The summer concerts season will soon be in full swing and the South Bay is playing host to big-name acts from May through the fall.
Some of the top acts on the summer concert schedule:
Mountain Winery
Between the usual Baby Boomer-bait reunion tours coming through the Mountain Winery this summer are a few bands on the lineup that remain relevant in today’s market.
Eclectic queen of neo-soul Erykah Badu shows up on June 29, seemingly dedicated to nonstop touring since the release of her fifth album three years ago. Despite this, she’s already managed to pop up on Tyler, the Creator’s new album and Janelle Monae’s new single this year.
In July, acoustic guitar shredders Rodrigo y Gabriella bring their trademark quick-picking percussive patois of guitar styles to the winery along with pianist and arranger Alex Wilson. On July 20, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and indie rocker St. Vincent will play tracks from their new joint album, Love This Giant. Michael Franti’s aggressively positive “rebel rock” arrives Aug 13. To close the season, melancholic warbler Conor Oberst performs on Oct. 3 before heading to San Francisco for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.
Shoreline Amphitheatre
Shoreline will see its fair share of big-name acts roll through this summer, including Ke$ha and Pitbull on a co-headlining tour June 14. Wiz Khalifa and A$AP Rocky bring their “Under the Influence of Music” tour through on July 17, and Kid Rock makes a blue-collar campaign stop on July 28 with a $20 flat rate (plus fees) for tickets. Bob Dylan headlines the Americanarama Festival of Music Tour with support from Wilco and My Morning Jacket on Aug 4.
HP Pavilion
Expect a high concentration of tweeners around HP this summer starting with Justin Bieber on June 26 with his Believe album tour and its accompanying cash-grab acoustic-remix edition. New Kids on the Block and 98 Degrees, OGs in the boy-band business, perform July 7, followed by their Ken Doll variety-pack spawn, One Direction, on July 30. The biggest HP show of the summer arrives with the return of Beyonce on July 2 for her “Mrs. Carter” tour and Bruno Mars rounds out the pop music lineup on July 25.
Composed of local San Jose blueswomen, Girls Got the Blues is fronted by “Empress of the Blues” Lara Price. Venerable slide guitarist Roy Rogers returns for a seventh time with his band, followed by vocalist Ruthie Foster, back by popular demand after a standing ovation last year. First-time Blues Fest performer (though longtime player) John Mayall, whose Bluesbreakers band was a leading talent pool for the British blues scene in the 1960s (Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor and others) closes out the evening.
Mayhem Festival
Perennial prince of darkness Rob Zombie headlines the Mayhem Festival coming to Shoreline June 30. Though the title of his recently released fifth album, Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor, might not indicate any drastic aesthetic changes, the heavy metal legend is slated to direct his first nonhorror film in 2015, The Broad Street Bullies.
Other major acts include Five Finger Death Punch, Mastodon and Amon Amarth, along with Machinehead, Children of Bodom and City in the Sea, among others.
Rock the Bells
Perhaps as a sign of things to come, two of the biggest names at this year’s Rock the Bells festival are dead. Holograms of both Wu-Tang Clan member Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Eazy-E of N.W.A. are scheduled to play alongside their still-living counterparts. Bone Thugs n Harmony will include their mentor Eazy-E in their show, and ODB will turn up with the rest of Wu-Tang. Other throwback acts include Jurassic 5, Tech N9ne and E-40.
Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt are slated to play, along with other contemporary rappers Danny Brown, Kid Cudi and Dom Kennedy. Rock the Bells unfolds Sept. 14-15 at Shoreline.
Outside Lands
High-profile throwbacks Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nine Inch Nails are set to headline this year’s Outside Lands, but even these guys might get outshone by the younger acts. French indie rockers Phoenix appear, as well as hipster heavies Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the National, Grizzly Bear, Band of Horses, Yeasayer, Matt & Kim and many more. A few electronic acts are in the mix as well, including Kaskade and Pretty Lights. Former R&B recluse D’Angelo will make an appearance, though no word yet on whether his eternally forthcoming new album will be out in time. Outside Lands takes place in Golden Gate Park, Aug. 9-11.
.Bay Area Summer Concert Guide
