The New Year is humming with an exciting variety of concerts and shows
The Seven Hills of Tallahassee really are alive with the sound of music.
The first six months of 2024 are shaping up quite nicely in the concert department.
Here are a few bookings worth checking out in the New Year.
JAN. 10
“Watching the Detectives.” “Pump it Up.” “Shipbuilding.” Umpteen more tunes. Still going strong. Elvis Costello & The Imposters finally make their way to Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, 222 Copeland St., as part of the Opening Nights lineup. Tickets are $115 to $130. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu
JAN. 21
The departed members of The Allman Brothers Band will be smiling down when Melody Trucks (daughter of Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks) and Jackson Stokes (friends with Gregg Allman son Devon) pay a visit to The House of Music, 2011 South Monroe St. Tickets are $15, $20 and $30. Visit houseofmusictally.com
FEB. 3
The three-day Festival of New Music at Florida State reaches its zenith when the University Symphony and the Wind Orchestra play the freshly written sheet music in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Tickets are $10 general public and free for FSU students. Visit music.fsu.edu
FEB. 4
Vermont-raised singer-songwriter Grace Potter follows her Mother Road tour to town for a gig at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St. General admission is $40, reserved seats are $60 and VIP tickets are going for $185. Visit moonevents.com
FEB. 8
It worked so well last time, why not do it again? Country star Billy Dean, who grew up in Quincy, teams up with the Brothers VanLandingham for an evening of songs at The Moon. Reserved tickets are $49. Visit moonevents.com
FEB. 11
Prism pulls out all the stops in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall as part of Opening Nights. The annual, non-stop brass band and woodwind concert returns, including The Marching Chiefs blasting the rafters indoors. Tickets are $25 and $40. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu
FEB. 12
One of the most famous singing groups in the world is back when The Vienna Boys Choir gets in harmony in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall as part of Opening Nights. Tickets are $25 and $40. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu
FEB. 15
The musically talented James McMurtry brings his six-string, dry wit, and razor-sharp lyrics along when he visits The Moon. Writing skills run deep in McMurtry’s family since his father wrote such novels as “Lonesome Dove” and “The Last Picture Show.” Prices range from $25 to $30. Visit moonevents.com
FEB. 17
Think of it as The Beatles – with strings. A Beatles tribute band joins with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra to play a live concert of songs from The Fab Four’s entire career in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall as part of Opening Nights. Tickets are $35 to $65. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu
FEB. 24
The Latin-tinged band The Mavericks returns for more country-flavored rock and party music at The Moon. Tickets are $35 and $60. Visit moonevents.com
FEB. 24
The Grammy Award-nominated Hiss Golden Messenger returns to town for a folk soul show with Color Green at 926 Bar & Grill, 926 W. Tharpe St. Tickets are $26 advance and $30 day of the show. Visit 926barandgrill.com
FEB. 29
Hear such classics as “We Just Disagree,” “Feeling Alright” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy” live when Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam show pulls into The Moon. Prices range from $40 to $65. Visit moonevents.com
MARCH 2
Comic Katt Williams tells it like it is in his ribald/streetwise way when he hits the stage in concert at the Tucker Civic Center. Leave the young kids at home because Williams likes to work blue. Prices vary from $99 to $499. Visit tickets-center.com
MARCH 2
Sounds from around the world will converge when the 28th annual Rainbow Concert explores many different countries through music in Opperman Music Hall. Tickets are $5 and $10. Visit tickets.music.fsu.edu
MARCH 4
Singer China Forbes will no doubt serenade the crowd with her signature tune “Hey Eugene!” when she arrives with the crowd-pleasing Pink Martini big band in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall as an entry in Opening Nights fest lineup. Tickets are $45 and $60. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu
MARCH 7
Former Staind lead singer and current country crooner Aaron Lewis brings his stylings to The Tucker Civic Center. Ticket prices range from $89 to $259. Visit tickets-center.com
MARCH 9
Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin (“The Princess Bride”) warms up his vocal cords for a concert of songs with pianist Adam Ben-David in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall as part of Opening Nights. Tickets are $55 and $70. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu
MARCH 22-23
Scratch that gospel-music itch with two-day Jubilee Music Festival featuring such names as Grammy-winner Yolanda Adams, the soul-stirring Clark Sisters and more at the Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park. Tickets range from $35 to $60. Visit theadderleyamphitheater.com
MARCH 23
Get those French horns ready. Holler for Mahler when The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra showcases the composer’s striking and surreal third symphony in concert during “Mahler Three: A Summer’s Midday Dream” in Ruby Diamond Auditorium. Tickets range from $35 to $60. Visit tallahasseesymphony.org
APRIL 4-7
Check out a Czech-language opera when Florida State Opera presents “The Cunning Little Vixen” in Opperman Music Hall. Tickets are $10, $15 and $20. Visit tickets.music.fsu.edu
APRIL 5
Jazz trumpeter-composer Terrence Blanchard and the E-Collective team with the contemporary classical Turtle Island String Quartet for what promises to be a heady evening in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall as part of Opening Nights. Tickets are $25 and $40. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu
APRIL 5
Southern rock rules the roost when the bands Lynyrd Skynryd and ZZ Top share the spotlight at the Tucker Civic Center. Ticket prices start at $109 and go up. Visit tickets-center.com
APRIL 12
Get into the earthy jam band groove when the New Orleans ensemble The Revivalists plays the night away in the Adderley Amphitheater. Tickets are $45, $60 and $80. Visit theadderleyamphitheater.com
APRIL 14
Rocker Melissa Etheridge returns to town with her I’m Not Broken Tour to play such hits as “Come to My Window” in the Adderley Amphitheater. Prices range from $40 to $80. Visit theadderleyamphitheater.com
APRIL 26
The annual three-day Word of South music and literature festival kicks off with what promises to be a banger. The Flaming Lips will perform their big-selling album, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” in its entirety live. So, get ready to sing along with “Do You Realize??” Prices range from $40 to $75. Visit theadderleyamphitheater.com
MAY 1
Boosted by the anthem “Closer to Fine” being prominently featured in the smash-hit movie “Barbie,” the Indigo Girls are back in town for a folkie fest in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall as part of Opening Nights. Tickets are $50 and $65. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu
MAY 4
Say so long to maestro Darko Butorac when he conducts Beethoven’s epic “Eroica” with The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Butorac is moving on after more than 10 years at the TSO. Tickets are $35, $59 and $64. Visit tallahasseesymphony.org
MAY 31-JUNE 1
Follow a Vietnam War veteran and POW as he adjusts back to civilian life in the United States when the Florida State Opera presents “Glory Denied” in Opperman Music Hall. Tickets are $10. Visit tickets.music.fsu.edu
Mark Hinson is a former senior writer at the Tallahassee Democrat. He can be reached at mark.hinson59@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: New Year is humming with variety of shows and concerts