Ironically, at my relatively young age, I’ve had a fantastic life full of concerts.I think it started with the Jonas Brothers at the Balloon festival first–before they made it big. Then going to see the Cheetah Girls, then to Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, and then seeing the Jonas Brothers about 10 times. I’m addicted to going to concerts or music festivals, but I like to think it’s my parent’s fault for starting me at at the young age of 7 (I swore I was going to marry Nick Jonas one day). After being unable to attend live events for several months due to the pandemic, I rediscovered why live music is so important. However, now that I’m a working adult, I’m not sure if I will be able to go to any concerts any time soon with my busy schedule and limited funds. The most anticipated concerts/tours of 2023 (in my opinion) are listed here, along with the concerts you won’t want to miss.
These pictures above are some random concert pictures, but I promise you there are too many to upload!
Ed Sheeran
After years of speculation about whether Ed Sheeran’s “Mathematics” Tour might come to North America, the popular pop artist has finally confirmed dates. I would love to see this tour specifically because I’m sure it will be a mix of newer songs I love such as “Visiting Hours” and all of his classics. Ed Sheeran will join several other musicians on tour in the United States this summer in support of 2021’s Equals. On certain occasions, Khalid, Russ, Dylan, Rosa Linn, Cat Burns, and Maisie Peters will open. I’ve seen videos of him performing and he’s amazing. I’d heard stories about how fantastic Ed was in person, but I’m sure none compare to what you would witness live. He’s fantastic, honest, and clearly enjoys playing for the audience. Additionally, back in 2018, I saw Khalid perform at the Governors Ball Music Festival in NYC. It was amazing. One of my favorite artists. So if you have the opportunity to see Ed Sheeran AND Khalid, take it!!!! This is the show not to miss if you want to see people do what they love!
Zach Bryan
He doesn’t have a stadium tour, but he is playing at a bunch of music festivals, such as Summerfest in Milwaukee. Zach Bryan seems amazing live in the videos I’ve seen, and music festivals are a fantastic venue to see him. Zach exudes energy, and the audience reciprocates. I’m looking forward to seeing him potentially in the future. I’m sure you’ll love Zach Bryan live if you enjoy him on record! Plus for the price of one ticket, you’ll get to see so many more amazing artists.
Big Thief
Alternative rock band Big Thief will be going on a major globe tour in 2023. Big Thief will perform in famous locations ranging from Brisbane’s Princess Theatre to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in promotion of their current album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You. I watched videos of their performance; though not live, it quickly became clear that Big Thief is outstanding. What was okay on Spotify is now vibrant and pulsing on video.
Noah Kahan
Noah Kahan has enthralling performances in the videos I’ve seen. You’ll adore this album if you enjoy music that is relatable and folksy. One of Noah’s finest albums to date, this one debuted at number four on the Top Alternative Albums Chart. I’m praising it since it’s his most vulnerable record to date. I think that I like Noah Kahan and would want to see him live because he’s a great “no frills” artist from a small town that just puts on a good show. I think it’s safe to say that Noah is rapidly sweeping the globe and you won’t want to miss his concert.
Arctic Monkeys
The Arctic Monkeys have finally announced dates for their upcoming U.S. tour. This tour will be swapping off the band’s previous vintage, almost psychedelic lounge ambiance for punk vigor and appealing melodies. I haven’t seen them live, but I love listening to their vinyl on my record player and the latest cuts have an ethereal, enigmatic, and even terrifying quality. Another reason to see their show is that I love how they switch up their style!
Dermot Kennedy
I came across Dermot Kennedy by chance. It was very recently and he was in the Good Vibes Spotify playlist that I listen to every now and then. The song on the playlist was “Kiss Me”. Then I started listening to some of his other songs and they gave me chills. In the way that he sings his songs, you could feel the passion and love. His voice tells you that he truly understands and feels what he’s saying in his lyrics. One of the few performers that does this, Dermot Kennedy makes you feel inadequate after seeing them play live. Throughout the concert, there are no production peculiarities; it is just him and his live band, and he captivates you only with his skills and his powerful voice. He just stood at the mike stand on his elevated platform and sang song after song, captivating everyone.
Dead & Company
Dead & Company will embark on their last tour in May 2023. John Mayer, the band’s founding member and lead guitarist, sent a message to Instagram at the end of September. I predict that Dead & Company will end on a high note, despite mixed emotions as a fan. You don’t earn a reputation like the Dead’s with mediocre performances, so I had anticipated these concerts to be incredible, but there was something particularly unique about the atmosphere in watching them perform online. I felt like I was a part of history just by watching different performances because they were so different but equally amazing.Ultimately, the setlist and the variety included therein may be the key to some of the amazingness. The shows perfectly accomplished what Dead & Company set out to do: honor a beloved band while uniting generations of fans to honor the Grateful Dead’s lengthy history.
Lizzy McAlpine
Lizzy McAlpine popped up on my TikTok feed one day and that’s when I started listening to her music. Furthermore, her personality is a major asset to her performances. The set list for this concert I’m sure will just be great. I was a little concerned before watching videos of her performing because Lizzy’s music tends to have a chill, laid-back vibe, but she was able to make even her saddest songs feel fresh and exciting as she performed them. The performance list alternated between slower songs with just Lizzy and her guitar and faster tunes that had everyone up and dancing. The audience practically drowned out Lizzy during “all of my ghosts” and “doomsday,” which were undoubtedly audience favorites. Like in the majority of her live performances, I’m sure the crowd will sense the emotion.
Bruce Springsteen
The Boss, aka the one and only Bruce Springsteen, will go on a tour in 2023. For more than 30 years, his live performances have been legendary. There are excellent shows and shows that are much greater than that, thus there are no mediocre Springsteen concerts. I have not been, but I know many who would agree. If you were to watch Bruce perform for the first time, you could assume that it was his final performance ever. He leaves it all on stage . Every.Single.Time. He is one of rock’s best writers and performers, and no one pulls it all together better.
Taylor Swift
I saved the most notorious for last. The tour speculations started after Taylor Swift announced her tenth studio album, which was her first release of all-new music since 2020’s “evermore”. Everyone on my work team was talking about this tour and tried to get tickets with the pre-sale. Some were successful, while others, including me, were not. The demand for tickets literally crashed Ticketmaster, which is insane. The price of the tickets is also ridiculous. Ticketmaster had to cancel opening up the sales to the public because they all sold out. But even if you’ve only seen videos or performances on TV, you will understand why this is a must-buy ticket. For example, I do not love all of the songs from the “Reputation” album, however, Taylor Swift’s unwavering intensity carried the songs from Reputation that were not even my favorite. She puts on a technically flawless stage production, sounding brand new, and I’m sure she will do the same with this upcoming tour.
There are probably so many more concerts I’m missing from this list, but these are some that I wish I could go to this year. Which ones would you want to go to? Do you have tickets to any? Which concerts am I missing? Comment below!