The metro area’s outdoor concert season began early — on May 2 with the Sessanta package at the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Independence Township. But the summer run starts heating up in earnest next week.
Neil Young + Crazy Horse’s show on Wednesday, May 22, also at Pine Knob, begins a four-and-a-half-month run that takes music into the open air at the area’s four main amphitheaters along with stadiums, festivals and special events — with plenty of indoor shows happening, as well. The venues alone have nearly 150 concerts in place right now, although “Barbie” film fans may be disappointed the live film music presentation slated for Aug. 10 has quietly dropped off the schedule.
Pine Knob will, as usual, have a few changes to trot out — notably an expanded presence, and menu, for Clarkston’s Fed restaurant in the area that was previously the Coppercraft Club. The theater is also upgrading its MotorCity Casino & Hotel VIP Club and a rebranded Stage Left Lounge, plus Premier Parking programs at Pine Knob, the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre in Rochester Hills and the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights.
Not all shows are created equal, of course, and at the outset of a season there are always some we’re more excited about seeing under the stars than others. With that in mind, here are 24 picks for 2024, through September — and for the outdoor venues only (except Ford Field, which has a roof, but still). It’s time to pull out the blankets — and the earplugs.
• Neil Young + Crazy Horse, May 22 at Pine Knob Music Theatre: It’s been 20 years since Young brought the best-known and most loved of his bands to the metro area. Nils Lofgren is busy with Bruce Springsteen, but Willie Nelson’s son, Micah, has been a fine fill-in during the group’s Love Earth Tour, which kicked off April 24 and plays its penultimate date here.
• Sarah McLachlan, June 13 at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre: The Canadian songstress who used Pine Knob as part of the test-run for her Lilith Fair during the ’90s is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her triple-platinum “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” this summer, including hits such as “Possession” and “Hold On.” Fellow Great White Northener Feist opens.
• Pixies and Modest Mouse, June 18 at Michigan Lottery Amphitheater: A nice, cross-generational coupling of alt-rock favorites, with special guest Cat Power providing definite value-added.
• James Taylor and His All-Star Band, June 23 at Pine Knob: Sweet Baby James never disappointed. Ever. And his All-Star Band always lives up to its billing, too.
• Roger Daltrey, June 25 at Meadow Brook: There’s no telling when or if we’ll see the Who again — and frankly there’s no telling if this might be the last hurrah for its 80-year-old frontman. The semi-acoustic format promises something we’ve not heard before, and even with another solid show just up the road (Santana and Counting Crows at Pine Knob) this might be advisable.
• Luke Bryan, June 28-29 at Pine Knob: It’s been 12 years since Bryan’s played anywhere but Ford Field in the metro area, which will make this return, headlining the 99.5 WYCD Hoedown, that much more special. It’s also the only two-nighter on the Knob’s schedule, which will certainly have the country girls, and boys, shakin’ for him.
• Janet Jackson, July 2 at Pine Knob: Ms. Jackson’s hit-filled Together Again Tour played at Little Caesars Arena last May, but her return to the outdoors for the first time in 30 years should make this an altogether different experience.
• Def Leppard, Journey and the Steve Miller Band, July 18 at Comerica Park: There’ll be more hits that night — of the ’70s and ’80s variety — than at a week’s worth of Detroit Tigers home game. A reprise of a 2018 bill, but one that was well worth repeating.
• George Strait and Chris Stapleton, July 23 at Ford Field: A country legend pairs up with one of its new(er) greats to make a stadium full of fans fall to pieces together, as the Strait song says. It’s his first time back in a decade, too, so it will be nice to have the cowboy ride again.
• A Tribute to Ed Love, July 24 at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre: WDET-FM’s beloved, long-running jazz host gets his props with a performance by decorated vocalist Cassandra Wilson, still holding strong herself nearly 40 years into her recording career. Detroit bassist Ralphe Armstrong will add some bottom to the party.
• Totally Tubular Festival, July 26 at Meadow Brook: The ’80s haven’t gotten old yet, and you’ll be able to dance, if you want to, to this bill of Thomas Dolby, some form of Detroit’s own Romantics, Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, Modern English, Men Without Hats, Bow Wow Wow, Tommy Tutone and the Plimsouls.
• Creed, July 31 at Pine Knob: Like Nickelback, Creed took plenty of slings and arrows — including from folks who secretly had its albums on shuffle play. Redemption comes this summer (and again on Nov. 20 at Little Caesars Arena) as the quartet and its hits return for the first time in 12 years.
• Sammy Hagar, Aug. 2 at Pine Knob: After launching his Red Rocker Lager in Detroit last fall, Hagar is back with another twist; a Best of All Worlds tour celebrating Van Halen (and more), with Chickenfoot bandmate Joe Satriani adding additional virtuosity.
• John Fogerty and George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Aug. 4 at Pine Knob: What could be more classic than a night full of Creedence Clearwater Revival favorites, 55 years after the band famously put out three hit albums? Put us in, coach; we’ll be ready to play.
• Kenny Chesney, etc., Aug. 10 at Ford Field: Chesney has never really disappointed during his 11 previous stops at Ford Field, and it looks like the Sun Goes Down Tour will be a winning dozen with a bill that includes the Zac Brown Band, Megan Moroney and homeboy Uncle Kracker.
• Lamb of God and Mastodon, Aug. 10 at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre: Perhaps the most potent of the many metal packages out this summer, this one has extra intrigue thanks to the presence of Slayer’s Kerry King returning to action with his own band and songs from his first-ever solo album.
• Funk Night on the River, Aug. 10 at The Aretha: With a heritage-heavy lineup of the Ohio Players, Midnight Star, War and the Mary Jane Girls, there’s no question this will have the love rollercoaster in high gear and the boats bobbing on the Detroit River.
• The Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood, Aug. 15 at Pine Knob: The Doobies’ 50th anniversary show, with Michael McDonald on board, was one of the highlights of the summer of 2022. Winwood’s first area appearance since 2018 will only make it better.
• Warren Haynes, Aug. 20 at Meadow Brook: The Gov’t Mule leader and former Allman Brother throws down another creative gauntlet this summer with the Dreams and Songs Symphonic Experience, playing a career-spanning two sets with an orchestra as well as a third with his own band. A sure-fire night of musical adventure.
• Bret Michaels’ Parti-Gras 2.0, Aug. 23 at Pine Knob: The Poison frontman found a winning formula with last year’s Parti-Gras, and he’s raised the bar (literally and figuratively) with guests Chris Janson, Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider, former Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm and ex-Eagles guitarist Don Felder.
• The Roots, Aug. 25 at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre: After playing indoors on the F.O.R.C.E. Live tour at Little Caesars Arena last summer, “The Tonight Show’s” crew plays under the stars once again, topping a heritage bill of fellow progressive hip-hoppers Arrested Development and Digable Planets.
• Green Day, Sept. 4 at Comerica Park: A strong new album (“Saviors”) and anniversary performances of classic titles “Dookie” and “American Idiot” make this a must-see proposition, and the undercard of Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and the Linda Lindas only makes it better.
• 2024 Outlaw Music Festival Tour, Sept. 15 at Pine Knob: Willie Nelson brought the package back to town last year, and he’s on the road again with a lineup that packs even more star power with Bob Dylan, Farm Aid partner John Mellencamp and Southern Avenue on the bill. Just remember to be attentive when Mellencamp is performing.
• The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour, Sept. 19 at Pine Knob: It may seem like a cash-in on the box office success of the Bob Marley “One Love” biopic, but why shouldn’t they? Rest assured that when sons Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian hit the stage, every little thing is gonna be alright.
