Less than a month removed from 2016, we have compiled our list of our favorite concert tours from the past year, before we drop our list of our “Most Anticipated Tours of 2017”. And from huge grossing tours like Beyonce’s Formation Tour, Drake & Future’s record breaking Summer Sixteen Tour and of course Kanye’s Saint Pablo Tour, to some of the more (but equally entertaining) B-side tours, 2016 was a great year for live music.
Hit the jump and check out our list of our 10 Favorite Concert Tours of 2016!
Earlier this week, Drake and Future returned to the Windy City and brought a fall performance of their Summer Sixteen Tour to the United Center in Chicago, after two back-to-back nights at the UC, back in July. And while Drake was nursing an ankle injury, which led to the postponement of various tour dates (which were announced that same day), he wasn’t going to let anything stop him from bringing a memorable third night to Chicago.
Drake and Future both delivered their biggest hits to date, and it wouldn’t have been complete without the two teaming up for a number of their collaborative records.
Check out photos from Wednesday night’s performance below and check out the tour’s remaining dates here.
If you were sad to learn that the Summer Sixteen Tour wasn’t coming to a city near you, or you didn’t quite get your tickets in time, don’t worry because Drake and Future have extended their huge tour into the fall. With new dates in Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, Brooklyn and many more, the What A Time To Be Alive rappers have extended the Summer Sixteen Tour into October.
Drake and Future are still scheduled to kick off their epic tour on July 20th in Austin, TX, until the tour now concludes October 15th in Newark, NJ. Expect some amazing live performances from Drake and Future’s collaborative tracks, as well as some awesome solo performances from Future’s biggest records and songs off Drake’s forthcoming and highly anticipated LP, Views.
Check out Drake and Future’s Summer Sixteen Tour dates below and get more ticket information here!
Currently the world’s largest music festival, Milwaukee’s Summerfest, has announced all but one of its 11 headlining acts at its Marcus Amphitheatre stage. And while this year’s lineup so far is one of the best in recent years, it is still missing one big thing, a rap and hip/hop presence. Sure, Summerfest is known for its diverse lineup and never has really placed a large emphasis on rap when compared to other major music festivals, but consistently Summerfest always tends to deliver at least one huge rap headliner. Last year Kendrick Lamar blessed the stage, and brought along fellow TDE member, Schoolboy Q. In recent history the likes of Outkast and Kanye West have also all hit stage at Summerfest.
This year we are hoping for a big hip/hop act, and more then ever. A plethora of talented artists like Ryan Adams, Martin Garrix, Rise Against, Passion Pit, The Roots and more are all hitting the ground stages (with ticket prices starting at just $13), but when it comes to a rap presence you have only a couple options (Nelly and Jason DeRulo, the latter being a pop artist). Although artists can be added to the lineup at any time, rap fans in Wisconsin have their fingers crossed for the last Marcus Amphitheatre slot, on June 30th.
We have no idea whether or not the June 30th vacancy will be filled by a rap artist, but in hopes that it is, we have compiled a list of our five best predictions of who that may be!
Ever since their collaborative surprise album, What A Time To Be Alive, Drake and Future have been an unstoppable duo and a dream concert lineup. While Future has opened for Drake’s headlining shows in the past, this time around Drake and Future are joining forces for the Summer Sixteen Tour, and it will surely be a whole different type of experience and definitely a can’t miss summer tour.
Kicking off their epic tour on July 20th in Austin, TX, Drake and Future will be making stops throughout North America (including two nights in Chicago), until the tour concludes September 17th in Vancouver. Expect some amazing live performances from Drake and Future’s collaborative tracks, as well as some awesome solo performances from Future’s biggest records and songs off Drake’s forthcoming and highly anticipated LP, Views From The 6.
Check out Drake and Future’s Summer Sixteen Tour dates below and get more ticket information here!
Drake fans have a lot to be excited for. Not only is the 6 God himself releasing his highly anticipated album, Views From The 6, in just a few days, but according to leaks on Ticketmaster, Drake and Future are touring together once again. Expected to be titled the Summer Sixteen Tour, inspired by Drake’s track of the same name, Drake and Future will share a concert bill that will make a stop in Detroit and surely a number of stops throughout the U.S.
