THE 13 HOTTEST MUSIC TICKETS THIS SPRING – FROM GLASTONBURY TO BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Take That
In their swinging fifties the former quintet of boy band entertainers have shrunk to a scruffily bearded trio of serious musos. But they have done so with grace, adding lyrical depth to melodious showmanship and maturing into masters of harmony.
Utilita Arena, Sheffield, April 13 and touring (takethat.com)
Olivia Rodrigo
Somewhere between the all-American girl, perfect songcraft of Taylor Swift and the generational angst of Billie Eilish, this feisty 21-year-old US sensation has brought some rock bite back into the pop mainstream.
Co-Op Live, Manchester, May 3 and touring (ticketmaster.co.uk)
Bruce Springsteen
The boss is back. The 74-year-old firebrand returns to UK stadiums from a six-month health break to deal with a peptic ulcer. He may be the greatest live performer of the rock era, still kicking up a storm with the E Street Band.
Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, May 5 and touring (brucespringsteen.net)
Eric Clapton
At 78, suffering from nerve damage in his fingers, the man they call Slowhand doesn’t tour as often as he used to. He remains the most technically accomplished and influential guitarist of the original British blues rock boom, a world-beating talent.
Utilita Arena Newcastle, May 9 and touring (ericclapton.com)
Eagles
They are calling it the Long Goodbye. A five-night arena residency in Manchester may be the last ever shows in the UK by the kings of country rock, a pristine groove and harmony machine led from the back by drummer Don Henley. Take it to the limit one more time.
Co-Op Live, Manchester, May 31 until June 8 (eagles.com)
Liam Gallagher
A huge Britpop anniversary, as the last great British rock star celebrates 30 years of Oasis debut Definitely Maybe. Fresh off a revitalising jaunt with John Squire of the Stone Roses, these shows by the swaggeringly charismatic vocalist are sure to be epic.
Utilita Arena, Sheffield, June 1 and touring (liamgallagher.com)
Taylor Swift
It doesn’t get any bigger than this in modern pop. The Eras tour finally lands in Britain, expanded to include new album, Tortured Poets Department (out April 19). The zeitgeist riding US singer-songwriter’s UK jaunt includes an astonishing 8 shows at Wembley Stadium.
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, June 7 and touring (taylorswift.com)
P!nk
American superstar Alecia Moore has been getting the party started for 25 years, making mainstream pop with attitude that smashes together rock, hip hop and R’n’B. Her shows are a visual feast, with monster tunes to match the daring acrobatics.
Principality Stadium, Cardiff, June 11 and touring (pinksummercarnival.com)
Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl’s resurrection from the ashes of Nirvana has been one of the most triumphantly uplifting tales in rock and roll. He has grappled with tragedy but makes defiantly entertaining American rock that draws on a huge array of retro sources but is stamped with his ebullient personality.
Old Trafford, Manchester, June 13 and touring (foofighters.com)
Download Festival
Glastonbury may have gone pop this year, but Download is still home to the fuzziest guitars, loudest drums and fiercest monsters in rock. This year’s headliners are Queens of Stone Age, Fall Out Boy and Avenged Sevenfold.
Donington Park, Leicestershire, June 14 until June 16 (downloadfestival.co.uk)
Sting
A masterful songwriter, fantastic singer, virtuoso musician and charismatic frontman, Gordon Sumner has it all. He has been touring with a jazz-rock power trio, Sting 3.0, his most tautly compact band since his glory days with The Police.
Delamere Forest, Cheshire, June 14 and touring (sting.com)
Isle of Wight Festival
The Prodigy, Pet Shop Boys and Green Day are the big headliners on a festival that aims for solid crowd pleasers, with The Streets, Keane, Simple Minds, Suede and Crowded House amongst the support.
Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight June 20 until June 23 (isleofwightfestival.com)
Glastonbury Festival
It is by far the poppiest line-up for a Glastonbury festival in history, with UK dance pop superstar Dua Lipa, US future RnB star SZA and singalong maestros Coldplay as main headliners, and country pop superstar Shania Twain threatening to ride a horse onstage.
Pilton, Somerset June 26 until June 30 (glastonburyfestivals.co.uk)
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