We’re still more than a month away from the official first day of summer, but why wait? We give you permission to kick off the summer concert season a little early this year. This month, take advantage of some of Philadelphia’s incredible shows and this beautiful, sunshine-filled weather!
A little off the beaten path, The Maine isn’t going “Maine-stream” anytime soon. With a rock sound similar to the Plain White T’s and Yellowcard, The Maine blends pop-punk with an indie edge. “Into Your Arms”, “Forever Halloween”, and “Misery” are their tracks that have received the most attention, but trust us, there’s a lot more talent where those came from. Check this group out at the Electric Factory on Saturday, May 9th at 7 p.m. Opening bands include Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, and The Technicolors.
Would it be unoriginal to say that Ciara’s beat is “automatic-supersonic-hypnotic-funky-fresh”? With hip hop hits like “Goodies”, “Love Sex Magic”, and “Like A Boy”, Ciara’s concert is expected to be a high energy party that will make you want to get down with your own 1, 2 Step. See her perform hits from her newest album at the Keswick Theatre on May 10th at 8 p.m. It’s the first tour she’s headlining in six years, and you won’t want to miss it!
Brad Paisley’s “Crushin’ It World Tour” is kicking off the 2015 Country Megaticket, a ten-show package featuring some of the hottest country stars this summer! The fun starts on Friday, May 15th at the Susquehanna Bank Center. Following Brad, ticket holders will get to see performances by Dierks Bentley on June 28th; Florida Georgia Line on July 24th; Rascal Flatts on August 1st; Tim McGraw on August 29th; Luke Bryan on September 11th and 12th; and Lady Antebellum on September 19th. But don’t worry: You can also buy individual tickets to Brad Paisley’s show here!
Jane’s Addiction may not have gotten the attention of Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails or Rage Against the Machine, but some credit them for singlehandedly changing the music scene in the 90’s. With classics like “Jane Says” and “Been Caught Stealing”, Jane’s Addiction brings back memories of ripped jeans, flannel shirts, and grubby band t-shirts. Revisit your grunge days with the alternative sounds of Jane’s Addiction as they play the album Nothing’s Shocking in its entirety. The show is being held on Saturday, May 16th at 8:30 p.m. at the Electric Factory.
Just try to name one girl who doesn’t love the song “Thinking Out Loud” … yeah, we don’t have the time to sit here all day while you try to come up with one! With special guest Foy Vance, Ed Sheeran will bring his folksy acoustic sound to the Mann Center on Tuesday, May 26th at 7:30 p.m.
Last but not least, the 8th Annual Roots Picnic ends the month, gifting Philly with an ever diverse mix of musicians. You can’t call yourself a true Philadelphian until you experience this soulful event! With artists all handpicked by The Roots themselves, this year’s line up consists of The Weeknd, A$AP ROCKY, Erykah Badu, Phantogram, Rae Sremmurd, DJ Mustard, Hiatus Kaiyote, Bishop Nehru, Afrika Bambaataa, Hudson Mohawke, Brianna Cash, and Donn T. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 30th at 11 a.m.! Tickets to the Festival Pier event can be purchased here.
What shows will you be attending in Philly this month? Let us know in the comments!
