50 Musicians with the Best Concerts

While Prince may have been shy in person, he was anything but onstage. He was born for the spotlight. Prince was known for having amazing tours, but he took things further than that. 

His most memorable moments were at one-time events like award shows, Saturday Night Live features, and the Super Bowl. The bigger the stage, the more comfortable he was.

There’s really not much that could stop a Pink Floyd concert. They’re such great performers that even the rain couldn’t keep their shows from being absolutely amazing. 

There have been few bands as big as Pink Floyd, and Pink Floyd’s concerts always lived up to their lofty reputation.

Dolly Parton is one of the most celebrated artists of all time. She wins awards, breaks records, and knows how to put on a good show. Unlike many artists, she thrives on smaller, more intimate venues, not massive stadiums. 

However, that doesn’t mean you should expect those smaller venues to be cheap. Her tickets can cost hundreds.

Unlike so many bands who rely on special effects, U2 seems to shine the less structure there is. They’re great at being spontaneous. 

In recent years, they’ve even managed to put on some great show without singing their biggest hits. That takes some skill!

Bruce Springsteen is an extremely celebrated musician and has earned everything he’s been given. He’s known for many things, but his amazing performances top the list. 

In fact, they’re so good that he got his own Broadway show. Few people can make that claim! Even in his '70s, he can rock like the best of them.

If there’s a modern artist who has an almost religious following, it’s Beyoncé. Her shows are something to inspire a nation, complete with everything from breathtaking outfits to stunning choreography.

In fact, some of her best performances came while she was pregnant. There aren’t many artists who can compete with that.

Elton John’s career may be 50 years old, but it’s better now than it’s ever been! He’s retiring, but he’s going out with a bang. His final tour will be a 300-date, 5-continent, 3-year-long extravaganza called the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. 

To use his words, it’s going to be the most “fantastic” show he has ever done. We believe him.

What would this list be without the Queen of Pop? Madonna is recognized as one of the most influential musicians ever, but her mark on the world of concerts is debatably her biggest. 

She’s the highest-grossing solo artist of all time and iconic in every way. 

The Rolling Stones are one of the most celebrated bands in history. They started strong in the 60s and are still performing today. They’re known for their elaborate set-ups and, of course, Mick Jagger himself. 

In fact, the Rolling Stones are so good at performing that The Guardian attributed the birth of arena rock to the band. If you get a chance to go see them, do it.

If you don’t know who The Who are, you’ve missed out on some great music made over the last 50 years. 

They’ve influenced an untold number of bands since their heyday with both their music styles and performances. In fact, their shows were so great that they outsold U2 and David Bowie.

There are few bands that have the legacy of Led Zeppelin. Their music is amazing, but so were their shows and appearances. They played stadiums when no one else did. They had hair and clothes that would inspire the rock scene for years to come.

They’re the type of band that was so big you’d wish you had seen them perform just so you could be a part of something bigger than yourself.

Carrie Underwood may be a modern country artist, but she’s a good one. Like many modern greats, she rose to stardom from her time on the TV show American Idol. 

She knew how to put on a show then, and she’s only gotten better since. Carrie Underwood has gone beyond just a reality star.

Iron Maiden does a great job of encouraging a strong, lasting fanbase. Their music continues to build on itself, from album to album. 

Onstage, they’ll often recreate their albums, which makes for a unique concert that wasn’t just about lasers or fog.

If you’re looking for an energetic metal show, look no further. Metallica is debatably the best metal band you could ever go see.

They’ve been performing for 35 years, and they’re still going strong.  They may not be hitting the charts, but their loyal fanbase still loves 'em.

Foo Fighters are one of the most iconic bands from the 90s rock scene, and they’re still selling out today. Thousands of people will flock to see every one of their high-energy concerts.

Their performances are so unstoppable that the lead singer has even broken a leg onstage — and kept singing. They’re a force to be reckoned with.

Queen did such a good job at performing that it almost seemed like they were cheating. After all, having a frontman like Freddie Mercury gives you a huge step up on your competition. The band is still touring today, and they’re just as great as ever.

The new frontman, Adam Lambert, doesn’t try to be what Mercury was, and the band thrives because of it.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are as much of a mouthful as their name implies. They’re an incredible band with completely unpredictable shows. Yes, they had a jamming style that made their music new and exciting, but that’s not what we’re talking about.

They did a bunch of crazy things while performing. For example, they, um, have a problem keeping their clothes on.

