Spring concert scene: A guide to live shows coming to central Oklahoma
As the effects of the omicron variant slowly fade and signs of spring begin to shine through the combined gloom of the COVID-19 pandemic and the long, frigid winter months, the weather isn't the only warming trend.
The central Oklahoma concert scene is heating up, with several venues' calendars starting to fill up to something resembling pre-pandemic levels.
From local performing arts organizations like the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Canterbury Voices to touring acts ranging from up-and-coming star Yola to music icon Bob Dylan, here are some of our top picks for spring concerts.
Tickets for all these shows are available via TicketSmarter.com.
Journey & Toto
7:30 p.m. March 17, Paycom Center
Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer Neal Schon, who was born at Tinker Air Force Base, returns to his native state with his Journey bandmates on their "Freedom Tour 2022."
Blackberry Smoke
8 p.m. March 18, The Criterion
The Atlanta rockers return to Oklahoma in support of their new album "You Hear Georgia."
OKC Philharmonic's 'Ballroom with a Twist'
8 p.m. March 18-19, Civic Center Music Hall
The Oklahoma City Philharmonic's 2021-2022 Pops concert series continues with a program fusing music and dance.
MSSV
7:30 p.m. March 19, 89th Street Collective
The trio of guitarist Mike Baggetta, drummer Stephen Hodges and bassist Mike Watt are getting back on the road after their pandemic pause.
Carin Leon
8 p.m. March 19, The Criterion
The Regional Mexican sensation, who recently released a remix with country music hitmaker Walker Hayes, plays Bricktown.
Leif Vollebekk
8 p.m. March 21, Tower Theatre
The Montreal singer-songwriter's 2017 album "Twin Solitude" was a shortlisted finalist for Canada's Polaris Music Prize.
Incubus
9:15 p.m. March 22, The Criterion
The Grammy-nominated band is hitting the road again this month.
Dave Mason
8 p.m. March 23, Tower Theatre
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer returns to play the Uptown 23rd District venue.
Todrick Hall
8 p.m. March 24, Tower Theatre
The singer, rapper and YouTuber, who rose to fame on "American Idol" in 2010, recently made it to the Final 3 on "Celebrity Big Brother."
Hairball
8 p.m. March 25, Diamond Ballroom
Billed as a "bombastic celebration of '80s arena rock," the show pays homage to Guns N’ Roses, Poison, AC/DC, Queen, Motley Crue, Kiss, Journey, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Ozzy and more.
Jose Gonzalez
8 p.m. March 25, Tower Theatre
The Swedish-Argentinian guitarist and songwriter is touring in support of his latest album, "Local Valley."
Tracy Lawrence
9 p.m. March 25, Sugar Creek Casino, Hinton
The Grammy nominee celebrated 30 years of making country music in 2021.
Carly Pearce
8 p.m. March 26, Tower Theatre
The up-and-coming star is playing OKC hot off a big night at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Canterbury Voices' 'Duo Lumina'
3 p.m. March 27, Civic Center Music Hall
Oklahoma City's premier symphony chorus closes its 2021-2022 season with a program featuring English composer John Rutter’s most recent major work, "Mass of the Children," and Ralph Vaughan Williams' choral classic "Dona nobis pacem."
New Edition, Charlie Wilson & Jodeci
7 p.m. March 27, Paycom Center
Legendary Oklahoma native Charlie Wilson returns to the downtown OKC arena, this time supporting fellow R&B stars New Edition.
Yola
6:30 p.m. March 30, The Jones Assembly
The genre-defying Grammy-nominated Brit's headlining tour is supporting her sophomore album, "Stand For Myself."
Latto
8 p.m. April 1, The Criterion
The rising Atlanta rapper, 23, has been making music and a name for herself since she won Season 1 of the reality TV show "The Rap Game" in 2016.
Attila
7 p.m. April 2, Diamond Ballroom
The Atlanta metalcore band is out on the road with its "Rage Fest Tour 2022."
OKC Philharmonic's 'Scheherazade'
8 p.m. April 2, Civic Center Music Hall
The OKC orchestra continues its Classics season with a concert featuring guest conductor Rei Hotoda wielding the baton and soloist Sandeep Das on tabla hand drums.
Baroness
8 p.m. April 5, 89th Street Collective
The metal band, which hails from Savannah, Georgia, is giving ticketholders the chance to vote on the songs in its setlists on its "Your Baroness Tour."
Ministry, The Melvins & Corrosion of Conformity
7 p.m. April 7, Diamond Ballroom
Industrial rock band Ministry released its 15th album, "Moral Hygiene," last year.
OKC Philharmonic's 'Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert'
8 p.m. April 8-9, Civic Center Music Hall
As part of its Pops season, the orchestra will perform John Williams' beloved music for the blockbuster live as the movie plays.
Tech N9ne
8 p.m. April 8, Tower Theatre
The multiplatinum independent rapper returns to OKC on his 57-date "ASIN9NE Tour."
Sawyer Brown
8 p.m. April 9, Sugar Creek Casino, Hinton
Formed in Florida in the 1980s, the country band returns to the Sooner State.
Beartooth
8 p.m. April 10, The Criterion
"The Below Tour Part 2" features special guests Silverstein and The Devil Wears Prada.
Maxo Kream
8 p.m. April 13, Tower Theatre
The Houston rapper is traveling on his "Big Persona Tour."
Bob Dylan
8 p.m. April 14, Civic Center Music Hall
The music icon is bringing his "Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour" to Oklahoma a month before his Bob Dylan Center opens in Tulsa.
Primus
8 p.m. April 15, The Criterion
The experimental rockers pay homage to Rush on their wildly popular "A Tribute To Kings Tour."
Casey Donahew Band
8 p.m. April 16, The Criterion
The Texas country music outfit will be accompanied in OKC by special guests Wight Lighters and Hunter Thomas.
Waxahatchee
6:30 p.m. April 19, The Jones Assembly
Waxahatchee, aka Katie Crutchfield, is hitting the road again this spring after releasing her critically acclaimed album "Saint Cloud" in spring 2020.
Testament
6:50 p.m. April 19, Diamond Ballroom
The thrash band's "The Bay Strikes Back Tour" features Exodus and Death Angel.
Rain - A Tribute to The Beatles
7:30 p.m. April 19, Civic Center Music Hall
Presented locally by OKC Broadway, the Fab Four tribute act returns to the Civic Center with its "The Best of Abbey Road Live."
Hippo Campus
6:30 p.m. April 20, The Jones Assembly
The indie rockers released their third studio album, "LP3," in February.
Chris Renzema
8 p.m. April 20, Tower Theatre
The singer-songwriter's “Hope or Nostalgia” tour itinerary brings him to the Uptown 23rd District.
Johnnyswim
6:30 p.m. April 21, The Jones Assembly
The husband-and-wife duo of Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano releases its fourth studio album on April 8.
Texas Hippie Coalition
6 p.m. April 23, Diamond Ballroom
The heavy metal band from Denison embarked in January on its "2022 Ride" trek.
Tracy Byrd & Mark Wills
7 p.m. April 23, Sugar Creek Casino, Hinton
The country music artists are joining forces at the the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes' casino.
Hot Flash Heat Wave
7:30 p.m. April 23, 89th Street Collective
The California indie pop trio released its long-awaited third album, "Sportswear," earlier this month.
Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats
8 p.m. April 23, The Criterion
The Denver-based rock-and-soul band debuted its third studio album, "The Future," last fall.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Spring concert scene: A guide to live shows coming to central Oklahoma
