The Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion celebrates its third year in Rogers with some of the biggest names yet, as well as some familiar faces returning for another good time.
The outdoor amphitheater's 2016 season began last week with a sold-out show -- country star Jason Aldean -- followed the next night by a nearly packed house for British pop artist Ellie Goulding on her Delirium world tour. And Erin Rogers, public relations director for the Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP, expects the momentum to continue through the summer.
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Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion
WHEN — 2016 season thru October
WHERE — Rogers
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"We have some really huge and well-known acts coming this year," Rogers says. "There has been a lot of excitement around the Twenty One Pilots show for quite some time, and it isn't until August! Weezer and Panic at the Disco and Meghan Trainor are all very popular, too. Miranda [Lambert] is always a favorite, and our world [in Northwest Arkansas] will also really like MercyMe. So there will be large crowds.
"You're going to have excitement at all these shows."
Two of what might be the biggest shows of the summer are both coming next week. Grammy Award-winning legends The Doobie Brothers will co-headline the Tuesday night show with one of the most popular American rock groups of all time, Journey. And country megastar Kenny Chesney returns to Northwest Arkansas on Thursday as part of his "Spread the Love" tour.
"Truthfully, when you look at we're having Jason Aldean, Ellie Goulding, Journey, The Doobie Brothers and Kenny Chesney all within two weeks, that's pretty amazing," Rogers says. "What's most exciting is there's such a wide variety of acts coming that lots of people may be experiencing the AMP for the first time."
Tickets are available for all 14 of the announced concerts taking place through Oct. 1, but depending on the tour schedules of other artists coming close to Northwest Arkansas in the next few months, there may be potential for the AMP to snag even a few more shows for the already bursting season.
Either way, Rogers says music fans should be on the lookout for one more major concert announcement coming in June. "It's going to be a good one!"
Walmart AMP 2016 Season
Tuesday
'San Francisco Fest 2016'
Journey & The Doobie Brothers
With Dave Mason
7 p.m. Tickets $129.50*
Named one of VH1's Top 100 artists of all time, the iconic American rock band Journey is touring with fellow legendary rockers The Doobie Brothers for a show spanning more than four decades of classics. "That's a huge deal for [them] to be touring together," Rogers says. "That's a different [age group] that this show will reach, and that's exciting for us."
Thursday
'Spread the Love Tour'
Kenny Chesney
With Old Dominion
7:30 p.m. Tickets $60-$95*
Chesney's July 30 performance at the AMP last year on "The Big Revival Tour" sold out the 9,500-seat venue. "Kenny had such a great time when he was here, he told us he was coming back," Rogers says. "They immediately said they were fitting the AMP into this year's [tour] schedule." Love from artists like Chesney, who consistently plays at huge stadiums and arenas, is part of the reason the AMP is one of the top 100 amphitheaters in the nation.
June 17
Widespread Panic
7:30 p.m. Ttickets $35.50-$55.50*
Also performing during last year's season, Widespread Panic will return to Northwest Arkansas for diehard fans and new listeners alike. You can be sure to enjoy a long night of music from the group, which has been together nearly 30 years and doesn't shy away from a good improvisational set.
June 25
Walmart Community Concert
Rachel Platten
8 p.m. Tickets $5-$10*
Platten is the headliner for the Northwest Arkansas LPGA Championship and proceeds from the show will benefit local charities.
July 2
Sammy Hagar & The Circle
Featuring Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson
7:30 p.m. Tickets $36-$81*
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar will bring his "A Journey Through The History of Rock" tour to the AMP in July for fans to experience music from four decades of of the rocker's career. Joining Hagar for this concert will be Michael Anthony, the renowned rhythm section bassist (Van Halen and Chickenfoot); Vic Johnson, guitarist (The Wabos); and Jason Bonham, acclaimed drummer and son of iconic Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham.
