Fall arts and entertainment guide: Arena concert calendar includes Pink, Iron Maiden and Justin Timberlake
The fall concert calendar includes some local arena debuts (Childish Gambino, Cody Johnson, Sabrina Carpenter, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats), some two-night stands (Pink, Usher, Billie Eilish) and a farewell tour (Jeff Lynne’s ELO).
Listed ticket prices are subject to change and do not include VIP or other premium packages.
Here’s a look at the highlights of the biggest Twin Cities concerts in the coming months.
Jeff Lynne’s ELO
Sept. 30: With a sound that blended Beatles-esque pop and classical arrangements, the Electric Light Orchestra was one of the biggest bands of the ’70s with a long list of hits that include “Showdown,” “Can’t Get it Out of My Head,” “Evil Woman,” “Strange Magic,” “Livin’ Thing,” “Do Ya,” “Telephone Line,” “Mr. Blue Sky,” “Shine a Little Love” and “Don’t Bring Me Down.” In the early ’80s, the public’s interest in the band began to wane, particularly after they stopped touring in 1982. Vocalist/songwriter Jeff Lynne dissolved the group the following year and went on to work as a producer for George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison. In 2014, Lynne returned to the road with a group now billed as Jeff Lynne’s ELO. In the time since, they have released a pair of new albums and toured the world, including a well-received stop at the X in July 2019. Lynne says this is the band’s final tour. 8 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $199.50-$49.50; xcelenergycenter.com.
Childish Gambino
Oct. 2: Donald Glover will play his biggest local concert to date as his musical alter ego Childish Gambino. Glover grew up in Georgia and was voted “Most Likely to Write for ‘The Simpsons’ ” in his high school yearbook. He began rapping and creating electronic music while studying dramatic writing at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. In 2006, Tina Fey hired Glover as a writer on her sitcom “30 Rock.” He held that position until 2009, when he took a starring role in the sitcom “Community.” At that time, he also began releasing music as Childish Gambino, a name he took from a Wu-Tang Clan name generator. Glover spent much of the ’10s focused on music, releasing three albums and a series of gold and platinum singles, including “Heartbeat,” “3005,” “Redbone” and “This Is America,” which topped the charts in a dozen countries. He released his fourth album, “3.15.20.,” on the same day as its title. In May, he issued a revised version of the record, now named “Atavista.” 8 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $249.50-$79.50; xcelenergycenter.com.
Cody Johnson
Oct. 11: A Texas native who began playing music at the age of 12, Cody Johnson rode bulls professionally and worked for a prison before its warden convinced him to pursue music full time. He went on to self-release six albums, with 2016’s “Gotta Be Me” spinning off a pair of minor radio hits in “With You I Am” and “Wild as You” and reaching No. 2 on the country albums chart. That was enough to attract the attention of Warner Music Nashville, which has since issued three of his records, including last year’s “Leather.” His hit singles, which have earned comparisons to George Strait and Willie Nelson, include “Til You Can’t,” “Human,” “The Painter” and “Dirt Cheap.” 7:30 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; resale tickets available; xcelenergycenter.com.
Twenty One Pilots
Oct. 12: College friends Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun formed Twenty One Pilots in 2009 and self-released two albums that attracted the attention of Atlantic Records’ Fueled by Ramen label. All of the tracks on the duo’s first two releases for the label — 2013’s “Vessel” and 2015’s “Blurryface” — were certified gold or higher by the RIAA. Twenty One Pilots dabble in numerous styles, from reggae to hip-hop to synth-pop and have carved out a steady presence on rock radio with the No. 1 hits “Stressed Out,” “Ride,” “Heathens” and “Level of Concern.” In May, the pair released their seventh record, “Clancy,” the final chapter of a storyline that has stretched across several of the band’s albums. Several hundred fans camped out for days prior to their August 2022 concert at Xcel Energy Center. 7:45 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $114.50-$94.50; targetcenter.com.
Sabrina Carpenter
Oct. 14: Pennsylvania native Sabrina Carpenter began her career starring in the Disney Channel series “Girl Meets World” and releasing four albums for Disney’s Hollywood Records, with her 2017 single “Thumbs” finding minor success on radio. In 2020, Carpenter starred in the Disney+ film “Clouds,” based on the life of the late Stillwater teen musician Zach Sobiech. She shifted into the adult phase of her career after signing to Island Records in 2021. Her single that year, “Skin,” set the stage for a string of hits that followed, including “Nonsense,” “Feather,” “Espresso,” “Please Please Please” and “Taste.” Carpenter has said Christina Aguilera and Rihanna are her two biggest musical influences. 7 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; resale tickets available; 888-929-7849 or targetcenter.com.
Pink
Oct. 17-18: High-flying global pop star Pink returns to town after setting a new attendance record at Target Field in August 2023. The woman born Alecia Beth Moore has dominated the pop charts with a series of hits that include “There You Go, “Get the Party Started,” “Don’t Let Me Get Me,” “Just Like a Pill,” “Who Knew,” “So What,” “Raise Your Glass,” “Try,” “Just Like Fire,” “What About Us” and “One Too Many,” a duet with Keith Urban. The vocalist, who is known for her mid-air acrobatics in concert, sold out Xcel Energy Center in 2018 and 2019 and also played the Armory in 2018 during Super Bowl Weekend. Her 2023 world tour sold nearly 3 million tickets and grossed $350 million, making it one of the year’s biggest tours. 7:30 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $304.95-$134.95; xcelenergycenter.com.
