10 Can't-Miss 2019 Pittsburgh Concerts

PITTSBURGH, PA - Although the new year has barely begun, some of the most famous acts in rock, country and pop already have planned Pittsburgh appearances in 2019. Here's an early look at who is coming to town:

• Michael Buble, Feb. 22, PPG Paints Arena

Buble is touring in support of his new album, "love," which was released Nov. 16. Expect to hear songs from that offering, as well as Buble standards such as " I Haven't Met You Yet," "Home," "Everything," and "It's a Beautiful Day."
Buble last year received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has sold more than 60 million records during his career, has won four Grammys and multiple Juno Awards for his music.

• Cher, April 18, PPG Paints Arena

If the thought of Cher singing a bunch of ABBA songs appeals to you, you're in luck. The legendary 72-year-old singer will be touring in support of her ABBA tribute album, "Dancing Queen."
Cher, who recently starred in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," last appeared in Pittsburgh at the arena in 2014.

• Garth Brooks, May 18, Heinz Field

Brooks fans probably are overjoyed that he added Pittsburgh to his 2019 tour because the country music legend has only played here twice since 1997 - most recently at the Consol Energy Center in 2015 with Trisha Yearwood.
Expect to hear Brooks play classic hits such as “Standing Outside The Fire,” “Friends In Low Places,” “Two Pina Coladas,” and “The Thunder Rolls.”

• Ariana Grande, June 12, PPG Paints Arena

Grande, the ex-girlfriend of the late Pittsburgh rap star Mac Miller, is returning to the city where she and Miller used to be spotted casually hanging out in Squirrel Hill pizza joints.
Known for hits such as "Bang Bang," "Problem," "Side to Side," and "Break Free," Grande last played Pittsburgh in 2015 at the Petersen Events Center.

• New Kids on the Block, June 23, PPG Paints Arena

Pittsburgh will turn into a time capsule for an evening as NKOTB take fans back to the 1980s along with four other acts from that bygone era. Also appearing will be '80s stalwarts Salt-N-Pepa, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and Naughty By Nature. NKOTB’s most recent single, "80s Baby" features all four of their tour partners.

• Hootie and the Blowfish, July 21, KeyBank Pavilion

You'll have a chance to revisit some of the most popular music of the 1990s as Hootie and company are reuniting a quarter of a century after they debuted with "Cracked Rear View" album. Lead singer Darius Rucker has gone on to have a successful solo career as a country act.
Barenaked Ladies, another band that reached the zenith of its popularity in the '90s, will be the opening act.

• Queen with Adam Lambert, July 31, PPG Paints Arena.

Following the blockbuster success of the biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen co-founders Brian May and Roger Taylor will tour with former "American Idol" performer Adam Lambert. He has performed with the band in place of late lead singer Freddie Mercury since 2009. Queen’s lineup will also feature keyboardist Spike Edney, bassist Neil Fairclough and percussionist Tyler Warren.

• Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Aug. 1, PPG Paints Arena

Jeff Lynne and his legendary Electric Light Orchestra will come to Pittsburgh in 2019 for the first time in 38 years. The band will conclude its North American tour with an Aug. 1 stop in town.
Known for hits such as "Evil Woman," "Telephone Line," "Turn to Stone," "Livin' Thing," and "Mr. Blue Sky," ELO was a mainstay of 1970s and early 1980s radio. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
ELO last played Pittsburgh in October 1981 at the old Civic Arena.

• Train and the Goo Goo Dolls, Aug. 7, KeyBank Pavilion

A long night of nostalgia with these two acts. Debuting in 1993, the Grammy Award winning Train is best known for the 2001 hit “Drops of Jupiter.” Dating back to 1986, the Goo Goo Dolls are known for the hit single “Iris” featured in the film “City of Angels.”

• Elton John, Nov. 13, PPG Paints Arena

Many people purchased tickets to Elton John's October concert at PPG Paints Arena thinking it would be the last time the famed singer and songwriter would appear in Pittsburgh. After all, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour supposedly is John's final extended period on the road.
But John added 25 additional North American dates on the massive three-year worldwide tour and one of them is another date in the Steel City.

All photos via Getty Images except Cher photo via Shutterstock.

Subscribe to Pittsburgh Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.