If there’s anybody who could make bass players cool, it’s Paul McCartney. As the bass player for the Beatles, he became one of the most well-known musicians in the world. 

Paul McCartney was an integral part of the Beatles, but he was just as great on his solo venture.

When you have as many hits as the late Tom Petty did, it’d be hard to have a bad concert. You could easily get up onstage, sing the hits along with an audience full of thousands of fans, and everybody would be happy.

Tom Petty didn’t settle for easy concerts, though. He went out of his way to do more. He was an artist through-and-through, and his concerts reflected that.

Fleetwood Mac debuted at a festival in 1967, and they haven’t slowed down since. They’re one of the most iconic sounds of the 60s.

They’ve got 50 years of experience under their belts, so if you want to see someone who knows what they’re doing, go see Fleetwood Mac while you still can.

If you ever had the chance to see Michael Jackson perform, you would do everything in your power to go. There are a million great moments in music history, and half of them came when Jackson was performing. 

You never knew when he was going to debut something as memorable as the moonwalk, so you had no choice but to go and wait in eager anticipation.

There’s no denying that KISS has one of the strongest stage presences in the industry. With numerous rock n' roll hits, they established their own identity in the music industry becoming icons. 

They changed the music scene for good when introducing their heavy makeup, fire-breathing, and overall Halloween feel.

The artistry of the late David Bowie can’t be fully grasped by only listening to his music; you have to see him as well. 

You never knew what to expect, but with the greatest rock star ever stepping onstage, you couldn’t go wrong.

Radiohead is one of the most beloved bands of all time, and their concerts are amazing. Known for their unique sound, their concerts are also like no other.

Talk to anyone who has been to one and you’ll probably hear the words “spiritual” or cathartic” or “life-changing.” We all need a concert like that at least once in our lives.

The Ramones are undeniably one of the most influential rock bands of all time. You’ll find them on any great musician’s list of inspirational artists.

They performed thousands of fantastic concerts before their August 6, 1996 final show. By that point, the band was so divided that they just walked off stage after it was over.

The Rolling Stones may have Mick Jagger, but Aerosmith made waves in 2017 when their drummer claimed Aerosmith is a better live band than The Rolling Stones.

That’s definitely up for debate, but no one can deny that Aerosmith is one of the few bands who could say something like that.

Arguably the greatest songwriter of all time, Bob Dylan believes music only reaches its true potential with a live audience. Because of that, you’ll never hear a perfect song recorded in a studio.

Luckily, Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour has been going on for 30 years straight. That’s a lot of time to perfect your music in front of a live audience.

Garth Brooks is one of the best country artists out there, and his concerts live up to his name. They’re energetic, moving concerts in a category all on their own. 

Brooks is a must-see for all country fans. Hopefully, we can get a Chris Gaines revival concert later down the line.

Neil Young is a true musician. If you’ve been listening to him since his debut in the late 60s, you won’t be disappointed with his career. He’s still making music. 

He’s still working on and releasing his original work from the 70s. He has no intention of retiring — or going on fake retirement tours.

Billy Joel is such a great musician that you’d be crazy to not see him in concert. He’ll change the way you think about his music, making you fall in love with songs you never expected to. It’s a great experience.

There's a reason he's one of the best-selling solo artists of all time and has sold over 160 million records worldwide. 

Some say that if you’re going to go to one country concert, it ought to be Kip Moore. Apparently, he puts on a show with a lot of energy. It’s clear that this is one country music star that loves his fans!

Kip Moore often tries to connect with his fans on a personal level,  interacting with fans during his shows, which creates a memorable experience for concertgoers.

Something is to be said about an artist who can entertain millions of people all night long. Now, that’s talent.

Some people were even lucky enough to catch Rod Stewart when he toured with Cyndi Lauper in late 2017 and early 2018. Rod, in particular, is known for giving the crowd 110% even as he gets older.

The Beatles was one of the biggest bands of all time, so naturally, their concerts were something special. Anyone who saw The Beatles can tell you that it was loud, but it was incredible.

The concerts were pretty short, but they were something that would be remembered. There’s something to be said about witnessing music history.

If you love music and only music, Chris Stapleton is a concert for the ages. He isn’t one to throw in a bunch of fireworks and frills.

But what fans do get is a great concert full of beautiful music with amazing lyrics. He entertains and engages the crowd even without all those gimmicky things.

Muse’s music is incredibly unique, and the same thing can be said about their concerts. The props and effects are some of the best fans will ever see.