Iron Maiden
Oct. 22: Formed in East London in 1975, Iron Maiden hit No. 4 on the British charts with their self-titled 1980 debut album. They didn’t find success in the States until their third release, 1982’s “The Number of the Beast,” the group’s first with vocalist Bruce Dickinson. For the next decade, Iron Maiden continued to release new music and tour heavily, including a handful of shows at the old Met Center. In 1993, Dickinson left Iron Maiden for a solo career. The group’s album sales plummeted with new lead singer Blaze Bayley and they reunited with Dickinson in 1999. In the years since, Iron Maiden has released a half dozen new albums and toured the world. The band’s current outing, dubbed the Future Past Tour, drew 750,000 fans to more than 30 sold-out shows across Europe last year. In 2017, they played the metro for the first time in 17 years and headlined the X, which they returned to two years later. 7:30 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $159.50-$49.50; xcelenergycenter.com.
Korn
Oct. 27: Korn is celebrating 30 years in the business with their fall tour, which ends with a stop at Xcel Energy Center. Guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer, bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu and drummer David Silveria formed Korn after the lead singer quit the trio’s previous band, L.A.P.D. Silveria recruited guitarist Brian “Head” Welch and vocalist Jonathan Davis to join what would become Korn. The band’s self-titled 1994 debut album set the tone for the band’s career, with lyrics about child abuse and bullying and a sound that fused metal and hip-hop. The singles “Got the Life” and “Freak on a Leash” from Korn’s third album, 1998’s “Follow the Leader,” broke through to mainstream audiences and Korn enjoyed a run for several years as one of the country’s biggest rock bands. While they never again reached that peak of popularity, Korn has remained a staple of rock radio, most recently with “Start the Healing” and “Worst Is on Its Way” from the group’s 14th album “Requiem.” 6:30 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $49.50-$39.50; xcelenergycenter.com.
Justin Timberlake
Oct. 31: Justin Timberlake was already a veteran of “Star Search” and “The All-New Mickey Mouse Club” when he joined the boy band ‘N Sync in 1995. The group went on to release three multiplatinum albums and scored hits with “I Want You Back,” “Bye Bye Bye,” “It’s Gonna Be Me” and “Pop.” In 2002, Timberlake launched his solo career with “Justified,” an album that saw him take a turn toward R&B. In the 22 years since, Timberlake has released five more albums and hit the charts with “SexyBack,” “My Love,” “Suit and Tie,” “Mirrors” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” He also pursued an acting career, starring in such films as “The Social Network,” “Friends with Benefits” and “Inside Llewyn Davis,” while frequently appearing on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” He married Ely native Jessica Biel in 2012 and the couple has two sons. His latest album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” was a critical and commercial flop. 6:30 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $280-$65.50; xcelenergycenter.com.
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
Oct. 2: A native of rural Missouri, Nathaniel Rateliff spent the early days of his career as a solo act, recording a pair of well-received folk albums, including 2010’s “In Memory of Loss.” In 2015, he returned to action with a new band and a retro soul sound and album, “Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.” The first single, “S.O.B.,” turned into a surprise breakthrough hit that got even more attention after Jimmy Fallon heard it, fell in love and booked Rateliff and his band on “The Tonight Show.” Rateliff and the band went on to release two more acclaimed albums and, in 2020, Rateliff issued his third solo album, “And It’s Still Alright.” His fourth record with the Night Sweats, “South of Here,” was released in June. The band has a long history of performing live in the metro, including Rock the Garden in 2016 and 2022, three shows at Surly Brewing Festival Field and a 2020 campaign rally for Bernie Sanders in St. Paul. 6:30 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $79.50-$39.50; xcelenergycenter.com.
Usher
Nov. 2-3: Texas native Usher Raymond IV landed a record deal after appearing on “Star Search” at age 13. His 1994 self-titled debut album was a minor hit, with Usher’s career really taking off three years later with his record “My Way,” which sold 6 million copies and spawned three major hits in “You Make Me Wanna,” “Nice and Slow” and the title track. Usher ruled pop radio in the ’00s and early ’10s with such songs as “U Remind Me,” “Yeah,” “Burn,” “Love in This Club,” “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love,” “Dirty Dancer,” “Scream” and “I Don’t Mind.” After playing the Super Bowl halftime show in February, Usher released his ninth album and first in six years, “Coming Home.” He drew nearly 13,000 fans to his most recent local headlining show in 2017 at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand. 8 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $319.50-$69.50; 888-929-7849 or targetcenter.com.
Billie Eilish
Nov. 10-11: Billie Eilish, 22, was born into an entertainment family, as both her parents are actors and musicians. Eilish and her older brother Finneas were both homeschooled and encouraged by their parents to explore songwriting. She penned her first song, inspired by the zombie TV series “The Walking Dead,” at age 11. In 2015, Eilish released the song “Ocean Eyes” online and soon earned record label interest. The song later went triple platinum in the States and found success around the world. She has since issued more than 30 singles, many finding a similar reception, including “Bad Guy,” “Everything I Wanted,” “Therefore I Am” and “Happier than Ever.” At the 2020 Grammy Awards, Eilish became the youngest (and second ever after Christopher Cross in 1981) to win the four major categories — best new artist and record, album and song of the year — on the same night. After further wins in 2021 and 2024, Eilish now has a total of nine Grammys. She also won best original song Oscars for her James Bond theme “No Time to Die” and “What Was I Made For?” from the “Barbie” soundtrack. 6:30 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $199.50-$99.50; xcelenergycenter.com.