10 must-see concerts coming to Alabama in 2023

10 must-see concerts coming to Alabama in 2023

Alabama’s concert calendar for 2023 looks mighty promising, with performances scheduled by noteworthy artists in several music genres. Sure, it’s only January — and there’s lots more to come — but we’ve already made picks for 10 don’t-miss shows. They’re happening in 10 different cities throughout the state, so get ready for some road trips.

DAVID FOSTER & KATHARINE MCPHEE

David Foster and Katharine McPhee are set to perform on Feb. 26 at the Gogue Performing Arts Center in Auburn, Alabama. (Patrick O’Shea) Courtesy of Whitehouse Wind Symphony

Who: Foster, a Grammy-winning composer and pianist, performs with singer and actress McPhee, a former “American Idol” finalist. She has appeared on Broadway in “Waitress,” and on TV series such as “Smash,” “Scorpion” and “Country Comfort.” Foster and McPhee have been married since 2019. The couple competed on “The Masked Singer” in 2021 as the character Banana Split.

When: Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Woltosz Theatre, Gogue Performing Arts Center, Auburn University, 910 S. College St. Auburn, 334-844-8497.

Tickets: $35-$90 via Gogue Center website.

Good to know: McPhee was the runner-up to Alabama’s Taylor Hicks on Season 5 of “American Idol,” which aired in 2006. McPhee’s cover of “Over the Rainbow” earned kudos during her season, along with her rendition of “Black Horse and Cherry Tree.”

LYLE LOVETT

Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett performs at the Americana Honors & Awards show Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Who: Texas singer-songwriter performs with his acoustic group. Lovett has a dozen studio albums and four Grammy Awards to his credit, along with a devoted fan base. He moonlights as an actor, and has appeared in movies (such as Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts,” “The Player” and “Pret-a-Porter”) and TV shows.

When: Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.

Where: Princess Theatre, 112 Second Ave. Northeast, Decatur, 256-350-1745.

Tickets: $80-$90 via theater website.

Signature songs: “If I Had a Boat,” “Penguins,” “Cowboy Man,” ““She’s Already Made Up Her Mind,” “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas),” “Church,” “Gee Baby, Ain’t I Good to You,” “Nobody Knows Me” and more.

Good to know: “Lovett sings with an ironic croon, subtly shaping lyrics to convey a multitude of ideas and emotions,” AL.com said in a 2000 review. “He plays the acoustic guitar with skillful precision, making every note count. And, just as important, Lovett surrounds himself with excellent musicians, generously creating an atmosphere that allows them to sparkle. All of these factors add up to a riveting concert. … The program was steeped in modern country, Big-Band swing and jazzy blues — much of it evoking the dusty plains of Lovett’s native Texas. Dry humor was in abundance, too, as Lovett told witty stories through words and music.”

BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA WITH BOBBY RUSH

The World Games 2022

The Blind Boys of Alabama perform during the closing ceremony of The World Games in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, July 17, 2022. (The World Games)

Who: Beloved gospel troupe led by Birmingham’s Jimmy Carter performs with Rush, a blues great who’s been inducted into several halls of fame.

When: March 23 at 7 p.m.

Where: Oxford Performing Arts Center, 100 Choccolocco St., Oxford, 256-241-3322

Tickets: $19-$49 via venue’s website.

Good to know: The Blind Boys have been performing since the 1930s, when the gospel group was formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in Talladega. The Blind Boys have been faithful to their gospel roots over the years, although original members such as Clarence Fountain and George Scott have died. The Blind Boys have five Grammy wins and 12 nominations to their credit, including one pending in 2023 for “The Message” with Black Violin.

THE MAVERICKS

Raul Malo

Raul Malo of The Mavericks performs at the Americana Honors & Awards show Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

Who: Tex-Mex band led by singer-guitarist Raul Malo. The Mavericks specialize in an eclectic blend of country, rockabilly, pop, Latin and swing music. They’re known for vibrant live shows that often get audiences up and dancing.

When: March 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Montgomery Performing Arts Centre, 201 Tallapoosa St., Montgomery, 334-481-5100.

Tickets: On sale Friday, Jan. 13, via Ticketmaster, prices TBA.

Good to know: The Mavericks have more than a dozen records to their credit, 1990-present. The most recent album, “En Español,” was released in 2020 and is sung entirely in Spanish.

BILLY STRINGS

Billy Strings

Billy Strings performs on the second weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Who: Guitarist known for his wizardly instrumental skills and penchant for merging blues, rock and jam influences with traditional bluegrass. Billy Strings, born William Apostol, has several studio albums to his credit, including 2022′s “Me/And/Dad.” In 2021, he scored a Grammy win for Best Bluegrass Album, for “Home.”

When: April 14-15 at 8 p.m.

Where: Mobile Civic Center Arena, 401 Civic Center Drive, Mobile, 251-208-7261.

Tickets: $53.50-$63.50 via Ticketmaster.

Good to know: “I’m trying to talk with my hands,” Strings said in a 2021 interview with NPR. “… It’s very much like when I’m playing stuff like that, it’s just I’m trying to convey a sort of emotion or say something with my guitar. A lot of my favorite guitar players, you know, they sound like they’re laughing or begging or crying. Or, you know, Jimi Hendrix used to make his guitar sound like the bombs in Vietnam. It’s a very amazing thing to be able to communicate with sounds without any words.”

JANET JACKSON

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson poses in the press room during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Who: Pop and R&B star, member of the famed Jackson family. She earned global acclaim in the 1980s and ‘90s for her “bubbling grooves and fancy footwork,” as described by the Boston Herald. Jackson will be on the road in 2023 on a “Together Again” tour.

