Though we're still waiting on most of 2016's local concert announcements, there are already several that are on our "must-go" list. This article will be updated as more concerts are announced; in the meantime, make sure to nab your tickets ASAP for this year's sure-to-be-bangers:
Brantley Gilbert will perform Feb. 19 at the Nutter Center. Photo source: Facebook
BRANTLEY GILBERT: THE BLACK OUT TOUR
w/ Michael Ray and Canaan Smith
Get ready to sing along to "One Hell of an Anthem" as one of country's beloved singer-songwriters takes the Nutter Center by storm.
WHEN: Feb. 19, 7 p.m. Doors: 6 p.m.
WHERE: Wright State University Nutter Center, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy. Suite 430
COST: $34.75-$39.75, purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: nuttercenter.com
Lil' Wayne will perform Feb. 26 at the Nutter Center. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
LIL' WAYNE: THE DEDICATION TOUR
w/ Rae Sremmurd
Still waiting for Tha Carter V to come out? Lil' Wayne's show at the Nutter Center should soften the blow of waiting two-plus years for what Weezy's been calling his final album.
WHEN: Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Doors: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Wright State University Nutter Center, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy. Suite 430
COST: $39.75-$99.50, purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: nuttercenter.com
Cincinnati's Heartless Bastards come to town with locals Motel Beds on March 5. Contributed photo
HEARTLESS BASTARDS
w/ the Motel Beds, Susto
Though they're a Cincinnati band, Heartless Bastards has always felt like a hometown Dayton band. Don't miss this chance to see them in town with one of Gem City's finest garage bands, the Motel Beds.
WHEN: March 5, 8 p.m. Doors: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Oddbody's Music Room, 5418 Burkhardt Road
COST: $20-$25, purchase via Ticketfly
INFO: oddbodys.com
Fall Out Boy will take the Nutter Center stage on March 9. BRIAN GLASS | CONCERT CAPTURES
FALL OUT BOY: WINTOUR IS COMING
w/ AWOLNATION and PVRIS
The beloved pop-punk band of the early aughts shows they're not stopping anytime soon, while on tour promoting their sixth(!) album American Beauty/American Psycho.
WHEN: March 9, 7 p.m. Doors: 6 p.m.
WHERE: Wright State University Nutter Center, 3640 Col. Glenn Hwy. Suite 430
COST: $32.50-$59.50, purchase via Ticketmaster. VIP parking passes ($20) are on sale through Feb. 26, 12.p.m via nuttercenter.com
INFO: nuttercenter.com
Shooter Jennings brings his Outlaw/Southern rock to Oddbody's March 19. Photo source: Facebook
SHOOTER JENNINGS
w/ Waymore's Outlaws
If you missed Shooter Jennings' 2015 show, you have absolutely no excuse to miss out on this chance to experience country rock royalty in action, as the son of Waylon Jennings performs with his father's original touring and recording band.
WHEN: March 19, 8 p.m. Doors: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Oddbody's Music Room, 5418 Burkhardt Road
COST: $20-28, purchase via Ticketfly
INFO: oddbodys.com
Widespread Panic will perform May 1 at the Rose Music Center. Photo source: Facebook
WIDESPREAD PANIC
In case you needed more reasons to catch the 30+-year-old jam band's musical styling, Widespread Panic's Huber Heights stop on their spring tour is also a Food Drive event. So you're helping to feed your community while letting them take you on a wild musical ride reminiscent of the Grateful Dead or Phish. As the first Rose Music Center concert announcement out of the gate, this is a pretty excellent start to their 2016 season.
WHEN: May 1, 7 p.m. Doors: 6 p.m.
WHERE: The Rose Music Center at the Heights, 6800 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights
COST: $23.50-$57, tickets on sale Feb. 11, 11 a.m. via Ticketmaster
INFO: rosemusiccenter.com
Country Concert returns to Fort Loramie this year July 7-9. E.L. HUBBARD | CONTRIBUTED
COUNTRY CONCERT 2016
w/ Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Big and Rich, Kacey Musgraves, and more
The 2016 lineup for Country Concert isn't even complete yet, but the big names coming to Fort Loramie in July (including our hometown country boy Clark Manson) are already more than enough reason to reserve your camping spots ASAP.
