The 13 biggest concerts of the summer

Behold, the best F-M summer concert lineup ever.

The Flaming Lips, Joan Baez, Bonnie Raitt and Paul McCartney are all playing in Fargo-Moorhead -- within 10 days of each other.

What is going on, Fargo? This is just nuts.

Here is our top 13 list, in order of dates, loaded with the perhaps the most prevalent acts coming to town, but we encourage folks to visit fargodome.com, jadeprsents.com, The Aquarium’s Facebook page and other sites to discover loads more great concerts the city has to offer this summer.

1.Neko Case and The Dodos @ The Fargo Theatre, May 16

Neko Case is a badass in the most genuine and hip way possible. Her semi-nasally vocals are heartwarming, and her poetic and clever lyrics keep her fans smitten. Not to mentions, this show will have a badass opening band, The DoDos, an alternative rock group from San Fran.

2.The Beach Boys @ Bluestem, June 8

In their prime, The Beach Boys created some of the richest, most ingenious harmonic and rhythmic ideas rock ‘n’ roll has ever seen. Although Brian Wilson, the band’s main creative genius, is no longer a performing member of The Beach Boys, original members Mike Love and Bruce Johnston will certainly be there. So get ready to sweat with hits like “Surfer Girl” and “I Get Around.”

3.The Fray @ Bluestem, June 21

The Fray made a lot of people cry with its megahit “How To Save A Life.” Lead singer Isaac Slade’s voice naturally does that to folks. He always sounds like he’s about to cry himself. But it has a lot to do with his massive heart that he translates so beautifully to music. It’s a large reason The Fray’s many singles, including “Over My Head,” have been modern pop chart-toppers.

4.Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite @ The Venue, June 23

Ben Harper can arguably be thought of as our modern day Bob Marley. Harper is not straight up reggae, but there are some undeniable similarities between the two. Harper is a sort of reggae, acoustic singer/songwriter lullaby-ist. His gentle voice and soothing guitar playing perhaps make him the “coolest” artist on the list.

5.Trampled by Turtles and Doomtree @ Bluestem, June 27

Bluegrass and rap music, two completely opposite genres, come together for an evening of fast jams and “slow jamz.” Trampled By Turtles is working on a new album, so expect some new material. Word on the street is the style will be very similar to the band’s single, “Alone.”

6.Bonnie Raitt @ Bluestem, July 6

One of the most beloved bottleneck slide guitarists in the U.S., Bonnie Raitt is a stellar songwriter, hit-you-to-the-core vocalist and prodigy instrumentalist. “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and “Something To Talk About” are two of her most well known songs.

7.Paul McCartney @ Fargodome, July 12

Paul McCartney is an original member of The Beatles. Enough said.

8.Joan Baez @ Fargo Theatre, July 15

Joan Baez, who’s widely known as folk legend Bob Dylan’s former lover, is a singer/songwriter and activist who often remakes influential folks’ songs (by Leonard Cohen, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and others) into her own. The magnificently pleasant, vibrato-filled soprano vocalist is now 73 years old, but she still sounds as beautiful as ever.

9.Flaming Lips @ The Venue, July 16

If you missed them at 10K Lakes Festival in Detroit Lakes, Minn. six years ago, now is your chance. The Flaming Lips are said to put on one of the most incredible, psychedelic and ridiculous live shows in the United States. Beyond that, The Lips are musically creative masterminds. BTW, this show WILL sell out. Get your tickets now before you start crying.

10.Alice in Chains @ Bluestem, August 16

Alice in Chains produced some of most powerful, influential grunge guitar riffs and vocal grunts the ‘90s had ever seen. Their influence in rock music reverberates even to this day, due to tracks like “Man in the Box” and “Down in a Hole.”

11.Katy Perry @ Fargodome, August 23

Katy Perry, the gal who many of us thought would be a one-hit-wonder artist due to her gimmicky breakout single “I Kissed A Girl,” is currently an unstoppable success. She’s been nominated for 11 Grammys, has sold millions of albums worldwide and claimed the title of Billboard’s 2012 Person of the Year – and she’s kissed Russell Brand.

12. The Temptations @ Bluestem, August 28

The Temptations are back in Fargo again. This time with a Fargo band, Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome (HPR’s Best Cover Band of 2014). These motown legends may have aged themselves, most of them are in their 60s and 70s, but their influential, smooth and classic American music may never age.

13.Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry @ Bluestem, August 31

“And I don’t want the world to see me! Cause I don’t think they’d understand!” That’s all you need to know about this outdoor concert. So start prepping your vocal chords today.

***Stay tuned in a few weeks; we’ll editorialize about lesser-known, though just as good, concerts/acts. Cause there are way more than 13 concerts this summer.