It might seem premature to pull out the sunscreen and optimistic tank tops, given Western Washington’s typical weather patterns. But regardless of Mother Nature’s volatility, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer concert season.<\/p>\n
Despite a leaner festival landscape (which we’ll save for another day), there are plenty of marquee headliners coming to town during the warmer months. From hometown heroes to barrier-breaking Latin stars, these are 10 of the<\/mark> biggest summer tours hitting Seattle-area stadiums, arenas and amphitheaters.<\/p>\n The hometown folk rock hero gets back in the Gorge saddle this month as her Echoes Through the Canyon takeover returns from a well-earned, two-year break. The three-night affair features all-star support from the Indigo Girls and rootsy trio I\u2019m With Her on Friday, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bonnie Raitt and Sara Bareilles on Saturday, and a semi-rare reunion from Carlile\u2019s country supergroup The Highwomen and special guests Sheryl Crow, Wynonna Judd and Brittney Spencer on Sunday. Aside from a few release-week pop-up shows in Seattle, the Echoes concerts<\/mark> will be the first proper home state showcase of songs off last fall\u2019s \u201cReturning to Myself,\u201d an album of rediscovery and reinvention that often finds Carlile leaning into her singer-songwriter side while painting with a different palette.<\/p>\n May 29-31; Gorge Amphitheatre, 754 Silica Road N.W., George; Friday and Sunday single-day tickets start at $73, Saturday sold out;<\/em> gorgeamphitheatre.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Bob Dylan\u2019s long and winding “Rough and Rowdy Ways” tour snakes back to Greater Seattle four years after the Minnesota songwriting legend\u2019s shadowy and uncompromising performances<\/a> at the Paramount Theatre. The low-lit gigs fit the mood of 2020\u2019s \u201cRough and Rowdy Ways\u201d LP, a savory, late-career set from the classic rock\/folk icon who had his set at the Gorge cut short last year when high winds disrupted Willie Nelson\u2019s Outlaw Music Festival. Here\u2019s hoping for gentler breezes when Dylan settles in Woodinville for this summer\u2019s most anticipated winery show. Alt-country great Lucinda Williams and the John Doe Folk Trio open.<\/p>\n 6:30 p.m. June 6-7; Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14111 N.E. 145th St., Woodinville; sold out<\/em><\/p>\n With the musica Mexicana renaissance in full swing, corridos tumbados heavyweights Fuerza Regida are pushing south-of-the-border sounds into new places in the U.S. The SoCal-formed band \u2014 which<\/mark> blends traditional, acoustic-driven Mexican music with hip-hop sensibilities and storytelling \u2014<\/mark> embarks on an ambitious nine-city ballpark tour this summer, with a late-starting Seattle show one of only three northern stops. Fuerza Regida are one of two Spanish-language artists headlining local stadiums this summer \u2014 a rarity for a northern city of our size.<\/p>\n 9 p.m. June 25; T-Mobile Park, 1250 First Ave. S., Seattle; tickets start at $71;<\/em> ticketmaster.com<\/a><\/p>\n His last time in Seattle, Lumen Field regular Ed Sheeran smashed the football stadium\u2019s attendance record briefly held by his buddy, Taylor Swift, as 77,286 Sheerios (an actual term for his fanbase) filled the Hawks\u2019 house. Sheeran\u2019s “Loop” tour brings him<\/mark> back this summer equipped with a new album in last year\u2019s \u201cPlay,\u201d an electro pop-heavy affair that chases a pair of 2023 acoustic albums. Billed as a return to his \u201cbig pop<\/a>\u201d sound, \u201cPlay\u201d absorbs occasional rap, soul and global influences. Myles Smith, Sigrid and Aaron Rowe open.<\/p>\n 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1; Lumen Field, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle; tickets start at $128;<\/em> lumenfield.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Just a year after playing his first hometown arena show, Benny\u2019s back for another round as his new “Wanted Man” tour hits Climate Pledge Arena. On his maiden arena voyage last year, the self-aware Monroe pop singer \u2014<\/mark> synonymous with backflips and snug-fitting jumpsuits \u2014<\/mark> looked like a natural showman ready for the bigger stages, boasting the pipes and popularity to fill them. It will be interesting to see how this summer\u2019s set list compares since he\u2019s still cruising on last year\u2019s sophomore album, \u201cAmerican Heart.\u201d<\/p>\n 8 p.m. Aug. 4; Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle; tickets start at $99<\/em>; climatepledgearena.com<\/a><\/p>\n North Carolina rap great J. Cole released one of this year\u2019s most ambitious hip-hop albums with \u201cThe Fall-Off\u201d \u2014 a long-in-the-works double concept album revolving around two return trips to his Fayetteville hometown at different points in his adult life. The sprawling autobiographical set features production work from Seattle-area beatsmiths Jake One (who produced \u201cI Love Her Again\u201d) and Mario Luciano, who contributed to the Future-assisted \u201cRun a Train.\u201d<\/p>\n 8 p.m. Aug. 25; Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle; sold out<\/em><\/p>\n For Colombian pop\/reggaeton star Karol G, the party didn\u2019t stop at Coachella, where<\/mark> she made history last month as the first Latin female artist to headline America\u2019s leading music festival. After a few months off following the performance \u2014 which rang loud as a celebration of Latin culture and female empowerment \u2014 Karol G kicks off a full-blown North American stadium tour that ought to go down as Seattle\u2019s biggest Spanish-language concert in years when it hits Lumen Field late summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n 7 p.m. Aug. 26; Lumen Field, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle; tickets start at $81,<\/em> lumenfield.com<\/a><\/p>\n Improbably massive folk-pop singer-songwriter Noah Kahan embarks on his biggest tour yet this summer, playing sold-out ballparks across the country, including four nights at Fenway Park in his native New England. Armed with his chart-topping new album \u201cThe Great Divide\u201d \u2014 stuffed with stadium-folk anthems, heartland rock chuggers and crying-on-your-cardigan introspections \u2014 music\u2019s coziest stadium filler closes his North American run with a Seattle doubleheader. Gigi Perez and Annabelle Dinda open.<\/p>\nBrandi Carlile<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Bob Dylan<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Fuerza Regida<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Ed Sheeran<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Benson Boone<\/strong><\/h2>\n
J. Cole<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Karol G<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Noah Kahan<\/strong><\/h2>\n