The show is only made better due to the band's immense skill. It’s no wonder they have such a cult following.

Of course, Queens of the Stone Age are great in concert—they learned from the best! Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters joined the band for a bit along with Troy Van Leeuwen, the former guitarist for A Perfect Circle. 

Great music plus amazing showmanship equals an unforgettable concert. If you can make it, Queens of the Stone Age is definitely a great time.

Kenny Chesney manages to live up to and exceed everyone’s expectations with his concerts. Considering he has so many songs, it’s one of those concerts that go on and on in a good way.

He’s also known for pairing up with other artists during larger tours. No matter who it is, Chesney pairs well with other artists - like peanut butter and jelly.

Fall Out Boy is known for their showmanship. If any band gives all they have, it’s this one. Even if you don’t like their music, Fall Out Boy maximizes the space of their arena to include levitating platform stages, fireworks, fire, and fan interaction.

Sure, all their music sounds the same on the album, but live, it's a much different experience.

Weird Al goes on tour? He does, and rumor has it that he has some of the best concerts ever. When you get down to it, Weird Al is a pure entertainer. His songs are a parody of other songs, so each one is drastically different.

His songs are a parody of other songs, so each one is drastically different. During his concerts, he’s known for changing costumes so often that it leaves fans wondering how.

Who are the kings of country? Zac Brown Band. Sure, that’s arguable, but the members are true musicians—not just artists or performers.

Their fans absolutely love their live shows, and some people have even become fans due to their concerts. That’s something you can’t say about many concerts.

Bruno Mars is one of the best performers out there. The music is incredibly upbeat and fun, making the concert itself exciting.

Then, he has an amazing light show that tries to steal the show away from the singer, but it’s impossible with a performer like Bruno Mars. 

The members of Guns N' Roses are getting up there, but it’s still worth seeing them live. Axl Rose can still carry a crowd, but Slash is as talented as he was when he first stepped onto the scene (if not more). 

Honestly, we would watch a concert with just Slash and his guitar. Of course, he's always carried the band musically.

So, you obviously can’t see Elvis live, but that doesn’t change the fact the King had insanely awesome concerts. Just to be clear, we’re talking about pre-bloated Elvis—when he was in his prime.

Most fans remember his dancing and hip movements. Who couldn’t? Those were some hips that didn’t lie. He had the crowds screaming and there's a reason we all know his name to this day.

Aretha Franklin recently passed away, and it was a huge loss for music. The legendary soul singer was easily one of the best concerts a person could go to.

Even though she’s won 16 Grammy Awards, Aretha still had one goal: she wanted to give the audience her best. Thank you, Aretha, for all you did. 

Carlos Santana may be getting old, but he can still work a guitar like a dream. The tough part about Santana is catching him in the area.

Regardless, it’s worth a drive (or flight) just to see him live. It’s absolutely unreal. As one of the greatest guitarists of all time, it's every bit as amazing to witness.

Jimi Hendrix is arguably the greatest guitarist of all time. His technical prowess and unique sounds made him like no other that had come before – and the likes of which we’ll never see again.

His on-stage presence was nothing short of iconic. The man could even play the guitar with his teeth. Disclaimer: we don’t recommend trying that yourself.

Established in the 1980s, the band R.E.M. were pioneers of alternative rock, changing the music landscape as we know it. And in 2007, they were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Having stayed together until 2011, the band performed numerous concerts together. With numerous hits well-known to fans, their concerts were never a bore, and they sounded impeccable every time.

Millions and millions of Swifties can’t be wrong. Taylor Swift is the biggest artist in the world, and there’s a reason for that. In 2023, her Era’s Tour became the first tour to gross over $1 billion.

Taylor Swift not only treats the people who work for her well, but she treats her fans with respect, too. She makes her concerts and her music about the fans, never seeking to disregard or alienate them for the sake of doing something unexpected.

While her concerts don’t amass billions of dollars, Lana Del Rey has a connection to her fans similar to Taylor Swift's. And despite her sound changing from album to album, her fans have been with her every step of the way.

Lana Del Rey sings her songs live and from her extensive music catalog, going all the way back to her first album, so no matter what era you prefer, you’re likely to hear one of your favorites.

Dua Lipa is easily one of the biggest artists of the past decade, with a ton of hits that could really blow up a stadium and an on-stage presence that really outshines other performers.

While she doesn’t sing her music live for the most part, she focuses more on her complex dance choreography, giving it her all on-stage.