15 can't-miss summer concerts, shows and festivals in and around Indianapolis

Summer is upon Indianapolis, which means tons of outdoor entertainment options and a few indoor arts events for anyone looking the beat the heat.

This year's calendar includes massive rock and country shows, a strong hip-hop lineup tinged with '90s and '00s nostalgia and what could be an unforgettable funk show at Holliday Park.

Shania Twain

7:30 p.m. Saturday at Ruoff Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St. in Noblesville. Tickets available online through livenation.com.

One of country music's biggest stars returns to central Indiana in one of the year's most anticipated shows. Expect a mix of new songs and classic hits, wild outfits and a massive crowd.

Tickets for Twain's show are scarce. This may be a can't-miss show.

Indy Dance Festival

Saturday and Sunday. Schrott Center For The Arts, 610 W. 46th St. Tickets and schedule: indydancecouncil.org/indy-dance-festival

Dance fans, this is your weekend. The city's best talent will convene to offer two days of stunning artistry with public performances by companies from across the city at 7 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday.

Concerts in Indy: Live music in and around Indianapolis: 100+ free summer shows

'Sophisticated Ladies'

Through Aug. 20 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 Michigan Road. Tickets at beefandboards.com.

Duke Ellington's iconic music illustrates the retrospective, which traces his time at The Cotton Club through his climb to widespread fame.

Fall Out Boy

6:30 p.m. Sunday at Ruoff Music Center. Tickets available online.

Pop-punk darlings Fall Out Boy will follow Twain to cap off a huge summer weekend in Indianapolis area live music. The group is playing stadiums and amphitheaters in support of its eighth album, "So Much (for) Stardust."

There is a good mix of tickets left for anyone seeking an emo throwback.

Snoop Dogg/Wiz Khalifa

6 p.m. July 20 at Ruoff. Tickets available online.

Last year, Wiz Khalifa's Ruoff performance abruptly ended after reports of a shooting on the lawn sent a panicked audience through the exits. No gun was found, but time will tell if the scare has a chilling effect on this show.

Though Snoop Dogg and Wiz share top billing, the lineup also features strong opening acts in Warren G and Too Short. Plenty of tickets remain.

50 Cent/Busta Rhymes

7 p.m. July 27 at Ruoff. Tickets available online.

Fans of '90s and '00s hip-hop can get a double dose a week after the Snoop/Wiz show, as 50 Cent headlines a show that includes Busta Rhymes.

The tour will celebrate 50 Cent's seminal 2003 debut album, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'". The setlist includes album tracks he has not performed in more than a decade.

Busta was one of the highlights of Wu-Tang Clan's 2022 Ruoff show.

Pantera

7 p.m. July 29 at Ruoff. Tickets available online.

Metal legends Pantera are on tour for the first time in more than 20 years. Lamb of God will also perform.

Tickets for Pantera's return are nearly sold out, so act fast.

More: Pantera coming to Indianapolis on long-awaited reunion tour

Jazz festivals

Aug. 11-12 at multiple venues around Carmel. carmeljazzfest.org/tickets

Here's a new tradition you can begin: Head to the first-ever Carmel Jazz Fest. Among more than 30 national and international acts are headliner Spyro Gyra, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Dave Bennett Quartet, Freddie Fox and Tim Cunningham.

Sept. 20-30 at Clowes Memorial Hall, The Cabaret and The Jazz Kitchen. Full schedule and ticket sales are coming soon at indyjazzfest.net

The festival will offer plenty of opportunity to bask in the talent of Grammy winners and nominees, including Pat Metheny and Superblue — with jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and seven-string guitarist Charlie Hunter.

Lynyrd Skynyrd/ZZ Top

6:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at Ruoff. Tickets available online.

Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top will offer one of the summer's largest classic rock shows, with Uncle Kracker opening.

The night is sure to include plenty of iconic guitar solos.

'Detroit '67'

Aug. 24-Sept. 10 at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, 705 N. Illinois St. Info and ickets at naatcinc.org and phoenixtheatre.org.

Naptown African American Theatre Collective is celebrating a lot of firsts this year — namely, its first season as the city's first Black equity theater. In Dominique Morisseau's "Detroit '67," a brother and sister trying to make ends meet when a mysterious woman enters their lives and the 1967 Detroit race riots escalate.

A new company: Naptown African American Theatre Collective launches as city's first Black equity theater

Parliament Funkadelic

7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Rock the Ruins at Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Road. Tickets available at rocktheruins.com.

George Clinton and company will joined by Fishbone for a huge local show at beautiful Holliday Park. It is a shock — and honestly a little offensive — that this night of funk, rock and soul had not yet sold out as of June 28.

Brooke Shields

Sept. 8-9 at The Cabaret, 924 N. Pennsylvania St. Tickets at thecabaret.org.

Listen to two evenings of songs and stories from the superstar actor, model, entrepreneur and author. With an expansive career in TV, Broadway and the movies, you know Shields will have fascinating insights to share.

All IN Music & Arts Festival

Sept. 9-10 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St. Tickets available at allinfestival.com.

One of Indianapolis's newest and largest music festivals has pivoted to a jam band-heavy lineup featuring Trey Anastasio & Classic Tab, Tenacious D, Joe Russo's Almost Dead and Umphrey's McGee.

Last year's inaugural All IN provided a weekend stacked with great live music.

Pearl Jam

7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Ruoff. Sold out.

Pearl Jam will return to Ruoff for what is by far the Indianapolis area's biggest and most in-demand show.

In an effort to curb skyrocketing resales from third-party vendors, tickets could only be purchased through special verified presales and appear to have been gobbled up in mere minutes.

Keep an eye out, though. There's always a previously unreleased batch that goes live.

More: Pearl Jam announces Indianapolis area show at Ruoff Music Center as part of nine-date tour

Queens of the Stone Age

7 p.m. Sept. 22 at TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W Washington St. Tickets available online.

Rock group Queens of the Stone Age, which has routinely headlined festivals for a decade or more, is scaling down a bit for a show at TCU's gorgeous river amphitheater.

QOTSA is always one of the best live shows around. If you've never been, bring earplugs just in case. It will get very, very loud.

Call the reporter at 317-444-7339.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Concerts in Indianapolis you can't miss: 15 shows and festivals