Oklahoma summer concert calendar heats up with Lizzo, Madonna, Shania Twain and festivals

With the summer season approaching, the temperatures aren't all that's due for a warm-up.

The Oklahoma concert calendar is heating up, and not just in the arenas, ballrooms and theaters: The summery weather is bringing back annual music festivals, outdoor concert series, street fests and more.

It would be impossible to list them all, but here are some highlights to date of Oklahoma’s summer show slate, from Lizzo's concert debut in the Sooner State to Painted Sky Opera's performances of classic titles:

Tumbleweed Calf Fry Festival 

May 4-6, Tumbleweed Dance Hall, Stillwater    

The venerable “testicle festival” will serve up a country music menu including Casey Donahew, Parker McCollum, Read Southall Band, Giovannie & The Hired Guns and more.  

Brooks & Dunn 

7 p.m. May 5, Paycom Center   

The Country Music Hall of Fame duo, who split up in 2010 but reunited a few years later, are bringing their "Reboot Tour 2023" to the OKC arena, where they've played four previous times. 

Lincka EP release show

8 p.m. May 5, Factory Obscura 

The local Latinx performer celebrates her new release “El Putasio" on Factory Obscura's East Bay Stage, where the OKC artist collective has been steadily expanding its live music and performance lineup. Fellow Oklahomans Kat Locke and Nia Moné also will be featured at the EP release show.

More: From Lizzo to Shania Twain, these are the Oklahoma concerts to look forward to in 2023

Everclear 

8 p.m. May 6, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa   

The band will play its 1990s hits like “Santa Monica,” “Father of Mine” and “I Will Buy You a New Life."  

Red Brick Nights

5 p.m. May 6, downtown Guthrie 

The popular street festival returns to the Logan County seat on the first Saturdays in May through September. Live music starts at 7 p.m., with the season-opening lineup of Rachel Lynch, Rigby Summer and Steelwind.

Grupo Firme

8 p.m. May 6, Paycom Center  

The popular regional Mexican band, which hails from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, brings its "¡Hay Que Conectarla! Tour 2023" to OKC.

Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café 

11 a.m. May 7, five venues in Stillwater  

Oklahoma’s largest homegrown songwriter festival features acoustic song swap sets from 70 Sooner State acts, including Cody Canada, Monica Taylor, John Fullbright, Bryon White and Carter Sampson. The festival benefits the nonprofit Red Dirt Relief Fund.

The Mars Volta

7 p.m. March 9, The Criterion 

The El Paso, Texas, rockers recently released "Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón," an acoustic reimagining of their 2022 self-titled comeback album.

Gary Clark Jr.

6:30 p.m. May 10, The Jones Assembly  

The Grammy Award-winning blues musician from Austin, Texas, returns to Oklahoma City.

Showboat Concert Series

7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Thursdays May 11-June 29, Bricktown Canal

ArtAfloatOKC’s Showboat Concert Series returns for its third season of putting local musicians on Bricktown Water Taxis to perform in concert for passengers. The entertainers will play two 45-minute showtimes every Thursday, with Sarafina Byrd on May 11, BAILEYBOY on May 18, Daniel Mudliar on May 25, Dr. Pants on June 1, Ckai Dawson on June 8, Stephen Salewon on June 15, Nia Moné on June 22 and Jose Hernandez on June 29. (The season was originally scheduled to start on May 4 with Jason Scott, but that concert was postponed to May 17 due to the rainy forecast.)

Kane Brown 

7 p.m. May 12, BOK Center, Tulsa   

Dustin Lynch & LOCASH are joining the country star on his "Drunk or Dreaming Tour." 

Labrys, Psychotic Reaction and Helen Kelter Skelter

8 p.m. May 12, Blue Note 

The Oklahoma acts are heading out on tour together.

KATTFEST featuring Godsmack 

4:30 p.m. May 12, Zoo Amphitheatre   

The lineup for the annual one-day rock festival also includes I Prevail, Bad Omens, Zero 9:36, Catch Your Breath and more. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

OKC Philharmonic's 'Oklahoma Stories: Clara Luper Centennial'  

8 p.m. May 13, Civic Center   

The orchestra's Classics season closer will celebrate the legacy of a local civil rights legend with a program including Joan Tower's "Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman," Leonard Bernstein's "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story" and the world premiere of Hannibal Lokumbe's "Trials, Tears, Transcendence: The Journey of Clara Luper," a new piece commissioned by the OKC Philharmonic.   

Summer Breeze Concert Series

7:30 p.m. May 14, Lion's Park, Norman  

OKC neo-soul singer Nia Moné will open the 23rd edition of the popular free concert series. The series continues May 28 with Jason Scott & The High Heat, June 11 with stepmom, June 25 with King Cabbage Brass Band, July 9 with Tequila Songbirds, July 23 with Jaimee Harris, Aug. 6 with Finite Galaxy and Aug. 20 with its "Homegrown" finale.

Little Big Town 

May 18, Stride Bank Center, Enid   

The Grammy-winning country vocal quartet's "Friends of Mine Tour" is supporting their 10th studio album, "Mr. Sun," released last fall.  

