Tucked into North Carolina’s Sandhills, Fayetteville is best known for airborne heroes at Fort Liberty and the fresh-faced footballers of Carolina Crew FC. Yet once the final whistle echoes through the ribbon-cut River Field complex, locals steer their pickup trucks and campus scooters toward another arena—the vibrant concert corridor that arcs from downtown Fayetteville to the glow of Raleigh’s skyline. Ribbons of I-95 and I-40 make it shockingly simple to chase chart-toppers one night and indie ballads the next, all without missing Monday’s training session. What follows is a game-day-to-gig roadmap: fifteen powerhouse artists destined to headline in our part of the Carolinas, plus four venues every supporter should scout before the next chorus of “Crewwwww!” rolls across the stands.

The Weeknd Tickets

Abel Tesfaye morphed from mysterious YouTube crooner into The Weeknd—a global R&B auteur whose synth‑pop masterpiece “Blinding Lights” is the longest‑charting Billboard Hot 100 hit in history. Debuting in 2011 with shadowy mixtapes, he exploded commercially via Beauty Behind the Madness (2015) and After Hours (2020). His After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour grossed more than $350 million, featuring a dystopian skyline set and drone swarms spelling XO above 60 000 fans. Tesfaye’s three Grammys, Super‑Bowl halftime pedigree, and Oscar-nominated songwriting cement each concert as a cinematic, neon‑flecked fever dream.

Kesha Tickets

Kesha crashed onto radio in 2009 with the glitter‑bomb single “TiK ToK,” launching a string of electro‑pop party anthems that defined the 2010s. After a highly publicized legal battle, she reinvented her artistry on 2017’s Rainbow, earning Grammy nods and critical acclaim for raw ballads like “Praying.” Her 2023 Gag Order Tour marries cathartic scream‑alongs, confetti cannons, and heartfelt monologues about self‑empowerment. With multi‑platinum plaques and Billboard Woman of the Year honors, Kesha transforms venues into joyous safe havens of sequins and solidarity.

Metallica Tickets

Thrash titans Metallica formed in 1981 and remain the only band to headline gigs on all seven continents—including a 2013 Antarctic research station show. Albums Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and the diamond‑selling “Black Album” birthed metal staples “Enter Sandman” and “One.” Their current M72 World Tour features two unique setlists per city on a 360‑degree “donut” stage, plus the “M72 No Repeat Weekend” fan‑experience. Nine Grammys and 125 million records sold guarantee a pyro‑laced adrenaline rush that rattles stadium rafters.

Blackpink Tickets

South Korean quartet Blackpink—Jennie, Rosé, Jisoo, and Lisa—dominate global charts with genre‑splicing hits like “Kill This Love” and “Pink Venom.” Since debuting in 2016, they’ve broken YouTube’s 24‑hour view record multiple times and became the first K‑pop girl group to headline Coachella. Their 2022‑23 Born Pink World Tour sold 1.8 million tickets, the highest ever for a female group. Expect laser‑precise choreography, bilingual fan chants, and couture fashion that turns arenas into glossy music‑video sets.

Bad Bunny Tickets

Benito Martínez Ocasio fused Latin trap with reggaetón to shatter language barriers, topping the Billboard 200 exclusively in Spanish with 2020’s YHLQMDLG. His 2022 World’s Hottest Tour hauled in a record $435 million—the biggest one‑year gross by any artist. Hits like “Tití Me Preguntó” and “Dakiti” pair Caribbean rhythms with social‑justice lyrics, earning Bad Bunny three Grammys and the TIME 100 cover. Live shows unleash beach‑party stages, pyro palm trees, and enough perreo to shake the Midlands.

Hozier Tickets

Irish troubadour Andrew Hozier‑Byrne vaulted to fame with 2013’s “Take Me to Church,” a gospel‑blues critique of institutional hypocrisy. Follow‑up LPs Wasteland, Baby! and 2023’s Unreal Unearth dig into mythic storytelling over soulful guitar grooves. His tour frames Dante‑inspired visuals—think infernal reds melting into celestial gold—around a choir and string section that elevate his baritone croon. Grammy nods and sold‑out amphitheaters mark him as folk‑rock’s soaring conscience.

Katy Perry Tickets

From “I Kissed a Girl” to Teenage Dream’s five No.1 singles, Katy Perry crafts widescreen pop built for fireworks (literally—she performed atop Cinderella’s castle on July 4). Her Las Vegas residency PLAY blended life‑size toy backdrops, acid‑bright costumes, and puppet sharks in a tongue‑in‑cheek spectacle. With 13 Grammy nominations and a Super‑Bowl halftime set viewed by 118 million, Perry’s candy‑coated concerts remain bucket‑list outings for pop aficionados.

Pierce the Veil Tickets

San Diego post‑hardcore stalwarts Pierce the Veil resurfaced in 2023 with The Jaws of Life, blending math‑rock riffs and emo catharsis. Breakout single “King for a Day” (feat. Kellin Quinn) clocked Platinum sales and 200 million YouTube views. Their pits are a kaleidoscope of confetti, crowd‑surfers, and Vic Fuentes’ soaring tenor delivering mental‑health anthems that resonate across generations of Warped‑Tour alumni.

