With the annual ritual of The Roots Picnic headed to The Mann next weekend — with rocker Lenny Kravitz, rapper Meek Mill and the reunion of old friends nu-R&B vocal legend D’Angelo and The Roots’ drummer Questlove — Philly’s outdoor concert season has its official start. Add to that this weekend’s stadium shows at Citizens Bank Park and The Linc, and your summer of big live music is complete. (To go with these huge shows, there are smaller outside concerts equal in artistic merit, if not scale.)
Let the tailgating begin.
Metallica M72 World Tour
May 23 and 25, Lincoln Financial Field
The concept around Metallica’s newest tour is simple: two separate dates, played at excessive volumes, where no songs of Metallica’s get repeated, its famed “Snake Pit” is back in the middle of the arena, and its opening acts are a rotating cast of loudly-blasting like-minded acts such as Suicidal Tendencies, Limp Bizkit and Pantera.
Post Malone and Jelly Roll
May 24, Citizens Bank Park
Between his multi-Grammy-nominated newest album, ‘F-1 Trillion‘, and hits such as ‘Pour Me a Drink’ and his Morgan Wallen collaboration ‘I Had Some Help,’ it’s fair to say that Post Malone’s fresh, funky music is far more country than it is hip hop. Having an opener such as country music’s newest sensation, Jelly Roll, all but solidifies that this show is going to be closer to a rocking rodeo, than it is a rap concert. Then again, Post Malone is unpredictable, and this stadium tour signals his largest shows yet, so plan for something outrageous.
92.5 XTU Anniversary with Luke Bryan
June 6, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Taking a break from judging ‘American Idol’, country’s signature music-maker Luke Bryan celebrates Philly’s lone (star) country radio station.
Hozier
June 10, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Steadily since his ‘Take Me to Church‘ start point, this husky-voiced, folkloric Irish rock and soul singer-songwriter has amassed a genuine slew of hits that manage to sound ancient and new.
Simple Minds, Soft Cell, Modern English
June 14, The Mann
Forty-years after ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ became a generation-defining smash, one day after its documentary, ‘Everything is Possible’, premieres, Scotland’s Simple Minds regale Parkside Avenue. Get there early for sleazy electronic hit-makers Soft Cell of ‘Tainted Love’ fame.
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
June 15, The Mann
He’s one of two remaining Beatles alive. What better reason to see Ringo? Plus, his newest country-inspired album, ‘Look Up‘, is his best in ages.
Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper
July 12 and 20, The Mann
Stewart and Lauper – the latter, a newly-appointed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame awardee – have both promised that these shows are their last in the area, and that they’ll tour no more going further. Threat or promise, why risk not seeing these legends of classic British rock and poppy new wave again?
Phish
July 15 and 16, The Mann
Far beyond their jam band roots, Trey Anastasio & Co. continue to play rock’s most exploratory, spaced-out and humorous brand of undefinable music.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s Phantom Island Tour
July 18, The Mann
This is pretty funny: prog-punk’s busiest, most loved ensemble are joining forces with local symphonies in every city they play (here, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia) and a DJ for a highly refined, deep groove-heavy interpretation of the Lizard-y catalog.
Kesha & Scissor Sisters, the Tits Out Tour
July 29, The Mann
For sheer entertainment value, the newly-unbound funky robot-pop songstress and the most theatrical of new disco music makers pair up for what I bet is the season’s raciest live showcase.
The Weeknd’s After Hour Til Dawn Tour
July 30, Lincoln Financial Field
If this showcase is anything like his last Linc shows from two years back, expect lots of deep red light schemes, dozens of interpretative dancers and countless R&B bangers sung by The Weeknd while wearing hoods and capes – so much so that it might not even be him.
Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse
Aug. 5, The Mann
Any outdoor space where Flaming Lips’ suit-wearing frontman Wayne Coyne has enough room to crowd surf in his huge, see-through plastic bubble is a must-see.
Jacob Collier and the No Name Pops
Aug. 7, The Mann
Known for his kinetically colorful, self-created YouTube shorts, his crowd sing-alongs and piano-based pop sound that would make Elton John green with envy, Britian’s Jacob Collier welcomes Philly’s new string and brass band, the No Name Pops, to play his hits.
The Jonas Brothers
Aug. 14, Citizens Bank Park
Still riding high on the comeback trail that started with 2019’s ‘Sucker,’ Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas – the Disney-based, boy band toast of New Jersey – will thrill throngs of teenage girls and the moms who brought them to the ball park.
My Chemical Romance
Aug. 15, Citizens Bank Park
Also from New Jersey, but appealing to an entirely different brand of teen – the emo loving, smeared mascara kids – My Chemical Romance and vocalist Gerard Way promise bad vibes, big anthems and loud guitars for hours.
The Outlaw Fest with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Sherly Crow
Sept. 12, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Summer 2025’s official last big outdoor concert event with legendary songwriters Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Sheryl Crow is a great way to close out the season. Then again, how rowdy can these outlaws be if this mini-fest starts at 4 p.m.?
