Spring and summer collide in June and a colorful cadre of musicians, comedians and performers will head to stages across St. Louis. Rapper Kendrick Lamar and St. Louis native SZA are taking over the Dome at the America’s Center and the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre reopens it doors for the season with the Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson at the Outlaw Music Festival, Dave Matthews Band and Avril Lavigne. Plus, comedians Michael Blackson and Adele Givens are keeping the laughs rolling as summer approaches.

Caamp

Folk music band Caamp is bringing sincere vocals, banjo jams and acoustic rhythms to St. Louis just a few days before releasing its fifth studio album “Copper Changes Color.” The Ohio band emerged in 2016 with its debut project “Caamp.” Its second album housed the gold-certified song “Vagabond,” solidifying the band with a core fanbase thanks to its unique sound. In 2022, President Barack Obama co-signed the group’s song “Apple Tree Blues” after featuring it on his summer playlist. Expect to hear Caamp tracks like “By and By” and “All the Debts I Owe,” and hopefully a few new records.

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If you watched Super Bowl LIX in February, you know who Kendrick Lamar is. The Compton emcee set the stage ablaze, performing his viral rap Drake diss “Not Like Us” to Drake’s dismay and stirring controversy with a stage show fueled by symbolism and hidden messages. But before the 2024 rap feud between Lamar and the Canadian hip-hop sensation, the Pulitzer Prize–winning rapper entered the industry with a fury in 2005. He released consecutive hit albums, showcasing the plights and cultural narratives found within the Black community. Lamar comes to the city with St. Louis native SZA, his TDE labelmate and record-breaking R&B songstress.

The Temptations and the Four Tops

Get ready for a Motown music blast from the past as the Temptations and the Four Tops take over the Fox Theatre. Both groups shined as leaders in the American R&B genre beginning in the 1960s. The groups were pioneers of soul, who influenced the sound and direction of modern American music. The Four Tops were one of the most successful pop acts of their era, while the Temptations were the first Motown act to win a Grammy Award in 1969. Although all the original members of the Four Tops are deceased, Temptations founder Otis Williams carries on the group’s live performance legacy. Expect a night of historical music and stories with songs like “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” and “Can’t Help Myself.”

Avril Lavigne

Canadian punk-pop star Avril Lavigne’s music served as the soundtrack for millennial youth worldwide. Her 2002 debut album, “Let Go,” remains the best-selling album released by a Canadian artist in the 21st century, and her 2004 album “Under My Skin” sold 10 million copies worldwide. Lavigne is bringing more than 20 years of hit records to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Her music represents a moment in music history, when a new generation of youth embraced dark eyeliner and emo pants and everything seemed so “Complicated.”

Michael Blackson

Comedian Michael Blackson caught the eye of humor lovers in 2005 when he released his sketch comedy album, “Modasucka: Welcome to America.” Today, the Liberia-born, laugh stirrer has appeared on shows like “30 Rock,” films like “Next Friday” and “Coming 2 America,” and performed on Starz’s “Martin Lawrence Presents: 1st Amendment Stand-Up.” Blackson’s shows typically include an abundance of crude, adult humor and profanity. So have your pearls prepared for clutching before showtime.

Dave Matthews Band

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Matthews Band has been charming audiences with guitar riffs, mellow alt-rock harmonies and days spent under tables dreaming for decades. The band has raked up a ton of accolades since their 1994 debut album was certified platinum six times. They’ve sold over 38 million CDs, won two Grammy Awards and 16 nominations, and released their most recent album “Walk Around the Moon” in 2023. Expect to hear songs like “Crash Into Me,” “The Space Between,” and new songs from their latest project.

Halsey ‘For My Last Trick’ tour

Halsey is a musical enigma that fans seem to love to hate. The New Jersey singer released her fifth studio album, “The Great Impersonator,” in October 2024. Just a few months prior, she vocalized frustrations about being mistreated by her fanbase. “My own fans are hands down meaner to me than any other people on the planet,” the singer told Deadline. As summer nears, Halsey hits the road for the “For My Last Trick” tour. Expect new bangers and songs like “Bad at Love” and “Without Me.”

Ledisi with Marsha Ambrosius

With her name meaning “to bring forth” in Yoruba, neo soul singer Ledisi returns to St. Louis to perform her hits and new music. The singer released her 12th studio album, “The Crown,” in April, blessing her loyal fans with 11 songs featuring artists such as Trombone Shorty. In February, Ledisi performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before the Super Bowl in New Orleans. The NOLA-born star is an essential piece of the American neo-soul movement, leading her to win a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2020. She’s joined at the Stifel by former Floetry singer Marsha Ambrosius for a night of rhythm and soul.

Alexandra Kay

When Jelly Roll performed in St. Louis in October 2024, opener and Waterloo, Illinois, native Alexandra Kay announced she’d make her St. Louis Music Park debut the following summer. The viral country sensation heads home for an evening of Billboard-charting songs and twangy, heartfelt vocals. Expect to hear new songs like “The Last” and “Cupid’s a Cowgirl,” coupled with fan-favorites like “Everleave.”

Smino with Samara Cyn and Mamii

Smino performs Sept. 9, 2023, at Music at the Intersection in St. Louis.

Melodic, hip-hop lyricist Smino is coming home to St. Louis this summer and he’s bringing a gang of “Kountry Kousins” along with him. The Hazelwood Central graduate released his fourth studio album, “Maybe in Nirvana,” in December 2024, tagging rap newcomer Samara Cyn and singer Mamii for his “Kountry Kousins” tour. Smino has a reputation for delivering over-the-top live shows for his hometown audience, so there’s no telling what the “Modennaminute” rapper will pull out of his bag. Expect to hear songs from Smino’s latest project and fan favorites like “Wild Irish Rose,” “blkswn” and “Netflix and Dusse.”

Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Nathaniel Rateliff

The Outlaw Music Festival is back for another year of legendary performances. Willie Nelson and the Family, along with Bob Dylan, return to the stage as the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary. Described by festival organizers as “the biggest Outlaw tour to date,” St. Louis folk-Americana band Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, along with Trampled By Turtles, and Tami Nelson will also be performing. Two longtime touring partners, Nelson and Dylan, are bonding over country music and ensuring that everyone knows that the summer is for outlaws.

Honorable Mentions

Tom O'Keefe, booking and marketing manager at the Family Arena, breaks down some simple ways to make sure you're paying the best price for concert tickets.

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