Keith Urban Tickets

New Zealand‑born Keith Urban injected arena‑rock guitar heroics into Nashville starting with 1999’s self‑titled LP. Hits “Somebody Like You” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color” earned four Grammys and Opry induction. His Speed of Now Tour layers loop pedals, surprise B‑stage pop‑ups, and on‑the‑fly guitar giveaways to fans. Urban’s genre‑bending blends banjo with synth pads, ensuring every show widens country’s sonic horizon.

SZA Tickets

SZA’s 2017 debut Ctrl spent a record‑breaking 350 weeks on the Billboard 200, while 2022’s SOS delivered “Kill Bill,” her first Hot 100 No.1. The SOS Tour sails across an ocean‑liner stage set, complete with diver acrobats plunging into digital waves. Six Grammys and soulful confessionals on heartbreak and self‑worth guarantee an evening of cathartic R&B dreamscapes.

Def Leppard Tickets

’80s rock royalty Def Leppard combined glam sheen with Sheffield grit to produce diamond‑certified albums Pyromania and Hysteria. Despite tragedy—drummer Rick Allen’s arm loss—the band pioneered electronic drum triggers to triumph. Their co‑headlining Stadium Tour with Mötley Crüe sold a million tickets. Expect Union‑Jack guitars, synchronized claps to “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” and the original hair‑metal sing‑back experience.

The Black Keys Tickets

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney transformed basement blues into Grammy‑winning grit with “Lonely Boy” and “Gold on the Ceiling.” Their Dropout Boogie Tour strips production to raw amps, vintage organs, and a wall of retro televisions beaming lo‑fi VCR loops. Three Grammys and festival‑headliner cred prove two dudes and a fuzz pedal can still shake a pavilion.

My Chemical Romance Tickets

Emo saviors My Chemical Romance reunited in 2019, igniting arenas with “Welcome to the Black Parade.” 2022’s comeback tour featured dystopian news‑anchor visuals and Gerard Way’s theatrical wardrobe flips—from ghoul janitor to mourning widow. Platinum albums, Kerrang! awards, and a fiercely devoted fanbase transform every chorus into a stadium‑wide group therapy session.

Brad Paisley Tickets

Brad Paisley’s Telecaster wizardry and comedic storytelling propel hits “Mud on the Tires” and “Crushin’ It.” His 2024 trek adds augmented‑reality screens projecting Paisley‑drawn comics that interact with onstage antics. With three Grammys and countless CMA honors, Paisley delivers honky‑tonk hospitality wrapped in arena‑level tech.

Wu‑Tang Clan Tickets

Shaolin legends Wu‑Tang Clan still “ain’t nothin’ ta f’ wit,” three decades after 1993’s 36 Chambers. Their co‑headline N.Y. State of Mind Tour with Nas melds kung‑fu samples, chessboard LED floors, and nine‑MC mic‑passes that feel like lyrical relay races. From Grammy Hall of Fame inductions to fashion collabs, Wu‑Tang remains forever.

Pitch‑Perfect Places: Venues Within Striking Distance

Crown Coliseum — Fayetteville, NC
Opened 1997; concert capacity 9,600. The Crown anchors Fayetteville’s Expo district, hosting everything from minor-league hockey to Monster Jam. Its domed wooden roof amplifies low-end frequencies, so hip-hop bass drops rattle balcony soda cups. Elvis Presley’s 1977 tour almost booked the site’s predecessor; today, country road warriors like Lainey Wilson regularly sell it out.

Red Hat Amphitheater — Raleigh, NC
Debuted 2010 beside the city’s Warehouse District; seats 6,000 (plus lawn). Skylines frame the stage, and a retractable acoustical wall shields downtown residents from late-night guitar solos. The venue hosted Foo Fighters’ surprise 2015 set after Dave Grohl’s broken-leg detour—cementing its rep for last-minute legends.

PNC Arena — Raleigh, NC
Built 1999, holding 19,500 for concerts. Home to NHL’s Hurricanes and NC State hoops, the bowl’s octagonal scoreboard morphs into an LED chandelier on show nights. Prince, Beyoncé, and Metallica have all christened its boards; a new $200 million renovation will add immersive 8K wrap-screens by 2026.

Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek — Raleigh, NC
Since 1991, this 20,000-capacity amphitheater has paired pine-scented breezes with blockbuster tours. Jimmy Buffett opened the grounds; every Dave Matthews 4th of July stand sells out within hours. Its grass berm offers picnic vibes—perfect for Crew FC scarves doubling as blankets during Post Malone’s acoustic numbers.

Score Your Seats—with Savings

Crew faithful, trade your vuvuzelas for drumsticks and let Carolina’s stages be your second pitch. Use promo code CREWFC5 at TicketSmarter checkout to unlock exclusive savings on any of the concerts above and thousands more nationwide. From champagne‑pop spectacles to riff‑heavy throwdowns, turn every match week into a festival of sound—and keep the Carolina Crew colors flying long after the final whistle.