Music to our ears: Here’s a list of major concerts heading to New Orleans in 2023

NEW ORLEANS (NOLA WEEKEND) - Music lovers can look forward to a list of high-profile acts heading to New Orleans in upcoming months, including big names like Beyoncé, Drake and Garth Brooks.

For several acts, it’s a big return to touring after years of being absent from the road, making way for a strong summer and fall concert season. Dozens of shows are booked at local venues around town and big arenas like the Smoothie King Center, UNO Lakefront Arena and Caesars Superdome.

We’re keeping tabs on those big music acts scheduled to roll through New Orleans from now through the end of 2023.

Here’s your guide to some major concerts to mark on your calendar. Check back for updates as we get them.

Alicia Keys

July 23, Smoothie King Center

Grammy Award-winning global superstar Alicia Keys stops in New Orleans for her “Keys to the Summer” tour at the Smoothie King Center on July 23.

The tour will feature Keys, for the first time, in a 360-degree rotating platform which will allow fans to experience her live performance in an entirely new and exhilarating way, according to a release.

Keys, known for incorporating innovative and engaging production design into her live performances, worked with director Diane Martel (who directed “If I Ain’t Got You” and “Like You’ll Never See Me Again” – two of Keys’ most powerful videos) and designer Chiara Stephenson to design the concept and staging.

This summer also marks more than 20 years since the singer released her debut album “Songs in A Minor.”

See ticket information here.

Shania Twain

July 24, Smoothie King Center

The “Queen of Country Pop” Shania Twain brings her “Queen of Me” tour to the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on July 24.

Country music artist Mickey Guyton will provide support for the New Orleans show.

The tour marks the first time some fans will see Twain in nearly five years, following a successful Las Vegas residency run.

As a leading country-pop star during the 90s, the five-time Grammy Award-winning Canadian singer and songwriter is the best-selling female artist in country music history and one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Twain’s 1997 studio album “Come On Over” became the best-selling studio album by a female ace in any genre and produced several hit singles, including “You’re Still the One”, “From This Moment On”, “That Don’t Impress Me Much” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”

See ticket information here.

Killer Mike

Aug. 5, The Joy Theater

Rapper, writer and activist Michael Render, aka Killer Mike, announced a U.S. tour in support of his latest release " MICHAEL.” The “High & Holy Tour” stops at the Joy Theater in New Orleans on Aug. 5.

Billed as Killer Mike and the Midnight Revival, the performance features a spirited show flanked by a choir and DJ. The tour marks Killer Mike’s first major solo outing since touring in support of his 2012 album.

See ticket information here.

Counting Crows

Aug. 18, Saenger Theatre

Nineties rockers Counting Crows return to the road with their “Banshee Season Tour,” which stops at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans on Aug. 18.

After years of collaboration, cult-favorite rock band and long-time friend of the band, Dashboard Confessional, will join as support on the upcoming run.

See ticket information here.

Brent Faiyaz

Aug. 22, Orpheum Theatre

Groundbreaking R&B artist Brent Faiyaz heads on tour in support of his sophomore album, “Wasteland,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. The singer will perform in New Orleans at the Orpheum Theatre on Aug. 22.

The Orpheum says the performance is sold out. However, some resale tickets may become available.

See ticket information here.

Lil Durk

Aug. 22, Smoothie King Center

Rising rap star Lil Durk shared details of his “Sorry for the Drought” tour hitting the road this summer and stopping at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Aug. 22.

The 27-city tour will feature special guests Kodak Black, NLE Choppa and DD Osama on most dates.

The tour announcement comes on the heels of Lil Durk’s new single, “All My Life.” The J. Cole-accompanied track serves as the lead single for the Chicago rapper’s album, “Almost Healed”, which dropped in May.

As one of rap’s rising stars, Lil Durk is known as one of the pioneers of Chicago’s drill rap movement now seeing a heavy influence in mainstream rap music.

See ticket information here.

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Aug. 25, Saenger Theatre

The original Jersey boy, Frankie Valli, plays a show at the Saenger Theatre on Aug. 25. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons will sing unforgettable tunes like “Sherry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “December ‘63 - Oh What A Night,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” and of course, “Grease.”