Check out a screenshot via Complex, of Ticketmaster’s Summer Sixteen Tour post below and stay tuned for more information.
Tonight marked the fourth stop on Future’s Purple Reign Tour, performing for a sold out Indianapolis crowd. First up for the night was Ty Dolla $ign, playing a number of tracks from his debut album Free TC. From the start, the crowd was singing in harmony with Ty Dolla. Ty Dolla’s set was full of energy, crowd surfing to sharing his own recreations with the fans. The Wiz Khalifa-affiliated artist finished his set with a preview of a song seen later in the show, ‘Blase’. Needless to say, Ty Dolla $ign started the Purple Reign show off with plenty of energy.
The crowd in Indy was primed for a great show from Future Hendrix. Future delivered above and beyond the cost of admission for the sell out crowd – which is understandable, considering Future has three number one albums within one year. Future reeled off hit after hit – including some earlier tracks such as ‘Same Damn Time,’ and ‘Jumpman’ from What A Time to Be Alive. Future brought Ty Dolla back for an encore performance of ‘Blase’ which absolutely ignited the crowd. Heaviest play came from critically acclaimed DS2 and Purple Reign which was just released weeks ago. The highlight of the show, in my opinion, had to be ‘March Madness’ a track that has only continued to gain momentum. (The title of the track resonated especially well with the IU Hoosier crowd). In addition the music, the stage lighting of the show was in complete harmony with Future’s themed Dirty Sprite 2/Purple Reign.
Check out more of our photos from Future’s highly anticipated Purple Reign Tour below, and if you haven’t got your tickets and your city isn’t sold out, get tickets for Future’s remaining dates at Freebandz.com.
Right now, Future is on stage for a sold-out Orpheum Theatre, kicking off The Purple Reign Tour in Madison, Wisconsin. And while usually there are plenty of places you’d rather be in February than the frigid Midwest, there was (and is) no better place to be tonight than Future’s tour opener with Ty Dolla $ign, less than a mile west of the always crazy University of Wisconsin campus. Only half-way through the show tonight, you can already tell that the Badger crowd came to party. So the rest of the tour stops (I’m looking at you, Chicago) better be ready to match the energy of tonight’s crowd and the Epic Records’ premiere artist.
Tonight kicked off to a great start with a memorable opening performance from Free TC rapper/singer, Ty Dolla $ign. The Kanye West-affiliated rapper, who played a big role on Ye’s latest LP The Life of Pablo, rapped a number of tracks off his critically acclaimed debut album, which released just last year. Free TC ended up on many year end lists in 2015, and featured appearances from Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and R. Kelly, just to name a few. Rightfully so, a highlight of Ty’s set tonight came as he performed his Future-assisted single, ‘Blasé’, which also features ‘No Type’ rappers, Rae Sremmurd. Although Future stayed backstage, preparing for his set, and Rae Sremmurd stayed back in Atlanta, Ty Dolla $ign needed no help getting the Wisconsin crowd hyped for the track. An exciting emerging act who is worth the price of admission alone, Ty Dolla $ign surely delivered for the tour’s opener.
With a brief intermission following Ty Dolla $ign performance as crew prepared for the man of the hour, it was soon time for the DS2 rapper to hit the stage. Future’s set began as his DJ, DJ Esco, played a couple Future records to amp up the crowd and build Madison’s anticipation. Singing along word-by-word, the sold-out crowd was not only enjoying Esco’s cuts, but were also anxious and excited for Future to take stage. And it wasn’t long before Madison could see their Future right before their eyes, as he came out, rapping to his hit track ‘I Thought It Was a Drough’. Next, opening The Purple Reign Tour with other fan favorites like ‘Move That Dope’ and ‘Same Damn Time’, any irrational worries about imperfect setlists were soon put to rest. Even with many songs left to go tonight, Future’s setlist for this tour will not disappoint fans, diehards and late-to-the-party fans alike.
Check out more of our exclusive first photos from Future’s highly anticipated Purple Reign Tour below, and if you haven’t got your tickets and your city isn’t sold out, get tickets for Future’s remaining dates at Freebandz.com.
Chicago is bar none one of the best cities for live music, not only in the U.S. but in the world. Whether you are seeing an intimate performance at the Concord Music Hall, a packed show at some of the city’s most historic venues like the Chicago Theatre or the Aragon Ballroom, one of the cities awesome music festivals, or even a huge production at the United Center, Chicago has something for everyone.
