Taylor Swift, Sting and Shakira: These are the concerts that Miami is excited about this season

Miami is a stop on every big act’s tour, so lucky for us we have a season of shows from high-wattage stars. Add to that a few solid music festivals, and you’ll see why we get excited when the concert season picks up. Here are the shows that we can’t wait to catch.

Sigur Rós

Mysterious. Ethereal. Spiritual. Angelic. Cathartic. Not too many bands inspire such glowing terms, but this Icelandic “post-rock” group, whose name means Victory Rose, possesses a truly unique, otherworldly sound. One cannot understand the words frontman Jónsi is singing (most of the lyrics take the form of the constructed language Hopelandic, after all), but his soaring falsetto—paired with the band’s minimalist but intense, swirling music - evokes heavy emotional responses from audiences. You might cry, but you don’t know why. Sigur Rós sweeps into town, joined by the Wordless Music Orchestra, in support of Átta, its first album of original music in a decade. Must be seen to be truly understood. Sept. 30 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami.

Usher

Fans adore this eight-time Grammy-winner – who released his first album at age 15 (!) - for timeless hits including “Nice & Slow,” “U Got It Bad,” “Yeah!,” “Burn,” “Confessions Part II,” “My Boo,” “Love In This Club,” “OMG” and “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love.” Now Usher heads to Miami for three nights as part of his Past Present Future tour, during which he’ll perform all the faves, plus tracks from his ninth studio album and first in eight years, Coming Home, featuring the lead single “Good Good.” Oct. 11, 12 and 14 at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami.

III Points Festival

If there were more musical events like III Points, the world would be a much better place. This two-day festival brings together a refreshingly eclectic lineup of the best acts in indie-rock, hip-hop, alternative, experimental, electronic and any type of music with an edge. This year’s evidence? British trip-hop legends Massive Attack, funk icons Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton, Miami rap royalty Rick Ross, indie-rock god Jamie xx, British electronic duo Disclosure, rapper Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan), genre-bending singer/songwriter PinkPantheress and so many more great national and local acts. Oct. 18-19 at Mana Wynwood in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood

Taylor Swift – The Eras Tour

The world clearly can’t get enough of Taylor Swift. And that’s why the pop phenomenon is bringing her massive Eras Tour back to Florida (she performed in Tampa back in April 2023) for three more dates at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium in October. This tour is in support of Swift’s 10th and 11th studio albums, Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department respectively, featuring the hits “Anti-Hero,” “Lavender Haze,” “Karma,” “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart,” and “Fortnight.” You’re also sure to hear staples such as “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “You Need to Calm Down,” “You Belong with Me,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Style,” “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood,” and “Shake It Off” among many others. Don’t miss up-and-coming opening act Gracie Abrams (“Stay,” “Close to You,” “Risk,” “Us,” and “I Love You I’m Sorry”). Fun fact: Swift is named after legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor. Oct. 18-20 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Sting – 3.0 Tour

Some artists are dubbed rock royalty by their fawning fans and critics. Then there’s Sting, who’s one of the few who are literally rock royalty, as the lyrical genius received a CBE British order of chivalry from Queen Elizabeth II in 2003. The dazzling bassist and former front man of new wave legends The Police who has won an astounding 17 Grammy Awards heads to the 305 for two nights to perform Police favorites and deep cuts with a new trio featuring longtime collaborator and virtuoso guitarist Dominic Miller and dynamic drummer Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons, Maggie Rogers). Fans can expect to hear classics including, “Englishman in New York,” “Fields of Gold,” “Every Breath You Take,” “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” “So Lonely,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” and “Can’t Stand Losing You” and many more. Oct. 20-21 at the Fillmore Miami Beach.

Air Plays ‘Moon Safari’

Listening to French pop-electronic duo Air’s 1998 full-length debut album Moon Safari elicits contradictory feelings. You’re soothed, yet exhilarated. Nostalgic, yet excited for the future. Simply put, it’s like nothing you’ve heard before. As Mixmag’s Alexis Petridis puts it, the record “creates a soundworld in your living room, a world where everything’s more shiny, chic and sophisticated than reality.” Now, Air will perform the groundbreaking album – featuring beloved tracks “La Femme d’Argent,” “Sexy Boy,” “Kelly Watch the Stars,” “All I Need,” and “You Make It Easy” in its entirety for the first time at the Fillmore. You’re also likely to hear Air favorites from other albums including Playground Love, Cherry Blossom Girl, Surfing on a Rocket, How Does It Make You Feel and Venus. Oct. 26 at the Fillmore Miami Beach.

Country Bay Music Festival

Love country music? Of course you do, and Key Biscayne is the place you need to be for two days in November. Second-annual blowout concert features some of the best acts in the genre, such as – hello? – the Zac Brown Band (“Highway 20 Ride,” “Colder Weather,” “As She’s Walking Away,” and “Chicken Fried”), Carrie Underwood (“Cry Pretty,” “Jesus Take the Wheel,” and “Before He Cheats”), Dustin Lynch (“Small Town Boy,” “Where It’s At,” and “Thinking ’Bout You”), Chase Rice (“Eyes on You”) and many more. Nov. 9-10 at Miami Marine Stadium in Key Biscayne.

Shakira—Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour

This Grammy-winning, shimmying Colombian singer will never escape being defined by her biggest hit, “Hips Don’t Lie,” will she? Nope, but that’s OK, because she’s so much more than that. The ever-resilient, high-energy Shakira takes the stage in support of her 12th studio album featuring the hits “Puntería” and “Cómo Dónde y Cuándo.” You’ll also hear tracks from her 11th studio album, El Dorado, including “Chantaje,” “Perro Fiel,” “Trap,” “Déjà Vu,” and “La Bicicleta,” plus classics such as—yep—”Hips Don’t Lie,” “Underneath Your Clothes,” “Loca,” “She Wolf,” “Whenever, Wherever,” and “Can’t Remember to Forget You.” Nov. 20 at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami.

Billy Joel

Six-time Grammy winner (including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award) is also the sixth best-selling artist of all time (at more than 160 million albums and counting). Fresh off his record-breaking residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the Piano Man takes the Hard Rock Live stage to perform hits including “Movin’ Out,” “My Life,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Only the Good Die Young,” “New York State of Mind,” “She’s Always a Woman,” “Honesty,” “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” “Big Shot,” “You May Be Right,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” and, of course, “Piano Man.” He’s an incredible live performer—the former professional boxer belts out his powerful vocals and bangs on his piano, sometimes even with his rear end, like it’s an opponent in the ring, making sure every song is a knockout. By the end of the show, you’ll be amazed at both the 75-year-old Joel’s stamina and passion for performing. Nov. 23 and Jan. 17 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.

Rolling Loud – 10 Years

OK, hip-hop lovers are certainly drooling over this year’s lineup to celebrate 10 years of Rolling Loud. Miami’s greatest hip-hop festival goes big with three days of nasty beats including headliners Travis Scott, Future and Playboi Carti, plus Lil Yachty, Trippie Redd, Tyga, Kodak Black, Sexyy Red, Lil Baby, Yeat, Metro Boomin and dozens more. Dec. 13-15 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.