See ticket information here.

Coco Jones

Aug. 28, House of Blues

Rising R&B star Coco Jones rolls out dates for her first headlining tour fresh off of her “Best New Artist” win at the 2023 BET Awards.

The singer’s “What I Didn’t Tell You” tour makes a 16-city run and stops at the House of Blues in New Orleans on Aug. 28.

See ticket information here.

Christian Nodal

Aug. 31, Smoothie King Center

Latin Grammy Award-winning artist, Christian Nodal, brings his “FORAJI2″ Tour to New Orleans on Aug. 31.

The Mexican star is known for fusing mariachi with the accordion to create what he coined as “mariacheño.”

“I can’t wait to be with my fans to show them this new show that will have many surprises and of course, a lot of great music that celebrates Mexican culture in the way that it deserves,” Nodal said in a statement.

See ticket information here.

$uicideboy$

Sept. 1, Smoothie King Center

New Orleans punk-rap duo Suicideboys, stylized as $uicideboy$, will perform in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center on Sept. 1.

The massive 2023 “Grey Day” tour will include more than 40 shows at arenas and amphitheaters across the U.S. this summer and fall, kicking off in late August.

Trap-metal artist Ghostemane and New York rap-metal group City Morgue will provide support on the tour, as well as Sematary and Ramirez.

Since their founding in 2014, the New Orleans-bred duo of cousins—Scott Arcenaux Jr. with the stage name $crim and Aristos Petrou known as Ruby da Cherry—has gained a cult following as a popular act in the underground rap scene.

See ticket information here.

Garth Brooks, Lainey Wilson

Sept. 2, Caesars Superdome

Country music superstar Garth Brooks will headline a Labor Day weekend concert at the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 2.

The show is part of the first-ever Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff to celebrate the start of college football season.

Brooks will share the stage with Louisiana native Lainey Wilson and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Before the show, the party gets started with a “Tailgate Town” football-themed experience in Champions Square. The Sugar Bowl Committee says it hopes the Country Kickoff can become an annual Labor Day weekend tradition.

The last time Brooks played “Callin’ Baton Rouge” in Baton Rouge, was in April of last year. The roar of over 102,000 fans singing along registered on LSU’s seismographs.

See ticket information here.

ODESZA

Sept. 16, Smoothie King Center

Grammy-nominated electronic duo ODESZA announced a second leg of their “The Last Goodbye” tour which will roll through New Orleans on Sept. 16.

DJ Bonobo, TOKiMONSTA, QRTR & Olan will provide support for the tour.

ODESZA’s live performances have become known for mixing stunning visuals, expert musicianship, pyrotechnics and an immersive environment to transform whatever venue they are at into an otherworldly experience.

See ticket information here.

Lil Baby

Sept. 19, Smoothie King Center

Rapper Lil Baby also joins the list of high-profile acts heading to New Orleans in upcoming months when his nationwide tour stops at the Smoothie King Center on Sept. 19.

The Grammy Award-winning artist announced a national tour in support of his most recent album “It’s Only Me” which was released in October 2022. The nationwide tour is set to kick off July 26 in Houston and make stops in other major cities, such as Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston.

Rising Memphis rappers GloRilla and GLOSS UP, rapper Rylo Rodriguez and rising Atlanta rapper Hunxho will provide support for the tour while on the road.

See ticket information here.

Drake, 21 Savage

Sept. 20, Smoothie King Center

Drake finally returns to the stage for the first time in five years on his “It’s All a Blur” tour at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Sept. 20

Drake also brings along rapper 21 Savage whom he collaborated with on the joint album “Her Loss.”

The tour was originally set to kick off in New Orleans in June, but the rapper rescheduled several dates pushing the New Orleans show to September.

Drake’s tour has been making headlines almost daily because of his over-the-top set designs, surprise special guests and other hijinks. Most recently, a witch-like image of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour seen while the rappers perform on stage is making rounds on social media. Most reports say the dig is a petty reference to the rappers’ lawsuit with the magazine.

See ticket information here.

