Music News: Kendrick Lamar and Elton John Announce Dallas Shows This Year

Lots of goodness is coming our way with this week's installment of concert announcements. Kendrick Lamar, Elton John, Slayer, and Belle and Sebastian are just a few of the big names rolling through town. Elsewhere, a couple of cool shows work their way to Irving, the Granada Theater gets some...

By Jeff Strowe

January 26, 2018

Kendrick Lamar will play Starplex Pavilion in May. Timothy Norris

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Lots of goodness is coming our way with this week's installment of concert announcements. Kendrick Lamar, Elton John, Slayer, and Belle and Sebastian are just a few of the big names rolling through town. Elsewhere, a couple of cool shows work their way to Irving, the Granada Theater gets some interesting names, and The Old 97's have announced plans for their next County Fair.

Kendrick Lamar announced dates for TDE: The Championship Tour, which will include a stop at the Starplex Pavilion on May 17. This tour pairs Lamar with breakout artist SZA, as well as ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and and a few others. You can also catch Lamar this Sunday on the Grammy Awards broadcast. His album DAMN earned seven nominations. Tickets to the Starplex show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at ticketmaster.com.
Sir Elton John announced plans for his farewell concert tour. There's no urgency — the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour will stretch out for the next three years. His local appearance, however, will happen at the tail end of 2018. He has a two-night stand at the American Airlines Center on Dec. 14 and 15. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 2, at ticketmaster.com.
Five-time Grammy-winning pianist and vocalist Diana Krall visits the Verizon Theater at Grand Prairie on June 19. She's out touring behind Wallflower, her latest album of popular covers and collaborations, which features big-name guests and was produced by the legendary David Foster. Tickets, $39.75 to $129.75, go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at ticketmaster.com.
Iconic southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd is also stepping away from the touring grind. The most recent lineup — which includes a few surviving members of the original one — is embarking on its Last of the Street Survivors Tour. The tour arrives at Starplex Pavilion on May 11. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at livenation.com.
Justin Timberlake announced a second show at the American Airlines Center. He'll stick around Dallas one more night and appear onstage May 28, in addition to his originally scheduled May 27 date. Tickets for the second show go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at ticketmaster.com.
Best known for his work as the bandleader on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Jon Batiste has developed a sterling international reputation as a genre-pushing musician, educator and interpreter. A New Orleans native, Batiste always keeps the musical spirit of the city close to each of his projects. Catch him at the Kessler Theater on March 3. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at prekindle.com.
The Old 97's County Fair is back April 14 for another jampacked day of music, food and carnival entertainment in downtown's Main Street Garden. This year's version features some stellar guests: Lord Huron, The Mavericks, Valerie June, Paul Cauthen, The Bottle Rockets, Erika Wennerstrom, Jaime Wyatt and Bastards of Soul. Tickets, starting at $50, are available at old97scf.com.
The Toyota Music Factory will host Smooth Spring Groove on April 14. Sponsored by Smooth R&B 105.7-FM, the show will feature appearances by SWV, Tank, Stokely and Vivian Green. The headliner is veteran crooner Keith Sweat. Tickets, starting at $39, are available at livenation.com.
Erasure, the English synth-pop duo that rose to fame with a string of '80s hits, including "Chains of Love," is heading out on a North American tour this summer. It will play Toyota Music Factory on Aug. 3, with Reed & Caroline opening. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at livenation.com.
Legendary R&B group Hall & Oates is hitting the road for a massive, 37-date summer North American tour with pop band Train. Each group will perform a headlining set before joining forces for a collaborative encore. Catch the show at American Airlines Center on July 24. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at ticketmaster.com.
Minus The Bear, one of the boundary-pushing progenitors of alternative rock, is coming to the Granada Theater on June 3. The band will perform the Planet of Ice album in its entirety in honor of the album's 10th anniversary. The New Trust will open the show. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at prekindle.com.
Experimental psych-rock group Unknown Mortal Orchestra will bring its live act to the Granada Theater for a July 14 show, with Shamir opening. Ruban Nielson's UMO has a new single, the synth-heavy "American Guilt," and has been hinting at more new material to come. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at prekindle.com.
Archy Marshall, aka King Krule, is an 18-year old London-based singer-songwriter quickly making a name for himself with deep and mournful ballads and funky, off-kilter rhythms. Catch him at the Granada Theater on April 11 so that you can say you saw him when. Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at prekindle.com.
Longtime metal band Slayer is calling it quits after 34 years in the business. It's going out in style with a massive world tour that stops at the Bomb Factory for a June 19 show. Joining Slayer will be guests Anthrax, Lamb of God, Behometh and Testament. Tickets to this epic night of thrash metal, $56.75 to $155, go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at ticketfly.com.
Scottish indie-rockers Belle and Sebastian are on tour in support of two new EPs, released back to back. Men I Trust will join them in Dallas. Catch them at the Bomb Factory on June 17. Tickets, $40.50 to $70.50, go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at ticketfly.com.

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Jeff Strowe now calls DFW home after stints living in Raleigh, North Carolina, and New York City. He enjoys writing about music, books, beer/wine and sports. His work is also featured in Glide Magazine and PopMatters, and he has written for No Depression.

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Twitter: @JeffStrowe