July 4
Fireworks Spectacular
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas
7:30 p.m. Tickets $3-$35*
The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and the city of Rogers invite the public to celebrate America and honor our nation's veterans at the annual Fireworks Spectacular. Free family activities will take place in the parking lot before the program, which will feature a patriotic concert by SoNA concluding with one of the largest Fourth of July fireworks displays in Northwest Arkansas.
July 15
Miranda Lambert
With Kip Moore and the Brothers Osborne
7:30 p.m. Tickets $35.50-$68.50*
She was part of the 2012 and 2014 seasons, and now Miranda Lambert is returning to the AMP with her "Keeper of the Flame Tour." "Our community loves good ol' country," Rogers says of the acts joining this year's lineup.
July 17
Weezer
And Panic! At The Disco
With Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
7 p.m. Tickets $35.50-$75*
After a short break toward the end of the '90s, critically acclaimed alternative group Weezer hasn't slowed down since the early 2000s and just released their 10th studio album on April 1. The band is on tour with Panic! At The Disco, the emo-pop band who also released an album early this year, just over 10 years after their debut in 2005.
July 26
'Carnival of Madness'
Featuring Shinedown
With Halestorm, Black Stone Cherry and Whiskey Myers
6:30 p.m. Tickets $29.50-$52*
Hard rock fans won't want to miss the "Carnival of Madness" tour coming to the AMP and bringing some of the most epic bands on the scene today. This night of powerful and complex music features country rockers Whiskey Myers, the Grammy-winning Halestorm, Black Stone Cherry -- who just released their latest album -- and of course Shinedown, whose musicality is only getting better with age.
July 30
MercyMe
With Jeremy Camp
7:30 p.m. Tickets $31-$55.50*
Like fellow contemporary Christian artists NEEDTOBREATHE and TobyMac in previous years, MercyMe is expected to bring solid turnout and anexcited crowd to the AMP. Winners of the Top Christian Airplay Artist spot on Billboard's 2015 Year End charts, the group has produced some of the most recognized Christian music singles of the last two decades including "Here With Me" and "I Can Only Imagine."
Aug. 2
Meghan Trainor
With Hailee Steinfeld & Common Kings
7 p.m. Tickets $29.95-$59.95*
Turning out anthem after anthem for empowered women everywhere, Meghan Trainor brings her "Untouchable Tour" to Northwest Arkansas with fellow girl-power icon Hailee Steinfeld. The diva released her sophomore album "Thank You" on May 13.
Aug. 3
Twenty Øne Piløts
With Mutemath and Chef'Special
7 p.m. Tickets $30-$45*
Alternative hip hop group Twenty Øne Piløts have been around since 2009, but only recently did they explode onto the pop culture scene with the consistent radio play of 2015 chart toppers like "Tear in My Heart" and "Stressed Out." Their headlining tour, the "Emøtiønal Røadshøw," will bring their quirky "everything but the kitchen sink" style of music to the AMP with festival favorite Mutemath and Chef'Special.
Aug. 12
Michael McDonald & Boz Scaggs
7:30 p.m. Tickets $41-$81*
Another Doobie Brother, former member Michael McDonald will bring his soulful voice to the AMP stage with Boz Scaggs.
Sept. 1
An Evening With Styx
7:30 p.m. Tickets $31-$55.50*
In a season that just won't quit with the amazing rock shows, Styx joins the lineup for an evening that will feature music from the more than four decades the group has been together. Still touring, still producing music, the six men will rock the Walmart AMP stage in September.
Oct. 1
The Lumineers
7:30 p.m. Ttickets $29.50-$39.50*
The final scheduled show of the 2016 season brings folk-rock group The Lumineers to Northwest Arkansas for "for a new experience. I haven't stopped listening to them!" Rogers says. The trio from Denver is enjoying an immensely successful year already with the release of their highly anticipated second album, "Cleopatra," on April 8.
*plus fees
NAN What's Up on 05/27/2016