WHEN: July 7-9
WHERE: 7103 OH-66, Ft. Loramie, OH
COST: Price varies. View options and purchase tickets via countryconcert.com
INFO: countryconcert.com
Speaking Suns performs at Blind Bob's during the 2015 Dayton Music Art and Film Festival. VIVIENNE MACHI | STAFF
DAYTON MUSIC ART AND FILM FESTIVAL 2016
w/ TBD
OK, so we don't know when DMAFF 2016 will be held, or where, or who's playing. But the thoroughly enjoyable weekend we experienced in September, with local and national music acts filling the Oregon District and art exhibits and film screenings taking over K12 Gallery & TEJAS, was fantastic enough to have us already antsy for what next fall might have in store.
WHEN: TBD
WHERE: TBD
COST: TBD
INFO: Facebook
PLUS, 10 OUT-OF-TOWN SHOWS THAT ARE WORTH THE DRIVE
BLAKE SHELTON
w/ Chris Janson
Country music fans won't want to miss out on seeing Blake Shelton just down I-75.
WHEN: Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m. Doors: 6 p.m.
WHERE: U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Cincinnati
COST: $29.75-$69.75, purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: usbankarena.com
KASEY MUSGRAVES
If you can't make it to Country Concert, you still have a chance to catch this irrisistably talented star.
WHEN: Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Doors: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, 405 Neil Ave., Columbus
COST: $28, purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: Indoor show | kaceymusgraves.com
DROPKICK MURPHYS 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOUR
w/ Tiger Army, Dark Buster
Hard to believe that these Boston-Irish lads have been bringing the moshers for 20 years now.
WHEN: March 6, 7 p.m. Doors: 6 p.m.
WHERE: Bogart's, 2621 Vine St., Cincinnati
COST: $32.50, purchase via Live Nation
INFO: bogarts.com
SLAYER: REPENTLESS WORLD TOUR
w/ Testament, Carcass
The kings of metal return in support of their latest release, the first since the passing of founding member/guitarist Jeff Hanneman.
WHEN: March 8, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, 405 Neil Ave., Columbus
COST: $38, purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: Indoor show | slayer.net
RIHANNA: ANTI WORLD TOUR
w/ Travis Scott
One of pop music's reigning monarchs, Rihanna, promises an explosive and thrilling Cincinnati show.
WHEN: March 19, 7:30 p.m. Doors: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Cincinnati
COST: $30.50- $126, purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: usbankarena.com
AC/DC
Still going strong on the fifth leg of their Rock or Bust World Tour, the legendary rockers are sure to bring out all of the hits (and there are a lot).
WHEN: March 23, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus
COST: $78-$138, purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: nationwidearena.com
BOYZ II MEN
The Cincinnati show is already sold out for the long-awaited reunion tour, so if you scored tickets, we're jealous. If not, we'll be seeing you on StubHub or VividSeats.
WHEN: March 26, 8 p.m.
WHERE: The Pavilion at Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, 1000 Broadway St., Cincinnati
COST: SOLD OUT
INFO: Indoor show | boyziimen.com
BILLY JOEL
Why miss any opportunity to sing "Piano Man" with the Piano Man himself?
WHEN: April 5, 8 p.m. Doors: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Cincinnati
COST: $52.50-$127.50, purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: usbankarena.com
BUNBURY MUSIC FESTIVAL
w/ TBD
Last year's lineup was legendary; we expect nothing less from this year's Bunbury crop.
WHEN: June 3-5
WHERE: Sawyer Point/ Yeatman's Cove, 705 East Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati
COST: Early Bee Three-Day Passes through early February: $135-$1,199. Price will increase once lineup is released. Purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: bunburyfestival.com
JUSTIN BIEBER
He's all grown up, and with hits all over the charts. It's OK to admit it: you actually kinda want to see the Biebs live.
WHEN: April 28, 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Ohio State University Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Drive, Columbus
AND
WHEN: June 24, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St., Cincinnati
COST: $50.50-$116, purchase via Ticketmaster
INFO: justinbiebermusic.com
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