These are the 10 absolute best excuses for going to a concert in Charlotte this summer

You might know that Taylor Swift’s tour isn’t coming to Charlotte in 2023. Or you might not.

Or, you could be aware, but just don’t care.

That’s the thing about live music — everybody has their individual likes and dislikes when it comes to artists and genres, so it’s all subjective. For every superfan who’d pay $1,000 for Bruce Springsteen tickets, there’s a hater who wouldn’t go if they were going to get in for free. Some people would wait in line all night to see The Weeknd; others don’t even know what a Weeknd is.

This, of course, makes compiling a list of the things that have us most excited about the 2023 summer concert season a challenge.

But after spending some time playing around with my crystal ball, I predict that these 10 live-music experiences are the ones that will wind up leaving the most lasting impact on the Charlotte area this year, objectively speaking, and in no particular order:

1. Seeing rap star Lil Wayne perform on a relatively lil stage

When and where: 8 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at The Fillmore Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St. (I know, I know — nowhere close to summer. But it’s too hot a show not to include.)

Why it’s a big deal: I had to do a double-take when I first saw Lil Wayne on the calendar for The Fillmore Charlotte, the AvidXchange Music Factory venue that holds just 2,000 people. For the past 20 years, he’s been a hip-hop hit machine; and the last four times he’s been to town, he’s headlined or co-headlined what’s now PNC Music Pavilion — which can accommodate 20,000.

Bottom line: This show features a rare opportunity to hear Wayne perform club bangers like “Lollipop” and “A Milli” in an actual club.

The concert is sold out. You can buy “verified resale tickets” via Live Nation’s website, but they’re expensive for a general-admission event. As of this writing, the lowest-priced ones available were $443 apiece.

2. Harmonizing with what’s left of the legendary Beach Boys

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 22, at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.

Why it’s a big deal: No, Brian Wilson hasn’t kissed and made up with Mike Love, and yes, most of the group is now comprised of replacement players who will never be as beloved as co-founder Wilson. But even without Wilson, the band is still led with love by Love (the 82-year-old co-founder who with Wilson wrote many of the band’s greatest hits, including “Good Vibrations” and “I Get Around”) and still tours with 80-year-old Bruce Johnston, a member of The Boys’ since they put out “California Girls” in 1965.

Bottom line: If you want to sing along to Beach Boys songs with a couple of actual O.G. Beach Boys, this could be your last chance.

Plenty of tickets are available, for $54.50 to $114.50.

3. Celebrating (man!) feeling like a woman (!) with Shania Twain

When and where: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, at PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.

Why it’s a big deal: It’s been 30 years since she made a splash with her self-titled debut album —and almost 20 since her last solo top-10 country hit (“She’s Not Just a Pretty Face”) — but Twain remains insanely popular as a touring artist. And these days, filling a major venue is a feat for a female, given that the country-music landscape is otherwise so thoroughly dominated by men. The “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” singer is currently the only woman headlining a country show at Charlotte’s big outdoor amphitheater this summer.

Bottom line: Expect to hear the women in this crowd ROAR.

The concert is sold out, save for a small handful of 20th- and 21st-row seats that will run you $432.50 each. “Verified resale tickets” are available via Live Nation’s website, but the prices are inflated — starting at $177 to sit on the lawn.

4. Watching Travis Barker beat the stuffing out of his drum kit

When and where: During blink-182’s concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, at Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St.

Why it’s a big deal: He’s at least on and often near the top of pretty much every list of “the best drummers in music right now,” thanks to both the dexterity and the ferocity with which he hammers his equipment. In fact, the start of this tour — which marks the first time fans of the seminal alt-rock band will have seen Barker, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus do shows together in 10 years — was delayed because Barker needed surgery after smashing his finger during rehearsals.

Bottom line: Come for the blink reunion, stay for the drum solos.

The concert is sold out, though again, Ticketmaster’s website has plenty of “verified resale tickets.” The lowest prices are around $100; floor tickets are being offered for upwards of $2,000.

5. Helping to host a huge homecoming party for Luke Combs

When and where: 5:45 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St.

Why it’s a big deal: It’s not just that he’s the reigning Country Music Association Awards’ “entertainer of the year.” It’s not just that every single he releases seems to rocket to the top of the country charts. It’s the fact that the 33-year-old singer is a hometown hero of now-epic proportions — born in Huntersville, mostly raised in Asheville, attended App State for awhile, a frequent headliner at Charlotte nightclub Coyote Joe’s as an up-and-comer in his 20s. And Combs famously loves performing in Charlotte. Just last summer he returned to Coyote Joe’s to livestream a concert for Apple Music for a couple-few thousand fans.

Bottom line: For this summer show, more than 50,000 will cram into the Carolina Panthers’ home to celebrate a local boy done good.

This concert also is sold out. “Verified resale tickets” for this one, also via Ticketmaster, start in the mid-$100s and can run into the thousands for floor seats.

6. Getting a contact high from Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa

When and where: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.

Why it’s a big deal: Although marijuana is not yet legal in North Carolina for recreational use, it’s certainly going to seem like it is at this hip-hop show that will feature two of the genre’s most celebrated potheads. The pair also co-headlined this same venue seven years ago (it was called, ahem, “The High Road Tour”); this time, old-school rap legend Too $hort is joining them at the top of the bill.

