Ariana Grande, Fleetwood heat up winter tours
Music icons Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan were kings of the road last fall, but the early months of the new year promise more diverse talent on concert stages across North America. While tours by breakouts such as Sam Smith and Hozier have all but sold out, here are seven hot tickets that may still have a seat with your name on it:
Who: Fleetwood Mac
Where and when: Second leg of reunion tour kicked off Jan. 16 in Saint Paul, Minn., and wraps April 11 in Las Vegas
Types of venues: Arenas
What to expect: When singer/keyboardist Christine McVie returned to the band for the first time since 1998, fans welcomed her back with open arms. Because of its success, the rockers (rounded out by Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Lindsey Buckingham), who saw their biggest success in the 1970s and early '80s, are embarking on more of their On With the Show tour.
Who it's for: Baby boomers willing to throw down a hefty chunk of change on tickets and teens somehow nostalgic for a decade they didn't experience.
Who: Chris Brown and Trey Songz
Where and when: Kicks off Jan. 27 in Hampton, Va., and wraps March 8 in Inglewood, Calif.
Types of venues: Arenas
What to expect: Each with new albums out — Brown's X, released in September; Songz's Trigga, last July — the R&B all-stars are bound to get tongues wagging on their coast-to-coast jaunt, crooning recent hits such as Loyal and Na Na. Rapper Tyga, featured on Loyal, will also be along for the ride.
Who it's for: Groups of gal pals spending a night on the town and reluctant boyfriends who pretend not to know every song.
Who: Meghan Trainor
Where and when: Kicks off Feb. 11 in Vancouver, and wraps March 20 in Nashville
Types of venues: Theaters and ballroom-style venues
What to expect: After enjoying an eight-week run at No. 1 last year with body-positivity anthem All About That Bass, the 21-year-old is out to prove she's more than just a doo-wop novelty song. And with debut album Title out this week, be prepared to hear many different shades of the pop princess on her coming-out tour.
Who it's for: Young girls who loved All About That Bass on the radio and parents who couldn't find another mom to drive the carpool.
Who: Ariana Grande
Where and when: Kicks off Feb. 25 in Independence, Mo., and wraps April 16 in Vancouver
Types of venues: Arenas
What to expect: Having successfully transitioned from Nickelodeon star to chart-topping diva, the pint-sized powerhouse is ready to embark on her first-ever world tour. While most selections will no doubt be pulled from singles-laden sophomore album My Everything, expect her to also dip into 2013 debut Yours Truly.
Who it's for: Selfie-snapping preteens with deafening screams and college kids dancing the night away with drinks in hand.
Who: Dan + Shay
Where and when: Kicks off Feb. 28 in Knoxville, Tenn., and wraps April 26 in Chicago
Types of venues: Theaters and ballroom-style venues
What to expect: The breakout country duo of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney are taking their act across the country, in support of debut album Where It All Began. Hits 19 You + Me and Show You Off are all but guaranteed on the setlist, but they've also been known to perform killer covers of songs from bands such as Magic! and Guns N' Roses in their live shows.
Who it's for: Teen girls enamored with the young Nashville troubadours and country fans biding time until Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean hit the road this summer.
Who: Clean Bandit
Where and when: Kicks off March 17 in Houston and wraps April 10 in Las Vegas
Types of venues: Theaters and ballroom-style venues
What to expect: The London-based quartet exploded onto U.S. radio with the Jess Glynne-assisted Rather Be last summer, topping out at No. 10 on Billboard's Hot 100. Now, the Brits are packing up the cello and violin for another stateside tour, as they introduce more classical-meets-dance music off debut album New Eyes.
Who it's for: Twenty-somethings who yell all the words to Rather Be at the end of the show and EDM fans looking to sample a different style.
Who: Alt-J
Where and when: Kicks off March 30 in New York and wraps April 16 in Berkeley, Calif.
Types of venues: Arenas and amphitheaters
What to expect: The wailing heirs to Radiohead's moody art-rock throne released percussive sophomore album This is All Yours in September, which they followed with a U.S. tour last fall. In addition to their upcoming dates, the British four-piece will play both weekends of the Coachella music festival in April.
Who it's for: College students hoping to boost their "hipster" cred and dads curious what the kids are rocking to these days.