best concert tours of 2009

• About Todd Owyoung
• Concert Gear Guide
• 314-313-4091
• Business Inquiries

Top 10 Concerts of 2009

As a music photographer, every gig presents a new challenge and an opportunity to make great images, but as 2009 comes to a close, it's time to look back at some of the best tours, festivals, and events of the year.

In 2009, I photographed 73 concerts and events, and the year was packed with a ton of great tours. These are my picks for the top ten best gigs to photograph in 2009.

It was true in July when I shot it and I think it's true now: No Doubt was the tour of the year . I'm sure I had a huge grin on my face in the photo pit during this show and I can say without any hesitation that I loved every second of photographing Gwen Stefani and crew. With big white lights, a tremendously energetic band, and non-stop action, I think No Doubt locked it up early as the top-shelf show in 2009.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

With a working pass for this show that featured some of the great music legends of our time, I was living the dream with this show. Without a doubt, the highlight was photographing Metallica on stage in an all-star jam with Joe Perry, Ron Wood, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Flea.

When photogenic bands come to mind, I think music shooters have to think of KISS , and this fact was only cemented by the Alive/35 tour this year. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, though they may be pushing 60, were still epic on stage and it was a pure adrenaline rush photographing this show. Non-stop posing and mugging by the band along with arena-blinding white lights made this a sure bet of an assignment – like shooting fish in a barrel.

With Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, John Mellancamp, and a host of other big names, Farm Aid 2009 was a stellar event that brought together a huge amount of talent on one stage. But aside from the star power, one thing I love about shows like this are the diversity of media that come in for coverage. It was a pleasure to talk shop with photographers who had come in from all over the country to photograph the benefit. What's more, the Farm Aid volunteers were a joy to work with.

Mayhem Fest

I loved photographing Mayhem Fest . Metal is always hugely fun to photograph, but what made this a standout event for me was all-access and the thrill of a high-pressure photo shoot with metal legends Slayer .

Semi Precious Weapons

When I heard that Semi Precious Weapons were playing Gramercy Theatre, my favorite live music venue in New York City, it was a done deal: I was there. I did a promo shoot with the band before the show, then staked out a spot front and center for the main event. The epic lights of the theatre combined with the insanity of SPW were a match made in heaven, and exceeded all expectations.

Steven Tyler singing right into one's lens is not something that is easily forgotten, and kind of a gimmie for this list. But I'll take it. The one adjective that comes to mind for this show is simply “electrifying.” Aerosmith's tour opener in 2009 was pure love.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Karen O. of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was a magnetic subject when I photographed her in 2006, and the band's 2009 tour did not disappoint. While the lighting was a chaotic mix of deep washes and weird sidelighting, the dynamic singer made this one show that was pure eyecandy.

I'll be honest – Green Day put on an exhilarating show that exceeded my expectations. A big part of it was the crowd interaction – while we only had two songs to photograph, the band made it worthwhile. In the first two songs, Billie Joe had ran out into the audience, shaken hands with the front row, and made some kid's year by having him stage dive the floor of a packed out arena. With all that and nice lights, there was a lot to love about this performance.

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Dillinger Escape Plan is one of those bands that always brings on an entertaining and unexpected set with one certainty: chaos. Capturing their show is as challenging as it is fun, and I had a blast in the pit while these guys tore it up on stage. Add the ability to use wireless flash and it's a done deal.

2009 was a great year for concerts. Though I photographed what seemed like far fewer shows than 2008, I had a blast. The above ten gigs are what I felt were the most fun concerts to photograph, and many of which were opportunities to make some of my favorite images from the year.

These are a few of the event highlights of the year. What are yours?

You can see my Year in Review for 2009 here .

Get Social:

Great selection of shows for your best of 2009. I have to agree with your choice of KISS, they too were one of my favorite shows to shoot in 2009.

Hey groovehouse,

Thanks for the comment. Yup, after 35 years, KISS are still rocking arenas. I really had fun with them, and they were a great end-of-the-year show to help cap off 2009. I’d shoot them again any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

• Pingback: Linda S

Hi Todd !! A great selection of highlights. I was fortunate enough to shoot Green Day and KISS as well, and would be my top two. Most of that also has to do with this being my first full year shooting major bands. Others that would be on my list from 2009 would be Dave Matthews, Paramore, Alice Cooper, BB King, and Chickenfoot. I can’t wait for 2010 !! Thanks so much for the inspiration your shots give me, and happy shooting ! Gene

• Pingback: Sabrina Ramdoyal

Great list Todd. I shot a lot of concerts this year and here are my top five: Jeff Tweedy, Rusted Root, Roger Clyne and The Peacmakers, Cage The Elephant and Dierks Bentley.

Happy and prosperous New Years to you – thank you for sharing all your shots and photography insights.

gorgeous shots on the year Todd, you never disappoint! Am looking forward to what you bring us in 2010!

Great work Mr. todd… amazing photos. My highlight of this year was the Chile-Argenita Rally Dakar. Amazing!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tolexx/3199394333/in/set-72157614770131816/

was a grear year, isn’t it???

Great year for you Todd…easily my fav of you for 09 would be the in your face Tyler shot, cant look past it

hope 2010 proves to be another successful year!

My fav would have to be http://www.flickr.com/photos/geeewocka/3825606656/ – August Burn Red on the Parkway Drive DVD Tour…lights were hell all night but i managed to grab this pearl at his peak mic spin moment :)

Truly has been a great year.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs where great this year, caught them twice here in the UK at Glastonbury & then Leeds festival.

Blur at Glastonbury was my highlight of the year.

Have a great 2010 Todd.

• Pingback: AeroNewsDaily_sakuta

Can’t wait to see your Lady Gaga pics.

• Pingback: Ardianto
• Pingback: dannynorthphoto
• Pingback: tanya

The Cribs @ Bowery Ballroom. This was my first year shooting bands and I feel very very fortunate to have shot them. they put (in my opinion) the best show of 2009 and I cannot wait to shoot them again in January 2010!

Amazing stuff Todd! Danny North loves your shots and hes my bloody hero! I saw Semi Precious Weapons with Shiny Toy Guns @ Webster Hall here in NYC and they played an amazing gig also!

• Pingback: Robin Malau

Hey Todd – Great set, Great year!! Not been around so much (My little boy is eight weeks old today!) so, happy new year to you and yours – keep on shooting.

No I don’t agree, this is not best of 2009. There are a lot better ones on your site. This may be your personal favorites.

Thanks for the comment. These are the top ten concerts of 2009, not the top ten images. These are the events that were the most fun to photograph and experience as a music photographer, but they didn’t necessarily produce the best images. My favorite images of the year would be a separate post.

Great work. Hope to see more of these concerts on the roll. Best thing being your pictures talk, that’s how a photographer should be the pictures, should talk. I can feel the concerts. If you can send me a link of your till now best collection you have, would be great. Are you on phacebook? Thanks for reverting back Todd. Hope to see you some time in India.

• Pingback: Photos of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2009 | ishootshows.com

Very good choise. Slayer, Kiss and Aerosmith are the best.

Join in the Discussion Cancel reply

9 Live Shows a Man Should See

That Jane's Addiction and Nine Inch Nails are on the road reliving 1991 seems even more embarrassing when you consider that Pearl Jam is filling stadiums by forsaking nostalgia. They do a few hits at their shows, but it's their reputation for the unexpected that moves tickets — and bootlegs. Pearl Jam is the new new Grateful Dead.

Hitting the men's room at a Roots gig used to be easy — a drum solo or long-winded instrumental odyssey was always just around the corner. But they've transformed their live show into something mature and restrained. They're like a seasoned jazz combo that's learned when not to play, and they're swinging like never before.

The Black Keys

1. This veteran Akron duo can be thunderous.

2. And also heartbreakingly melodic.

3. Lead "Key" Dan Auerbach is the rare singer-guitarist who's remarkable for both his singing (dirty baritone) and his guitar (virtuoso finger-picking).

Janelle Monáe

She wears a Mohawk and a Colonel Sanders tie, singing songs from a sci-fi-themed debut, but don't fall for red herrings. The real story is a traditional one: the ridiculous poise she shows as a singer, dancer, and, most of all, bandleader.

Mates of State

Enough with the stone-faced pop music. Even if it's complex, letter-perfect pop music, a little recognition that the band is having fun goes a long way. Jason Hammel (the husband) and Kori Gardner (the wife) beam like they're taking nothing for granted — especially the crowds that augment their minimalist keys and drums with rounds of giddy hand-clapping.

The prospect of seeing Bon Iver play songs from the elegiac headphone masterpiece For Emma, Forever Ago won't exactly enthrall you after listening to it in your earbuds. But at the show, Justin Vernon's plaintive falsetto set within four-part harmonies set against galloping drums somehow manages to push the band into blindingly heavy Neil Young & Crazy Horse territory.

The Felice Brothers

The Band-era Bob Dylan and Tom Waits are the obvious musical templates for these Catskills-based misfits. That they embody them live is the impressive part. Both their tender ballads and Appalachian stomps devolve into feverish jams that threaten to collapse onto themselves (taking the accordion with them). But they always get reeled back in.

White Rabbits

This Brooklyn-via-Missouri sextet is blanketing the country with blitzkrieg live sets, propelled by a two-drummer setup that adds a little terror to what are already tautly wound pop songs. And while there are six guys onstage playing instrumental switcheroo, this isn't another bloated "collective." Every switch — barrelhouse piano! ska-influenced guitar! — seems inspired.

Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses

Bingham, an ex-rodeo bull rider, is electrifying in a somebody-might-take-a-pool-cue-to-the-head kind of way. This convergence of charisma, energy, and songwriting suggests what Springsteen might have been like had he come up in Billy Bob's instead of the Stone Pony.

@media(max-width: 73.75rem){.css-1ktbcds:before{margin-right:0.4375rem;color:#FF3A30;content:'_';display:inline-block;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1ktbcds:before{margin-right:0.5625rem;color:#FF3A30;content:'_';display:inline-block;}} Music

The Songs of the Summer Have Officially Arrived

Watch a Rufus Wainwright and John Legend Duet

Barry Keoghan Stars in a New Music Video

The Things We Don’t Say About Rap Music

21 Songs to Kick-start Your Pride Playlist

DIIV Brings Shoegaze for the Revolution

The Best Albums of 2024 (So Far)

Childish Gambino Is Back, Baby

Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill Is Different Now

Four Hours with the Breakout Band of 2024

Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s Rap Beef, Explained

• Latest Latest
• The West The West
• Sports Sports
• Opinion Opinion
• Magazine Magazine

Top 20 Concert Tours — 2009

By associated press.

The final 2009 Top 20 Concert Tours ranks artists by the year's total box office gross and includes average box office gross per city and the average ticket price for shows in North America. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

Top 20 Concert Tours

1. U2; $123 million; $7,689,626; $93.77.

2. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band; $94.5; $2,147,288; $87.94.

3. Elton John/Billy Joel; $88; $3,259,794; $125.61

4. Britney Spears; $82.5; $1,618,381; $88.04.

5. AC/DC; $77.9; $1,657,220; $83.76.

6. Kenny Chesney; $71.1; $1,421,271; $68.73.

7. Jonas Brothers; $69.8; $1,341,990; $59.78.

8. Dave Matthews Band; $56.9; $1,211,005; $52.97.

9. Fleetwood Mac; $54.5; $1,067,620; $97.02.

10. Metallica; $53.4; $1,525,402; $65.16.

11. Nickelback; $47.4; $729,231; $47.42.

12. "Walking With Dinosaurs"; $46.2; $1,126,829; $39.77.

13. Miley Cyrus; $45; $1,045,645; $68.87.

14. Trans-Siberian Orchestra; $43.7; $606,944; $44.68.

15. Eagles; $42.8; $1,710,773; $129.30.

16. Keith Urban; $42.7; $712,078; $63.27.

17. Celine Dion; $42.6; $1,934,759; $108.24.

18. Rascal Flatts; $42.2; $766,863; $54.84.

19. Coldplay; $40.8; $1,046,154; $61.79.

20. Paul McCartney; $40.7; $5,087,500; $121.57.

For free upcoming tour information, go to www.pollstar.com

U2 tops highest-grossing concert tour list for 2009

• Copy Link URL Copied!

