Miami is a stop on every big act’s tour, so lucky for us we have a season of shows from high-wattage stars. Add to that a few solid music festivals, and you’ll see why we get excited when the concert season picks up. Here are the shows that we can’t wait to catch.
Mysterious. Ethereal. Spiritual. Angelic. Cathartic. Not too many bands inspire such glowing terms, but this Icelandic “post-rock” group, whose name means Victory Rose, possesses a truly unique, otherworldly sound. One cannot understand the words frontman Jónsi is singing (most of the lyrics take the form of the constructed language Hopelandic, after all), but his soaring falsetto—paired with the band’s minimalist but intense, swirling music – evokes heavy emotional responses from audiences. You might cry, but you don’t know why. Sigur Rós sweeps into town, joined by the Wordless Music Orchestra, in support of Átta, its first album of original music in a decade. Must be seen to be truly understood. Sept. 30 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami. USHER
Usher performs his greatest hits plus songs from his latest album, Coming Home at the Kaseya Center. Anthony Behar/Sipa USA Fans adore this eight-time Grammy-winner – who released his first album at age 15 (!) – for timeless hits including “Nice & Slow,” “U Got It Bad,” “Yeah!,” “Burn,” “Confessions Part II,” “My Boo,” “Love In This Club,” “OMG” and “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love.” Now Usher heads to Miami for three nights as part of his Past Present Future tour, during which he’ll perform all the faves, plus tracks from his ninth studio album and first in eight years, Coming Home, featuring the lead single “Good Good.” Oct. 11, 12 and 14 at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami.
III POINTS FESTIVAL
George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic. Daniel DeSlover/Sipa USA If there were more musical events like III Points, the world would be a much better place. This two-day festival brings together a refreshingly eclectic lineup of the best acts in indie-rock, hip-hop, alternative, experimental, electronic and any type of music with an edge. This year’s evidence? British trip-hop legends Massive Attack, funk icons Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton, Miami rap royalty Rick Ross, indie-rock god Jamie xx, British electronic duo Disclosure, rapper Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan), genre-bending singer/songwriter PinkPantheress and so many more great national and local acts. Oct. 18-19 at Mana Wynwood in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood
TAYLOR SWIFT – THE ERAS TOUR Taylor Swift Robin van Lonkhuijsen/ANP/Sipa USA The world clearly can’t get enough of Taylor Swift. And that’s why the pop phenomenon is bringing her massive Eras Tour back to Florida (she performed in Tampa back in April 2023) for three more dates at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium in October. This tour is in support of Swift’s 10th and 11th studio albums, Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department respectively, featuring the hits “Anti-Hero,” “Lavender Haze,” “Karma,” “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart,” and “Fortnight.” You’re also sure to hear staples such as “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “You Need to Calm Down,” “You Belong with Me,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Style,” “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood,” and “Shake It Off” among many others. Don’t miss up-and-coming opening act Gracie Abrams (“Stay,” “Close to You,” “Risk,” “Us,” and “I Love You I’m Sorry”).
SHAKIRA—LAS MUJERES YA NO LLORAN WORLD TOUR Colombian singler Shakira MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com This Grammy-winning, shimmying Colombian singer will never escape being defined by her biggest hit, “Hips Don’t Lie,” will she? Nope, but that’s OK, because she’s so much more than that. The ever-resilient, high-energy Shakira takes the stage in support of her 12th studio album featuring the hits “Puntería” and “Cómo Dónde y Cuándo.” You’ll also hear tracks from her 11th studio album, El Dorado, including “Chantaje,” “Perro Fiel,” “Trap,” “Déjà Vu,” and “La Bicicleta,” plus classics such as—yep—”Hips Don’t Lie,” “Underneath Your Clothes,” “Loca,” “She Wolf,” “Whenever, Wherever,” and “Can’t Remember to Forget You.” Nov. 20 at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami.