Summertime always brings cool concert tours and music festivals happening all across America. There’s a wide range of tours along with music festivals that bring together many artists in one place. Here’s are five of this summer’s must-see music tours and festivals.
To me, this is the biggest musical tour in years: the reunion of the original (almost) Van Halen! I can’t wait to see Diamond David Lee Roth himself, along with Eddie Van Halen shredding on the guitar. The new member is Eddie’s son Wolfgang, who replaced long-time member Michael Anthony on the bass guitar.
The band is on an epic tour of the U.S., and I would check them out in Oakland, California, at the Oracle Arena on June 3, 2012. This would allow me to stay in Marin County, just north of San Francisco and some of the most beautiful country in America. I would stay in the Napa Valley at the Hotel Yountville and do some wine tasting. It’s about an hour north of the arena.
Lady Antebellum
Country stars Lady Antebellum are out on tour this summer, and I really think they bring a great blend of country, rock, and even some rhythm and blues thrown in. I would wait and see them on June 30, 2012, at the Milwaukee Summerfest. It’s their last show before leaving for Europe, and there’s a lot of other cool bands at that festival to check out (like Chicago, ZZ Top, The Roots, Thievery Corporation, and more). This is a cheap one to attend – three-day passes are only $36, with single-day tickets priced at $14. if you stay at the Hilton Milwaukee with their Summerfest Special, you get two tickets to Summerfest, plus two free drinks, for $196 per night.
Lady Antebellum is very involved with their fans, and if you join their fan community, you can request access to meet and greets with the band in each city they play.
311 Cruise
I like 311; they combine punk, rock, ska, reggae, and a lot of other flavors to make some great music. While the band does have a summer tour, many shows with the band Slightly Stoopid, I think the best way to see them is on their own Caribbean cruise, the 311 Cruise. The cruise leaves Miami on May 10, 2012, and travels to a private island before returning four days later. It’s like a music festival at sea, with The Dirty Heads, Shwayze, and many other performers also on the ship. Inside cabins start at $699, double occupancy.
All Good Music Festival
This is another destination that would be great to travel to this summer, allowing music fans to see a whole group of similar artists. The All Good Music Festival and Campout happens just outside of Columbus, Ohio, and features jam bands like The Allman Brothers, G Love and Special Sauce, The Flaming Lips, and more. A four-day pass is $189 when purchased online in advance.
Yanni
Yanni is back, and he’s touring the U.S. with a full orchestra. It’s a musical experience that combines new age with world music and also Yanni’s Greek heritage. I would check out the July 13, 2012, show at the spectacular Red Rocks Amphitheatre just outside Denver, Colorado. The venue is carved out of a natural canyon and would make a great setting to hear Yanni’s spiritual music. The Sheraton Denver West is a nice hotel near the venue.