In just 20 beautiful days on the concert trail last year, U2 racked up the highest-grossing North American tour of 2009, pulling in $123 million at the box office in a year in which overall concert business was one of the music industry’s remaining bright spots.

The Irish quartet’s bar-raising 360 Tour of sports stadiums , which visited 16 cities, sold more than 1.3 million tickets, translating to a nightly average of just more than 82,000 fans, according to Pollstar, the concert-industry tracking publication.

U2 was the only act to cross the $100-million mark last year, and its nightly average at the box office pummeled the competition, at nearly $7.7 million per show. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band , which tallied nearly $95 million from 58 shows, follows U2 at No. 2 in Pollstar’s ranking. But the hard-charging New Jersey outfit also drew more than 1 million fans to those shows, one of six tours to cross that threshold last year.

Compare that with 2008, when only one act -- country star Kenny Chesney -- topped 1 million in total ticket sales.

Elton John and Billy Joel’s ever popular joint tour placed the pair at No. 3 last year, with a box office gross of $88 million in 31 performances. Britney Spears’ Circus tour helped the erstwhile teen pop queen rebound from her personal and professional travails, placing her at No. 4 with a total take of almost $83 million.

She came in ahead of veteran Australian rock band AC/DC , which rounds out Pollstar’s top 5 with just under $78 million from 47 shows.

“It does appear that overall gross revenue is up,” Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni said this week, noting that the magazine is still tabulating final figures for the year. “The No. 1 tour came in higher than last year’s No. 1 tour, the No. 25 tour was higher and the No. 50 tour was higher.”

That’s in line with Billboard’s recent report showing concert business up worldwide, with total revenue of $4.4 billion, up nearly 12% over 2008, and total attendance of 73 million similarly up nearly 13% from the previous year.

Part of that result came from particularly strong response to many of those tours. In addition to U2 and Springsteen, Chesney, the Jonas Brothers (who finished at No. 7, up from the siblings’ No. 13 ranking the previous year) and the Dave Matthews Band, each pulled in more than 1 million ticket buyers during the year. Chesney came in sixth in 2009.

The Dave Matthews Band, which Pollstar recently crowned the top North American concert attraction of the decade , landed at No. 8 in 2009. Because the group finished within the top 10 in just about every year of the decade, it pushed ahead of others who logged more business at the box office in any single year. Just behind the band was Fleetwood Mac.

The other touring attraction that crossed the 1 million ticket sales mark was a relatively new one, “Walking With Dinosaurs -- The Live Experience,” an event that put a life-size 42-foot-long animated T. Rex and other creatures long extinct into sports arenas across the country. A relatively affordable average ticket price of $39.77, combined with a field-dwarfing 307 performances, helped attract large numbers of families with young children.

“Walking with dinosaurs” also generally describes the upper ranks of Pollstar’s list, which is typically top-heavy with acts that launched their careers in the ‘80s or earlier. Still, there are enough younger artists charting well to suggest the concert business won’t collapse when the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, John, U2 and Springsteen eventually retire.

Post-grunge Canadian rock band Nickelback finished the year at No. 11, behind Metallica, posting $47.4 million in ticket revenue from 66 shows. Other relative youngsters in the top 20 are Miley Cyrus (No. 13, with $45 million), the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (No. 14, $43.7 million), Rascal Flatts (No. 18, $42.2 million) and Coldplay (No. 19, $40.8 million).

McCartney played just 11 shows during the year, but they earned him the No. 20 spot, with a gross of $40.7 million, placing him right behind Chris Martin’s Beatles-inspired band, Coldplay .

The only hip-hop act to make the top 50 is rapper Lil Wayne, who brought in $32.1 million in 58 shows, a feat he’s unlikely to repeat in 2010 given the one-year prison sentence he’s facing after pleading guilty in October to attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

The distinction of the highest average ticket price in the top 50 went to Cher; admission to her shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace was $140.56 on average, not unexpected in the high-priced realm of Las Vegas entertainment.

That was still less than 2008’s winner, Madonna, who averaged $153.88 per ticket and also came in No. 1 on the Pollstar rankings, with a total take of $105 million.

[email protected]

More to Read

BTS’ Jimin and Jungkook to star in a new Disney+ show. Meanwhile, Jin will carry Olympic torch

July 3, 2024

50 Cent trolls Diddy’s son King Combs for diss track that refers to feds’ raids of homes

May 13, 2024

Christina Aguilera doesn’t want to be in Britney Spears’ book: Put the genie back in the bottle

Oct. 17, 2023

The biggest entertainment stories

Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs hit with fresh lawsuit alleging sexual assault, sex trafficking

Entertainment & Arts

Chamber music turns old landmarks into vibrant venues in Sierra Madre and South L.A.

Travis Kelce’s surprise bit on Taylor Swift’s stage was his idea: ‘Do not drop the baby’

Pink cancels concert in Switzerland after consulting with doctor: ‘So disappointed’

2009 Concert Tour Archive

Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

Home › Recording

TOP-SELLING TOURS OF 2009

Average gross for tours saw a boost from 2008 to 2009. In 2008, the highest-grossing tour (as of November 24, 2008) was Madonna, bringing in $6,071,181.

By Compiled by Sarah Benzuly

Average gross for tours saw a boost from 2008 to 2009. In 2008, the highest-grossing tour (as of November 24, 2008) was Madonna, bringing in $6,071,181. Last year (as of November 30, 2009), the highest-grossing tour was U2, at $7,689,626. For 2008, the number 10 spot went to American Idols Live, which only brought in $544,754 as compared to Miiley Cyrus in 2008 ($1,012,567). What will this year see?

— Courtesy Pollstar Concert Pulse, November 30, 2009

The Concert Pulse ranks each artist by its average box-office gross per city in North America and is based on data reported within the last three months.

Nothing But Thieves Swap Out Desks On Tour

Hungária Rocks 50,000 Fans in Budapest

Keane World Tour Thinks Big with Macros

The Sound of The Smile

Serving Up Sound for 1.6 Million Madonna Fans in Rio

Engineer Gives Arm’s Length A Hand

A Proper Mix for Peso Pluma

OMG It’s OMD

• Manage Account

Best of 2009: The Year In Charts & More

The biggest hits, the brightest stars, the most iconic moments -- join us as we salute the songs, albums and events that made 2009 one of the decade's most memorable years in music and roll out all of…

By Billboard Staff

Billboard Staff

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on Pinterest
• + additional share options added
• Share on Reddit
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Whats App
• Send an Email
• Print this article
• Post a Comment
• Share on Tumblr

The biggest hits, the brightest stars, the most iconic moments — join us as we salute the songs, albums and events that made 2009 one of the decade’s most memorable years in music.

Featured Content

Hear the 100 biggest hits of the last 12 months.

Hear from the 20 stars that defined 2009.

The 200 albums you had on infinite repeat all year.

Watch clips from the biggest-selling tours of the year.

Photos of the Year Top 20 Music Moments of 2009 Billboard Critics’ 10 Best Albums of 2009 Readers’ Poll: Year & Decade’s Best Albums Taylor Swift’s Artist of the Year Q&A Video: Artists pick year & decade faves. Male & Female Artists of the Year Lists Year-End Chart Analysis

2009 Charts

Hot 100 Songs Billboard 200 Albums Artists of the Year Top 25 Tours R&B/Hip-Hop Songs R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Country Songs Country Albums Rock Songs Rock Albums Pop Songs Latin Songs Latin Albums Top Latin Pop Albums Soundtracks Ringtones Digital Songs Digital Albums Dance/Club Play Songs How We Charted The Year View All 2009 Charts

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox

Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about?

Get in the know on.

Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Billboard Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

optional screen reader

Charts expand charts menu.

• Billboard Hot 100™
• Billboard 200™
• Hits Of The World™
• TikTok Billboard Top 50
• Songs Of The Summer
• Song Breaker
• Year-End Charts
• Decade-End Charts

Music Expand music menu

• R&B/Hip-Hop

Videos Expand videos menu

Culture expand culture menu, media expand media menu, business expand business menu.

• Business News
• Record Labels
• View All Pro

Pro Tools Expand pro-tools menu

• Songwriters & Producers
• Artist Index
• Royalty Calculator
• Market Watch
• Industry Events Calendar

Billboard Español Expand billboard-espanol menu

• Cultura y Entretenimiento

Get Up Anthems by Tres Expand get-up-anthems-by-tres menu

Honda music expand honda-music menu.

The List: Best concerts of summer 2009

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Digital Replica Edition

• Classifieds

Things To Do Music

Slayer, July 17

Kings of Leon, Aug. 9

Neko Case, May 29 & 30

Nine Inch Nails, May 26

Ben Kweller, June 12

Leonard Cohen, June 2

Elvis Costello, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, June 18-21

All tickets available via Ticketmaster unless otherwise noted.

mayüfleetwood mac,tonight, Pepsi Center, $45.50-$145.50

margot & the nuclear so and so’s,tonight, Hi-Dive, $10 (hi-dive.com)

mogwai/women,Tuesday, Bluebird Theater, $20.50

keane,Wednesday, Ogden Theatre, $35

üadrian orange/young coyotes,Wednesday, Rhinoceropolis, $5 (at the door)

gregory alan isakov,Friday, Fox Theatre, $10-$12.50 (foxtheatre.com)

üboba fett and the americans/jim mcturnan,Friday, Meadowlark, $5 (at the door)

üflight of the conchords/iron & wine, Saturday, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $34.50-$39.50

dane cook,May 17, Pepsi Center, $30-$100

fischerspooner, May 18, Ogden Theatre, $20

mike watt and the missingmen,May 18, Larimer Lounge, $15 (bigmarkstickets.com)

ücloud cult,May 19, Bluebird Theater, $13.50

scott h. biram,May 23, Larimer Lounge, $10 (bigmarkstickets.com)

peaches, May 25, Gothic Theatre, $20 (livenation.com)

the decemberists,May 26, Fillmore Auditorium, $25-$28 (livenation.com)

ünine inch nails/jane’s addiction,May 26, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $19-$99

no doubt/paramour,May 27, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $10-$80

üwovenhand,May 29, Swallow Hill Daniels Hall, $12-$14 (swallowhill.com)

lucero,May 29, Bluebird Theater, $15.50

üneko case, May 29, Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, $27-$42.50 (chautauqua.com); May 30, Ogden Theatre, $25

disco biscuits/paul oakenfold,May 30,Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $36.50

juneanimal collective,June 2, Boulder Theater, sold out (bouldertheater.com)

üleonard cohen,June 2, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $49.50-$250

lucinda williams,June 3, Denver Botanic Gardens, $50-$55 (botanicgardens.org); June 4, Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, $39.50-$55 (chautauqua.com)

übad weather california,June 6, Swallow Hill Tuft Theater, $10-$12 (swallowhill.com)

etta james,June 6, Boulder Theater, $68-$93.50

langhorne slim/samantha crain,June 7, Hi-Dive, $10 (hi-dive.com)

joe cocker,June 9, Denver Botanic Gardens, $70-$75 (botanicgardens.org)

üloretta lynn,June 10, Paramount Theatre, $34.50-$74.50 (tickethorse.com)

rise against/rancid, June 11, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $35 (livenation.com)

ümetric,June 11, Ogden Theatre, $20

üks-107.5 summerjam, June 12, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $24-$59

southern culture on the skids, June 12, Gothic Theatre, $16-$18 (livenation.com)

üben kweller,June 12, Bluebird Theater, $20

westword music showcase featuring built to spill, the fluid; June 13; Golden Triangle, $9.33 (westword.com)

lemonheads,June 16, Larimer Lounge, $20 (bigmarkstickets.com)

ütelluride bluegrass festival featuring elvis costello, david byrne, emmylou harris and others; June 18-21; Telluride Town Park, $60-$185 (bluegrass.com)

david byrne/devotchka,June 20, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $44-$69.50

eric clapton/steve winwood, June 21, Pepsi Center, $49.50-$150

b-52s,June 22, Denver Botanic Gardens, $72.50-$77.50 (botanicgardens.org)

jonas brothers, June 24, Pepsi Center, $23.50-$83.50

üphoenix,June 25, Bluebird Theater, $20

julyceltic woman,July 1-2, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $43-$110 (livenation.com)

