September was absolutely packed to the gills with huge concerts around Dallas-Fort Worth, but if you thought that was something, wait until you see what's in store for October. Big names abound throughout the month, with some staying for multiple dates and one act pulling rare double duty in both Dallas and Fort Worth.
Below are some of the most-anticipated concerts taking place in October; while by no means a comprehensive list of every concert taking place, it should serve as a guide to the musicians people want to see the most. (For more listings, check our event calendar.)
Keith Urban (October 1)
It's been four years since country superstar Keith Urban played his one and only Texas tour stop in Dallas, and now he'll make his one and only Texas tour stop at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Urban is finally getting around to touring in support of his 2020 album, The Speed of Now Part 1. There's no news on when - or if - Part 2 is coming, but he has plenty of hits with which to entertain his many fans.
The Beach Boys (October 1)
There are few bands who could have the music, stamina, and good luck to last for over 60 years, but the Beach Boys are just such a band. The band's membership has changed a lot over the years, with two original members dying and two others no longer touring, but Mike Love has kept the group's legacy alive by continuing to go on the road into his eighties. The band will play all the hits you know and love at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.
The Smashing Pumpkins (October 2)
Alt-rock band The Smashing Pumpkins was at their peak in the mid-to-late 1990s thanks to mega albums like Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. But they've maintained a hold in popular culture thanks to the constant presence of lead singer Billy Corgan and a willingness to push musical boundaries. Their latest project, Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts, may be their most ambitious yet, coming out in increments over six months starting this November. They'll play at American Airlines Center in Dallas with Jane's Addiction as special guest.
Mary J. Blige (October 2)
The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige has been presiding over her kingdom for 30 years now. Since her debut with 1992's What's the 411?, Blige has been a mainstay at the top of the charts, with 12 of her 14 albums reaching the top 10 on the Billboard 200. She released her latest album, Good Morning Gorgeous, earlier this year to critical acclaim, and now she'll perform at Dickies Arena as part of a national tour, with support from Queen Naija and Ella Mai.
Pitbull (October 5)
The rapper Pitbull is one of the hardest working entertainers around, having released 11 albums since his debut in 2004, a nearly unprecedented pace in this day and age in the music business. His latest album was 2019's Libertad 584, and if it weren't for the pandemic, he'd probably have released another album by now. He'll play at Dickies Arena with special guest Iggy Azalea.
Roger Waters (October 8)
The band Pink Floyd has always been known for using their music to protest against governments and other institutions, and even though Roger Waters left the band in 1985, he has continued on in that tradition. During this concert at American Airlines Center, part of Waters' This is Not a Drill tour, he will give an indictment of the corporate dystopia in which we all struggle to survive, and a call to action to love, protect, and share the precious and precarious planet Earth. The show will include a dozen songs from Pink Floyd's golden era, alongside other newer songs.
Morgan Wallen (October 8)
Few entertainers have had a better start to their careers than country singer Morgan Wallen. His 2018 debut If I Know Me went double platinum and yielded a No. 1 hit, Whiskey Glasses. His follow-up, 2021's Dangerous: The Double Album, has been even bigger, going to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was named Album of the Year at the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards. He'll play at an appropriately big venue, Globe Life Field in Arlington, as part of his first headlining tour.
The Chicks (October 10 and 11)
The last time The Chicks came to town in 2016, they still had the word "Dixie" attached to their name. But in 2020, in conjunction with the release of their latest album, Gaslighter, they decided to drop that part since it came with unintended negative connotations. Gaslighter, while still very much a country album, found the trio once again forging their own path that has been a bumpy-but-rewarding one since the early 2000s. They'll play back-to-back nights at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.
Lil Nas X (October 12)
Being gay no longer holds the stigma it once did in the entertainment industry, but even still, few gay artists have put that side of themselves out there - and found huge success doing so - as much as Lil Nas X. After the runaway success of "Old Town Road" in 2019, his debut album, Montero, has been massive, yielding two more No. 1 hits and an international profile that few could have envisioned just three years ago. He'll perform at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory.
