 – October 31
Why It's A Must See: Let's be real: It's Taylor Swift's world and we're just living in it. The pop princess is on the road with her new country-less album, and the gigs already look like quite the spectacle. If you're looking for her old hits, look elsewhere. This is the new Swift. —Maria Sherman
What: The Rock Out With Your Socks Out Tour
When: July 17 – September 13
Why It's A Must See: 5 Seconds of Summer have blown our minds the last couple of years opening for One Direction in the warmer months, so who wouldn't we want to see them again? Now the hunks from Down Undah are embarking on their first-ever arena headlinging gig. Let's bring power pop-punk to the masses! —Maria Sherman
What: The Honeymoon Tour, second North American leg
When: July 16 – October 15
Why It's a Must See: We don't need to tell you that Ariana Grande's My Everything album has been a runaway success. With five hit singles under it (so far), it's no wonder Grande is bringing a second leg for America this summer. Even if you did see the initial Honeymoon run, maybe "One Last Time" just became your jam and you need to hear it live again. We'd more than understand.
Don't miss supporting act Prince Royce, the bachata artist who's prepping his debut English album. He should have a slew of slick pop/R&B jams to get the crowd more than warmed up for Ari. —Jeff Benjamin
What: The Sonic Highways Tour
When: May 25 – August 29
Why It's a Must-See: The Foos have been on such a roll lately. You've probably had a lot of chances to see em in their 21-year career, but it's hard to imagine Dave Grohl going for it any harder right now than he has in years prior. With projects like HBO's Sonic Highways documentary series and the new Kurt Cobain/Nirvana documentary Montage of Heck, Dave is on his Grohl-grind super hard. —Zach Dionne
What: The Reflection Tour's second leg
When: June 14 – September 16
Why We're Excited: We're completely head-over-heels in love with 5H, the greatest American girl group in recent history. With their biggest hit to date, "Worth It," all over radio, it's the perfect time to see them live. This time they're taking a few new opening acts: Debby Ryan + the Never Ending, Natalie La Rose and Bea Miller, a teenage diva who we believe is posed to break out this year. Get on the Miller train early like Fifth Harmony already has! —Maria Sherman
What: The Black Messiah Tour
When: June 7 – July 20
Why It's a Must-See: The sexy R&B/neo soul master is hitting Europe and the U.S. with his first album in 14 years, the follow-up to 2000's Voodoo and only his third LP in a 19-year recording career. You don't need any more reason. Go see D'Angelo before he starts another stretch of being unseeable. —Zach Dionne
What: The End Times Tour
When: June 3 – August 16
Why It's a Must-See: The below video was all the proof we needed to connect the dots between Manson and Corgan, two frontmen whose bands have been revolving doors over the years and have always provided top-notch live experiences. Almost an unthinkable supertour, but it's going to be a J.T./Jay Z or Rihanna/Eminem–style event for a certain stripe of '90s alt-rock/goth-rock devotee. The Smashing Pumpkins are touring their ninth LP, December 2014's Monuments to an Elegy, while Manson is following up his ninth album, January's well-received The Pale Emperor. Synergy! —Zach Dionne
What: The Cheek to Cheek Tour
When: June 19 – August 1
Why It's a Must See: Take a step back in time when it was more than enough entertainment to watch the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong scat on stage with just a few instruments backing them. Satisfy that yesteryear yearning by checking out Gaga and Bennett's co-headlining tour. You'll get to hear classic standards and witness the duo's adorable onstage banter in person. —Jeff Benjamin
What: The Rock This Country Tour—her last live run ever
When: June 5 – August 23 (first leg)
Why It's a Must See: The country legend announced that her Rock This Country will be her final time going on tour. So let us give it to you straight: This is your last time ever to hear "Man! I Feel Like a Woman," "You're Still the One," "That Don't Impress Me Much" and all her other country-pop hits live...ever!!! —Jeff Benjamin
What: The In the Lonely Hour Tour
When: July 17 – August 17