Victoria Monet

Sept. 21, The Joy Theater

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Victoria Monét hits the road on her debut headlining tour this fall. “The Jaguar Tour” stops at the Joy Theater in New Orleans on Sept. 21.

Monét’s tour will support her forthcoming album, “Jaguar II,” the follow-up to 2020′s “Jaguar.” Her single, “On My Mama,” has already been trending on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

See ticket information here.

Ty Dolla $ign

Sept. 24, Fillmore New Orleans

Singer-songwriter and producer Ty Dolla $ign hits the road this fall on his “More Motion Less Emotion” tour. The tour stops at the Fillmore New Orleans on Sept. 24.

The show also features Dre Sinatra, plus guest appearances from Symba and Leon Thomas.

See ticket information here.

Corinne Bailey Rae

Sept. 26, Orpheum Theatre

English singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae will stop in New Orleans for a tour in support of her forthcoming album, Black Rainbows, scheduled for release on Sept. 15.

The soulful singer is known for her 2006 single “Put Your Records On.”

See ticket information here.

Beyonce

Sept. 27, Caesars Superdome

Queen Bey brings her highly-anticipated “Renaissance” world tour to the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 27.

After wrapping her trek overseas, the singer just kicked off the U.S. leg of her tour last week.

Posts about the tour on social media give fans a peak of the singer’s breathtaking custom-made costumes, extravaganza sets and special moments, like her daughter Blue Ivy dancing on stage.

This marks Beyonce’s first tour since she hit the road with Jay Z for the “On the Run II” tour in 2018. The tour was initially supposed to close out in New Orleans, but the singer has been adding more tour dates, making Kansas City the final stop.

See ticket information here.

Depeche Mode

Oct. 7, Smoothie King Center

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductees, Depeche Mode, added new North American tour dates to the “Memento Mori” tour following the reception to their single “Ghosts Again” released earlier this year.

The English electronic music band sets out on a colossal 75-date tour — their 19th tour and their first in more than five years.

Having sold more than 100 million records and played to more than 35 million fans worldwide, Depeche Mode remains an ever-evolving and influential musical force.

See ticket information here.

Lil Yachty

Oct. 11, Fillmore New Orleans

Lil Yachty announced a 39-stop global tour in support of his most recent album “Let’s Start Here,” which was released in January. The artist’s “The Field Trip” tour includes a stop at The Fillmore in New Orleans on Oct. 11.

See ticket information here.

The 1975

Oct. 12, Smoothie King Center

English pop-rock band The 1975 heads on their biggest North American tour to date that stops at the Smoothie King Center on Oct. 12.

The tour, The 1975 “Still … at their very best” will feature newly expanded production, after the first leg of the band’s tour garnered good reviews from critics for high-concept performance art and staging.

Over the past decade, The 1975 have firmly established themselves with their distinctive aesthetic, passionate fanbase and unique sonic approach.

See ticket information here.

Kesha

Oct. 18, Orpheum Theater

Kesha returns to the road this fall in support of her most recent album, “Gag Order.”

The Grammy-nominated pop artist embarks on a 20-date tour, including a New Orleans show at the Orpheum Theater on Oct. 18.

Kesha is expected to play a diverse collection from her discography including past hits and beloved new faves off the new album. The show also features special guest Jake Westly Rodgers.

See ticket information here.

Alabama

Oct. 20, Smoothie King Center

Alabama’s concert that was originally scheduled for Feb. 24 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans has been postponed to Oct. 20.

For the past five decades, Alabama, founded by cousins lead vocalist/guitarist Teddy Gentry; bassist/vocalist Randy Owen and late guitarist Jeff Cook, has charted dozens of number-one singles and changed the face and sound of country music.

At the height of the band’s success in the 1980s, Alabama had a streak of 21 number-one singles, including hit songs, “Roll On,” “Love in the First Degree,” “Mountain Music,” “Dixieland Delight” and “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band).”

The group was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame and has their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

See ticket information here.

