Just before performing at the Super Bowl, Usher told us he is hitting the road this summer to take advantage of the added exposure that came days after the release of Coming Home, his first album in six years. 

Whether you liked the halftime show or not, and there were many opinions each way, Usher is one of the most successful R&B and pop solo artists of the 21st century. 

The Past Present Future Tour sees the singer performing in arenas across North America including two nights at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena on Sept. 12-13 and three nights at United Center in Chicago, Oct. 28-29 and Oct. 31. 

Coming Home is the 45-year-old’s ninth studio album, while his chart-topping 2004 album Confessions, which sold more than 15 million copies, is still the best-selling R&B album of the 21st century by a male artist.

Lamb of God, Mastodon tour

Metal favorites Lamb of God and Mastodon are uniting for a massive North American tour this summer that will have heads banging all night long. 

The tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of Lamb of God’s Ashes of the Wake and Mastodon’s Leviathan, released the same day in 2004. Both albums will be performed in full, making it a very special night. 

There are limited shows in our region, with the heavyweights stopping at Jacobs Pavilion in Cleveland on Aug. 9 and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre outside Detroit the following night. 

A portion of the ticket sales will go to support charities of the artists’ choice. Lamb of God is supporting Living The Dream Foundation, which makes dreams come true for music fans living with life threatening illnesses, and Mastodon is supporting the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

Go country with Luke Bryan

Five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan will tour the U.S. and Canada this summer on the Mind of a Country Boy Tour. 

Having sold more than 75 million records, Bryan is one of the world’s best-selling music artists and most awarded country artists. There will be no shortage of hits to offer up during the night, surely resulting in a spectacular show when he stops by Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on June 27, Pine Knob Music Theatre near Detroit on June 28, Blossom Music Center near Cleveland on July 12, Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati on July 13, and Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Aug. 25.

Another summer with DMB 

Perennial summer touring act Dave Matthews Band returns for a 22-city, 32-show summer run that includes single-night stands at Blossom Music Center outside Cleveland on Aug. 25 and Pine Knob Music Theatre outside Detroit on Aug. 26, as well as a two-night stay at Ruoff Music Center outside Indianapolis, Aug. 28-29. 

Inkcarceration sets lineup

Inkcarceration has announced their lineup for this year’s festival with some huge names set to descend upon the unique location of the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio, July 19-21. 

What you will find here is what we have come to expect from Danny Wimmer Presents, the promoter of this show along with several other annual festivals across the nation. 

This year’s bill will be headlined by Breaking Benjamin, Godsmack, and Shinedown. Joining the headliners will be of pop punk legends The Offspring, rock heavyweights Halestorm, Bay area thrashers Machine Head, and metalcore icons Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, and Poison the Well

More than 60 bands are booked with more expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Road Notes covers concerts within driving distance of Northeast Indiana. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.