The most anticipated albums, tours, and music festivals of 2023

New albums from Lana Del Rey and Depeche Mode, a sold-out Taylor Swift tour, and Rihanna's Super Bowl LVII halftime show are among the year's musical highlights

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The most anticipated albums, tours, and music festivals of 2023
Clockwise from left: Depeche Mode (Photo: Anton Corbijn); Rihanna (Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney); Taylor Swift (Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images); Gorillaz (Photo: Courtesy of Nasty Little Man ) Lana Del Rey (Photo: Neil Krug/Interscope Records) Graphic: The A.V. Club

The year’s barely begun, and there’s already plenty for music lovers to be excited for in 2023. There are highly anticipated new albums from big household names and beloved underground acts alike. There are reunion tours and farewell tours and tours from artists who haven’t played a live show in years. There are emo festivals and rap festivals and rock festivals and whatever you want to call Coachella. Here’s our expertly curated list of the albums, concerts, and festivals we’re most looking forward to this year. Let’s make 2023 a good one, shall we?

previous arrowSam Smith, Gloria [January 27] next arrow
Sam Smith, Kim Petras - Unholy (Official Music Video)

Although they made their name on big, weepy piano ballads, Sam Smith is at their best when they embrace pure pop euphoria. Smith has said that their new album, Gloria, titled after their name for the “voice in my head that just says, ‘You can do it,’” is centered on queer joy. In addition to the previously released single “Love Me More” and the Kim Petras-assisted number one hit “Unholy,” Gloria will feature songs with Jessie Reyez, Koffee, and Ed Sheeran. “Gloria got me through some dark times and was a beacon for me in my life,” Smith says. “I hope it can be that for you.”

33 Comments

  • iamatree-av says:

    No Peter Gabriel, voted zero.

    • coreyb92-av says:

      Was also hoping he would be mentioned but hopefully they’ll at least review the album when it comes out. 

    • dpc61820-av says:

      I know. He’s old (but so are some of us!). Stereogum covered the record news: https://www.stereogum.com/2209637/peter-gabriel-panopticom/music/.He’s touring with some great band members (Tony Levin, David Rhodes and Manu Katché) in Europe in the next few months, North America later.
      https://petergabriel.com/release/panopticom/

  • xaa922-av says:

    I must be getting old (I am).  Those festival lineups are just not doing it for me.  They all feel like they try to cater to everyone and, as a consequence, they cater to no one.  

    • elloasty-av says:

      When We Were Young being the exception. That lineup seems laser focused on a particular demographic.

      • luasdublin-av says:

        I hope it’s intended audience enjoy it , but a as  someone in their 40s , a reminder that early 00’s music is now retro and catered to by ‘oldies’ festivals makes me feel fucking ancient.

    • liffie420-av says:

      Well I think it depends on the type of music. If your a rock fan Rockville has a SOLID 2023 line up.  But yeah more anr moe festivals just throw everything at you.  Like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo which is you know a RODEO has folks like Bun B and Machine Gun Kelly performing lol.

    • spartanhabits-av says:

      Rolling Loud shown here is pretty genre specific.

  • pcthulhu-av says:

    Sick New World festival also looks pretty good, a bit niche I guess.

  • jhhmumbles-av says:

    If nothing else, we’ve got a fun U Talkin’ U2 episode coming up. 

  • cooper000-av says:

    Can’t wait for Lana’s album, the title track is stunning.

  • jjgerding-av says:

    Heard Blondie is doing a tour. I would travel to the end of the world to be in the same room as Debbie. And then there is ZZTop/Lynard Skymark. (Until they start that damn “Freebird” and I walk out of the venue.

  • luasdublin-av says:

    New U2 album? .One behalf of Ireland , and particularly as a Dubliner ,again I have to issue an apology for U2’s continued existence .. I’m sorry .

    • zaxby1979-av says:

      its not a new album though. its old songs.

      • bartcow-av says:

        Which sounds…OK. But as is totally on brand for them, the reason is never “we thought it would be fun”, but “pretentiousness, pretentiousness, money money money.” Sigh. It’s been really hard defending them for a long time now.

        • luasdublin-av says:

          They have just been treading water since “How to dismantle..” back in 2004 …which is going on 20 years ago …(Egos aside , their work up to and including Zooropa was great , that’s when the decline started ..30 years ago.)

          • bartcow-av says:

            Agreed. Pop is about the time I checked out and went “maybe everyone else is right”. I still think Achtung Baby slaps, even if I really never need to hear “Mysterious Ways” ever again.

  • luasdublin-av says:

    For old techno people like me ,…there’s a new Orbital album released in February (and tour!) https://djmag.com/news/orbital-announce-new-album-optical-delusion

    • liffie420-av says:

      NICE I listen to a lot of EDM as well.  To bad the best festivals are in Europe.  Listneing to Decibel Outdoor 2022 right now. The biggest US festival EDC is only in Vegas and Miami.

      • luasdublin-av says:

        Yeah it’s better here but nowhere near the likes of Germany , also Orbital are playing St Patrick’s night here   which is great except Bicep are playing a different venue in Dublin the same evening!.

  • cosmicghostrider-av says:

    Dear A.V. Club,
    I just relapsed (alcohol) for about a solid week there after some family tensions, disregard anything I’ve recently posted here. My apologies.

  • vroom-socko-av says:

    It took a long time for Depeche Mode to become a synthesizer duo. 

  • mwfuller-av says:

    “Excuse me, do you have the new Depeche Mode record?”

  • bartcow-av says:

    I recently was lamenting to a friend “Metallica never met an album they couldn’t unnecessarily double the length of”. Guys, the CD age ended over a decade ago. No album needs to be 77 minutes any more (and never did) (killer live albums and concept albums that actually work not included).

  • charleshamm-av says:

    I saw the Grateful Dead during their final tour at the Pontiac Silverdome. We had nosebleed seats while not exactly behind the band, but basically behind the band. I had listened to about 86% of their studio albums and official live releases and did not hear a single song I recognized. I took a walk during the 40 minute drum solo to walk around the dome and check out refreshments and when I returned it was 10 more minutes of drumming. I never understood who likes this. The true fun of a Dead show was the preshow tailgating to gawk at and buy beer and other stuff from the deadheads who followed the band. Thanks for reading.

  • buckethead22-av says:

    Billy Corgan is trying to steal Puddles the Clown’s look.

  • mavar-av says:

    This is where I grew up. It was a could upbringing. Friends had my back.

  • mavar-av says:

    Stop what you’re doing and listen to LOVEBITES!

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