Image via Complex Original
Simply put, summer is awesome for music. There's nothing quite like a certified summer jam pouring out of every car and earbud in the country. Summer concert tours are great, too: the weather's nice, there's no coat check to deal with, and a frew brews always taste better when the sun's out.
With May just around the corner, it's almost that time of year again. Haven't set your summer tour game plan yet? Don't fret. As always, we've got you covered. From Lil Wayne to New Kids on the Block, we've outlined the Most Anticipated Spring and Summer Tours of this year. Read on and cross your fingers these musicians blow through your city.
Written by Alysa Lechner (@hialysa)
Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city World Tour
Price: $20-$30
Opening Acts: Schoolboy Q, Ab Soul, Jay Rock, Bridget Kelly
Website: KendrickLamar.com
When It Starts: May 5
After wrapping up his Verge Campus Tour with Steve Aoki in mid-May, the country's hottest MC will immediately jump on the m.A.A.d city World Tour, spanning 16 U.S. dates and a handful of festival performances in Europe and Japan. Lamar will be keeping his TDE family close, as Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, Ab Soul all join him, and Bridget Kelly on select dates.
Lil Wayne's America's Most Wanted Music Festival
Price: $30-$150
Opening Acts: T.I., Future, French Montana
Website: YoungMoney.com
When It Starts: July 9
Remember when the possibility of Lil Wayne no longer existing was very real? We can breathe easy because Wayne is well enough to go on tour for most of the summer. Weezy's America's Most Wanted Music Festival will feature T.I., Future, and French Montana—and in true YMCMB form, fans can most likely expect special performances on the way.
Mobb Deep 20th Anniversary Tour
Price: $20-$30
Opening Acts:
Website: TheMostInfamous.com
When It Starts: May 9
After announcing an "indefinite hiatus" because of a Twitter battle last year, Havoc and Prodigy seem to have settled their bad blood and are embarking on a Mobb Deep anniversary tour. The duo will be hitting 18 cities, opening in Chicago on May 9 and wrapping in Philly a month later. Here's hoping the close quarters of tour life don't get to them.
Legends of the Summer: Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z
Price: $40-$250
Opening Acts: N/A
Website: JustinTimberlake.com
When It Starts: July 14
If Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z's "Suit & Tie" performance at the Grammys is any indication of what this tour will be like, then concert-goers will be in for a ride. The pair will hit 15 spots across North America, performing songs from each artists' oeuvres and hopefully some new collaborative material, too.
Tyler, the Creator
Price: $20
Opening Acts: Earl Sweatshirt
Website: golfwang.com
When It Starts: April 30
Odd Future's music has always translated better live, so it only makes sense that Tyler, the Creator, hit the road following his sophomore release, Wolf. Spreading his ever rebellious gospel, Tyler and co. (Earl Sweatshirt at select shows!) toured the East Coast and Europe in March; next week they kick off their assault on the West Coast, beginning in Tucson on Tuesday.
Big Boi, Shoes for Running Tour
Price: $30
Opening Acts: Killer Mike
Website: BigBoi.com
When It Starts: In progress
Get your sweet tea brewing, Big Boi and Killer Mike are bringing ATL to every corner of the country. In support of his album Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors, Big Boi's embarking on his first tour in more than four years. With both of these artists' track records, we're banking that it'll be worth the wait. They're currently on the East Coast now; they cruise through the top half of the country in early May and hit the West Coast before making a Southern jag in June.
The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour
Price: $50-$250
Opening Acts: Luke James
Website: Beyonce.com
When It Starts: In progress
If you thought Beyonce was going to go into full mommy mode after the birth of Blue Ivy Carter, you were wrong. The new addition to the Carter clan has only sparked inspiration in Bey's musical career. Beyonce announced the Mrs. Carter World Tour earlier this year and since then, we've seen rehearsal photos and videos, and we're ready. From The O2 to Barclays Center, this is sure to be a stunning show at any price.
Juicy J's Stay Trippy Tour
Price: $30
Opening Acts: A$AP Ferg
Website: TheJuicyJ.com
When It Starts: In progress
In support of his highly anticipated album, Stay Trippy, Juicy J will be bringing his eponymous summer tour to 37 cities across the country. With opening act A$AP Ferg in tow, we're sure there will be no shortage of wavviness on this musical expedition.
Bruno Mars' Moonshine Jungle World Tour
Price: $65-$85
Opening Acts: Fitz & The Tantrums, Ellie Goulding
Website: BrunoMars.com
When It Starts: June 22
To promote his latest album, Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars is embarking on his most wide-ranging schedule yet: the Moonshine Jungle Tour. Beginning the day after the summer solstice, Bruno will play 45 dates in 71 days, hitting most of the major cities in the U.S. and Canada, with a North American finale on September 1 in Puerto Rico. Nearly half of the shows are sold out, but if you've missed out, you can always fly across the pond: the European leg of the tour starts in October (actually, bunch of those shows are sold out, too, people like this dude).
The Postal Service
Price: $35-$50
Opening Acts: Ra Ra Riot, Big Freedia, Divine Fits (Varies per city)
Website: CrowdSurge.com/The-Postal-Service
When It Starts: May 18
The Postal Service performed two phenomenal sets at Coachella 2013 and are now set to embark on the 10th Anniversary Tour of Give Up, their debut album. The LP, led by the chart-topping single "Such Great Heights," was just certified platinum last year. The Postal Service recently added West Coast dates to the tour which begins in Manchester, England next month.