Musical acts go on tour all year-round, but there's no concert season like summer concert season: Outdoor arenas and sheds open their doors, and major tours head out on the road, seizing on the more favorable weather to put on a big show.
Concert attendance is up up up in 2023: In a clear sign that the appetite for in-person music and entertainment events is back to normal, Live Nation Entertainment reported a 73 percent rise in revenue for 2023 so far, with predictions that this will be their best year ever.
This summer's lineup in Dallas-Fort Worth is especially packed, with big concerts coming through town almost every week.
Below are some of the most-anticipated concerts of the summer, listed in chronological order. While not 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.)
Janet JacksonJune 2, Dos Equis Pavilion
R&B star Janet Jackson makes a rare appearance in Dallas as part her ninth concert tour, Together Again. The tour will celebrate Jackson's 50th anniversary in entertainment and spotlight milestones for two of her most critically acclaimed albums - 25 years of The Velvet Rope, and 30 years of janet, featuring her biggest chart-topping hits, plus new music.
Koe WetzelJune 9, Dickies Arena in Fort Worth
There aren't many well-known people to come out of the East Texas small town of Pittsburg, but singer (and Fort Worth bar owner) Koe Wetzel is one of them. With a blend of music that mixes together country and rock, he's experienced a leap in popularity the last few years, with his latest album, 2022's Hell Paso, making his biggest impact yet, going to No. 3 on the Billboard Country charts.
Fall Out BoyJune 28, Dos Equis Pavilion
Now 20 years into their career, Fall Out Boy remains almost as popular as they were at their peak. Best known for hit songs like "Sugar, We're Goin' Down," "Dance, Dance," and "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race," each of their albums since 2005, including the new So Much (for) Stardust, has made the top 10 on the Billboard 200, showing that their fans are still showing up even as they get into middle age.
Bryan AdamsJune 29, Dickies Arena, with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Rocker Bryan Adams can officially be considered a classic act, as he's been releasing music for over 40 years. With hits in the '80s like "Cuts Like a Knife," "Run to You," and "Heat of the Night," and hits in the '90s like "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You," "Please Forgive Me," and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?," Adams could easily rest on his laurels. But he's continue to put out new albums every few years, most recently 2022's So Happy It Hurts.
Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson and FriendsJune 30, Dos Equis Pavilion with Whiskey Myers, Flatland Cavalry & Particle Kid
With the legendary Willie Nelson having just turned 90, every opportunity to see him in concert should be heeded. One of the most prolific singers of all time, Nelson recently released his 99th album I Don’t Know A Thing About Love, a staggering number that still only hints at the impact he's had on musicians far and wide.
blink-182July 5, American Airlines Center
The version of blink-182 that fans grew to love in the late '90s/early 2000s hasn't been available for almost 10 years since singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge left the band in 2015. His return puts the band back at full force, with a new album rumored to be released later this year. For now, fans can revel in hits like "All the Small Things," "I Miss You," and "Up All Night."
Shania TwainJuly 21, Dos Equis Pavilion
For about 10 years, from the mid-'90s to the mid-2000s, there were few country singers bigger than Shania Twain. During that stretch, she had seven No. 1 songs - including "Any Man of Mine," "You Win My Love," "You're Still the One," and "Honey I'm Home" - that helped her sell tens of millions of albums around the world. After a 15-year break in recording, she's picked up right where she left off with her last two albums, including the new Queen of Me.
Erykah BaduJuly 23, American Airlines Center
Fans in Dallas are used to seeing plenty of Erykah Badu, whether it's at one of her yearly birthday bashes at the Factory in Deep Ellum, or just around town as the Dallas resident goes about her day. For the first time in a long time, Badu is going on a big tour, playing arenas in 25 cities, culminating with a stop in her hometown. She's not promoting any new music, but chances are fans won't mind a trip down memory lane, especially with special guest Yasiin Bey along for the ride.
Jason MrazJuly 26, Music Hall at Fair Park
Singer/songwriter Jason Mraz is one of those musicians who has maintained a good amount of popularity through the years despite never becoming a superstar. He's released eight albums in his career, including the upcoming Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, with his biggest success coming between 2008 and 2012 thanks to hits like "I'm Yours," "Lucky," and "I Won't Give Up."
Eric ChurchJuly 28, Dos Equis Pavilion
It didn't take long for country singer Eric Church to get to the top of the mountain in the genre. His 2006 debut album, Sinners Like Me, made the top 10 on the Country charts, and he's been at No. 1 or in the top 5 with his six subsequent albums, including his most recent release, the 2021 triple album Heart & Soul. With lots of hits to draw upon, like "Drink in My Hand," "Springsteen," "Give Me Back My Hometown," and "Hell of a View," fans will have plenty to sing along to.
Boy George & Culture ClubAugust 10, Dos Equis Pavilion
Music icons Boy George and Culture Club come to Dallas as part of their 2023 tour, The Letting It Go Show, featuring special guests Howard Jones and Berlin. The prolific band, which just passed its 40th anniversary, will perform all of their big hits, including "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me," "Karma Chameleon," and "Church of the Poisoned Mind."
MetallicaAugust 18 and 20, AT&T Stadium in Arlington
Making their first DFW appearance since 2017, the legendary heavy metal band Metallica will make it count, performing two concerts in three days at AT&T Stadium in support of their new album, 72 Seasons. The band promises a "No Repeat Weekend," with two different setlists and support lineups at each concert: They'll be joined by the reunited Dallas band Pantera (touring for the first time in 22 years) and Mammoth WVH on August 18, and Five Finger Death Punch and Ice Nine Kills on August 20.
Beck & PhoenixAugust 21, Dos Equis Pavilion, with Chloe
Both Beck and the French band Phoenix have had solid careers despite making music that's rarely broken through to the mainstream, so it's no surprise that they're teaming up for this co-headlining tour. Beck is best known for '90s songs like "Loser," "Where It's At," and "Devils Haircut," while Phoenix scored with 2000s hits like "1901" and "Lizstomania."
LL Cool J: The F.O.R.C.E. Live with The Roots, DJ Jazzy JeffAugust 24, Dickies Arena
Rapper LL Cool J will headline his first arena tour in 30 years dubbed The F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) Live. Honoring the 50th anniversary of the creation of hip hop, he'll be joined by The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip, as well as Rakim, Big Boi, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Juvenile, Goodie Mob, and MC Lyte. Unlike the traditional “opening act – headliner” format, the show will be a nonstop musical mash-up with performances interwoven within one continuous musical set backed by The Roots.
50 CentAugust 25, Dos Equis Pavilion, with Busta Rhymes and Jeremih
Rap fans will have a full weekend, as 50 Cent comes to Dos Equis Pavilion one day after LL Cool J, as part his "The Final Lap Tour." 50 will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of his 2003 debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', performing dozens of fan-favorite and chart-topping hits along with select tracks that have not been performed live in years.
Jonas BrothersAugust 30, Globe Life Field in Arlington
Wrapping up the summer will be Jonas Brothers, who are self-styling their 2023 output as important, labeling their tour as simply The Tour and their new album as The Album. Fans at this concert will get much more than just The Album, though, as the brothers promise to play five full albums at each stop on the tour, turning the evening into something approaching epic length.