Maluma

Oct. 26, Smoothie King Center

Columbian artist Maluma hits the road to arenas around the U.S. this fall for the North American leg of his “Don Juan” world tour. The trek includes a stop at the Smoothie King Center on Oct. 26.

Selling more than 18 million records during his career, Maluma is considered one of the best-selling Latin music artists. The singer is expected to perform new songs from his new “Don Juan” album, along with some of his other big hits.

See ticket information here.

Raphael Saadiq, Tony! Toni! Toné!

Oct. 27, Orpheum Theater

Multi-hyphenate music icon Raphael Saadiq reunites with his band Tony! Toni! Toné! for the first time in nearly 25 years. The long-awaited return of the R&B legends heads to the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans on Oct. 27.

announced Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Toné!, the Just Me & You Tour, which will grace stages across the U.S. this fall. The long-awaited return of the Oakland, CA R&B legends launches on September 21 in Birmingham, AL, and includes a stop at Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans, LA, on Friday, October 27, 2023.

See Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Toné Live at the Orpheum Theater on Friday, October 27, 2023!

Raphael Saadiq will be playing a night of his hits, Tony! Toni! Toné! Hits with the original band members, and songs he has written for and with other people. There are also TWO VIP opportunities, including a chance to hear the Sound Check!

See ticket information here.

6LACK

Oct. 26, Fillmore New Orleans

Groundbreaking alternative R&B artist 6LACK, pronounced “Black,” will bring his “Since I Have a Lover” tour to The Fillmore in New Orleans on Oct. 26.

With songs that often explore themes of relationships and heartbreak, the Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum-selling artist has brilliantly captured a voice of a generation through his dynamic art.

See ticket information here.

My Morning Jacket

Oct. 31, Orpheum Theater

With Voodoo Fest canceled for a third straight year in New Orleans, My Morning Jacket plays a Halloween night show in New Orleans at the Orpheum Theater.

See ticket information here.

Kevin Gates

Nov. 4, UNO Lakefront Arena

Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates brings his “Only the Generals Tour” to the UNO Lakefront Arena on Nov. 4.

The tour kicks off in October and spans 30 shows. Earlier this year, the rapper re-released his debut mixtape, “The Luca Brasi Story” to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the project.

See ticket information here.

Kirk Franklin

Nov. 18, UNO Lakefront Arena

Contemporary gospel icon Kirk Franklin brings his “Reunion Tour” to the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans on Nov. 18. Franklin also brings along some other gospel greats, such as Tye Tribbett, The Clark Sisters, David and Tamela Mann and Israel Houghton.

See ticket information here.

Maxwell

Nov. 24, Smoothie King Center

Grammy Award-winning R&B artist Maxwell will stop in New Orleans for a show during Bayou Classic weekend.

Since last year, the neo-soul icon has been touring the country on his critically-acclaimed “The Night Tour.” This fall, Maxwell will join the unofficial 2023 Bayou Classic weekend lineup, bringing his next act, “NIGHT: The Trilogy Show,” to the Smoothie King Center on Nov. 24.

Soulful songstress Leela James has been confirmed as the show opener.

As one of the leading voices of the ‘90s neo-soul movement, Maxwell released five studio albums over the past two decades, yielding hits such as “Pretty Wings,” “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder),” “Fortunate” and “Lifetime.” The singer redefined soul music when he released his critically-acclaimed 1996 debut album “Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite.”

See ticket information here.

PJ Morton

Nov. 24, Orpheum Theater

New Orleans native PJ Morton will head back to New Orleans for his annual hometown show on Black Friday. The singer-songwriter and keyboardist for pop band Maroon 5 will perform at the Orpheum Theater on Nov. 24, just in time for Bayou Classic weekend.

Morton has been touring extensively since releasing his latest album “Watch the Sun” in 2022.

DJ Ariespins will open the show.

See ticket information here.

85 South

Dec. 2, Smoothie King Center

The 85 South Show unites three of America’s funniest, talented and most fearless comedians. DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller and Chico Bean team up for a show at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Dec. 2.

With over two million subscribers on YouTube, over half a billion independent views and more than 150,000 live show tickets sold, the 85 South Show has completely changed the comedy industry.

See ticket information here.

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