üwilco, July 3, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $36.75-$39.50

vicente fernandez,July 10, Pepsi Center, $45-$125

übon iver,July 11, Ogden Theatre, $20.50

yes/asia,July 12, Paramount Theatre, $49.50-$95 (tickethorse.com)

üdeath cab for cutie /andrew bird,July 14, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $36.75-$40

keith urban/sugarland,July 15, Pepsi Center, $20-$75.50

new kids on the block, July 15, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $10-$79

slim cessna’s auto club, July 15, Larimer Lounge, $13 (bigmarkstickets.com)

joan baez, July 15, Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, $39.50-$55 (chautauqua.com); July 16, Denver Botanic Gardens, $47.50-$52.50 (botanicgardens.org)

üslayer,July 17, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $25-$69.50

ümile high music festival featuring tool, the fray, widespread panic and others;July 18-19; the fields surrounding Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; $90-$162.50 (tickethorse.com)

demi lovato,July 20, Wells Fargo Theatre, $39.50-$49.50

the wallflowers,July 21, Denver Botanic Gardens, $40-$45 (botanicgardens.org)

journey, July 21, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $49.75-$125

üthe ninth annual denver post underground music showcase featuring more than 200 bands; July 23-26; Hi-Dive, 3 Kings, Skylark Lounge and 20 other South Broadway venues; $15-$25 (theums.com)

ürockygrass festival featuring steve earle, hot rize, earl scruggs and others; July 24-26; Planet Bluegrass Ranch, Lyons, $50-$130 (bluegrass.com)

vetiver,July 28, Bluebird Theater, $12.50

rod stewart, July 30, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $29.50-$99.50

phish, July 30-Aug. 2, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, sold out

üsonic youth, July 31, Ogden Theatre, $25.50

augustaerosmith,Aug. 1, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $35-$175

motley crue,August 4, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $29.50-$95

warped tour featuring bad religion, nofx, less than jake and others; Aug. 9; parking lot at Invesco Field at Mile High, $33.50

ükings of leon,Aug. 9, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $46

üjudas priest, Aug. 11, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $44.50-$79.50 (livenation.com)

johnny winter,Aug. 11, Oriental Theatre, $20 (cervantes.com)

toots & the maytals,Aug. 11, Denver Botanic Gardens, $40-$45 (botanicgardens.org)

ürocky mountain folks festival featuring rufus wainwright, brett dennen, susan tedeschi and others;Aug. 14-16; Planet Bluegrass Ranch, Lyons, $45-$110 (bluegrass.com)

ügreen day, Aug. 15, Pepsi Center, $21-$45.50

üthe avett brothers,Aug. 19, Telluride Sunset Concert, free; Aug. 20, Steamboat Springs Free Summer, free; Aug. 21, Boulder Theater, $29.50; Aug. 22, Ogden Theatre, $27.25

toby keith,Aug. 21, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $25-$60

los lonely boys/los lobos,Aug. 23, Denver Botanic Gardens (botanicgardens.org)

def leppard/poison/cheap trick,Aug. 24, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $25-$125

poncho sanchez/lila downs, Aug. 24, Denver Botanic Gardens, $45-$50 (botanicgardens.org)

nickelback, Aug. 25, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, $29-$79

üjackson browne, Aug. 26, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $39.50-$75 (livenation.com)

üdepeche mode, Aug. 27, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $55-$89 (livenation.com)

yonder mountain string band,Aug. 28, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $36.75-$39.75

bonnie raitt/taj mahal, Aug. 30, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $39.75-$79.75

bob weir and ratdog,Aug. 31, Denver Botanic Gardens, $66-$71 (botanicgardens.org)

septemberüjazz aspen featuring the allman brothers band, michael franti, black eyed peas and others;Sept. 4-6; Snowmass Town Park; $45-$145 (jazzaspen.com)

little feat,Sept. 4, Paramount Theatre, $25-$35 (tickethorse.com)

darius rucker/pat green,Sept. 4, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $39.50

allman brothers band,Sept. 5, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $52.50-$59.50

üween,Sept. 6, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $44.95

üthe killers, Sept. 9, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, $42.50-$52.50

longs peak scottish-irish highlands festival,Sept. 10-13, Estes Park High School Grounds, $5-$58 (scotfest.us)

ümonolith festival, Sept. 12-13, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, prices TBA (monolithfestival.com)

telluride blues & brews festival,Sept. 18-20, Telluride Town Park, prices TBA (tellurideblues.com)

• Report an Error
• Submit a News Tip

More in Music

Music | In Boulder, music director Peter Oundjian is driving the Colorado Music Festival into the future

Music | Jazz: Outdoors at City Park and Winter Park jazz, and even some cool tunes for indoors

Music | A refreshed Colorado Music Hall of Fame is looking for a new home, ramping up inductions

Outdoors | Singer-songwriter Judy Collins becomes Rocky Mountain National Park ambassador

Year in review: Best concerts of 2009

• Published: Dec. 26, 2009, 9:01 a.m.
• Staff reports

By DONNIE MOORHOUSE and KEVIN O'HARE

There is no doubt that ticket sales alone show that arena and stadium tours by the Jonas Brothers and Britney Spears were among the most popular with fans. But great music is not limited to the largest venues. With that in mind, here are the best performances local music fans were able to take in during 2009:

Fountains of Wayne – Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton – March 1 The folks at the Iron Horse Entertainment Group thought it might be a good idea to close out their month-long 30th anniversary celebration with a performance from Fountains of Wayne, featuring Northampton resident Chris Collingwood and writing partner Adam Schlesinger. They were right. The group performed acoustically, what Schlesinger called "the big, grown up acoustic concert." Opening with "Please Don't Rock Me Tonight," the band delved deeply into jangly pop, segueing sharply to "Little Red Light," and "Someone to Love." Mixed in were the songs that have made Fountains of Wayne famous from the rollicking (even done acoustically) "Red Dragon Tattoo," and "Hey Julie."

Jeff Tweedy – Calvin Theatre, Northampton – March 27

The lead singer of seminal alt.country outfit Wilco gave new meaning to the “unplugged” format during his amazing solo acoustic show in Northampton.

Returning to the stage for his third encore at the Calvin, Tweedy unplugged his guitar and stepped in front of the microphone (and could be heard clearly from the front row to the balcony) for a two song stretch that included “Dreamer in My Dreams.“

It was a brilliant end to a 25-song set that saw Tweedy wander through the Wilco catalog over the course of a two hours. For good measure, he covered Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees.”

Bruce Springsteen, XL Center, Hartford – April 24 It wasn't quite as spectacular as some of the dates late in his tour when he performed the entire versions of classic albums like "The River" and "Born to Run," but Bruce Springsteen certainly came to play when he appeared with the E Street Band in Hartford this night. For two hours and 40 minutes, Springsteen poured out the passion, electrifying a full house with a concert that was a combination of a frat house party, a spiritual journey, a boisterous rock 'n' roll rumble and a Southern tent revival meeting. Springsteen did only a handful of tracks from his latest album "Working on a Dream," preferring to play earlier masterworks like "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)," "Promised Land," and "Cadillac Ranch," along with an unforgettable "stump the band" segment in which the Jersey troupe ripped through covers including "Wild Thing," John Fogerty's "Rockin' All Over the World," and even a major rarity with a magnificent rendition of Springsteen's own 1973 song "The E Street Shuffle."

Diana Ross –MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Conn – May 16

This American music icon appeared on the MGM Grand stage with just a five-piece band and two backing vocalists. It isn’t hard to imagine this show in a larger venue with a full orchestra and life-size video screens playing a retrospective of Ross’s expansive career. Don’t be surprised if Ross takes this production to the next level for a blockbuster tour.

Regardless of the accoutrements, the song list was unparalleled. She started with “I’m Coming Out” and included “My World Is Empty Without You,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” and “Stop in the Name of Love.”

Not convinced? She followed with “Can’t Hurry Love,” “Touch Me in the Morning,” “Love Child,” and “Ease On Down the Road.”

"Wild Weekend" Tribute to NRBQ's Steve Ferguson – Iron Horse Music Hall – June 26

It would have been an extraordinary musical night even if the ailing guest of honor hadn’t driven up from Louisville to get up on stage and perform with many of his former NRBQ mates.

Steve Ferguson, however, was never one to sit by and watch while others paid him homage. So despite suffering the effects of terminal cancer, the band’s original guitarist shocked the crowd when he spent nearly all of Friday’s 21-song, hour-and-35 minute show on stage. Though he did not sing, he delivered plenty of his typically stellar guitar work, drawing repeated standing ovations and evoking a whole lot of emotion for those in the audience and those sharing the stage.

The three-night tribute was assembled by Al Anderson, the man who took over NRBQ’s main guitar duties after Ferguson initially departed the group, and the band included NRBQ guitarists Ferguson, Anderson and Johnny Spampinato; the band’s rock steady founding bassist Joey Spampinato; and its former singer and resident wildman Frank Gadler. Session drummer supreme Shawn Pelton and former Stevie Ray Vaughan keyboardist and longtime Anderson cohort Reese Wynans added further fuel to an incendiary lineup. Their material included early BQ classics like “C’mon Everybody,” and “Flat Foot Flewzy.”

"Rock guitar players come a dime a dozen," Anderson said between songs. "Rock 'n' roll guitar players don't. This one is the best one in the world," he added, pointing to Ferguson that night as the crowd cheered. Sadly, Ferguson passed away in early October, but this was one weekend to cherish.

Green Day – XL Center – July 24 Some might contend that Green Day has matured into a veteran arena rock band. They obviously didn't get hit with a Super Soaker at the band's summer show in Hartford. Green Day's three hour performance at the XL Center in 2009 wasn't all that different from a Webster Theater show they did in Hartford in 1999; just more people, a bigger stage, and more powerful Super Soakers. Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong was crazed. It's certain that somewhere along the way Armstrong has taken cues from Bono, Springsteen and James Brown as well. Perhaps that is why Green Day has become the standard bearer for bands you can take your parents to go see. There was no way Mom and Dad were waiting this one out in the car.

Paul McCartney – Fenway Park, Boston – Aug. 5

The former Beatles is not playing massive tours these days but he did stage a series of shows in major cities in North America and abroad, and he was at the top of his game in Fenway Park.

During the first night of a two-night stand in the old ballpark, McCartney and his superb band focused plenty on songs that he wrote with John Lennon and he loaded the set list with classics from the Fab Four.

Particular standouts included “Band On The Run;” the scorching 1965 rocker “I’m Down;” a moving cover of the late George Harrison’s “Something,” with McCartney playing a ukulele that Harrison had given him; and a flawlessly executed “Paperback Writer,” complete with harmonies that were far more in tune than what the Beatles’ did to the song when they played it in Japan in 1966.

As the concert wound down, the energy level quadrupled, thanks to songs like the rarely-played-live masterpiece “A Day in the Life,” which was blended with Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance,” and McCartney even did a shrieking and thundering “Helter Skelter,” showing that he’s lost virtually nothing off the rockin’ end of his voice, even at age 67.

The Decemberists – Mountain Park, Holyoke – Aug. 16

This was one show where the venue was as much of a star as the action on stage.

Mountain Park, once one of the great amusement parks in New England had originally opened as a trolley park in 1895. It had been silenced since being closed 22 years ago, and it was eventually demolished.

Eric Suher, who also owns such Western Massachusetts musical Meccas as the Iron Horse, Pearl Street and the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, bought the 60 acres of Mountain Park in 2006 for $1.6 million. He promised to bring it back to life and he appeared justifiably pleased this night with what one veteran Holyoke police officer described as “a miracle.”

After Saturday’s free warm-up show featuring Sonny Landreth and others, Sunday’s concert by the Decemberists was the first official paid concert at the new Mountain Park and the band shined under the stars

The Decemberists artfully moved from lighter fare such as “The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle the Thistles Undone),” into hugely melodic tracks like “The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid” and the harrowing story of a father who murders his children, the aggressive and highly-percussive “The Rake’s Song.”