Bottom line: If you’re even just casual fans of Snoop and Wiz, don’t puff, puff, pass on this one.

All kinds of tickets are available, and they’re affordable. They start at $35 for the lawn and $39.50 for the pavilion.

7. Rocking out with Foreigner in Charlotte for the last time

When and where: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.

Why it’s a big deal: Like The Beach Boys, Foreigner is a bit of a shadow of its former self, with only guitarist Mick Jones left standing as the last original member still active with the rock band. But unlike The Beach Boys, who might just go on forever in some form, Foreigner is calling it quits after this farewell tour, meaning this is your final opportunity to hear songs like “Double Vision,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” and “I Want to Know What Love Is” live.

Bottom line: All good things must come to an end, and these guys are letting fans say goodbye at surprisingly reasonable prices.

That’s right — tickets are dirt-cheap, with lawn seats (as well as some covered seats) starting at just $29.50. Options are plentiful.

8. Marveling at the various costumes Beyoncé decides to wear

When and where: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St.

Why it’s a big deal: Queen Bey’s concerts aren’t just concerts. They’re spectacles, largely because of the eye-popping outfits (the dazzling dresses, the glowing gowns, the bewitching bodysuits, etc., etc.) that she changes into and out of over the course of her shows. Spectacles like hers, by the way, demand large football stadiums, and for a long time ours just wasn’t down with hosting live music. In fact, while Raleigh’s and Columbia, South Carolina’s have hosted her in recent years, Beyoncé hasn’t been to Charlotte in 10. Thank goodness BofA Stadium has changed its tune.

Bottom line: Welcome back, Bey. We’ve missed you — and your wonderful wardrobe.

The concert is sold out. Be prepared to pay through the nose if you want in at this point. Ticketmaster’s “verified resale tickets” start at $200 but quickly ascend from there, with spots in the “B-Hive” next to the stage topping out at more than $2,000.

9. Hearing Slash play the iconic ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ guitar riff

When and where: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St.

Why it’s a big deal: You might have raised an eyebrow — or maybe even groaned — when you saw Guns N’ Roses’ top-hatted guitarist playing the opening notes of “Sweet Child” for a Capital One commercial, but I promise you: A chill will run up your spine when Slash tees up the rock anthem for 61-year-old lead singer Axl Rose at the Charlotte show. And if that one doesn’t do it for you, there’s always the first few strains of “Welcome to the Jungle.”

Bottom line: For the second time in four years, GN’R will roll into Spectrum with one of the greatest rock guitarists of all-time in tow.

Plenty of tickets are available, starting at $79.50 apiece for the upper deck. Floor seats are going for roughly $500.

10. Paying homage to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s late guitarist/co-founder

When and where: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, at PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd.

Why it’s a big deal: Yet another classic band from yesteryear that looks much different now than it did when it started — although Skynyrd is unique in that as of this month, none of its founding members are still alive. Guitarist Gary Rossington, the last man standing, died March 5. So, expect the current incarnation of this Southern-rock outfit to salute his legacy. On top of that, co-headliner ZZ Top is making its first visit to Charlotte since losing bassist Dusty Hill in July 2021.

Bottom line: There might be a couple of bittersweet moments, but songs like Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and ZZ Top’s “La Grange” are sure to raise spirits.

There are lots of tickets left, including lawn seats for $34.50 and decent covered seating available for sub-$100.

Other notable upcoming (spring and) summer concerts:

• Australian indie-pop singer Vance Joy at The Fillmore Charlotte on March 24.

• Soul-pop singer Seal at Ovens Auditorium on May 4.

• Former “American Idols” Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken at Knight Theater on May 4.

• K-pop group Tomorrow X Together at Spectrum Center on May 6.

• R&B/soul singer Jill Scott at Belk Theater on May 9.

• Pop legend Janet Jackson at PNC Music Pavilion on May 12.

• Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA at Spectrum on May 21.

• Heavy-rock band Godsmack at PNC on May 21.

• Alt-rockers Paramore at Spectrum on May 23.

• Dead & Company, the popular offshoot for 1970s icons the Grateful Dead, at PNC on May 30.

• Rapper Logic at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre on June 10.

• British indie-rock band Bastille at Fillmore on June 14.

• Indie rockers Weezer at PNC on June 24.

• Singer-songwriter Tori Amos at Ovens on June 26.

• Boy band Big Time Rush at PNC on June 27.

• Regional-Mexican band Banda MS at Spectrum on June 30.

• Mexican rapper Santa Fe Klan at Spectrum on July 6.

• Pop-rock band Matchbox Twenty at PNC on July 11.

• Indie-rock band Young the Giant at Skyla on July 15.

• Emo-rockers Fall Out Boy at PNC on July 21.

• Country singer Sam Hunt at PNC on July 22.

• Pop-rockers Jimmy Eat World at Skyla on July 30.

• Heavy-rock band Disturbed at PNC on July 31.

• Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz at Skyla on Aug. 5.

• Rocker Bret Michaels of Poison at PNC on Aug. 6.

• Country singer Jason Aldean at PNC on Aug. 10.

• A cappella group Pentatonix at PNC on Aug. 13.

• Country singer-songwriter Tyler Childers at Skyla on Aug 15-16.

• Country singer Eric Church at PNC on Sept. 23-24.