And right now, even in the middle of winter, it’s a great time to catch a show in the Windy City. This month alone fans can check out some performances by the dabbing rap trio Migos, hard rock’s legendary band AC|DC, country music’s Dustin Lynch, and a whole bunch of big name rappers including Future, Fetty Wap and Hoodie Allen, just to name a few.
Migos @ The House of Blues (2/28)
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
The ‘Versace’ rapping trio Migos is bringing the dab to Chicago this month as the group will be performing at the House of Blues on February 28th at 5:00PM (performance begins at 6:30). Expect the crowd to go crazy at the group plays their hit single ‘Look at My Dab’, as well as other cuts off their YRN 2 mixtape. Get your tickets now at LiveNation.com for only $25, that’s less than $9 per Migo!
AC|DC @ The United Center (2/17)
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
Legendary rockers AC|DC will be back in black at Chicago’s United Center on February 17th this month. Tickets are unfortunately all sold-out, but if you managed to get some in time, then definitely consider yourself more than lucky because the guys are expected to put on one hell of a performance for their Rock Or Bust tour.
Hoodie Allen @ The Riviera Theatre (2/27)
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
Hoodie Allen is just one of many rappers that are coming to Chi-town this month, and he is bringing some great company with him, as his Happy Camper tour features rapper Kyle and singer Blackbear. The show will take place on February 27th at the Riviera Theatre, and you definitely don’t want to miss out. This one is all ages, tickets cost just $30, and you can get your tickets now before they sell-out at Jam Productions‘ official website.
Future @ The Aragon Ballroom (2/18)
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
In just a few days, DS2 rapper Future is bringing The Purple Reign tour to the Windy City. Going down on February 18th at the Aragon Ballroom, Future will be joined by rapper Ty Dolla $ign, and each by their own are worth the price of admission. This one is sold-out, so only re-sale tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com, but whether you have tickets or not, the Aragon will definitely be the place to be this Thursday.
Fetty Wap & Post Malone @ The House of Blues (2/17)
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
A day before Future’s sell-out performance at the Aragon Ballom, another can’t-miss rap concert is coming to Chicago, this time with Fetty Wap and Post Malone’s Welcome To The Zoo tour. Both rappers have catapulted into the rap world in the past year, Post Malone with his track ‘White Iverson’ and Fetty Wap of course with his smash hit ‘Trap Queen’. The performances will take place on February 17th at the House of Blues, and this one is sold-out so get your re-sale tickets now while you still can.
Keith Relief Benefit Concert w/ Dustin Lynch @ Joe’s On Weed St. (2/22)
Photo by Ariana LaBarrie
We covered Dustin Lynch’s recent Chicago tour stop and now the country singer is already on his way back and for a great cause, to help alleviate the financial and emotional burdens of families and individuals dealing with medical crises. Headlining the Keith Relief benefit concert, a charity ran by Chicago Blackhawks superstar Duncan Keith, Lynch will surely give his all for the sold-out crowd of hockey fans and country music fans alike. This one is taking place on Monday, February 22nd at Joe’s on Weed St., so if you have your tickets you’ll surely be treated to a great night for a great cause.
Dirt Nasty & Mickey Avalon @ The Bottom Lounge (2/26)
Last but not least is probably the most unique concert on our list. Taking stage at the Bottom Lounge on February 26th, actor/rapper Simon Rex (“Dirt Nasty”) and ‘Jane Fonda’ rapper Mickey Avalon have squashed their beef and will make a stop in Chicago on their new Married to the Game tour. The two are more than entertaining, Dirt’s raps are absolutely hilarious, their song ‘My Dick’ is a 10 out of 10, and together the two make a great team. Tickets are still available so don’t miss out!
Future really must take no days off, because even though his collaboration album with Drake, What a Time to be Alive, released just months ago, Future is already releasing his next album tomorrow (February 6th, 2016). Titled EVOL, Future shared the tracklist for his forthcoming 10-track project to fans earlier today. And this one certainly isn’t a collaborative album, as all songs but one, feature Future and no one else. Who is the lone guest feature on the album though? Who better than The Weeknd? This definitely will be one of the most played and talked about albums in the new year.
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