Canterbury Voices' 'Crescendo' 

May 18, Oklahoma History Center    

An add-on concert to the season subscription and fundraising event for Canterbury Voices' programs, the second annual "Crescendo" will be Randi Von Ellefson's last performance as the chorus' artistic director and conductor. It also will be a celebration of his time with Canterbury Voices and include festive music, food and cocktails.  

Lady Camden

May 18, Tower Theatre

The OKC Pride Alliance presents a performance by the "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 14 standout.

Skating Polly

May 19, Factory Obscura's East Bay Stage 

Formed in Oklahoma in 2009, the sibling punk trio of Peyton Bighorse, Kelli Mayo and Kurtis Mayo will return to their home state to perform in support of their first full-length studio album in five years, "Chaos County Line," due out June 23 via El Camino Media.

'Southern Soul Extravaganza Tour'

May 19, BOK Center, Tulsa 

The tour will spotlight one of the hottest acts in R&B and soul in King George, along with Tucka, Sir Charles, Big Pokey, Adrian Bagher and Josh Myles.

Lizzo 

May 20, BOK Center, Tulsa   

The three-time Grammy-winning singer, rapper and flautist will make her Sooner State debut on "The Special 2our."

Heard on Hurd Street Festivals 

May 20, Broadway and Hurd, downtown Edmond.   

Every third Saturday from March through October, the monthly street festival showcases live, local music and a variety of food trucks and pop-up shops.  

The Elton Johns

May 20, Tower Theatre 

Tribute bands are trendy this year, with the calendars of several local venues sprinkled with them. In this case, the music of Elton John is performed by a costumed full band and string section.

The John Fullbright Band

May 20-21, Blue Door  

The Grammy-nominated Oklahoma singer, songwriter and pianist released a new album, "Songs," last fall.

Scissortail Park Concerts featuring OKC Philharmonic

May 21, Scissortail Park's  Love’s Travel Stops Stage and Great Lawn 

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic kicks off the downtown OKC park's free summer concert series. The series will continue May 26 with "Bluegrass Night at the Park," featuring Grammy-winning dobro master Jerry Douglas and his band along with Oklahoma-based special guests Midnight Hollow.

The Roots Ball

May 26-28, Medicine Park  

The annual Memorial Day weekend festival will feature the Red Dirt Rangers, Electric Okie Test, The Oz. Jig, Matt Moran and more.

Rhapsody of Fire

May 31, 89th Street OKC 

The Italian symphonic power metal band comes to Oklahoma City.

Ray Wylie Hubbard  

June 1, Tower Theatre   

The Oklahoma-Texas music icon released his second star-studded collaborative album, "Co-Starring Too," in 2022.  

All Time Low

June 2, The Criterion 

The Baltimore pop-punk outfit is touring in support of its new album "Tell Me I’m Alive."

Shania Twain  

June 3, BOK Center, Tulsa   

The country icon's "Queen of Me Tour" stop will include special guest Breland. 

Billy Strings 

June 7, BOK Center, Tulsa   

The Grammy-winning bluegrass player is touring in support of his new album "ME/AND/DAD," on which he and his father, fellow musician Terry Barber, perform songs they played together during Strings’ childhood.  

Weezer

June 10, Zoo Amphitheatre   

The Grammy-winning band's "Indie Rock Roadtrip!" includes fellow alt-rock hitmakers Modest Mouse and up-and-comers Momma.

Sunday Twilight Concerts

June 11, Myriad Botanical Gardens' Devon Lawn and Band Shell 

The Arts Council Oklahoma City's long-running free concert series will showcase talented local acts in a relaxed outdoor atmosphere on June 11 and 25, Aug. 27, Sept. 10 and 24 and Oct. 8.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones 

June 13, Tower Theatre   

The groundbreaking band is known for its inventive fusion of jazz and bluegrass music.  

James McMurtry

June 17, Beer City Music Hall 

The singer-songwriter will perform songs from his first full-length studio album in seven years, 2021's "The Horses and the Hounds."

'An Evening with the Avett Brothers'

June 18, Zoo Amphitheatre 

The three-time Grammy nominees play OKC's venerable outdoor venue.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters

June 20, The Criterion 

Along with special guest Charlie Sexton, the English music icon and his band embarks on a coast-to-coast summer tour, "We're All Going On A Summer Holiday," accompanied by Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets.

Matchbox Twenty 

June 21, Zoo Amphitheatre   

The Grammy-nominated band's long-delayed tour finally makes its way to OKC.  

Flatland Cavalry 

June 23, The Criterion   

The Texas country outfit is bringing along special guest Emily Nenni on its 2023 North American trek.  

Earth, Wind and Fire

June 23, Riverwind Casino, Norman 

For the first time since 2020, live performances return to the Showplace Theatre, starting with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and continuing with Collective Soul (July 21), Josh Turner (July 28), Dwight Yoakam (Aug. 19) and Counting Crows (Aug. 25).