It was likely just a warm-up for what is expected to be a much more extensive concert schedule at Mountain Park in 2010.

The Kings of Leon – Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn. – Sept. 9 At a time when few rock bands are spending weeks, never mind months riding high on the sales charts, these modern Southern rockers sold steadily - and surged even more this summer – building momentum since their breakthrough fourth disc "Only By the Night" was issued last year. Material from that five-million selling album provided plenty of the backbone for Kings of Leon's rockin' performance before a full house at the Mohegan Sun Arena. But the Kings also delved into their sturdy catalog for material during their 21-song, hour-and-40-minute concert. They took the stage pumping the huge, throbbing, drum-snapping sound of "Crawl," the first track from "Only By The Night," and the set built impressively thanks to songs like the lust-filled groove of "I Want You" and their huge hit single "Sex on Fire," which topped Billboard's "Modern Rock" chart for eight weeks.

Boyz II Men –The Big E – Sept 20

More than 7,000 fans showed up for some “Motownphilly” and Boyz II Men delivered the song and a great sense of the fervor they created a full decade ago when they became the best-selling male vocal group of all time.

Minus Michael McCary who left the group in 2003 for health issues, Nathan and Wanya Morris along with Shawn Stockman performed to recorded tracks while marrying their Philly soul to Motown’s legacy by covering that label’s greats.

The set list included classics like The Miracles “Tracks of My Tears,” The Temptations “Just My Imagination,” and a gritty cover of Edwin Starr’s “War.” The band closed out with their own hit “End of the Road.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Chris DeLine

Cedar Rapids, IA

Best Concerts of 2009

Published December 16, 2009 in Blog , Culture Bully . Tags: Lists , Live , Music , Twin Cities .

#1) Mayhem @ Station 4 By the time of the St. Paul date, Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation and Withered had all pulled out of the tour due to backstage (thought to be financial) issues, and a delay in the visa process had prevented Marduk from performing at any of the Blackened Fest dates. Mayhem & Station 4 offered up refunds to those who weren’t down with seeing the band on its 25th Anniversary Tour, but those who stayed were treated to one of the sickest metal shows of the year. And although I still think the band sucks, Anal Blast’s opening performance would prove to be one of Don Decker’s last.

#2) Peelander-Z, Birthday Suits, Awesome Snakes & Fuck Knights @ Turf Club Not only did this night stand out as the first time I saw one of my local favorites, Fuck Knights, but it was the first (and thus far only) experience I’ve had with Peelander-Z. Wow. Just wow.

#3) Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ First Avenue Though visually stunning and musically sharp, the night’s performance was ultimately dominated by Karen O; she is the sun to which eyes have no choice but to gravitate toward.

#4) Moby @ Fine Line Music Cafe  While I’ve been a fan of Moby’s since my unfortunate Dance Mix phase as a youth, I hadn’t ever seen him live before. Toting an overwhelmingly powerful backup band, the Little Idiot took the packed house on a sentimental voyage through his entire catalog: from “Go” to “Honey” (which on this night was blended with a rendition of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”) to music from his most recent release Wait For Me. It was beautiful.

#5) Sonic Youth @ First Avenue The light show alone was enough to cause trauma, but it ended up being the music that left a lasting impression. Shying away from older material for the most of the set, the band played all but one song from its most recent release (2009’s The Eternal) and offered a vibrancy that puts younger bands to shame.

[This post was first published by Culture Bully .]

Search for:

Top 10 Concerts of 2009

By Dave Miller

It's impossible to put together a definitive list of top concerts. Even if you attended a show every night of the year you'd still only see a tiny fraction of the concerts that are played in the Chicago area.

Yet I was able to see enough great concerts that I feel I can put together a good list. Personally, it was the greatest year for concerts. One of the few benefits about being unemployed is you have time to see a lot of shows. Thanks to the fact that running this site is not a real job, I can go to only shows that I want to see. I saw 29 in all, and didn't see a bad one in the bunch. Even Motley Crue, which I saw thanks to a last-minute free ticket from a friend, wasn't bad. The only show that disappointed me was Kasim Sulton and that was because the ace of bass played only guitar. Even then, I could appreciate a backing musician stepping into the spotlight to front his own band.

Here's my Top 10:

1. Jeff Beck , April 16 at Park West - A triumphant performance by the greatest guitarist in the world celebrating his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. One of the best concerts I've seen in my life.

2. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band , November 15 at Bradley Center - An audible of "Badlands" for the second song of the night signals this will be a special show even by The Boss' standards. He plays five requests on the spot, and even crowd surfs.

3. AC/DC , August 14 at United Center - Hard rock at its most basic and best. Angus Young enters a guitar zone and stays there.

4. Alejandro Escovedo , April 8 at Schubas - Mesmerizing musicianship. Escovedo, violinst Susan Voelz and guitarist David Pulkingham play like an orchestra.

5. Lucinda Williams , October 15 at Park West - The last show of a three-night stand sees Wililams in peak form, and in unusual story-telling mode.

6. The Jesus Lizard , November 27 at Metro - The take-no-prisoners outfit adds to its reputation as a legendary live act. Crazed, crowd-surfing frontman David Yow crashes to the floor in the second encore and leaves Metro in an ambulance with injured ribs.

7. U2 , September 13 at Soldier Field - What can overshadow Bono? Try the biggest stage in the history of rock tours. A thrilling, multi-media spectacle.

8. Bob Dylan , October 13 at Aragon - The return of guitarist Charlie Sexton brings the spark back to Dylan's stage. Dylan sings strongly and is unusually playful, announcing special guests "Tom Waits" and "Willie Nelson" during the Halloween show.

9. Fleetwood Mac , March 6 at Allstate Arena - The Macsters minus Christine McVie sound surprisingly fresh. Lindsey Buckingham is a guitar monster.

10. Cathy Richardson and her San Fran Band with Anne , May 9 at FitzGerald's - A homecoming of sorts for Richardson. She moves from San Francisco back to Chicago with her singing and stage presence better than ever, raised by her perfect foil, fiddler Anne Harris.

Honorable mention (in order): Otis Clay , March 21 at FitzGerald's; Joe Ely Band , July 1 at FitzGerald's; Shemekia Copeland , July 3 at FitzGerald's; Green Day , July 13 at Allstate Arena; Buddy Guy , January 11 at Legends; Wilco , October 18 at UIC Pavilion; The Swell Season , December 3 at Auditorium Theatre; The Pretenders , February 15 at Riviera Theatre; Lynyrd Skynyrd , November 5 at Grainger Studio.

past reviews

16 Concert Outfit Ideas If You're in Dire Need of Inspo

Right this way to your personal styling session.

No matter the vibe or the aesthetic you're going for—whether you're leaning more sparkly, casual, or Hailey Bieber street-style —there's a concert outfit in this list that'll speak to you. And don't you worry! We chose everything here with the knowledge that you'll probably be hot and sweaty for many hours—so, you can trust that these aren't just chic—they're also very comfortable.

Scroll on to see the best, most stylish concert outfit ideas that'll honestly blow you away. BTW, I'd also look into shopping for comfortable shoes (for my petite friends: comfortable platform shoes ) because you'll be on your feet for a while! You're welcome!

Zemeta Flower Mesh Skirt Pants in Pink

There are generally no rules in fashion, but there are definitely no rules when it comes it concerts. Be flirty! Be fun! Be daring! I love these peek-a-boo, lace pants that make a statement on their own. Plus, the see-through design will allow room for lots of airflow—and you know how hot and stuffy it can get in those venues! Pair them with a simple, solid-color top and dainty jewelry for a nice balance.

Princess Polly Curve Alnet Top Black Curve

The perfect mix of boho and edgy, this netted two-piece set would make a fabulous festival 'fit, IMO. The cool fringe detailing and beaded elements make this design stand out compared to other skin-baring looks we've seen time and time again. Round out the moment with combat or cowboy boots, and futuristic sunglasses.

EDIKTED Print Straight Leg Jeans in Leopard

If you haven't noticed already, printed pants are A Thing right now—especially leopard ones. And what better way to flex the wild style than at a concert? You can keep it tame with a plain tank or play it up with another patterned top. I have a feeling you'll be wearing these out allllll the time.

Good American Fit For Success Jumpsuit in Blue

For all the girlies who are trying to find something that's both chic and comfortable , I've got two words for ya: denim jumpsuit. This stylish onesie is super easy to move in (ahem, ideal for a concert, where you'll be dancing for hours) and you won't have to worry about putting together a bunch of pieces for your outfit. It's a one and done situation! You can dress this look up with some strappy heels or keep it ultra-chill with sneakers.

Lulu's Rodeo Romance Black Paisley Bandana Print Handkerchief Top

There's just something about a classic bandana print that goes hand-in-hand with concerts. And this top is a fresh take on the beloved pattern. The flowy, handkerchief style, square neck, and tie-back make it very breathable and breezy—which is so important in crowded spaces! It even has adjustable straps, which as a petite gal, is music to my ears! Wear it with denim shorts, baggy jeans, or a frilly maxi skirt depending on the vibe you're going for.

Lulu's Get in the Groove Champagne Sequin Fringe Bodycon Dress

PSA: I may have just found the ultimate Fearless dress for all you future Eras tour attendees! And for less than $100? It can't be beat. From the sequin fringe to the sparkly colorway, all you need is a bold red lip, and you'll be twinning it with Tay.

Princess Polly Lower Impact Rosaton Top Silver

When in doubt, go for a sparkly top with your favorite pair of jeans and some kitten heels, and you're set to go. Don't let anyone tell you you have to do the most with your concert attire! It's an effortless, upbeat look that you can easily re-wear to parties, GNOs, or date nights.

Abercrombie & Fitch Denim Midi Skirt

Sometimes a relaxed look is the vibe, especially if you have plans to grab a drink or dinner before or after the event. This denim skirt, baby tee, and boots combo is one of those versatile get-ups that'll be a ~serve~ wherever you go. Add sparkly jewelry or a colorful bag for a fun touch.

GARAGE Paris Micro Skort

A black lil mini-skirt is a wardrobe staple. And it'll always come in clutch if you're having trouble creating a concert ensemble. I recommend this option because of its built-in shorts and affordable price tag. Style it with a crewneck sweatshirt if cozy is the energy or a vest if you wanna be elevated. But truly, with a simple look like this, it's all in the accessories. Load up on all the necklaces, body chains, and more to liven up the classic equation.

ELOQUII Knitted Crochet Short

Dressing up for a concert can be exciting and all, until you think about how uncomfortable your dream look might be. And if you're in a pickle, I say choose a crochet set. This 100-percent cotton one is extremely soft, stretchy, and airy. It also has an adjustable waist so you feel secure at all times. It'll go nicely with sandals for an outdoorsy concert or heeled, knee-high boots if you'll be indoors.

Lioness Women's Birkin Corset, ONYX, Black

Rosettes are very much here to stay, and if you've been on the hunt for an avant-garde way to wear the trend to your next concert, you're looking at it. I mean how sleek is this faux leather corset and balloon-leg denim pants combination?

Silence + Noise Sabrina Micro Short

Take this as your sign to have a go at the rising micro short trend. You can give it a risky business twist with a button-down and a blazer, or a basic white tank a lá Olivia Rodrigo. The styling options are endless!

Urban Renewal Remade Acid Wash Flannel Shirt

Let this be proof that you can throw on a flannel over a cute bralette and call it a day! This totally speaks to the western/country theme and it's super comfy. A win-win if you're headed to see your favorite country star! Tie it all together with a buckled belt and cowboy boots.

Showpo Barlyn Mini Skirt

Concerts are the best time to bring out all the razzle-dazzle, and this high-shine two-piece set will definitely do the trick. And if this isn't enough glam for you, feel free to go all out on the sparkly accessories.

Nikki Chasin Florida Woman Applique Tee Nikki Chasin

If you're trying to turn heads and start conversations, a cheeky top is the answer. Combining it with some quirky pants? You'll end up being the star of the show!