Reba McEntire (October 14)
Another queen - this time the Queen of Country - will make her way to Dickies Arena as part of her first solo tour in the United States in 10 years. After 45 years in the industry, Reba McEntire has little to prove to anybody. Despite that fact, her album releases are always an event - her latest album of new songs, 2019's Stronger Than the Truth - made the top 5 on the Billboard Country charts, and even a covers album like the new My Chains Are Gone: Hymns & Gospel Favorites sells extremely well.
KEGL's Freakers Ball featuring Disturbed (October 16)
For years, festival-style concerts like KEGL's annual Freakers Ball were strictly the domain of Dallas-area venues since Fort Worth didn't have any comparable spaces. But the opening of Dickies Arena changed all that, and now heavy metal fans can get their freak on in Cowtown. Headlining the event is Disturbed, arguably the pre-eminent heavy metal band of the 21st century, with five No. 1 albums to their credit. Also playing will be Asking Alexandria, Drowning Pool, Dorothy, and New Years Day.
The Black Keys (October 18)
Unlike some other acts on this list, rock duo The Black Keys took the slow road to success. They had already released five albums before the sixth, 2010's Brothers, gave them their first hit song, "Tighten Up." That led to their next album, 2011's El Camino, being even bigger, and then 2014's Turn Blue was their first - and so far only - No. 1 album. The duo has stayed busy during the pandemic, releasing two albums - 2021's Delta Kream and the new Dropout Boogie. They'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas.
Post Malone (October 21 and 26)
Perhaps the biggest contemporary artist to come out of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, rapper/singer Post Malone has been huge since the release of his debut album, Stoney, in 2016. Since then, he's gone on to work with a string of other big artists like Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, The Weeknd, and Doja Cat, helping him solidify himself as a trendsetter. Showing that he hasn't forgotten his roots, he'll play one show at American Airlines Center and then another at Dickies Arena less than a week later in support of his new album, Twelve Carat Toothache.
The Judds: The Final Tour (October 22)
What was meant to be the last hurrah for mother-daughter duo Naomi and Wynonna Judd has turned into a bittersweet tour after the death of Naomi in April. Wynonna Judd will go on without her, joined at this concert at Dickies Arena by fellow country music icons Trisha Yearwood and Martina McBride. McBride will play a full set of her own classic hits before Wynonna takes the stage to sing some of her own hits and songs by The Judds.
Chris Stapleton's All-American Roadshow (October 27)
Country singer Chris Stapleton can't seem to get enough of Dallas-Fort Worth. He was supposed to headline the first-ever event at Globe Life Field in Arlington on March 14, 2020, but, well, you know. He did make it back there the following summer, and now he's back yet again, only this time at Dickies Arena. This version of the All-American Roadshow will find Stapleton playing songs from his 2020 album, Starting Over, joined by special guests Elle King and Morgan Wade.
Lizzo (October 28)
Just like Lil Nas X, singer/rapper Lizzo makes no apologies for who she is. She owns her big size, making it the centerpiece of her music and accompanying videos, which typically feature plus-sized backup dancers. She's even used her brand to branch out into other areas of the industry, making the reality TV series Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, which just won the Emmy for Outstanding Competition Program. Her latest No. 1 song, "About Damn Time," off her new album, Special, sums up her world-beating attitude more than anything. She'll perform at American Airlines Center.
Maren Morris (October 28)
Country singer Maren Morris is another local artist who made it big, as the Arlington native started her career by playing clubs throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. But she didn't taste true success until she moved to Nashville, scoring with the 2016 album, Hero, and the hit song "My Church." Like others on this list, she's gone her own way, crossing over to pop on occasion and standing up for trans rights and other causes. She'll play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in support of her new album, Humble Quest.
The Misfits (October 29)
Punk rock band The Misfits only lasted a short time in their original incarnation, but the music they made influenced bands ranging from Metallica to Green Day to My Chemical Romance. The band, which features singer Glenn Danzig, bassist Jerry Only, and guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, feuded through the years, but since 2016 they've been back together as The Original Misfits. They'll play their only headlining show of 2022 at Dos Equis Pavilion, with Alice Cooper as special guest.
Photo courtesy of Reba McEntire
