Arts & Entertainment

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Music

 

 

Sarah McLachlan with Symphony Orchestra

After a successful symphony orchestra performance last summer, three-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter McLachlan announces a second tour throughout the States and her native Canada. Known for her soulful lyrics, McLachlan promises a concert she says is “gonna be full on and fun.” 7:30 p.m. July 1. $15-$49.50.

Meadow Brook Music Festival, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; 248-377-0100.

 

Neil Diamond

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Neil Diamond makes sparks during his 2012 North American summer tour. Fueled up and ready to hit the ground running, Diamond is scheduled to make a much-awaited Detroit detour to serenade fans for the first time in nearly two decades. Polished up and ready to roll, Diamond reignites “The Feel of Neil” with favorites like “Sweet Caroline,” “Song Sung Blue,” and “Forever in Blue Jeans.”  8 p.m. July 3. $29.50-$127.50.

DTE Energy Music Theatre, 7774 Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston; 248-377-0100.

 

Death Cab for Cutie

Lead vocalist Ben Gibbard has a solo success story to sing about. From small cassettes to big-break records, Death Cab for Cutie crossed over from independent music scene to mainstream media. Sprouting from an era of ’90s grunge revival, Death Cab dug its roots into the underground sound system and alternative form. Gibbard also credits the equally countercultural Jack Kerouac as a musical influence, fading the line between Beat writer and modern beats. 7 p.m. July 4. $25-$39.50.

Meadow Brook Music Festival, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; 248-377-0100.

 

Aerosmith and Cheap Trick

Despite reaching a peak in the mid-to-late ’70s and enduring a lull halfway through the ’80s, Aerosmith packed enough punch during the height of its rock and rollercoaster success to keep stadiums full and devout fans (nicknamed the Blue Army) pining for more. 7:30 p.m. July 5. $29.50-$149.50.

Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.

 

Stevie Nicks

In need of a Nicks fix? Stevie Nicks, signature singer of Fleetwood Mac, satisfies the hankering for something sweet, just in time for summer. Deemed by Rolling Stone as the “Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll,” Nicks has proved her success as both a part of Mac and as an eight-time Grammy-nominated solo artist. 7:30 p.m. July 6. $79-$671.

Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward, Detroit; 313-983-6000.

 

American Idol Live

What mixes better than sweet and salty? It’s a tough combination to beat. Chips Ahoy! and Ritz present the annual American Idol Live summer tour. The tour kicks off in Detroit, showcasing the top 10 contestants from Idol’s 11th season. Sponsors amp up the excitement with promised cookie and cracker coupons, making it one sweet and savory performance. 7 p.m. July 6. $70-$746.

Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Dr., Detroit; 313-983-6606.

 

Fiona Apple

After earning a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal in 1998, a 19-year old seedling from the Big Apple grew into a commercial sensation. American singer, songwriter, and pianist Fiona Apple won over listeners’ hearts with her first album, Tidal, and continues to cater to her fans’ cravings. 7 p.m. July 7. $74.

The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; 313-961-5451.

 

Def Leppard and Poison

At the height of the U.S and British rock craze, Def Leppard bit the music industry hard. The English rockers played an instrumental role in headlining the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Their track “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” was one of the first metal music videos aired on MTV in 1982. Band members Joe Elliot, Rick ‘Sav’ Savage, Rick Allen, and Phil Collen prescribe energetic performances paired with heavy rock as the recommended antidote for die-hard music junkies. 7 p.m. July 7. $30-$89.50.

DTE Energy Music Theatre, 7774 Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston; 248-377-0100.

 

The Dave Matthews band rocks the dte energy music theater july 10.

 

Dave Matthews Band

Well-known for their infusion of unconventional instruments and sounds packaged into a signature blend of folk, jazz, and traditional rock, Dave Matthews Band doesn’t hesitate to experiment with genre. Each member adds flavor to the mix, bridging classical, soul, funk, hip-hop, and bluegrass to boot. 7 p.m. July 10. $40.50-$75.

DTE Energy Music Theatre, 7774 Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston; 248-377-0100.

 

Santana

Feeding crowds his energy for nearly 40 years, Carlos Santana’s signature Afro-Latin-blue-rock fusion transcends the confines of neatly bound musical genres, proving one genre can bleed into the next. Santana landed on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” at number 20 and continues to entrance fans. 8 p.m. July 15. $15-$80.

DTE Energy Music Theatre, 7774 Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston; 248-377-0100.

 

Nickelback

This Vancouver-based band rose to fame in the mid-’90s, wedging themselves between a rock and a hard place. Nickelback floats between hard rock, post-grunge, and alternative rock. The band’s latest album, Here and Now, was released in 2011, marking a return to more organic roots. Lead vocalist Chad Kroeger says, “We’re four people who love making music, the way we like to make it.” 6:30 p.m. July 17. $36-$99.

DTE Energy Music Theatre, 7774 Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston; 248-377-0100.

 

Nicki Minaj

From a little girl living in Queens to international hip-hop princess, Nicki Minaj continues to pop her way to fame. Also famous for her trending alter-ego fashions, Minaj competes with bigwig female artists such as Katie Perry and Lady Gaga. 8 p.m. July 17. $79-$281.

Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward, Detroit; 313-983-6000.

 

Van Halen

Since its debut album in 1978, Van Halen continues to hold the title of most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. After years of separation, the heavy-metal pioneers announced their 2012 tour dates in tandem with a new album release, their first in about 14 years, titled A Different Kind of Truth. 7:30 p.m. July 19. $29.50-$149.50.

Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Dr., Detroit; 313-983-6606.

 

Rascal Flatts

This country trio requires a large trophy room to house their 40 major awards, including AMC and CMA “Vocal Group of the Year.” One award the artists won’t be able to hold on to is their recently laid star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Flatts attracts a youthful following, coming as a bit of a surprise to some who’d expect teens and young adults to gravitate toward rap and mainstream pop. 7 p.m. July 20. $29.75-$79.50.

DTE Energy Music Theatre, 7774 Sashabaw Rd., Clarkston; 248-377-0100.

 

Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band

Nothing says summer more than music and margaritas, and no one blends the two like the season’s biggest exponent. Despite a mix of sweet-and-sour trials during his early years, Jimmy Buffet sold his island escapism lifestyle to franchisees and followers, branding his easygoing beach-bum persona into billions. An avid pilot, this bird of paradise also knows how to strum a sweet tune or two. 7:30 p.m. July 28. Tickets start at $72.

Comerica Park, 2100 Woodward, Detroit; 313-471-6611.

 

Florence and the Machine

Known for her “mass of contradictions,” indie-pop singer/songwriter Florence Welch is also famous for her intense voice and geeky persona. She’s zany but heartfelt, dark but romantic. 7:30 p.m. July 31. $59-$212.00.

Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward, Detroit; 313-983-6000.

 

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