True Religion x Playboy Good Bunny Varsity Jacket

To all my friends who just can't steer away from their usual monochrome (read: all-black) uniform but still wanna spice things up, incorporate a vibrant varsity jacket into the mix. It brings in some dimension and adds a graphic element to the whole thing.

Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan , where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish , House Beautiful , and People . Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok . 

Shopping All These Pretty Things

Can't Stop Shopping These Preppy Clothing Brands

Attn: These Body Shimmers Will Make You *So* Glowy

20 Nordstrom Fashion Deals in Our Editors' Carts

Found: The Comfiest Walking Sandals of Summer '24

The Under-$100 Nordstrom Sale Finds on My Wishlist

The 4th of July Clothing Sales Worth Celebrating

These Minimizer Bras Reduce Uncomfy Bounce (IYKYK)

I Tried the Posture-Correcting Bra T. Swift Wears

10/10 Recommend Any of These Cute Summer Jackets

Hear Us Out: No Tanning Oil Unless It's SPF 30+

The Celeb-Loved Solawave Wand Is Now 30% Off

Boulder’s best concerts of 2009 (VIDEO)

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Things to Do
• Classifieds

Breaking News

Ceo announces saturday, september 17, 2022 is colorado daily’s final issue.

Matisyahu performs at the University of Colorado on Feb. 4.

Pretty Lights performs at the University of Colorado's New Student Welcome Concert on Farrand Field on Aug. 22, 2009.

The economy was in the deep freeze this year, but that didn’t stop Boulder’s concert venues from hosting an amazing number of great shows.

While Boulder had quite a few memorable concerts in 2009, here are this writer’s favorite shows of the year — and the reasons why they stood out from the pack:

1. Pretty Lights

University of Colorado’s Farrand Field, Aug. 22

Pretty Lights drew thousands of fans to CU’s annual New Student Welcome Concert, and this was one of the best shows of the year.

The electro act’s kaleidoscope of sounds was expertly fused with an amazing light show. The multi-sensory show turned the plain-Jane field into an amazing outdoor concert venue, and CU carried the show off with nary a hitch.

Local concert promoters are already scouting out talent for next year, so here are some acts on the music industry’s radar for 2010: Ke$ha, Owl City, Monsters of Folk, Straight No Chaser, Semi Precious Weapons, Lissy Trullie, The xx, Kid Sister, Free Energy, Nellie McKay, The Antlers, Green River Ordinance, Bat for Lashes, Neon Indian, Dirty Projectors, Orianthi, Love and Theft and Colorado’s own Xiren.

2. The Airborne Toxic Event

Boulder Theater, Sept. 24

The Airborne Toxic Event’s anthemic music roused the crowd from the first notes, and the emotive songs really resonated with the local audience at the Boulder Theater.

Plus, the band’s multi-level stage set-up, and the use of shadow and lighting, accentuated the show to perfection. This wasn’t a concert — it was an artistic event.

3. Blitzen Trapper and Dr. Dog

Fox Theatre, Oct. 20 and Oct. 11, respectively

In 2009, several up-and-coming groups fused jangly guitar sounds with modern edges. Blizten Trapper and Dr. Dog were the poster bands for the genre.

Last fall, both groups rocked the Fox and worked audiences into a frenzy. These bands blended the best of vintage and contemporary sounds, and they knew how to bring melodic harmonies to the forefront of their tunes.

That’s why both shows were packed to the brim with locals.

4. Matisyahu

CU’s Glenn Miller Ballroom, Feb. 4

It was advertised as a simple Q&A show, but Matisyahu’s appearance at CU’s Glenn Miller Ballroom turned into a full-blown concert.

Matisyahu answered a few questions, but most of the event was spent showing off tunes from the artist’s 2009 CD, Light.

Matisyahu artistically fused his reggae and rap rhymes into an acoustic evening of sounds, and his inspired lyrics left this college audience wanting more. Plus, locals really got a solid insight into what makes this artist tick.

5. Asher Roth and Common

Fox Theatre, March 18 and Feb. 19, respectively

The Fox Theatre built on its reputation for bringing in known rap artists and fostering the careers of newbies in 2009.

On Feb. 19, the Fox hosted a rare show with rapper Common that tore the house down. The rapper showed off his smooth rhymes and dazzled the audience with his showmanship.

6. Animal Collective

Boulder Theater, June 2 Boulder was getting electro-fied by the summer of 2009, so Animal Collective’s concert sold out in advance.

The electronic act showed off its artistic, hi-tech fusion at the Boulder Theater. However, one of the best parts of the evening came when Animal Collective performed as late night DJs at the theater’s adjacent pub, George’s.

7. Gene Ween and Bobby Long

b.side Lounge, May 10 and Nov. 17, respectively

The b.side Lounge will go out with a bang on Friday, but the club aced 2009 by bringing top-name talent into the intimate room.

Gene Ween played a special acoustic show at the b.side on May 10. The performer pulled out all the Ween hits, but played them in a more laid-back fashion.

“Twilight” music star Bobby Long made a rare appearance at the b.side on Nov. 17. The Brit’s spot-on performance and beautiful voice proved that his career will go far beyond vampire films.

8. FMQB Triple A Conference

Fox Theatre, Aug. 5-7

Every year, the Triple A radio conference hits Boulder and locals get to check out major acts at the Fox Theatre.

Gomez and Howie Day wowed locals with sneak-peaks of their new records at this summer’s Triple A bash.

9. Taking Back Sunday

Boulder Theater, May 26

If Boulder was lacking anything this year, it was not having enough kick-ass indie-rock shows.

Taking Back Sunday remedied that situation at the Boulder Theater. The rockers showed off new guitarist Matt Fazzi and a solid collection of new songs. This tour was powerhouse and it earned the band a summer tour with Weezer.

10. Homegrown music

Paper Bird, Everything Absent or Distorted, Gregory Alan Isakov, Flobots, 3OH!3 and “etown” all offered great Boulder shows in 2009.

More in News

News | CEO announces Saturday, September 17, 2022 is Colorado Daily’s final issue

National News | Trump indicted by grand jury in ‘hush money’ probe; surrender expected Tuesday

This ‘Schitt’s Creek’ writer has a new small-town series. Here’s ‘The Big Door Prize’

Things To Do | 5 planets will parade across the sky in rare astronomical event

City of Philadelphia

• An official website of the City of Philadelphia government
• Here's how you know
• An official website
• Feedback and support
• The latest news + events

Everything you need to know about the July 4th Concert and Fireworks

*For the complete list of Wawa Welcome America events and road closures, visit our Welcome America Road Closure Press Release .

On Thursday, July 4, the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert and Fireworks returns to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the culmination of the sixteen-day independence celebration.

Attendees can explore the 2024 Welcome America story map on the City’s website to review important public safety information. The map helps members of the public find Parkway amenities such as jumbotrons and porta-potties. It also indicates stations for medical help and security. The story map , available at phila.gov/america , also includes road closure maps for the Parkway area and Old City.

Stay connected to important information from the City, like weather and event-related details. Text “ AMERICA ” to 888-777 to receive free Welcome America alerts from the Office of Emergency Management.

July 4th Concert and Fireworks

Concert begins at 7 p.m. | Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Fireworks begin at 9:45 p.m. | Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philadelphia’s legendary July 4th Concert features performances by three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning R&B hitmaker, iconic songwriter, actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Ne-Yo, and Grammy-nominated and award-winning musician, actress and activist Kesha.

Prior to the concert, guests will enjoy a collaborative performance by DJ Diamond Kuts and Snacktime Philly on the Pennsylvania Lottery Groove Stage on the Parkway from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The concert will begin on the main stage at 7 p.m. 

The main concert will be televised live during primetime in its entirety on NBC10 & simulcast from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on NBC Sports Philadelphia+. The free concert will also be live streamed on the NBC Philadelphia News channel on Peacock, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Fire TV, Pluto and Xumo Play as well as www.nbc10.com. The concert will be streamed in Spanish on Telemundo Noreste on Roku and Samsung TV Plus as well as www.telemundo62.com enabling viewers to watch on any device.

The July 4th Concert will be followed by a large, public firework display over the iconic Benjamin Franklin Parkway courtesy of Wawa beginning at 9:45 p.m.

Please view the Wawa Welcome America Festival Brochure for more details about the events.

How to Enter the Parkway Events

The Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert & Fireworks is open to the public and free to attend.  

Gates for the concert open at 4 p.m. Guests will be directed to enter the event venue at the secured entry point at the following location: 

• 20th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Logan Circle)

*If you have a ticket for the front section, you must enter at 22nd Street & Pennsylvania Avenue. OR 22nd & Winter Streets . 

All guests must go through a security check upon entering, including magnetometers and bag checks.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early to avoid any traffic delays or heavy pedestrian traffic. The Parkway is general admission and occupied on a first-come-first-served basis.

What to Expect

Venue rules and safety information.

The vicinity of the Wawa Welcome America July Fourth Concert & Fireworks (a boundary from at least 19th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and adjacent areas), will be secured and protected for a safe and fun celebration. Throughout the Wawa Welcome America festivities, the City will provide enhanced law enforcement and emergency medical services. The City and Welcome America are coordinating with local, state and federal public safety authorities to ensure everyone can safely enjoy the Fourth of July.

For the safety of event attendees and participants, unauthorized sUAS/drone usage is prohibited over crowds by the FAA. If you see a drone at an event, please report it to the nearest police officer with a location and description of the operator.

Check out this informative video provided by Welcome America that highlights the venue rules. 

Know where to find law enforcement and medical help along the Parkway. 

The Philadelphia Fire Department’s EMS Division will have medic teams spread across the Parkway at the following locations: 

• 2300 Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Southside)
• 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Southside)
• 21st Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Northside)

Call 9-1-1 if you are having a medical emergency or see someone who may be in need of medical attention.

Private security posts and information booths can also call for help. 

Have important phone numbers memorized. 

If you see something – say something!

These safety tips and more can be found in the Special Events Safety Guide .

Weather and heat precautions

With the potential for high temperatures, there is a risk of heat-related health issues. Many heat stress or heat exhaustion issues can be avoided by taking simple precautions.

Attendees should follow all proper precautions to protect themselves and their families against the heat. All festival-goers should stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, and avoiding alcoholic beverages, caffeine, and excessive layers of clothing.

Consider the “Three L’s” Rule: light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting. Wear garments made of natural fibers like cotton.

For more tips on how to beat the heat, visit the City’s heat guide .  

Accessibility

Welcome America July 4th Concert and Fireworks is an accessible event and is dedicated to ensuring access to people of all abilities. Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a wheelchair-accessible roadway that features flat surfaces and curb cutouts.

Portable toilets, including ADA-compliant units, will be available throughout the Parkway.

There will be multiple screens throughout the festival grounds for people to see the stage. 

Please refer to the 2024 Welcome America story map , which identifies these locations. 

What Can I Bring?

The following items are permitted at Welcome America events:

• Personal food & beverage (no alcoholic beverages)
• Small personal coolers
• Pets on leashes
• Chairs and blankets (not permitted in the ticketed front section)

Please note: all persons and/or their belongings are subject to search as a condition of entry into the July 4th Concert and Fireworks. 

When in doubt, leave it home! 

Keep possessions and bags with you always and do not leave them unattended.

Items NOT allowed inside the festival footprint

For the safety of event attendees and staff, the following items are prohibited:

• Weapons and contraband of any kind regardless of permitting, e.g. Right-to-Carry permits will not be honored, and entry will be denied.
• Fireworks, firecrackers, or explosives (including sparklers)
• Open flame of any kind
• Illegal or illicit substances of any kind (does not pertain to individual prescribed medication)
• Flyers, handbills, posters, stickers (no solicitation allowed)
• Full face coverings, such as ski masks and balaclavas (this does not apply to COVID-19 masks or faith-based coverings)
• Unauthorized commerce
• Items that would obstruct others’ view (large signs, banners, etc.)
• Drones and any other unmanned and remote-controlled devices
• ATVS, dirt bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles, segways, hoverboards, and similar items (cannot be brought into the event space)
• Glass Containers
• Laser pointers
• Selfie Sticks
• Any other item or action deemed dangerous or inappropriate by production or security management

Lost children

Parents or guardians should report a missing child to the nearest law enforcement officer, medic, private security representative, or information booth as soon as possible.

