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Summer Concerts We Can't Wait to See

Summer Concerts We Can't Wait to See

Britney and Nicki, NKOTBSB, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, ''American Idol,'' and more hot nights of music this season

By Kyle Anderson

Updated June 06, 2011 at 05:00 PM EDT

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Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj

Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

With all the combined girl power, wig shenanigans, and outrageous fashion this tour promises, the tag-teaming of pop's indefatigable hit machine and hip-hop's most colorful crossover queen should come with bedazzled shades. Expect Nicki to drop in on headliner Britney's ''Till the World Ends'' remix and make the kids go extra bonkers.

Stateside June 16 to Aug. 8

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Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe

Credit: Janet Mayer/PR Photos

They'll surely deliver their solo hits, but two of modern R&B's sharpest newcomers just may deliver some surprise onstage collaborations, too.

Through June 16

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Glee Live! in Concert!

Credit: Jonathan Shensa/PR Photos

While Mr. Schuester heads out on his own tour, Glee's other topline stars will take their show on the road — literally — with 22 dates in just under a month.

Through June 18

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Mumford & Sons ?

Credit: Kevin Sullivan/The Orange County Register/ZUMAPRESS.COM

Hot off their railroad tour through the Southwest, the breakout British folkies will focus on the middle of the country.

Through June 19

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R. Kelly

Credit: MARTIN SCHULZE/startraksphoto.com

Kels will bring his inimitable brand of over-the-top showmanship, with help from Keyshia Cole and Marsha Ambrosius.

Through July 3

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James Taylor

Credit: Solarpix/PR Photos

The folk-rock icon goes on a half-season run, without a trip to Carolina in sight.

Through July 4

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Natasha Bedingfield

Credit: A. Gilbert/PR Photos

She recently guested on songs by Rascal Flatts and Simple Plan, but Bedingfield will go it alone to promote last year's Strip Me.

Through July 16

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Rihanna

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

Her venues had better be large enough for both a ''California King Bed'' and the antics of her flashy opening act: Cee Lo Green.

Through July 24

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NKOTBSB

Credit: Matthew Becker/Retna Ltd

Relive three decades' worth of sleepover dreams with New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys, both alone and together at last.

Through Aug. 7

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Death Cab for Cutie

Credit: Stephen Cohen/PR Photos

Mr. Zooey Deschanel and friends fill some big rooms with the sweeping epics from their new Codes and Keys.

Through Aug. 23

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Miranda Lambert?

Credit: Kelly A. Swift/startraksphoto.com

Lambert, newly married to fellow hitmaker Blake Shelton, will spend her honeymoon out on the road.

Through Aug. 23

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Kenny Chesney ?

Credit: Robb D. Cohen/Retna Ltd

It wouldn't be summer without Kenny, who will take his 22 No. 1s for a spin before starting work on his next album.

Through Aug. 28

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Phish

Credit: Gene Ambo/Retna Ltd

The veteran jammers stick mostly to the East Coast, including a stop at the Super Ball festival in Watkins Glen, N.Y., July 4 weekend.

Through Sept. 4

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Jason Aldean ?

Credit: A. Gilbert/PR Photos

The Georgia native will be catering to a host of new fans thanks to ''Don't You Wanna Stay,'' his crossover duet with Kelly Clarkson.

Through Sept. 15

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Katy Perry

Credit: Daily Express/ZUMAPRESS.com

The Queen of Summer crisscrosses the country again, this time with critically adored Robyn, another envelope-pushing pop star with plenty of cheek.

Through Sept. 17

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Sugarland

Credit: Matt Sayles/AP Images

The country duo will stop at legendary spaces (L.A.'s Greek Theatre) and state fairs alike.

Through Oct. 21

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Josh Groban

Credit: Ian West/AP Images

He must have an incredible warm-up routine — Groban will be flexing his velvet pipes for nearly six months straight.

Through Nov. 14

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Taylor Swift

Credit: ChinaFotoPress/ZUMAPRESS.com

Country's golden girl will take half the year to support her smash Speak Now; Southern rockers Needtobreathe have snagged the coveted opening slot.

Through Nov. 22

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Def Leppard

Credit: UPPA/ZUMAPRESS.com

The rockers celebrate their live album Mirrorball with a run of arena classics like ''Photograph.''

