If you ask us what we love most about summer, we’ll tell you that a lot of it comes from simply watching how much our kids love the hot-weather months —from their serious sandcastle building at the beach, to their hours-long swimming sessions at the pool. But there’s one summer indulgence we love to do- with OR without them – kicking back at a concert. The season inevitably brings hot acts and big shows, which are even better at one of our area’s many outdoor venues (but hey, we’ll happily take an AC-laden indoor show too). Here are the coolest concerts to catch in the heat of the summer.
U2: The Joshua Tree Tour
Met Life Stadium: June 28 and 29
In honor of the 30th anniversary (sadly, not a typo) of the release of their fabled Joshua Tree album, the Irish foursome is touring the country playing every. single. song. from the album, so it should be a pretty killer experience. And The Lumineers as special guests is a big bonus.
Coldplay
MetLife Stadium: July 16
The British alt rock band’s A Head Full of Dreams tour has been getting accolades on its Latin American leg, and, after an early summer trek through multiple European cities, we expect it to be just as epic here in the States. Just don’t expect to see Gwyneth in the stands …
Laurie Berkner Band
QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning: July 28th, 2017 at 1:30 PM (1 hour)
Her folky sound that kids all ages love will be music to their ears and yours as you rock out with Laurie and her band amongst the most amazing hot air balloons around. Grab a blanket, pack a lunch and go!
Bill Joel
Various locations: June-September
The piano man has a very busy summer planned and you’ll have the chance to sing along to his classic tunes everywhere from his June show at Madison Square Garden to catching him on his baseball stadium tour when he hits Fenway Park in Boston in August or Philidelphia in September.
Shawn Mendes featuring Charlie Puth: Illuminate World Tour
Prudential Center: Thursday, August 17
The young crooner with a soulful voice is a favorite of teen and tween girls across the country and his Illuminate World Tour is sure to deliver great melodies and a perfect pitch that’ll make them weak in the knees. Adding Charlie Puth to the ticket is just a reason to get there when it starts, and whatever you do, make sure to bring ear plugs to dampen the high pitched screams if you want to save your eardrums.
John Mayer
PNC Bank Arts Center: August 19
Jones Beach: August 23
Grab all the girlfriends you can find to go check out the Casanova of a crooner (and seriously good guitar player). In our minds, his music will forever be linked to the early aughts, though he’s got some solid new stuff these days too.
Kidz Bop Kids
PNC Bank Arts Center: August 13
Who says you can’t take a tot to a concert? If you’re willing to give it a go, this could be the best first concert experience for any kid. Pack a basket of snacks and sandwiches and let the kiddos bop out to this kid-fave group and they’ll be sleeping the whole ride home.
Lionel Richie All the Hits With Special Guest Mariah Carey
Prudential Center: August 18
Madison Square Garden: August 19
Dancing on the ceiling with a diva? We’ll take it. After a successful Vegas residency last year, the former Commodore is taking his show on the road and adding the perfect pop star to accompany his Top 40 tunes: Mariah Carey.
Justin Bieber
MetLife Stadium: August 23 and 24
Face it, you already know every song anyway so go ahead and make tween daughter’s dreams come true by taking her to the see the one-and-only Biebs, on his Purpose World Tour, named after his most recent album. (How deep.) Plenty of other moms will most likely be in the same boat, so you might as well all carpool … and warn your daughters not to get embarrassed if, er, when, you end up singing along.
Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper
Jones Beach: July 18
yet another unexpected-yet-perfectly-paired duo on the roster we can’t resist. Because the only thing better than seeing Rod sing Do You Think I’m Sexy? live is seeing Cyndi bop around Girls Just Want to Have Fun moments later. And since Rod Stewart is in his 70s, who knows how much longer he’ll be touring … though if the Rolling Stones are any indication, we’ve probably got plenty of time.
Daryl Hall & Jon Oates and Tears for Fears
Prudential Center: June 17
Holy ‘80s extravaganza! Hall & Oates seem to be touring every summer these days and it’s quite possible you’ve seen them before, but pair them with this duo from across the pond, and it’s worth going again. We also have a very strong feeling a group encore rendition of Everybody Wants to Rule the World is in our future …
