Posted on Fri, May. 12, 2006

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Hot time for tunes kicks off

COURTNEY DEVORES

Special to the Observer

The summer concert season kicks off tonight with Brooks & Dunn and Sugarland at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. It's a summer heavy on country hit-makers and the usual suspects -- Dave Matthews Band, 3 Doors Down and the Warped Tour. There's also the occasional veteran goth, sullen songwriter, angst-ridden arena punk, hair metal holdover, aging legend, returning Southern brother act and classic pop-rocker.

Here's a rundown on the big names, rare appearances and must-sees (* denotes prices or times to be announced.)

Verizon Wireless Amphitheater; (704) 522-6500; www.ticketmaster.com

MAY

Brooks & Dunn return with rising country-rock stars Sugarland. Also up-and-comer Jack Ingram. 7 p.m. today. $20-$52.75.Gretchen Wilson continues her first headlining tour with Trace Adkins and Blaine Larsen. 7:30 p.m. May 26. $23.50-$42.50.

june

Parrottheads made Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band appearance a sellout. 8 p.m. June 4.

For their 30th anniversary, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers kick off what may the band's last extensive national tour. Trey Anastasio opens. 7:30 p.m. June 9. $30-$75.

Break out the black leather: Industrial rock giant Nine Inch Nails is back, with Bauhaus and TV on the Radio. 7 p.m. June 10. $23.50-$43.

The anti-Chesney Brad Paisley brings his humor, cowboy hat and good looks, as well as Sara Evans and Eric Church. 8 p.m. June 17. $27.50-$47.

Like clockwork, the Dave Matthews Band returns, this time with opener ALO. 7 p.m. June 20. $39.50-$59.50

July

Kelly Clarkson may be the biggest pop-star going right now, but her 'tween fans may struggle with the $75 a seat charge. With Rooney. 7:30 p.m. July 4. $25-$75.Emo-punks Taking Back Sunday exploded into the Top 5 with their new album, "Louder Now." Tom Delonge's post-Blink 182 band, Angels & Airwaves, and Head Automatica open. 4:30 p.m. July 9. $24.

Now that Chris and Rich Robinson have made up, the Black Crowes are appearing with a soulful combo of Robert Randolph and the Family Band's "sacred steel" and Drive-By Truckers' Southern rock. * July 11. $23.50-$38.50.

When sax solos rocked, Chicago and Huey Lewis & the News ruled the charts. 7:30 p.m. July 14. $24.25-$53.75.

Def Leppard and Journey join forces for a hit-filled evening. 7:30 p.m. July 15. $28.50-$75.

Three generations of working-class Southern rock and rebel country intersect with the triple bill of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 3 Doors Down and Shooter Jennings 7 p.m. July 19. $20-$65.

KC's Boogie Blast stars KC & The Sunshine Band, Gloria Gaynor, Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge, and Taveres. 8 p.m. July 29. $15-$35. Tickets on sale 10 a.m. today.

August

The Vans Warped Tour includes NOFX, Less Than Jake, From First to Last, Senses Fail, Thursday, The Bled, The Academy Is, Underoath, and others. Noon. Aug. 8. $27.

Country music heartthrob Kenny Chesney works that clean cowboy strut. Dierks Bentley opens. 7 p.m. Aug. 10. *

The rare reunion of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan and Michael McDonald, who got his first break with them before joining the Doobie Brothers, gives classic pop fans a reason to sing along. * Aug. 12. Tickets on sale 10 a.m. today.

Hair-metal's prettiest boys, Poison, teams up with blues-metal stalwarts Cinderella. 7 p.m. Aug. 16. *

Top draws of the 1990s, Counting Crows and the Goo Goo Dolls are back after lengthy hiatuses. * Aug. 29. Tickets on sale 10 a.m. May 19.

September

Rascal Flatts has slowly climbed its way to headliner status. With Gary Allan opening. 7 p.m. Sept. 15. *

Charlotte Bobcats Arena; www.charlottebobcats arena.com

May

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly keeps the Philadelphia soul sound alive with plenty of gospel and R&B mixed in. Comedian Rickey Smiley emcees and opens. 7 p.m. May 21. $35-$75.

June

Country's golden couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill reunite on stage. 8 p.m. June 10. $45-$85.

August

"American Idol's" latest crop of winners and wannabes polish up the crowd-pleasers for a night of reality TV come to life. Carolinas' recent Top 12 triple-threat of Bucky, Chris and Kellie perform. * Aug. 1. Tickets on sale May 20.

Lowe's Motor Speedway; (704) 522-6500; www.ticketmaster.com

May

Living up to their sizzling name with a new double album, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, with Train and NeedToBreathe, perform during the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge. 7 p.m. May 20. $21-$88.

Carowind's Palladium; (704) 522-6500; www.ticketmaster.com

May

Joyfest 2006 kicks off with a gospel bill including Deitrick Haddon, Tye Tribbett & Greater Anointing, Cross Movement and Charlotte's own Serenity. 6 p.m. May 27. $34.99-$44.99.

June

Son Fest, the annual Christian rock gathering, welcomes the Newsboys, Jars of Clay, Jeremy Camp, Disciple and Audio Adrenaline. 3 p.m. June 3. $42.

Tremont Music Hall; (704) 343-9494; www.etix.com

July

Industrial legends Ministry are still riding a wave of early '90s success. With the Revolting Cocks. 7 p.m. July 15. $25-$30.

Neighborhood Theatre; (704) 358-9298; www.neighborhood theatre.com

June

Former Allman Brothers' guitarist Dickey Betts has been leading his band Great Southern for 30 years. 7 p.m. June 30. $25.

July

Los Amigos Invisibles, the Grammy-nominated Venezuelan dance-funksters, headline the third annual Carlotan Rock festival. Tropical ska group Palo Viejo, D.C.'s Papas Underground and local Latin rock groups including festival founders La Rua play. 6 p.m. July 14. $10-$15.