Ten Summer Concerts You Can't Miss Around Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA - Memorial Day weekend isn’t more than just the unofficial start of summer. It’s the unofficial start of the summer concert season.

There’s nothing like seeing a show outdoors on a warm summer night. With that thought in mind, we compiled a list of 10 shows coming up in the next few months featuring ridiculously famous performers, most of whom will be singing under the stars. An added bonus, just because we like you: You'll also find out that Bruno Mars has a cool and surprising connection to Pittsburgh.

Without further adieu then...

U2, June 7, Heinz Field

The legendary Irish band is touring to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the band’s epic album “The Joshua Tree.” This marks the first time U2 is touring to promote an album from their back catalogue rather than a new release. Expect to hear “The Joshua Tree” in its entirety and perhaps a song or two from U2’s long-awaited next album that we suppose is delayed because the guys, musically speaking, still haven’t found what they’re looking for. U2 tickets start at $35.

Zac Brown Band, June 11, Key Bank Pavilion

These fellas have had 11 number one Billboard Hot Country Songs, including “Chicken Fried,” Toes,” “Highway 20 Ride,” “Free,” “As She’s Walking Away,” “Keep Me In Mind,” and “Beautiful Drug.” Expect to hear many of those songs, as well as cuts from the band’s March release, “Welcome Home.” Zac Brown Band tickets start at $32.25

New Kids On The Block With Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men, July 1, PPG Paints Arena

Go to the attic and grab those early ‘90s No Fear T-shirts and light-up LA Gear shoes, The classic boy band, minus Mark Wahlberg, of course, returns to town along with other remnats of their bygone era. We understand the need for consistent branding, but shouldn’t these groups be calling themselves New Midlifers On The Block and Men II Men? New Kids On The Block tickets start at $25.

Echo and the Bunneymen, Violent Femmes, July 17, Stage AE
Speaking of reunions, this show would be a perfect place for everyone who used to dance at the long-gone Upstage nightclub in Oakland during the early and mid-’80s to get reacquainted. Expect both bands to stick mostly to the hits that made them famous, such as “Bring on the Dancing Horses,” and “”Bedbugs and Ballyhoo” from the Bunnymen and “Blister in the Sun” and “Gone Daddy Gone” from the Femmes. Echo and the Bunnymen tickets cost $37.50.

One Republic, Fitz and the Tantrums, James Arthur, July 18, Key Bank Pavilion

The band that the English newspaper The Guardian labeled as purveyors of “catchy but anonymous pop” will bring catchy but anonymous pop songs such as “Counting Stars,” “The Good Life,” and “Stop and Stare” to town. You might recognize Fitz and the Tantrums (pictured above) sort-of hits like “The Walker” or “Handclap,” or maybe not. James Arthur is known more for his homophobic lyrics than his hits, but he’ll probably only be onstage for 15 minutes anyway. One Republic tickets start at $25.

Nickelback Aug. 7, Key Bank Pavilion

Here’s something we’ve never understood: Nickelback is one of the most critically reviled bands in rock history. Virtually no one seems to admit to being fans of their music. But for years they tour and fill places like the 23,000-seat Key Bank Pavilion. We can only conclude that many of you download their music privately and sing along to “How You Remind Me” in your underwear when no one is home. Nickelback will be touring in support of its ninth album, “Feed the Machine,” due out June 16. Nickelback tickets start at $25.

Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience, Aug. 12, Key Bank Pavilion

Don’t be surprised if you run into Ashton Kutcher on the lawn, as this would be the perfect place for a “That ‘70’s Show” cast reunion. Expect to hear Foreigner’s “Feels Like The First Time,” and “I Want To Know What Love Is,” Cheap Trick’s “Surrender,” and “I Want You To Want Me” and a bunch of Led Zeppelin covers led by the son of the late Zep drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham. We’re all all right! We’re all all right! Foreigner Tickets start at $21.

Florida Georgia Line, Aug. 19, Key Bank Pavilion

Amazing how successful this country duo has become considering their lyrically complex songs focus primarily on the evolution of the human condition via drinking, driving trucks and encounters with girls.Expect vocalists Brian Kelley (from Florida) and Tyler Hubbard (from - surprise! - Georgia) to sing many cuts from their 2016 album “Dig Your Roots.” Florida Georgia Line tickets start at $42. \

Bruno Mars, Aug. 22, PPG Paints Arena

The Super Bowl 50 halftime performer is touring behind his most recent album, last year’s “24K Magic,” which had two Top 10 hits - the title track and “That’s What I Like,” Here’s a local connection you probably didn’t realize existed: In an old GQ interview, Mars (real name Peter Hernandez) nicknamed him Bruno after legendary Pittsburgh wrestler Bruno Sammartino. Is it too much to dream of the two Brunos sharing the stage for a song? The concert is sold out and the cheapest Bruno Mars resale tickets we could find online were (gulp) $207.

Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, the Edgar Winter Group, Sept. 1, Key Bank Pavilion.
You might as well call this show Seniorpalooza. Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan is 71, Edgar Winter is 70 and Alice Cooper is 69.If you’ve listened to a rock radio station pretty much any time during the past four decades, you know the music of these acts. The show starts at 6:30 p.m., probably because most of the folks in these bands - as well as most of the probable audience for this concert - are of an age where they’re usually fast asleep by 9 p.m. or so. Deep Purple tickets start at $28.

U2 photos by Mathew Boulton; Zac Brown Band photo by Dvidshub; New Kids On The Block photo by Corey Balazowich; Echo and the Bunnymen photo by Juan Bendana; Fitz and the Tantrums photo by Kris Krug; Nickelback photo by Angela Dietrich; Foreigner photo by Nick Ares; Florida Georgia Line photo by Lunchbox LP; Bruno Mars photo by Brothers Le; Deep Purple photo by Anneke_B. All photos via Creative Commons.