Five Great Concerts to Catch in 2011

One of the best things about any new year is all the great concerts that are just around the corner. A lot of popular bands and artists are touring this year, so here are five great concerts you should catch:

1. Eric Clapton. Some people get better with age. Eric Clapton is definitely one of them. The English bluesman-cum-rocker released his last CD last fall (simply titled Clapton) and he's now touring in support of it. In 2011, Clapton will hit big venues in Portland, Sacramento, and Las Vegas before heading over to the U.K. Be sure to check out a gig so you can hear classics like "Layla" and "Crossroads" played the way they were meant to be played: live.
2. Rush. It seems like this Canadian band has been around forever with hits dating back to the 1970's but guess what? They're still going strong and are quite possibly more popular than ever. The band's classic songs "Tom Sawyer" and "Spirit of the Radio" are still played on the radio and the guys appeared in the 2009 film I Love You, Man.. This year finds the trio hitting the road for another leg of their successful Time Machine tour with stops in Austin, Los Angeles, and The Gorge, Washington among other places. Check them out if they come to a town near you. They're fantastic live.
3. Katy Perry. Katy Perry, everyone's favorite pop chanteuse, will play some of her biggest hits when she hits the stage this summer. Thanks to her unique look and popular, chart-topping such songs as "Teenage Dream" and "Hot and Cold," Katy's shows promise to be great. Katy will begin her tour in the U.K. and will hit North America in June with gigs in Boston, Toronto, Denver, and Vancouver, B.C. Hit one of her shows if you're in the mood for great pop music.
4. Kylie Minogue. Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue has legions of devoted fans overseas (especially in the U.K.), but her popularity in the U.S. waxes and wanes. Her 2010 album Aphrodite was a big dance hit in the States, so she's decided to do some North American dates in 2011 to promote the album. Her tour starts on April 28 in Montreal and will hit cities such as New York, Orlando, and San Francisco. Be ready to dance if you check out one of the shows because Kylie definitely puts on a great show.
5. Nickelback. If you're in the mood for more Canadian rock, you'll be glad to know that Nickelback will once again be on the road this year. The band hasn't released an album since 2008, but they're still selling out arenas thanks to perennially popular rockers like "This is How You Remind Me" and ballads such as "Photograph." The band will play numerous cities in Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon) and most major markets in the States (Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Atlanta). Go to a show and get ready to rock.

There are a lot of big names giving shows this year, so if the above artists and bands aren't quite up your alley, there's a good chance that your favorite performer(s) will be playing. Have a great 2011 and enjoy the show!

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