Public safety officials will coordinate the search for missing children with the full support of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Be sure to take a photo of your child before arriving at the Welcome America events. If separated, this will be very helpful for those searching for your child. It’s also recommended to have children memorize their parent’s cell phone numbers.

Lost and found

If you’ve lost a personal belonging, look for the nearest information booth where you last had the item. Wawa Welcome America staff can check if the item has been returned there or at other information booths.

After July 4, lost items can be reclaimed by contacting the Welcome America office at [email protected] .

Getting to the Parkway events

Philadelphia’s mass transit system, SEPTA, offers two subway lines, regional rail service to and from the surrounding suburbs, and bus service throughout the city.

Regional rail service, the Market Frankford Line, and the Broad Street Line will operate on a Sunday schedule with additional cars added to increase rider capacity at the break of the event. Check the Regional Rail extended train service schedule and the SEPTA website for more details.

• Bus Detours: Due to road closures, buses that travel on or near the Parkway will be detoured starting at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 4 through 5 p.m. on Friday, July 5. Routes detoured: 7, 32, 33, 38, 43, 48 and 49. 

SEPTA travel tips:

• On Thursday, July 4, please refer to the Sunday schedule of the SEPTA service you wish to ride. Routes that do not offer Sunday service will not operate
• The Ben Franklin Parkway is best accessed from the 15th Street Market-Frankford Line Station and Race-Vine or City Hall Broad Street Line Station
• Visit the Fares section for fare and SEPTA Key information
• Download the SEPTA App for iPhone and Android devices. Visit the Google Play or Apple App Store and look for the official SEPTA App.
• The SEPTA Customer Service Call Center (215) 580-7800 will open from 8 a.m. to  8 p.m. on Thursday, July 4.

Check SEPTA’s website, Septa.org , for full details on transit options. For information on NJ Transit routes and schedules on July 4, visit NJTransit.com .

Philly PHLASH

The Philly PHLASH Downtown Bus Loop will operate a special holiday service on Thursday, July 4. For updated holiday route detour and schedule information, visit RidePhillyPhlash.com on your mobile device or VisitPhilly’s PhillyPhlash Guide on your desktop.

Taxi & Rideshare

Designated rideshare and taxi drop-off points for the July Fourth Concert will be 17th and Spring Garden Street. 

Cyclists and Pedestrians

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is easily accessible via cycling and walking. Keep in mind that if a road is closed to vehicular traffic, it is also closed to cycling. Walking paths will remain open for pedestrians as conditions allow; however, please follow all posted signs, detours and traffic control devices.

• The Kelly Drive bike path (river side) between Eakins Oval and Sedgley Drive will be closed to cyclists and pedestrians beginning at 5 p.m. until the conclusion of the fireworks for safety concerns.

RideIndego is an accessible and affordable way to get to and from the July 4th Concert and Fireworks with stations conveniently located along the Parkway. Download the official Indego App to check real-time bike and dock availability at any station. Visit the Google Play or Apple App Store and look for the official Indego App.

Related posts

WWE’s Charitable Impact and Record-Breaking Success at WrestleMania XL in Philadelphia

Dietz & Watson Half Marathon Nominated as One of the Country’s Best Half Marathons by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards

Philadelphia Marathon Team: Reflections and Resolutions

July 4th 2024: Your guide to fireworks, festivals, parades and concerts in N.J. (July 4, 2024)

T he official July 4th holiday falls on a Thursday in 2024, setting the stage for fireworks, parades, concerts and special events throughout New Jersey this weekend and into next week.

From small town celebrations to the massive fireworks displays in New York and Philadelphia visible from New Jersey, scores of events are planned to celebrate Independence Day.

NJ Advance Media has combed through events scheduled throughout all 21 counties to provide our readers with this list. Many towns have celebrations scheduled for multiple days.

Here’s a look at some of the Fourth of July fireworks, festivals, parades and concerts planned throughout New Jersey this year.

There are many ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in New Jersey. Check our our guide to places your can watch fireworks, enjoy some music or watch a parade.

Atlantic County

• The Mothers of Margate is holding its Fourth of July fireworks celebration on Thursday, July 4, at 9 p.m. on Huntington Beach Avenue.

Bergen County

• State Fair Meadowlands in East Rutherford will have two fireworks displays on July 4.
• The Allendale Holiday Observers are holding a firework show at Crestwood Lake on July 4 from 7:30-10:30 p.m.
• On July 6, The Borough of Maywood will hold a fireworks display at Memorial Park at 6:30 p.m.; the rain date is July 7.
• Ridgewood will celebrate Independence Day with a full-day celebration: a flag-rising ceremony at Wisley Square will begin at 9:30 a.m.; parade will follow at 10 a.m., followed by live music, food trucks and a beer garden; and the fireworks finale will start at 6 p.m.
• The New Jersey Wind Symphony will perform a concert on July 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Overpeck County Park in Ridgefield Park ; songs by Leslie Mendelson , Jake Thistle , and Kristen Plumley will be performed.
• Ramapo College of New Jersey is hosting a concert and fireworks on July 11 at 505 Ramapo Valley Road in Mahwah. The concert is part of its Summer Concert Series . The Infernos’ Salute to America concert on the Bandshell Law begins at 7 p.m. with fireworks at dusk. In the event of rain, the concert will be held indoors and fireworks will be held July 18.

Burlington County

• Evesham Township will have its fireworks celebration at Savich Field from 6-10:30 p.m. on July 4; no parking passes will be required this year. A DJ and ice cream will be available.
• Florence Township will hold a Fourth of July celebration on July 6. The day begins at 11 a.m. with a flag-raising ceremony at Oak Street and 5th Street, followed by a parade beginning at noon, which starts at the Veterans’ Monument at the Oak Street Circle. In the evening, a concert and food court will be held from 5-9:30 p.m. at the Municipal Complex and fireworks will begin at 9:10 p.m. at Veterans’ Park; Rain date is July 7.

Camden County

• Willie Nelson’s annual Fourth of July Picnic will take place at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden on July 4. Headlining alongside Nelson are Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, Maren Morris, Mavis Staples and Celisse Join.
• Collingswood will have a celebration on July 4 with fireworks starting at 7:30 p.m. at Collingswood High School and Knight Park; parking is not available at Knight Park.

Cape May County

• Cape May’s fireworks will be held from 9:30-10 p.m. on July 4 at Congress Hall with visibility along the beach. The rain date is July 5.
• Middle Township will hold its Fourth of July celebration on July 4 from 3-9:30 p.m. at the Gloshen Complex on 626 Gloshen Road. There will be live music, food trucks, games for kids and fireworks at dusk.
• Ocean City will have fireworks on July 4 from 7-9:30 p.m. at the 9th Street Beach.
• Sea Isle City will host its fireworks July 4 from 9:15-9:40 p.m. at the 50th Street Beach.
• Stone Harbor will have fireworks and an Independence Day Concert from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on July 4 at 82nd Street Recreation Fields. Food trucks and live music will be at the event.
• Wildwood will have fireworks launched from Pine Avenue on the Boardwalk on July 4 and July 5.
• Winslow Township is going to have a fireworks celebration on July 4 at 9 p.m.; the event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at Winslow Township High School.
• Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 is hosting a firework display on July 4 at 9:30 p.m. at the 80th Street recreation complex.

Cumberland County

• Bridgeton will hold a Fourth of July celebration from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on July 4; fireworks will be set off at dusk.
• Millville will host fireworks at Union Lake Park on July 4, with a rain date of July 5.

Essex County

• Millburn-Short Hills will have fireworks at Millburn High School on July 4. Morning activities start at 9 a.m. and the fireworks display begins at 7:30 p.m.
• Livingston Township will have fireworks at Memorial Oval and Park on July 4 at 9 p.m. The evening includes a performance from the “We May Be Right” Billy Joel Cover Band, 20 food trucks, a beer garden, vendors and hatchet throwing.
• West Caldwell, Caldwell, North Caldwell, Roseland and Essex Fells Fireworks 2024 will be held July 4 at the James Caldwell high school baseball field. Gates open at 7 p.m. with entertainment by DJ Danny Duca. Parking available at the Westville pool. Fireworks begin at dusk. Raindate is July 5.

Hudson County

• After nine years of celebrating on the East River, Macy’s will launch fireworks over the Hudson River on Independence Day. More information, including where to watch the fireworks in person and over broadcasts, can be found here . Wyclef Jean will headline Jersey City’s July 4 celebration .

Mercer County

• East Windsor will hold its fireworks show at dusk on July 6 at Etra Lake Park.
• Trenton is hosting a fireworks show at Trenton Thunder Ballpark on July 4 at 7 p.m.

Middlesex County

• East Brunswick is holding a fireworks spectacular on July 4 starting at 6 p.m.; the rain date is July 5. The event will feature food trucks, a DJ, a performance from the East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra and children’s entertainers.
• The borough of Helmetta is having fireworks on July 5 at Immaculate Conception Field. The celebration will start at 5 p.m.
• Milltown will host a Fourth of July celebration on July 4 at 6 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m.

Monmouth County

• Atlantic Highlands will have fireworks on July 5 at the Marina at 9:45 p.m.. Rain date is July 6.
• Bradley Beach will have fireworks on July 5 at the Beach Front. Fireworks begin at dusk.
• Long Branch will host its Oceanfest 4th of July celebration with fireworks, live entertainment and food trucks on July 4.
• Middle Township will have live music, food trucks, games for kids and fireworks at dusk at the Goshen Complex at 626 Goshen Road from 3-9:30 p.m. on July 4.
• Ocean Township is hosting its Fourth of July celebration at Joe Palaia Park from 6-10:30 p.m. It will feature live music, fireworks, vendors and kids’ activities.

Morris County

• Randolph Township is going to have fireworks on July 13 at 214 Center Grove Road.
• The Washington Association of New Jersey is hosting a reading of the Declaration of Independence at Morristown National Historic Park at 1 p.m. on July 4.

Ocean County

• Barnegat Township is holding a fireworks show on July 5 at Barnegat High School. The rain date is July 12.
• The borough of Lavallette will have fireworks on July 7 at Lavallette Gazebo; the rain date is July 14.
• Seaside Heights will have fireworks on July 4 at the boardwalk; fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m.
• Shore Town Ballpark will have fireworks shows on July 4, 5, 12 and 13 in Lakewood.

Passaic County

• Clifton is hosting fireworks on July 6 at Clifton Stadium at 4 p.m. The rain date is July 7.

Salem County

• Salem County Fairgrounds 4th of July Festival will be held at the fairgrounds off Route 40 in Woodstown. A Firecracker 5K will be held at 8 a.m. on July 4. The grounds open at 4 p.m. There will be a DJ, food trucks, rides, games and concessions. Fireworks at dusk.

Somerset County

• Somerset County will have fireworks at North Branch Park in Bridgewater on July 4 at 9:30 p.m. Garden State Groove will perform from 8:30-9:30 p.m. and 10-11 p.m. The NJ 3rd Regiment Revolutionary War encampment will be onsite. Food trucks will be available.

Sussex County

• The Sussex County Miners will have fireworks at its stadium on July 4 and July 13.

Union County

• Summit is having fireworks at Biertuempfel Park on July 4 (with a rain date of July 5). The fireworks will start at 9 p.m.
• Union Township will host a Fourth of July concert at 7:30 p.m. on July 4, with fireworks following; the rain date is July 5.

Warren County

• The borough of Washington will celebrate the fourth on July 4 at Warren Hills Middle School.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The best concerts of 2024 so far: AP’s picks include Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny, George Strait, SZA

As The Associated Press’ music writer, Maria Sherman has seen more than 40 concerts during the first half of 2024

As The Associated Press' music writer, Maria Sherman has seen more than 40 concerts during the first half of 2024. Here are some picks for the best shows ... so far, excluding any one-off performances that cannot be repeated , and where you too can catch these artists.