June 15?Sept. 15

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Sade

Credit: Pixplanete/PR Photos

She hasn't brought her sultry sounds to the stage in more than 10 years, but the ever-lovely songstress hits the circuit with her Ultimate Collection to remind everyone she's still a smooth operator.

June 16? Sept. 3

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Keith Urban

Credit: Steven Leija/Southcreek Global/ZUMAPRESS.com

The newest member of Nashville's Music City Walk of Fame will crank up songs from 2010's Get Closer.

June 16?Oct. 15

Continued on next slide.

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Big & Rich

Credit: Brian Hineline/Retna Ltd

Country's favorite tricksters are back with a hook-filled road show that features Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy.

June 18? Sept. 19

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Vans Warped Tour

Credit: UPPA/ZUMApress.com

The venerable punk caravan gathers Paramore, Against Me!, and Gym Class Heroes for its 17th stampede around the nation's parking lots.

June 24 - Aug. 14

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Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow

Credit: Mark Davis/AP Images

The onetime couple may seem like unlikely bedfellows, but with Rock's countrification and Crow's newly discovered grit, they should supply a rootsy night of hits.

July 2?Sept. 3

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Soundgarden ?

Credit: Rui M. Leal/PR Photos

Though the grunge heroes got the band back together last year, this represents their first proper trek since they broke up back in 1997. Expect heavy riffs and heavier beards.

July 2?30

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311 and Sublime

Credit: Utho "denny" Coxall/PR Photos

The jam-friendly Nebraskans load up their trucks with the surviving members of Sublime. The trip includes a three-day pit stop in northern Florida for some 311-branded shows.

July 6?Aug. 26

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Idols Summer Tour

Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

Count on some heavy metal courtesy of James Durbin, some reggae dancing from Naima Adedapo, and some head-scratching, with audiences trying to figure out why Pia Toscano was booted from Idol so early.

July 6?Sept. 10

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Lil Wayne

Credit: TIMOTHY SHEPPARD/PR Photos

Weezy's post-jail victory lap continues with another leg of the I Am Still Music Tour, which will showcase cuts from his hotly anticipated Tha Carter IV.

July 13?Sept. 11

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Miranda Cosgrove ?

Credit: EML/RockinExposures/startraksphoto.com

In a series of shows last winter, the iCarly star proved she was evolving as a pop presence, and the songs on her just-released EP should add fresh juice to her live show.

July 16?Sept. 3

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Rob Zombie and Slayer

Credit: Alan Hess/PR Photos

Some people prefer shredding to sunshine. Luckily, Zombie and Slayer will be providing lots of high-volume darkness at a venue near you.

July 20?Aug. 6

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Bon Iver

Credit: Shawn Brackbill/Retna Ltd

Kanye West's favorite indie rocker takes his much-awaited sophomore album's icy melodies out to cool down those warm summer nights.

July 22?Aug. 10

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Selena Gomez

Credit: Michael Williams/startraksphoto.com

Look for Bieber's paramour to pull from the forthcoming Otherside, her third album with her band the Scene, plus plenty of sing-alongs for the Wizards of Waverly Place fans attending their first summer concert.

July 24?Sept. 12

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Kings of Leon

Credit: Daniel Teixeira/Agencia Estado/ZUMApress.com

For this outing, the Followills will hopefully avoid the back injuries and infamous bird muck of previous tours while diving more deeply into the humid Southern melodies of last year's Come Around Sundown.

July 25? Sept. 12

Replay gallery

Up Next

By Kyle Anderson

Account

Summer Concerts We Can't Wait to See

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Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj

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Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe

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3 of 33

Glee Live! in Concert!

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Mumford & Sons ?

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R. Kelly

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James Taylor

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Natasha Bedingfield

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Rihanna

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NKOTBSB

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Death Cab for Cutie

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Miranda Lambert?

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Kenny Chesney ?

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Phish

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Jason Aldean ?

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Katy Perry

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Sugarland

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Josh Groban

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Taylor Swift

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Def Leppard

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Sade

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Keith Urban

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Big & Rich

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Vans Warped Tour

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Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow

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Soundgarden ?

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311 and Sublime

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