Happy Thursday! It’s Jen. If you caught yesterday’s email, you may remember me mentioning my love of music. My idea of a great night out always involves some kind of live music – and I’m willing to go to great lengths to see my favorite artists perform. I’ve camped in a tent to see Outkast; I’ve taken a day trip to Atlanta just to see The Strokes; and, despite not being a huge country music fan, I once sat through an entire Kenny Chesney concert in the freezing rain.
There’s something special about singing along to your favorite songs in a sea of fellow fans who are just as hyped as you are... even if the guy in front of you is 6’2, blocking your entire view of the lead guitarist, + repeatedly screaming “Free Bird!” (and let’s be real, there’s always that guy).
Though much of this year’s calendar remains TBA, the Holy City already has a stacked lineup of great shows booked for early 2020. Here are the shows I’m most excited for:
○ SUSTO: “Rogue Acoustic” Live Album Recording | Feb. 7 | 9 p.m. | The Royal American | $10, tickets go on sale this Friday (Jan. 17) at 10 a.m. | A special live performance spanning all three of SUSTO’s albums + several new songs. With Mel Washington + Fleur Geurl.
○ Sturgill Simpson | March 10 | 7:30 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum | $49.50+ | With Tyler Childers.
○ High Water Festival | April 18-19 | All day | North Charleston Riverfront Park | $99+ | Featuring headliners Wilco, Nathaniel Rateliff, Brittany Howard, and Shovels & Rope. Full lineup here.
Scroll for 29 more shows set for early 2020.
January
○ Badfish: a Tribute to Sublime – Under the Sun Tour | Jan. 17 | 8 p.m. | Music Farm | $18
○ St. Paul & the Broken Bones | Jan. 20 | 8 p.m. | Charleston Music Hall | $45+ | With She Returns from War.
○ Charleston Jazz Festival | Jan. 23-26 | Times + locations vary | Ticket prices vary | Full schedule here.
○ Interstellar Echoes – A Tribute to Pink Floyd | Jan. 25 | 9:30 p.m. | Charleston Pour House | $13 advanced, $15 at door
○ Matoma & Two Friends | Jan. 26 | 7 p.m. | Music Farm | $25+
○ Color of Music: Black Classical Musicians Festival | Jan. 29- Feb. 1 | Times + locations vary | Fill schedule here.
○ Black Jacket Symphony Presents Led Zeppelin’s ‘House of the Holy’ | Jan. 30 | 8 p.m. | Charleston Music Hall | $35+
February
○ SUSTO: “Rogue Acoustic” Live Album Recording | Feb. 7 | 9 p.m. | The Royal American | $10 | A special live performance spanning all three of SUSTO’s albums + several new songs. With Mel Washington + Fleur Geurl.
○ Tesla | Feb. 17 | 8 p.m. | Charleston Music Hall | $55+ | With special guests Bad Marriage and Red Reign.
○ Tony Bennett | Feb. 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Gaillard Center | $55+
○ KANSAS: Point of Know Return Tour | Feb. 14 | 8 p.m. | North Charleston Performing Arts Center | $38+
March
○ Old Crow Medicine Show | March 1 | 7:30 p.m. | Gaillard Center | $39.50+
○ Diana Ross | March 3 | 7:30 p.m. | North Charleston Performing Arts Center | $60.50+
○ O.A.R. | March 5 | 8 p.m. | Charleston Music Hall | $49.50+ | Note: Tickets are currently sold out.
○ Little Big Town | March 6 | 8 p.m. | Gaillard Center | With Caitlyn Smith.
○ Sturgill Simpson | March 10 | 7:30 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum | $49.50+ | With Tyler Childers.
○ Georgia On My Mind: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles | March 10 | 7:30 p.m. Gaillard Center | $36+
○ Ranky Tanky with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra | March 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Gaillard Center | $25+
○ Rome & Duddy – Friends & Family Acoustic Tour | March 17 | 8 p.m. | Charleston Music Hall | $24.50+ | with Micah Brown.
○ Lauren Daigle | March 19 | 6:30 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum | $28+ | With Johnnyswim.
○ Cher | March 20 | 8 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum | $64+
○ Kane Brown | March 26 | 7 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum | $58+ | With Chris Lane and Russell Dickerson.
○ Mandy Moore | March 31 | 8 p.m. | North Charleston Performing Arts Center | $28.50+
April
○ The Avett Brothers | April 3 | 8 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum | $34+
○ Cole Swindell | April 16 | 7 p.m. | North Charleston Performing Arts Center | $29+ | With Hardy and Trea Landon.
○ Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band | April 16 | 8 p.m. | North Charleston Coliseum | $80+
○ High Water Festival | April 18-19 | All day | North Charleston Riverfront Park | $99+ | Featuring headliners Wilco, Nathaniel Rateliff, Brittany Howard, and Shovels & Rope. Full lineup here.
○ For Your Ears Only: A Tribute to the Music of James Bond | April 11 | 8 p.m. | Charleston Music Hall | $20+
May
○ Trondossa Music & Arts Festival | May 16-17 | All day | North Charleston Riverfront Park | Headlined both nights by Widespread Panic. Full lineup here.
○ Spoleto Festival | May 22- June 7 | Times + locations vary | Ticket prices vary | Full schedule here.
June
○ 90’s Vibes: The Best of Hip Hop and R&B ft. Orchestra Noir | 8 p.m. | June 6 | Charleston Music Hall | $49+ | Some of your favorite songs from the ‘90s played by an orchestra.
○ Rebelution: Good Vibes Summer Tour | June 20 | 6 p.m. | Volvo Car Stadium | $14+
If you could see any musician, dead or alive, in concert, who would it be? Tell us in the comments.