Why It's a Must See: Things looked uncertain for GRAMMY-snatcher Sam Smith's touring future as the British crooner put his latest trek on hold and cancelled 20-something shows to undergo vocal chord surgery. Luckily, reports came back that the operation was successful and Mr. Smith will be recovered in time for the summer. Fingers crossed that with all his down time he found inspiration to write a few new songs we'll get to hear onstage. —Jeff Benjamin
What: The On the Road Again Tour
When: July 9 – September 12
Why It's A Must See: Post-Zayn Malik One Direction should prove to be only marginally as heartbreaking as it sounds. The four British babes will continue on in their gorgeous pop tradition and, like, have you noticed how deliciously raspy Liam Payne's voice has been sounding recently? Swoon city. —Maria Sherman
What: The Piece by Piece Tour
When: July 11 – September 20
Why It's a Must See: Kelly Clarkson's in a sweet spot right now with a new baby and No. 1 album in tow. Get a piece of her sunshine with her summer theater tour, where you'll hear shoutalong classics like "Since U Been Gone" to the deeper cuts on her very-excellent Piece by Piece record. An added bonus: The theater setting will make Kelly's openers, the five-piece vocal meaestros Pentatonix, sound that much more magical. —Jeff Benjamin
What: The R&B diva's summer tour
When: July 17 – August 28
Why It's A Must See: Jill Scott spoiled fans earlier this month when she not only dropped her new single "Fools Gold," but also announced a headlining tour for the summer. The GRAMMY winner's live show will preview her upcoming fifth album, the uber-anticipated follow up to 2011's The Light of the Sun, which hit No. 1. —Jeff Benjamin
What: The rising hard-rock act's headlining tour with openers Hail the Sun and Too Close to Touch
When: June 25 – July 24
Why It's A Must See: I the Mighty's new Connector album (stream it here) puts the band in prime position for a major breakout in 2015 (they've got Paramore and All Time Low's producer working on it) and the guys will follow up with a huge summer in support. Expect to see a more eclectic—not to mention bigger—crowd if you've seen the San Fran band in the past. —Jeff Benjamin
What: A continuance of the Out There Tour
When: May 28 – July 9
Why It's a Must-See: Sir Paul never stops, and neither do your chances to see one of the two living Beatles. Whether it's your first or 14th time, why miss the man who gave us "Rocky Raccoon"? Maybe he'll even bring out Kanye and Rihanna once or twice for "FourFiveSeconds." One thing that's sure is McCartney will be well-oiled, having taken the Out There Tour through the Americas—North, South, Central, all of 'em—for 32 dates in 2014. He also did a number of shows in Japan, South Korea and Europe earlier this year.
(We cannot promise Paul McCartney is playing "Rocky Raccoon." We can only hope and dream.) —Zach Dionne
What: The bands' co-headlining summer tour
When: May 29 – July 26
Why It's A Must See: We've run out of '90s nostalgia, how about revisiting the early '00s? This is the making of a super memorable tour that will have you confused about what year it is...in the best way! "Hands Down," this is the best tour ever... —Maria Sherman
What: The Korean hip hop/pop act's 2015 North American tour
When: May 28 – June 14
Why It's a Must See: Not only is this Epik High's first tour in nearly six years, it's also the largest K-pop tour in half a decade. With 11 dates on the trek, the guys will bring their signature brand of "sad fun" hip hop that made them one of the buzziest acts at SXSW this year. If you're on the East Coast, don't miss the guys' June 13 show in New York featuring Korea's veteran rapper/producer Masta Wu. —Jeff Benjamin
What: The Smoke+Mirrors Tour
When: May 29 – September 10
Why It's a Must-See: Most rock superstars in the culture are here 'cause they've been here so long. Imagine Dragons are that rare act that's captured the nation's attention and held it past the first few moments. The band's sophomore album, Smoke + Mirrors, released in February, will get the full live treatment—with Fuse faves Metric and Halsey playing support. —Zach Dionne
What: The Everything Will Be Alright in the End Tour
When: June 6 – August 2
Why It's A Must See: Weezer's ninth album—and their first in four years—dropped in October, and they're hitting a bunch of festivals to celebrate. What better way to see "Buddy Holly" and "Undone – The Sweater Song" than with a rabid, grateful festival crowd alongside you, outdoors, on a summer's eve? —Zach Dionne
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