Two country heavyweights will collide for a special show in Seattle this weekend.
Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean are touring separately this summer, but plan to unite on and off during their tours for 10 stadium shows together. One of those dates will bring the pair to CenturyLink Field at 5 p.m. June 27.
Though both major stars in the world of country, Chesney is the bigger name.
His debut album saw release to little fanfare in 1993, but starting in 1994 he began a long run of hits. His name has since appeared on the charts ever year with at least one, if not more, new singles. His albums inevitably top the country charts, with his latest, “The Big Revival,” also reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Aldean is no slouch, of course. Though nearly a decade younger than Chesney, he also claims numerous hits, including his latest single, “Burnin’ It Down,” which helped propel his latest album, “Old Boots, New Dirt,” to No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Former Kamiak High School match teacher Chance McKinney opens for Chesney and Aldean a day after performing at The Spur Festival. (For more on The Spur Festival, see Page 11).
Tickets are $39.50 to $250 at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
Those two aren’t the only country stars heading to the Northwest this weekend. Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss will bring their bands to King County’s Marymoor Park at 7 p.m. June 27.
Nelson long ago went from being a country music star to a pop icon, the country’s beloved weed-smoking uncle. His hits date back to the 1960s, and he’s remained active even now, at age 82, releasing two new albums last year. One of those, “Band of Brothers,” reached No. 1 on the country charts.
Though Krauss may not be quite as iconic as Nelson, she also has had a formidable career. She signed her first record contract at age 14, released her debut album while other kids were getting their driver’s licenses and won her first Grammy before she turned 20.
She’s won acclaim throughout her career, and most recently reached No. 1 on the country and bluegrass charts in 2011 with her album “Paper Airplane.” Like much of her work, she recorded that with her band, Union Station.
Tickets are $54.95 to $129.95 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival also returns to the Northwest in the coming week, with a show at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn at 1 p.m. June 30.
The bill this year includes the regular mix of hard rock’s big names and fresh faces. Topping the bill is Slayer, the California-based thrash metal band. The main stage also will feature King Diamond, Hell Yeah and the Devil Wears Prada.
The Victory Records side stage, meanwhile, will feature up-and-coming acts including White Chapel, Sister Sin and Thy Art Is Murder, among others.
Tickets are $30 to $66.66 at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
Fans of electronic dance music — EDM to the kids — can head over the mountains to the Gorge for the annual Paradiso festival. The sold-out two-day festival starts June 26 and ends June 27.
As usual, the line-up features many of the genre’s biggest names and most popular DJs, including Skrillex, Armin Van Buren, Knife Party and Alesso, among dozens others.
Tickets can be found at a mark-up at stubhub.com.
Rob Thomas, meanwhile, will play the Paramount Theatre at 7:30 p.m. June 29, as the Matchbox 20 front man tours behind his latest solo album, “The Great Unknown.”
That album is expected to see release later this summer, although fans have already gotten to hear lead single “Trust You,” which came out in May. That track was co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder, the heavyweight songwriter who has worked with Beyonce, Taylor Swift and his own band, OneRepublic.
The new album will be Thomas’ third solo outing, although Matchbox 20 still remains productive. The group’s most recent album, “North,” saw release in 2012.
Tickets are $45 to $65 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
Tyler, The Creator also is headed to Seattle for a solo date, as the button-pushing rapper plays the Showbox SoDo at 9 p.m. July 1.
Tyler first gained fame as the leader for Odd Future, a collective of young California rappers who seemed bent on screwing with their audience, building up elaborate backstories around their act.
Now just 24, Tyler has released a few solo albums. His most recent, “Cherry Bomb,” came out earlier this year and featured guest spots by some of rap’s biggest names, including Kanye West and Lil Wayne.
Tickets are $30 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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