Painted Sky Opera's 'La Boheme'

June 23-24, Hudiburg Chevrolet Center, Midwest City. 

The OKC professional opera company will give Giacomo Puccini's beloved classic a Sooner State twist with an updated setting inspired by the Paseo Arts District. It will be fully staged in Italian with English supertitles featuring the Painted Sky Opera Orchestra and Canterbury Youth Voices.

The Struts

June 29, Diamond Ballroom 

The British rock band's “Remember the Name Tour" includes special guest Mac Saturn.

Young the Giant 

June 30, Zoo Amphitheatre   

The multiplatinum-selling rockers' summer tour with Milky Chance follows last fall's release of "American Bollywood," their first album in four years. 

Fleet Foxes

June 30, Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa 

The Seattle indie folk band's "Shore Tour" is supporting their Grammy-nominated 2020 album "Shore."

Lee Greenwood

July 2, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa   

The "God Bless the U.S.A." singer brings his "American Spirit Tour" to Tulsa for Independence Day weekend.

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival

July 12-16, multiple venues in Okemah 

Folk Uke, John Fullbright, Mary Gauthier, Parker Millsap, Hubby Jenkins, Kyshona, Melissa Carper, Willis Alan Ramsey and more will perform at the 26th annual festival, which celebrates the life, legacy and music of the late, great folk icon Woody Guthrie.

Falling in Reverse

July 18, Zoo Amphitheatre 

The Las Vegas-based rockers will bring along special guests Ice Nine Kills, Slaughter to Prevail and Crown The Empire.

The Chicks

July 21, BOK Center, Tulsa  

The multiplatinum-selling, 13-time Grammy-winning trio are routing their 2023 world tour through Tulsa.

The Great Divide

July 21, The Criterion 

The legendary Oklahoma Red Dirt band released a new album, "Providence," last fall.

Painted Sky Opera's 'Don Giovanni'

July 21-22, Hudiburg Chevrolet Center, Midwest City 

The OKC opera company will showcase "one of the most notorious villains ever to grace the stage" in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's darkly comical revenge story.

Madonna 

July 27, BOK Center, Tulsa   

The best-selling female solo touring artist of all time will showcase her famed catalog of hits spanning more than four decades on "The Celebration Tour." 

Paramore  

July 29, BOK Center, Tulsa   

The band is touring in support of its new album, "This Is Why," due out Feb. 10 on Atlantic Records. 

Jinkx Monsoon

July 30, Hudiburg Chevrolet Center, Midwest City  

The two-time "RuPaul's Drag Race" winner presents her biggest concert tour to date with "Everything at Stake."

NF

Aug. 1, BOK Center, Tulsa 

The Michigan rapper is touring in support of his 2023 album, "Hope."

Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton

Aug. 4, The Criterion 

The funk icons' coast-to-coast trek has been dubbed the "Just For The Funk Of It! Final Tour?!?" 

Sam Hunt

Aug. 5, Zoo Amphitheatre 

The country singer-songwriter's "Summer On The Outskirts Tour" features Brett Young and Lily Rose.

Orville Peck

Aug. 9, The Jones Assembly 

The masked country music artist released his new album, "Bronco," last year.

Jimmy Eat World and Manchester Orchestra

Aug. 11, The Criterion 

Their co-headlining "The Amplified Echoes Tour" also includes Australian indie rockers Middle Kids.

Zach Bryan  

Aug. 11-12, BOK Center, Tulsa.    

The rising Grammy-nominated country star, who hails from Oologah, is returning to Oklahoma with his "Burn Burn Burn North American Tour," and anticipation is so high that a second show had to be added due to overwhelming demand.

Thomas Rhett 

Aug. 17, Paycom Center    

The country superstar's "Home Team Tour" will feature Cole Swindell and Nate Smith.  

Santa Fe Klan

Aug. 18, Paycom Center 

The breakout Mexican rapper's "Todo Y Nada Tour" includes special guests Snow Tha Product and Tornillo.

King Cabbage Brass Band

Aug. 18, Beer City Music Hall

Tulsa's New Orleans-inspired brass band plays a home-state show in OKC.

Fuerza Regida

Aug. 19, BOK Center, Tulsa 

The Mexican-American quartet from from San Bernardino, California, is bringing its "Otra Peda Tour" to the Sooner State.

Incubus

Aug. 20, Zoo Amphitheatre 

The California alt-rock quintet will be preceded by opening acts Badflower and paris jackson.

Granger Smith featuring Earl Dibbles Jr.

Aug. 24, Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa  

The country singer-songwriter — along with his alter ego — is on his farewell tour after announcing his decision to leave the music industry and work in ministry.

Rocklahoma

Sept. 1-3, Pryor Creek Music Festival Grounds, near Pryor.    

The three-day music and camping festival billed as "America's Biggest Labor Day Weekend Party" will feature Godsmack, Pantera, Rob Zombie, Limp Bizkit, Theory of a Deadman, Gwar and more.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma concert calendar heats up with The Chicks, Madonna and more