The Bey Hive covered Beyoncé’s surprise show coming up August 21 at the Dome at America’s Center.
There were many reasons to assume the tour would skip St. Louis: itinerary decisions, attractiveness of larger markets nearby, unavailability of dates, our city’s insignificant Pollstar ranking (#34) as a concert market , etc.
While we wait for the other big tours to hit the city this year, we also need to take a look at some of the shows we’ll be skipping and let you know where you can get them via a quick flight or road trip.
People are also reading…
We also cross our fingers that some of these tours may have local dates added.
Sign up for The Blender, a weekly email newsletter, to stay updated on concert news and the STL music scene
Madonna • We’re not the least bit shocked that Madonna’s “Celebration Tour” is skipping St. Louis, especially after the hazy remark she made — and which a live microphone picked up — at the end of her 2012 Scottrade concert ( now Enterprise) Center. But the show celebrating her 40th anniversary isn’t too far off, with Chicago (Aug. 8-9) on the line.
SZA • We thought a St. Louis date was a given when SZA announced an arena tour in support of her hit album “SOS,” especially since she’s pictured wearing a Blues jersey on the cover. But that seems like a no-no for the St. Louis-born singer, who will be in Chicago on Feb. 22.
Sam Smith • At least a couple of Sam Smith’s previous tours have played in St. Louis, but arena-based “Gloria the Tour” doesn’t include a local stop among its 27 planned cities. You can see Smith in Nashville, Tennessee (July 29) and Chicago (August 15).
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band • The Boss is back, but not in St. Louis. Bruce Springsteen kicked off his new tour this month, which included a show on Feb. 18 in Kansas City. A second batch of dates has just been added, including an August 9 show in Chicago. His last show in St. Louis was a sold-out concert in 2016 at the Chaifetz Arena, where he and a certain music critic exchanged a firm punch.
Taylor Swift • Despite the superstar pop singer’s ticketmaster issues, Taylor Swift is on her way to ‘The Eras Tour’. She sold out the Dome at America’s Center in 2018, but while she returns to stadiums, starting in March in support of her her album “Midnights,” St. Louis is left out. Nearby cities where she will perform include Nashville (May 5-7), Chicago (June 2-4) and Kansas City (July 7-8).
Anita Baker • Anita Baker has just embarked on her aptly titled ‘Songstress Tour’, celebrating the 40th anniversary of her 1983 album, ‘The Songstress’. There are no St. Louis shows in sight of her, despite her engagement of two successful nights in 2018 at the Fox Theater as part of her “Farewell Concert Series.” The closest Baker to St. Louis is Chicago (June 30) and Memphis, Tennessee (November 21).
Billy Joel and Stevie Nick • True music icons Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel join forces for select stadium dates in March. Considering St. Louis’ love of classic rock, we’re surprised the “Two Icons, One Night” tour didn’t get a date here. But it surrounds St. Louis with shows in Nashville (May 19) and Kansas City (August 19).
Zach Bryan • If you’re a fan of up-and-coming country singer Zach Bryan, we hope you caught his performance in May as part of the new Country Fair in Chesterfield. That’s because his new summer tour, which hits bigger arenas and amphitheaters, doesn’t have a St. Louis show scheduled. But there are plenty of opportunities to see him support his ‘All My Homes Hate Ticketmaster’ album. His “Burn Burn Burn North American Tour,” which bypasses Ticketmaster outlets, also bypasses St. Louis in favor of cities like Lexington, Kentucky (June 3), Milwaukee, Wisconsin (July 7), Chicago (July 13), Wichita, Kansas (August 27) and Kansas City (August 30).
Rose • Who wouldn’t love another round of Pink flying and leaping through a concert? St. Louis was last treated to her blatant shenanigans in 2018 at the Scottrade (now Enterprise) Center. But on her “Summer Carnival” stadium tour, she flies over St. Louis. The tour includes stops in Chicago (August 12) and Nashville (September 22). A newly announced series of fall dates for her “Trustfall Tour” added Kansas City to her schedule (October 27-28), along with Indianapolis (November 7) and Louisville, Kentucky (November 11). We think St. Louis would be a perfect addition to that mix.