March 14, Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena

Bad Bunny’s show begins with a symphony, transitioning into the unmistakable strings of his monster hit, “Monaco.” “The Most Wanted Tour” highlights El Conejo Malo’s fifth solo album “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana” (“Nobody Knows What Will Happen Tomorrow”) and his past reggaetón hits, too.

HIGHLIGHT: There is one moment that can only be described as equine.

OPENER: When you’re one of the biggest artists on the planet, do you really need an opener? Bad Bunny didn't.

SEE IT YOURSELF: This particular run of shows has come to an end, but here's a reminder to catch him next time he's in town.

April 5, New York's Madison Square Garden

Rodrigo’s spirited punky-pop warms an arena, as does her irreverent charms and Disney-informed dancing. If women performing their rage has fallen out of vogue, Rodrigo has brought it back , full force.

HIGHLIGHT: For the fans of her big-hearted ballads — in one moment, she’s lifted into the air and circles the arena in a purple crescent moon to slow things down.

OPENER: The Breeders — fronted by the Pixies’ Kim Deal — legends of ’90s college radio and indie rock. There’s something completist about hearing an arena discover “Cannonball” for the first time, a song that no doubt inspired Rodrigo’s music.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Rodrigo heads back to the U.S. this month with a new opener, the U.K. hyperpop producer PinkPantheress , before the Breeders return for two final nights in Los Angeles.

April 11, New York's Knockdown Center

Every generation gets the Crystal Castles it deserves. Or in less niche language: This Berlin duo brings humor to their music, which veers from hyperactive techno to German Neue Deutsche Welle in their acquired-taste electronica. The shows are sweaty, and no matter your age, you will be the oldest person in attendance.

HIGHLIGHT: The duo samples Dido’s soft-pop hit “White Flag,” while waving a white flag. It works.

OPENER: The techno-punk LustSickPuppy, whose abrasive rave music is presented as a kind of nightmarish clown show.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Brutalismus will be hitting a few festivals in Europe this summer and fall.

May 1, New York's Barclays Center

She will run on club time, and she will not disappoint. Nicki Minaj’s “Pink Friday 2” is almost a retrospective of her chart-toppers, shifting alter-egos with incredible ease.

HIGHLIGHT: At this particular show, Minaj brought out Cyndi Lauper to duet “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” after 1 a.m.

OPENER: Monica has joined Minaj for this tour, and in Brooklyn, Pepa of Salt-N-Pepa opened the show.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Minaj is hitting the European festival circuit this summer, then heading back to the U.S. in September.

May 6, New York's Brooklyn Paramount

Canadian pop-punk band Sum 41 has called it quits — and they’re going out in a blaze of glory, a farewell tour that has the immediacy of their youth.

HIGHLIGHT: Sum 41 does not want to exit quietly — they prove their endurance with an explosive set, fireworks and mosh pits and all. There’s also a giant, blow-up skull.

OPENER: The Interrupters, a ska-punk band that revitalized the genre, are worth arriving early for. At future dates, Sum 41 will be joined by Gob, Pup, Neck Deep and the Bronx.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Sum 41 is zigzagging across Europe and North America through early 2025.

May 21, Madison Square Garden

Not every artist can sell out Madison Square Garden on her first tour, but Megan Thee Stallion is not every artist. On her stage, Megan is an athlete and a dancer who delivers her fierce bars with an incredible crispness.

HIGHLIGHT: “WAP” is a can’t miss moment, of course — particularly if Cardi B makes a surprise appearance, like she did at MSG.

OPENER: Tennessee rapper GloRilla, who was most recently featured on the great, braggy “Accent” from the headliner's third album, “Megan.”

SEE IT YOURSELF: Europe will get to catch her in July, before she heads back home for a few festivals.

May 23, East Rutherford, New Jersey's MetLife Stadium

The Rolling Stones ran through 60 years of hits across two hours, including cuts from their first album of new material in nearly two decades, “Hackney Diamonds.”

HIGHLIGHT: When it comes to The Rolling Stones, the entire show is the highlight — but for this audience, it was likely the rollicking rendition of “Wild Horses.”

OPENER: The soulful Jon Batiste , an award-show staple for a reason.

SEE IT YOURSELF: The Stones' North American tour continues through July.

June 8, MetLife Stadium

They call him the King of Country for a reason. Live, George Strait can transform his one-off stadium shows into a honky-tonk; he performs with a big band and a lot of heart.

HIGHLIGHT: The closest a person can get to levitation is singing along to “Amarillo by Morning” in a stadium of tens of thousands.

OPENER: Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town, with Stapleton joining Strait for a new song called “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame.”

SEE IT YOURSELF: Strait has a two more stadium dates in July — in Detroit and Chicago — and another in December, in Las Vegas.

June 7-9, New York's Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Summer festivals across the United States tend to have similar lineups. Governors Ball, arriving early in the season, sets the tone.

HIGHLIGHT: Now is the time to run, don’t walk, to see Chappell Roan . And learn the “Hot to Go” dance.

OPENER: Sexyy Red’s frisky rap is hard to deny.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Many of these artists will be hitting festivals in North American and Europe this summer. In fact, if you want to catch SZA, Sexyy Red and Chappell Roan in one go, consider Lollapalooza in August. Pluma is currently on his “Éxodo Tour” across North America, running through October.

Feb. 18, Melbourne, Australia's Northcote Social Club

In the search for thrilling, cathartic underground music — particularly of the indie variety — look no further than the rich scene of Melbourne, Australia. CLAMM, the punk trio, brings a controlled aggression to their live show. It is ferocious noise punk that hits like inhaling hand sanitizer — stinging alert their audience with clever agitation.

HIGHLIGHT: Later this month, CLAMM will release a new record, “Disembodiment.” Live, they’ve begun performing the chant-along opening cut, “Change Enough.”

OPENER: At this particular show, the Aussie indie band Scott and Charlene’s Wedding and the rapper Mulalo. A genre-diverse club show is a life-affirming club show.

SEE IT YOURSELF: CLAMM are headed to Europe for a series of dates this July, and back to Australia in August.

Trending Reader Picks

Would Harris be a stronger candidate than Biden?

• Jul 4, 11:58 AM

Biden explains 'bad' debate in ABC exclusive

• Jul 5, 6:47 PM

Fiery Biden says he's 'staying in' the 2024 race

• Jul 5, 3:54 PM

How to escape from life-threatening rip currents

• Jul 5, 9:30 AM

Parents at beach with kids die in rip current

• Jun 21, 8:38 AM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

The best concerts of 2024 so far: AP’s picks include Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Bunny, George Strait, SZA

FILE - American singer Olivia Rodrigo performs during her “Guts World Tour” in the Royal Arena in OErestad, Denmark, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File)

FILE - Bad Bunny performs during “The Most Wanted Tour” at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on May 15, 2024. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Nicki Minaj performs during the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 performs during Sonic Temple Art and Music Festival on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

Megan Thee Stallion performs during the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Manchester, Tenn. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

FILE - Ronnie Wood, from left, Mick Jagger, Steve Jordan, and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform during the “Hackney Diamonds” tour at Soldier Field on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Chicago. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - George Strait performs at the iHeartCountry Festival on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)

Chappell Roan performs during the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Manchester, Tenn. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Sexyy Red performs during the Governors Ball Music Festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the Queens borough of New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

• Copy Link copied

As The Associated Press’ music writer, Maria Sherman has seen more than 40 concerts during the first half of 2024. Here are some picks for the best shows ... so far, excluding any one-off performances that cannot be repeated , and where you too can catch these artists.

Bad Bunny, “The Most Wanted Tour”

March 14, Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena

Bad Bunny’s show begins with a symphony, transitioning into the unmistakable strings of his monster hit, “Monaco.” “The Most Wanted Tour” highlights El Conejo Malo’s fifth solo album “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana” (“Nobody Knows What Will Happen Tomorrow”) and his past reggaetón hits, too.

HIGHLIGHT: There is one moment that can only be described as equine.

OPENER: When you’re one of the biggest artists on the planet, do you really need an opener? Bad Bunny didn’t.

SEE IT YOURSELF: This particular run of shows has come to an end, but here’s a reminder to catch him next time he’s in town.

Bad Bunny performs during “The Most Wanted Tour” at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on May 15, 2024. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP, File)

Olivia Rodrigo, “GUTS World Tour”

April 5, New York’s Madison Square Garden

Rodrigo’s spirited punky-pop warms an arena, as does her irreverent charms and Disney-informed dancing. If women performing their rage has fallen out of vogue, Rodrigo has brought it back , full force.

HIGHLIGHT: For the fans of her big-hearted ballads — in one moment, she’s lifted into the air and circles the arena in a purple crescent moon to slow things down.

OPENER: The Breeders — fronted by the Pixies’ Kim Deal — legends of ’90s college radio and indie rock. There’s something completist about hearing an arena discover “Cannonball” for the first time, a song that no doubt inspired Rodrigo’s music.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Rodrigo heads back to the U.S. this month with a new opener, the U.K. hyperpop producer PinkPantheress , before the Breeders return for two final nights in Los Angeles.

Brutalismus 3000, “AMERIKATRÄUME”

April 11, New York’s Knockdown Center

Every generation gets the Crystal Castles it deserves. Or in less niche language: This Berlin duo brings humor to their music, which veers from hyperactive techno to German Neue Deutsche Welle in their acquired-taste electronica. The shows are sweaty, and no matter your age, you will be the oldest person in attendance.

HIGHLIGHT: The duo samples Dido’s soft-pop hit “White Flag,” while waving a white flag. It works.

OPENER: The techno-punk LustSickPuppy, whose abrasive rave music is presented as a kind of nightmarish clown show.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Brutalismus will be hitting a few festivals in Europe this summer and fall.

Nicki Minaj, “Pink Friday 2 World Tour”

May 1, New York’s Barclays Center

She will run on club time, and she will not disappoint. Nicki Minaj’s “Pink Friday 2” is almost a retrospective of her chart-toppers, shifting alter-egos with incredible ease.

HIGHLIGHT: At this particular show, Minaj brought out Cyndi Lauper to duet “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” after 1 a.m.

OPENER: Monica has joined Minaj for this tour, and in Brooklyn, Pepa of Salt-N-Pepa opened the show.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Minaj is hitting the European festival circuit this summer, then heading back to the U.S. in September.

Nicki Minaj performs during the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

Sum 41, “Tour of the Setting Sum”

May 6, New York’s Brooklyn Paramount

Canadian pop-punk band Sum 41 has called it quits — and they’re going out in a blaze of glory, a farewell tour that has the immediacy of their youth.

HIGHLIGHT: Sum 41 does not want to exit quietly — they prove their endurance with an explosive set, fireworks and mosh pits and all. There’s also a giant, blow-up skull.

OPENER: The Interrupters, a ska-punk band that revitalized the genre, are worth arriving early for. At future dates, Sum 41 will be joined by Gob, Pup, Neck Deep and the Bronx.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Sum 41 is zigzagging across Europe and North America through early 2025.

Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 performs during Sonic Temple Art and Music Festival on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

Megan Thee Stallion, “Hot Girl Summer Tour”

May 21, Madison Square Garden

Not every artist can sell out Madison Square Garden on her first tour, but Megan Thee Stallion is not every artist. On her stage, Megan is an athlete and a dancer who delivers her fierce bars with an incredible crispness.

HIGHLIGHT: “WAP” is a can’t miss moment, of course — particularly if Cardi B makes a surprise appearance, like she did at MSG.

OPENER: Tennessee rapper GloRilla, who was most recently featured on the great, braggy “Accent” from the headliner’s third album, “Megan.”

SEE IT YOURSELF: Europe will get to catch her in July, before she heads back home for a few festivals.

The Rolling Stones, “Stones Tour ’24 Hackney Diamonds”

May 23, East Rutherford, New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium

The Rolling Stones ran through 60 years of hits across two hours, including cuts from their first album of new material in nearly two decades, “Hackney Diamonds.”

HIGHLIGHT: When it comes to The Rolling Stones, the entire show is the highlight — but for this audience, it was likely the rollicking rendition of “Wild Horses.”

OPENER: The soulful Jon Batiste , an award-show staple for a reason.

SEE IT YOURSELF: The Stones’ North American tour continues through July.

