Best Upcoming Concerts in San Diego

San Diego has it all: nice beaches, perfect weather, and a killer music scene. There’s plenty to do in the city, but we’ve chosen to highlight some of the best upcoming concerts that San Diego has to offer. Check it out, grab some tickets, and treat yourself. Stay classy, San Diego.

 

Milky ChanceTickets

with X Ambassadors

Monday, August 3, 2015

German duo Milky Chance is made up of Clemens Rehbein and Philipp Dausch. The pair first met in high school and played together in a local band, and later decided to carry on as just a duo and formed Milky Chance. Their catchy debut single “Stolen Dance” became a huge international hit after the band uploaded it to their YouTube page. The song gained millions of views and went on to top the charts in several countries, opening the door for sold-out tour dates and live television appearances. Milky Chance followed up the success of their single with their debut full-length, Sadnecessary, in 2013.

Echo & the BunnymenTickets

Thursday, August 6, 2015

English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen formed in Liverpool in 1978. While they saw some mainstream success in the UK, they had more of an underground following here in the states, with songs like “The Killing Moon” and “Lips Like Sugar” quickly becoming ’80s cult hits. Still active today are original members Ian McCulloch (vocals) and Will Sergeant (guitar), and they just released a new album called Meteorites in 2014.

Lindsey StirlingTickets

with Lights

Monday, August 10, 2015

Violinist and performance artist Lindsey Stirling got her start as a YouTube star, with a series of popular choreographed performance videos that garnered millions of views. In addition to her YouTube fame, she gained further recognition as a finalist on the fifth season of America’s Got Talent in 2010. Her unique music style combines classical violin with genres such as hip hop and EDM. Stirling released her self-titled debut album in 2012, followed by her sophomore record, Shatter Me, in 2014.

Sam SmithTickets

with Gavin James

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Sam Smith is undoubtedly one of the greatest music success stories of the last few years. The soulful English singer initially gained attention when he lent his vocals to Disclosure’s 2012 hit single “Latch.” The next year, he was featured on Naughty Boy’s “La La La,” earning his first number one and international recognition. In 2014, Smith released his debut full-length, In the Lonely Hour, which got him nominated for six Grammy Awards, of which he won four.

Alabama ShakesTickets

with Blake Mills

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Roots rock band Alabama Shakes formed in Athens, Alabama in 2009, when lead vocalist and guitarist Brittany Howard met bassist Zac Cockrell in a high school psychology class and the two started making music together. Other members of the band include guitarist Heath Fogg, keyboardist Ben Tanner, and drummer Steve Johnson. They released their debut album Boys & Girls in 2012, and have since received several Grammy nominations, including one for Best New Artist and another for Best Rock Performance for their single “Hold On.” Earlier this year, Alabama Shakes released their highly anticipated second record Sound & Color, which is already being regarded as one of the best albums of 2015.

The StrutsTickets

Thursday, August 13, 2015

English rock band The Struts was formed in 2010 by vocalist Luke Spiller and guitarist Adam Slack. Their often flamboyant glam rock style has drawn comparisons to bands like The Rolling Stones and Queen. In fact, the group was given the opportunity to open for The Rolling Stones in Paris last year in front of 80,000 fans. Last year, The Struts released their debut album Everybody Wants, which reached #52 on the U.K. albums chart.

Raekwon & Ghostface KillahTickets

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Raekwon and Ghostface Killah are best known as members of NYC hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The two are coming together for what’s sure to be one of the hottest hip hop tours of the summer. Having collaborated on each other’s solo projects, the duo is sure to perform a mix of their own stuff, and hopefully they’ll toss in some Wu-Tang throwbacks as well.

MorrisseyTickets

Starting on Thursday, August 20, 2015

Best known as the frontman of the beloved ’80s indie band The Smiths, Morrissey is one of the most renowned vocalists out there today, and is often regarded as one of the most influential musicians and lyricists of the last century. The Smiths were so successful partly due to Morrissey’s relatable and often cynical lyrics, which conveyed themes like anxiety, isolation, and romantic frustration that resonated with a wide audience. After the breakup of The Smiths in 1987, Morrissey carried on with a solo career, which commenced with the release of his album Viva Hate in 1988. He has since released nine more studio albums and to this day remains one of the biggest names in the music industry. His solo sets are spectacular, and he’s known to throw in some deeper cuts from the Smiths’ catalogue, so as long as you can tolerate his “Meat Is Murder” message, he is definitely one performer you won’t want to miss.

Shania TwainTickets

with Gavin DeGraw

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Rising to fame in the late 1990s, Shania Twain emerged to become one of the most successful female country artists in the genre’s history. By the time she released her multi-platinum second album The Woman in Me in 1995, she was a Grammy Award winner and a mainstream crossover success. Her next album, the astoundingly 20x platinum Come On Over, came out in 1997 and to this day still holds the record as the best-selling country album of all time. Flash forward to 2015, and Twain is headed out on the road for her first tour in 11 years, still rocking it at almost 50 years old. She has stated that she plans to release a new album once the tour wraps.

Taylor SwiftTickets

with Vance Joy & Shawn Mendes

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Calling all lonely Starbucks lovers: Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated 1989 World Tour is officially underway, and it includes a stop at San Diego’s Petco Park. Swift recently left her country roots behind and emerged as a full-fledged pop singer. Having begun as a country artist, she was able to effortlessly cross over into the mainstream over the years by moving closer to a poppier sound with each album release. Her transition into a bona fide pop star is now complete, as evidenced by her latest album, 1989, which is chock-full of catchy, radio-friendly hits like the smash singles “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space.” With multiple Grammy Awards, platinum album sales, millions of views on YouTube, a number of film and television roles, and a ubiquitous presence on Top 40 radio stations, there’s no doubt that Swift has successfully achieved diva status. Haters gonna hate hate hate, but it looks like that’s not about to change anytime soon.