Ella Mai • British soul singer Ella Mai filled the Pageant to a sold out show in 2019, and was a great warm-up performance for Mary J. Blige at the Enterprise Center last fall. She’s back on the road starting March 31 in Wallingford, Connecticut, but the closest places to these parts are Nashville (April 24), Chicago (May 24), and Indianapolis (May 25).
hot red peppers • The closest Red Hot Chili Peppers 2023 stadium tour to the Midwest is Minneapolis (April 8), visiting cities like Las Vegas (April 1), Fargo, North Dakota (April 6), Phoenix (May 14), San Antonio (May 17) and Houston (May 25) before heading to Europe. We can’t help but think that more US dates could be added after the European shows – or is that just wishful thinking?
Depeche Mode • Electronic band Depeche Mode is on the road with its “Memento Mori Tour,” but the closest the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction group gets to St. Louis is Chicago (April 5, November 13) and Nashville ( October 13). 19).
Ari Lennox • Bubbly soul singer Ari Lennox, last seen in St. Louis opening Lizzo at the Pageant in 2019, began her “age/sex/location” tour in January. St. Louis fans can find her in Nashville (March 2) and Chicago (March 8).
Dave Matthews band • At one point, a Dave Matthews Band show was almost a summer tradition at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater (and under the venue’s various former names). But while the band embarks on a summer tour in support of its upcoming album, “Walk Around the Moon,” St. Louis is absent. Scheduled Nashville (May 26), Milwaukee (June 29) and Chicago (July 7-8).
dvsn extension • R&B duo DVSN have yet to arrive in St. Louis, and their “Working on My Karma World Tour” is no exception. The tour kicked off in January and ends March 30 in Chicago.
Billy Idol • Snarling rocker Billy Idol hits the road March 30 for a career-spanning set that includes new music from his ‘The Cage EP’. But the “Billy Idol Live 2023 Tour” is only getting closer in Indianapolis (May 9) and Kansas City (May 11).
Yes Yes Yes • Rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs will kick off their new tour May 3 in Washington, DC in support of their latest album, “Cool It Down”. There is a stop in Chicago on June 1 in between dates, though nothing is scheduled for St. Louis.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss • Robert Plant and Alison Krauss reunite for their “Raising the Roof Tour,” kicking off April 25 in Shreveport, Louisiana with music from their albums “Raise the Roof” and “Raising Sand.” Some dates that make for good travel from St. Louis include Louisville (May 2), Kansas City (May 5), and Chattanooga, Tennessee (May 13).
Masego • The title of singer and musician Masego’s “You Never Visit Me Tour” is a joke to his fans, and St. Louis fans can understand that. He last performed here with a 2018 show at the Ready Room. The new tour plays in Chicago (March 24) and Nashville (April 11).
Shorty trombone • Trombone Shorty kicks off in March with a tour that hits the East Coast, then the West Coast and the Midwest. Shows include co-headlining Ziggy Marley with Mavis Staples, Robert Randolph Band and Devon Gilfillian. The tour stops in Kansas City (July 22) and Salina, Kansas (August 12).
Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard • Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard famously battled in 2003 for the second season of “American Idol.” “Velvet Teddy Bear” Studdard was the winner, but the pair have maintained a friendship and have toured together since April. See them nearby in St. Charles, Illinois (May 10), Indianapolis (May 11), Chicago (May 12), and Bloomington, Illinois (May 14).
Sign up for the Entertainment EXTRA email to get the best event options delivered to your inbox
Tom O’Keefe, director of reservations and marketing at Family Arena, explains some simple ways to ensure you’re paying the best price on concert tickets.
Kevin C. Johnson’s blender
Get the latest concert news and more from the St. Louis music scene from Kevin C. Johnson.