Ronnie Wood, from left, Mick Jagger, Steve Jordan, and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform during the “Hackney Diamonds” tour at Soldier Field on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Chicago. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)

George Strait

June 8, MetLife Stadium

They call him the King of Country for a reason. Live, George Strait can transform his one-off stadium shows into a honky-tonk; he performs with a big band and a lot of heart.

HIGHLIGHT: The closest a person can get to levitation is singing along to “Amarillo by Morning” in a stadium of tens of thousands.

OPENER: Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town, with Stapleton joining Strait for a new song called “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame.”

SEE IT YOURSELF: Strait has a two more stadium dates in July — in Detroit and Chicago — and another in December, in Las Vegas.

George Strait performs at the iHeartCountry Festival on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)

Governors Ball: Chappell Roan, Sexyy Red, SZA, Peso Pluma

June 7-9, New York’s Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Summer festivals across the United States tend to have similar lineups. Governors Ball, arriving early in the season, sets the tone.

HIGHLIGHT: Now is the time to run, don’t walk, to see Chappell Roan . And learn the “Hot to Go” dance.

OPENER: Sexyy Red’s frisky rap is hard to deny.

SEE IT YOURSELF: Many of these artists will be hitting festivals in North American and Europe this summer. In fact, if you want to catch SZA, Sexyy Red and Chappell Roan in one go, consider Lollapalooza in August. Pluma is currently on his “Éxodo Tour” across North America, running through October.

Feb. 18, Melbourne, Australia’s Northcote Social Club

In the search for thrilling, cathartic underground music — particularly of the indie variety — look no further than the rich scene of Melbourne, Australia. CLAMM, the punk trio, brings a controlled aggression to their live show. It is ferocious noise punk that hits like inhaling hand sanitizer — stinging alert their audience with clever agitation.

HIGHLIGHT: Later this month, CLAMM will release a new record, “Disembodiment.” Live, they’ve begun performing the chant-along opening cut, “Change Enough.”

OPENER: At this particular show, the Aussie indie band Scott and Charlene’s Wedding and the rapper Mulalo. A genre-diverse club show is a life-affirming club show.

SEE IT YOURSELF: CLAMM are headed to Europe for a series of dates this July, and back to Australia in August.

Recommended

Travis kelce sweetly kisses taylor swift while leaving eras tour show in amsterdam together.

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed
• Follow on X

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Travis Kelce gave girlfriend Taylor Swift a sweet kiss after making a surprise appearance at her Eras Tour show in Amsterdam on Friday.

After the Kansas City Chiefs star watched the Grammy winner’s concert at Johan Cruijff Arena, the couple came out from behind the stage holding hands .

Swift and Kelce, both 34, waved at fans in the crowd as they made their way to an exit.

At one point, the singer even put her hands on the football player’s waist to move him along.

THIS HD CLIP OMG 😭 pic.twitter.com/2A0CV3rd80 — ✩ CEL ✩ (@moonlithoax) July 5, 2024

They then put their arms around each other before Kelce gave Swift a tender smooch on the head.

The songstress was in a sparkly blue minidress and matching boots, while the athlete sported a white graphic hoodie with matching shorts, sneakers and a baseball cap.

Kelce has been back and forth from the US to Europe as Swift continues the international leg of her record-breaking tour.

On Sunday, he rushed off a plane to her third show at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, after attending his teammate Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s wedding in California one night prior.

Fans caught the moment Swift’s eyes lit up when she saw her beau in the crowd , as many assumed he had “surprised” her.

Kelce also spent time with the pop star in London when she performed back-to-back shows at Wembley Stadium from June 21-23.

For one of the concerts, the tight end even joined the singer on stage for her “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” transition skit.

Want more celebrity and pop culture news?

Start your day with Page Six Daily.

Thanks for signing up!

Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Want celebrity news as it breaks? Hooked on Housewives?

The skit saw Kelce, who wore a suit and top hat, pick Swift up from the ground after she pretended to faint as he and two other backup dancers helped her prepare for her next track.

On Wednesday’s episode of his “New Heights” podcast, the NFL star gushed over the surprise performance , admitting that he was nervous.

“I was up there with three professionals. You can do no wrong with Taylor on stage. [I kept telling myself], ‘Do not drop the baby. Hold onto the baby,'” he said.

Kelce explained it was originally his idea for Swift to bring him up on stage, though he first proposed a grand entrance of him on a bike during the “1989” era.

“She found the perfect part of the show to put me in,” he added. “It was, like, the safest option.”

The podcaster — who has been dating Swift for nearly a year — also teased that he could very well be  joining her for another onstage  cameo in the near future.

Advertisement

Everything to know about celebrating the Fourth of July around Indianapolis

The Fourth of July is a time traditionally spent celebrating America's Independence with cookouts, fireworks , parades and concerts. Here's what we know about celebrations happening across the Indianapolis area.

Where can I see fireworks around Indianapolis?

Roughly a dozen places around Indianapolis will set off fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July. The holiday falls on a Thursday this year, so some events span several days into the weekend and include family friendly festivals, bar crawls for adults, and concerts nearly everyone can enjoy.

Festivities will take place in Avon, Beech Grove, Broad Ripple, Brownsburg, Carmel, Fishers, Indianapolis, Noblesville, Westfield, and Zionsville. Check out IndyStar.com for more information about where to celebrate.

Summer 2024: Looking to watch the fireworks this Fourth of July? Here’s where you should go in Indy

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

What's open and closed on July 4, Independence Day?

Many offices and businesses will be closed Thursday in observance of  Independence Day .

All  federal offices  will be closed, from the legislature to the courthouse.  State offices  also will be closed, including Marion County courts. Doors will be shut at most  county  and  city offices  as well. The  United States Postal Service  will be closed, and mail will not be delivered on July 4.

Open and closed in Indy on July 4th: Are banks open? USPS mail? What's closed on Independence Day

What's open July 5? Here's which national chains you can visit

Cookouts in Indiana for Fourth of July will cost less in 2024

While grocery prices to throw a July 4 cookout will be record-high for much of the country, the price for Hoosiers will be easier on the wallet.

The average Independence Day cookout for 10 guests nationally will cost $71.22. according to the 2024 American Farm Bureau Federation annual market place survey. That’s up 5% from 2023, and almost 30% from five years ago, for a spread of cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream.

Indiana cookouts, however, fare slightly better at about 4%, or 29 cents, less than the U.S. average price per person. The reason why is partially due to where Indiana is located on the map.

July 4 cookout: Costs reach record high nationally, but Indiana fares better

Concert on July 4th weekend: 'Full House' star John Stamos joins The Beach Boys in Indianapolis

Actor and musician John Stamos played with The Beach Boys first on July 4, 1985. He's remained friends with them ever since and will join the band as a special guest when The Beach Boys take the stage at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park on July 6.

You can find tickets for the 2024 show at  livenation.com .

Beach Boys in Indianapolis: 'Full House' star John Stamos will join The Beach Boys for Indianapolis concert in July

What are the laws for fireworks in Indiana?

• You must be an adult, 18 or older, to buy fireworks in Indiana.
• Adults, 18 or older, must be present when children use or possess fireworks.
• You can use fireworks only on your own property, the property of someone who has granted you permission to use fireworks, or a place designated by the Indiana State Fire Marshal for the discharge of consumer fireworks.
• Fireworks are allowed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. any day except on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and New Year's Eve unless a local ordinance says otherwise.

Briggs: Indiana lets people blow themselves up because it's good business

How late is too late for fireworks in Indiana?

The times on the following dates are protected in Indiana for consumer use of fireworks and may not be prohibited by local ordinance:

• June 29-July 3 : from 5 p.m. until two hours after sunset
• July 4 : from 10 a.m. to midnight
• July 5-9 : from 5 p.m. until two hours after sunset
• Dec. 31 : from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

When you can shoot off fireworks in your Central Indiana town.

Most Central Indiana towns follow the guidelines listed above. Visit IndyStar.com for a closer look on how they differ.

Celebrating July 4: Here's when you can shoot off fireworks in your Central Indiana town 🧨🎇

How many people go to the hospital because of fireworks?

Fireworks are beautiful to watch, but can be deadly if misused.

More than 10,000 people  were treated for firework-related injuries in hospital emergency rooms across the country in 2022, in which 11 people died,  according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission . Roughly 73% of those injuries occurred during the one month surrounding the Fourth of July Holiday.

Children aged 5-9 were estimated to be the second most likely to go to the emergency room, according to earlier data by the CPSC. Burn wounds to hands and fingers were the most common type of injury treated overall.

July 4 forecast: NWS says storms are possible, but it's not all bad news

How did Indiana legalize backyard fireworks despite safety concerns?

Indiana changed its loophole-ridden fireworks law to make the Hoosier state one of the most liberal in its approach to fireworks. Today, Hoosiers can shoot off fireworks from their backyard. The law also has an element only one other state, Arizona, has: Local governments are explicitly prohibited from regulating fireworks use for 11 days around the Fourth of July and New Year's. As a result, the industry is booming.

So what changed? How did lawmakers concerned with public safety and a contingent of Indiana's fire chiefs, those who'd seen the permanence of fireworks-related injuries, adopt a more laissez faire attitude and cease their opposition to lobbyists?

"They had more money than us; they pretty much beat us like a drum," said Fred Hines of the fireworks industry, a former Seymour fire chief who was part of the fire chiefs association at the time. "In my personal opinion, the fire service sold out."

Indiana fireworks law: How Indiana led the way in legalizing backyard fireworks despite safety concerns

How to stay safe around fireworks

Fireworks are fun. Spending time in the emergency room? Not so much . Thousands are injured by fireworks every year leading up to July 4th. Here's what you should keep in mind when using them in the Hoosier State.

Children and fireworks:

• Don't allow children to light or play with fireworks.
• Parents should always supervise children when handling sparklers, which can burn  up to 1,800 degrees  or hotter.

Watching fireworks:

• Watch fireworks from a safe distance away from the launch area. Fireworks can backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction.

Storing fireworks:

• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.

Shooting off fireworks:

• Only use fireworks outside.
• Use fireworks in an open area.
• In case of wind, light fireworks where the wind is blowing away from spectators.
• Only light one firework at a time.
• Never smoke or consume alcohol when lighting fireworks.
• Never place a part of your body directly over a firework or hold a firework in your hand when lighting.
• Don't aim, point or throw fireworks at another person.
• For ground-based devices such as fountains, according to Homeland Security, the perimeter should be 35 feet out.
• For aerial devices, it should be 150 feet. Fireworks that don't go off when you light them can still explode.
• Never attempt to re-light or fix a “dud” firework. Let duds sit for five or 10 minutes before you pick them up to dowse them in water.

Extinguishing fireworks:

• Always have a fire extinguisher or water supply, such as a hose or bucket of water, nearby.
• After a firework has finished burning, douse it with plenty of water before throwing it away to prevent starting a trash fire.

Special considerations:

• Be considerate of those with PTSD and other medical conditions. Firework noise can cause extreme stress and reaction in neighbors.
• Be considerate of you and your neighbors pets. Animals have sensitive ears. Firework sounds can frighten or stress animals.

Firework hours: How late is too late for fireworks? 🧨 Here are the rules in Indiana, and how to stay safe

Dogs and fireworks: How to keep your pet calm July 4th

Most dogs do not handle fireworks well, so helping your canine companion get through Independence Day, say animal experts, should start early. It's recommended pet owners talk to a veterinarian and come up with a plan.

In addition to veterinarian-approved medication, experts suggest setting up a quiet space inside your home buffered as much as possible from outside noise. You can make that space feel safe and comfortable by adding the following things:

• Favorite toys.
• Familiar blankets.
• Chew bones.
• Soft music.
• Special treats.
• TV playing comfortable background noise (preferably not showing fireworks)

LOUD NOISES!!: You can make July 4 fireworks less scary for dogs. Here's what experts say to do now

IndyStar reporters Kayla Dwyer, Domenica Bongiovanni and Cheryl Jackson assisted with this article. Contributions also were made by Midwest Connect reporter Chris Sims and IndyStar intern Alex Haddon.

John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at  JTuftsReports .