As someone who lives close to New York City, one thing is for certain; there almost always is an artist or genre of music you like performing near you. While living in Cortland, things are a bit different. With Spring Fling so far away, some want to enjoy the thrill of a concert a little sooner. Here’s a list of some of the can’t-miss live music events that are coming up next in nearby cities.
Chicago – November 6, 2024 – Utica, NY
Chicago is back, and they’re touring the United States from October 22nd to November 17th. Between all of that, the American rock band is taking a stop at The Stanley Theater in Utica, New York. With 23 gold, 18 platinum, and 8 multi-platinum albums, their show is not one to miss. Their incredible jazz ensemble meshes together soul and jazz elements to the group and delivers an undeniable funk that one can’t resist. On this tour, Chicago fans can expect to hear classic hits of theirs, such as “Saturday in the Park”, “You’re the Inspiration”, and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry / Get Away”.
Pierce the Veil – December 1, 2024 – Syracuse, NY
For those that gravitate more towards metal and emo-style music, Pierce the Veil is coming to Syracuse at the Upstate Medical University Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial. The Californian punk-esque band, formed in 2006, incorporates a unique sound coming from energetic guitar sequences along with lead singer Vic Fuentes’ melodic style. Attendees can anticipate to hear some of their most popular songs, such as “King For A Day”, “Pass the Nirvana”, and “Caraphernelia”. In other recent shows of theirs, they’ve performed covers of songs by different bands, including “Karma Police” by Radiohead. This is not a prolonged tour of theirs, with Syracuse being one stop of a few from the band. Just be sure not to forget any earplugs – the band is known to get loud!
Billy Joel & Sting – April 11, 2025 – Syracuse, NY
Billy Joel and leader of The Police, Sting, are sporadically touring a couple cities together through the United States in spring of 2025. The two have teamed up together on previous projects, singing “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” and “Big Man on Mulberry Street” as duets. They’ll be performing at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York. The two artists independently have had flourishing careers with albums that skyrocketed in the 70’s and 80’s. Classic hits of theirs, such as “Every Breath You Take” and “Vienna” can be expected to be heard at the event. And, although Billy Joel hasn’t written new music lately – Sting has, and their joint performance next spring is not one to miss out on.
Of course, these big-name artists are just a few of the live music events coming soon nearby, not mentioning the many smaller artists in varying genres performing, too. Alongside this, Spring Fling is an annual tradition for SUNY Cortland, and each year, students get to vote on who they would like to see live. So, if concerts are your thing, make sure to cast your vote, but also check out what events could be coming soon near you, too.