Top Concerts and Tours Coming This Fall
Featuring local, regional and national tours, we spotlight highly anticipated shows taking the stage in Charlotte from September through November.
by Andy Goh Aug 09, 2018
Summer gets a lot of attention as concert season, and rightly so. But just because temperatures start to drop doesn’t mean the quality of live music in the Queen City does, too. Here are some concerts happening this fall that absolutely need to be on your calendar.
Miguel
Sept. 6
Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
When his fourth studio album, “War & Leisure,” was released in December 2017, it propelled LA-based singer and producer Miguel to national acclaim. Part of a new wave of R&B singers like Frank Ocean and The Weeknd, Miguel is known for a diverse range of influences, innovative production and a razor-sharp focus on his songwriting.
Alan Jackson
Sept. 15
Spectrum Center
Alan Jackson has been one of the biggest names in country music since the early ‘90s. Known as one of the best songwriters of any genre, Jackson has sold over 80 million records and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017. Jackson’s songs range from the sweet and tender (“Remember When”) to the party-starting (“Country Boy”), to the instantly recognizable (“It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”). Grab your cowboy boots and your Stetson hats for a night Uptown.
Portugal. The Man and Chicano Batman
Sept. 18
Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
Without a doubt, if you’ve been within earshot of any radio in the past year, you’ve heard Portugal. The Man’s uber-catchy single “Feel It Still”, which won a Grammy award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Beyond this ubiquitous single, Portugal. The Man is known for psychedelic indie rock with a pop twist. On the same bill is Chicano Batman, a fantastically laid-back SoCal Latino funk rock quartet that you will not want to miss.
Father John Misty
Sept. 26
The Fillmore
Father John Misty has experienced quite the musical evolution throughout his career, from recording and touring under his given name of Josh Tillman, to playing drums with Fleet Foxes to finding mainstream appeal as Father John Misty since 2012. Even within the Father John Misty era, Tillman seems to have a perpetually developing sound. From the wry irreverence of “Fear Fun,” to the epic introspection of "Pure Chaos" to the simple sincerity of his latest release, “God’s Favorite Customer”, Father John Misty keeps his audiences equal parts contemplative and entertained.
Jay Rock
Sept. 27
The Underground
Part of the same Top Dawg Entertainment crew that boasts Kendrick Lamar and SZA as members, Jay Rock has quietly made a name for himself in hip-hop circles reviving the boastful and bass-heavy West Coast rap sound reminiscent of Ice Cube and The Game. After surviving a near-fatal motorcycle accident in February 2016, Jay Rock released his third studio album, “Redemption,” in June and also appeared on the “Black Panther” soundtrack.
Florence + the Machine
Oct. 3
Spectrum Center
Since releasing their debut album, “Lungs,” almost a decade ago, British-based Florence + the Machine have received world-wide acclaim and recognition powered by the hauntingly soulful voice of lead singer Florence Welch. Not content to produce mere pop music, Florence + the Machine are known for a fully orchestrated sound, bordering on the operatic, that always manages to give the listener something that moves them on an emotional level. The band will be touring in support of their latest release, “High as Hope,” which debuted in June and was produced entirely by Florence Welch.
Chris Stapleton
Oct. 11
PNC Music Pavilion
For much of the last 20 years, country music has been at a bit of a crossroads as a more pop-focused sound has replaced the outlaws of the genre’s past. However, a new generation of musicians, such as Sturgill Simpson and Margo Price, have emerged to fill the outlaw void, led by the soul-stirring Chris Stapleton. Stapleton’s music harkens back to the days of empty whiskey bottles and dusty country roads, while also making excellent use of top-notch instrumentalists. Expect this show to be as rich musically and emotionally as Stapleton’s robust beard.
Nicki Minaj and Future
Oct. 16
Spectrum Center
Two of the biggest names in hip-hop collide in Uptown as Nicki Minaj and Future come to town during their world-wide NICKIHNDRXX tour. Nicki Minaj has become one of the world’s best-known and highest selling artists since bursting onto the scene in 2010 with “Pink Friday.” Her rapid-fire delivery, inventive wordplay and split personality stage persona have captivated audiences around the world. Atlanta-based rapper Future has risen to similar levels of popularity driven by his unconventional use of Auto-Tune, hazy and psychedelic flow, and prolific production of music (he released two albums, “Future” and “Hndrxx,” in back-to-back weeks in 2017).
CHVRCHES
Oct. 16
The Fillmore
Did you know that before touring and recording under the name CHVRCHES, the band used the moniker “Shark Week”? Thankfully, the band dropped that reference to the biggest week in TV and instead helped usher in a new generation of synth-based pop rock, carrying the torch for Depeche Mode and other new wave artists. Their most recent studio release, “Love is Dead,” finds the trio pushing their electro-pop sound into a more focused, pop-friendly territory. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry and crew promise to deliver a show that will stimulate the senses in the friendly confines of the Fillmore.
A Perfect Circle
Nov. 1
Bojangles’ Coliseum
You can’t talk about A Perfect Circle without acknowledging the omnipresent contributions of vocalist Maynard James Keegan, whose other projects include Tool and Puscifer. Keegan’s bands have helped push hard progressive rock into new territories, as they continue to experiment with instrumentation and lyrical content. APC’s latest album, “Eat the Elephant” (their first new material in 14 years), finds the band trading in distorted electric guitars for a more piano-driven sound. Regardless, fans of Maynard, Tool and APC can expect a hard-rocking show at Bojangles’.
Bob Dylan
Nov. 9
Ovens Auditorium
What more can you say about Bob Dylan that hasn’t already been said? Arguably the greatest songwriter in American history, Dylan has recorded almost 40 studio albums and penned some of the most iconic and renowned songs of the 20th century. His music has been covered hundreds of times; he’s considered a defining voice of his generation and, in 2016, was even awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. As we’ve seen with other senior artists (ahem, Willie Nelson), you never know how many more opportunities you’ll have to see these living legends, making this show an absolute can’t miss.
Straight No Chaser
Nov. 24
Ovens Auditorium
Originally formed as an all-male a cappella group at Indiana University in the late 1990s, Straight No Chaser achieved viral fame in 2007 when a YouTube video of the group performing “The 12 Days of Christmas” subsequently led to a deal with Atlantic Records. While the members of the group have changed over the years (originally it was limited to current students), the sound and spectacle have remained the same. Expect a high-energy show full of familiar tunes, foot-stomping rhythms, sidesplitting laughs and, of course, gorgeously gilded melodies.