When: April 22 at 8 p.m. Opening act is Ludacris.

Where: Legacy Arena at the BJCC, 1898 Ninth Ave. North, Birmingham, 205-458-8400.

Tickets: $35.95 to $179.95 standard admission, $199-$1,111 platinum seats, $400.95-$530.95 VIP, via Ticketmaster.

Hit list: Includes “Nasty,” “When I Think of You,” “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” “Rhythm Nation,” “Control,” “The Pleasure Principle,” “Miss You Much,” “Let’s Wait Awhile,” “Escapade,” “Black Cat,” “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “All For You” and more.

Good to know: Jackson made her last appearance in Birmingham in December 2017, appearing at Legacy Arena on her “State of the World” tour. In 2019, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

GEORGE JONES TRIBUTE CONCERT

George Jones

FILE – In this Jan. 10, 2007 file photo, George Jones is shown in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

What: “Still Playing Possum: Music and Memories of George Jones,” a star-studded concert honoring the music of a country legend. The lineup features Brad Paisley, Tanya Tucker, Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson, Wynonna, Justin Moore, Lorrie Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, Trace Adkins, Tracy Byrd, Tracy Lawrence and more. The concert is being filmed for a TV special to be broadcast at a later date.

When: April 25 at 7 p.m.

Where: Von Braun Center, Propst Arena, 700 Monroe St. Southwest, Huntsville, 256-533-1953.

Tickets: Sold out via Ticketmaster. Resale tickets are available via various outlets, typically offered at prices above face value.

Good to know: Jones (1931-2013) earned worldwide fame for hits such as “White Lightning,” “The Grand Tour,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “She Thinks I Still Care” and many more. He also recorded iconic duets with Tammy Wynette, such as “Golden Ring,” “Two Story House” and “We’re Gonna Hold On.” Their relationship is the focus of a recent Showtime TV series, “George & Tammy,” which stars Michael Shannon as Jones and Jessica Chastain as Wynette.

RELATED: George Jones: His deep, North Alabama roots

HANK WILLIAMS JR.

Hank Williams Jr.'s 2023 spring-summer tour includes two stops in Alabama.

Hank Williams Jr.’s 2023 spring-summer tour includes two stops in Alabama.Courtesy of Red Mountain Entertainment

Who: Country star performs a rowdy blend of traditional country, outlaw country, blues and Southern rock, on a bill with Old Crow Medicine Show. Williams is music royalty in Alabama, as the son of the legendary Hank Williams. He has other ties to the state, as well, moving to Cullman from Nashville during the mid-1970s and retooling his sound and image during those years, emerging with the signature record “Hank Williams Jr. and Friends.” Hank Jr., a hunting enthusiast, owns a property in Troy and has been known to host celebrity friends there.

When: May 12 at 7 p.m.

Where: Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, Tuscaloosa, 205-248-5280.

Tickets: $35-$99.75, on sale Friday, Jan. 13, via Ticketmaster.

Signature songs: ‘’If the South Woulda Won,’’ “That’s How We Do It in Dixie,” “Family Tradition,” “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound,” “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight,” “Dixie on My Mind” and more. Hank Jr. has put his stamp on songs by Hank Sr., as well, covering “Mind Your Own Business,” “Honky Tonkin’,” “Kaw-Liga” and more.

Good to know: Williams’ 2023 tour also includes a show on May 13 at The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach. Lawrence Specker of AL.com describes Hank Jr.’s most recent album, “Rich White Honky Blues,” as a “rough, rowdy and occasionally raunchy tribute to blues artists such as R.L. Burnside, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Jimmy Reed, on which Williams sometimes assumes the alter ego of Thunderhead Hawkins.”

TACOS & TEQUILA

T.I.

Rapper T.I. performs during the second half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

What: Music and food festival featuring hip-hop stars T.I., Waka Flocka Flame and Ying Yang Twins. Event includes a pre-show “Tequila Tailgate Experience” with food, specialty drinks and more.

When: May 19 at 6 p.m.

Where: Sand Mountain Amphitheater, 700 SMPA Blvd., Albertville, 256-891-8240.

Tickets: $34-$69 via Etix. There’s a party pit with standing room at the venue, along with reserved seats.

Good to know: T.I., born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., is a top-selling rapper, producer, trap music pioneer and Grammy winner. His career includes collaborations with other artists, controversies (including feuds with other rap stars and prison time) and a reputation as a style icon. The Atlanta native moonlights as an actor, appearing in movies and on TV shows.

ERIC CHURCH

Eric Church

Eric Church performs a medley at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards on Monday, March 7, 2022, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Who: Country star performs on “The Outsiders Revival Tour,” with guest artists Lainey Wilson and Jackson Dean. Church, a favorite in Alabama, is known for radio hits such as “Springsteen,” “Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Give Me Back My Hometown,” “Talladega,” “Record Year,” “Hell of a View” and more.

When: Aug. 18-19 at 7 p.m.

Where: The Wharf Amphitheater, 23101 Canal Road, Orange Beach, 251-224-1020.

Tickets: On sale Friday, Jan. 20, via Ticketmaster, prices TBA. Various pre-sales start on Tuesday, Jan. 17, and run through Thursday, Jan. 19.

Good to know: “Shed a tear in your beer? Not when Eric Church comes to town,” AL.com said in 2014 after a concert in Birmingham. “The country star is more of a ‘get the party started’ kind of guy. His music, a mix of earthy country and hard-edged rock, inspires concertgoers to wave plastic cups in the air, pump their fists in celebration and stomp their boots on the floor. (One of Church’s signature songs, ‘These Boots,’ actually prompts fans to pull off their boots and hold ‘em aloft like Bic lighters.)”

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