The Sweetwater Performance Pavilion hit a home run this week with the announcement of Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo performing Sunday, June 19. 

The rock n’ roll powerhouse duo have been selling out concerts, and are still wowing audiences after more than three decades in music together. 

With an impressive catalogue that features such classic hits as “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Love is a Battlefield,” and “We Belong,” Benatar helped blaze a trail for strong, empowered frontwomen. Her music continues to influence modern recording artists, despite hitting her commercial peak more than 30 years ago. 

The Sweetwater performance marks the duo’s first show in town since putting on a stellar show at Foellinger Theatre in 2018. 

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 8, and can be purchased at the Sweetwater campus and online at sweetwaterpavilion.com. 

Cinderella frontman, Guns, Pussycat at Piere’s

If you follow Cinderella’s Tom Keifer on social media,  chances are you’ve seen Fort Wayne listed in his tour dates for a couple months. Finally, that lingering date has become reality as Piere’s announced the “Sonic Slam Tour,” featuring Keifer, L.A. Guns, and Faster Pussycat on Friday, July 15. 

Having made his name as the frontman for Cinderella, Keifer has been enjoying a well-received second act the last decade with solo albums The Way Life Goes and Rise

Some of us can still remember how fun those Cinderella hits can be from their performances at the Coliseum back in the day. One thing is for sure: With these three bands, it will be a 100 percent raucous, loud, and in-your-face rock show. 

Tickets can be purchased via etix.com or in person at all Wooden Nickel locations and Neat Neat Neat Records. 

Clyde Theatre waves in Drive-By Truckers

Alternative country/Southern rockers Drive-By Truckers will be at The Clyde on Wednesday, July 27.

The band is back on the road after the pandemic shutdown, which had them unable to tour behind a new album, so they went ahead released another. 

The Georgia-based rockers are known to rip through songs about the South, America, resistance, and rebellion. Perhaps, nobody does it with more consistency, creativity, and clarity than the Drive-By Truckers. 

As usual, they won’t have a set list, so anything is possible at The Clyde that evening. 

Tickets can be purchased at clydetheatre.com, by calling (800) 514-3849, or by visiting The Clyde box office, any Wooden Nickel Records, Neat Neat Neat Records, or Sweetwater Sound.   

Alternative rockers welcomed at Foellinger

Since we are talking concert announcements, here is another, this time by the folks at Foellinger Theatre. 

On Tuesday, Aug. 9, Lake Street Dive will visit the Franke Park venue.

By blending a variety of genres, including pop, ’60s rock, R&B, and soul, the eclectic Lake Street Dive has risen to become one of the premier alternative rock bands. Their most recent album, Obviously, is referenced as their “first truly abashed yacht rock record” by Rolling Stone, and has done extremely well on the charts. 

Make sure to arrive on time as singer-songwriter Madison Cunningham will open the show. 

Tickets can be purchased in person at the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department, 705 E. State Blvd., and online at fortwayneparks.org and ticketmaster.com.