Creed, Limp Bizkit show summer concert season awash in '90s nostalgia

This summer marks the 25th anniversary of Woodstock '99, a cultural event we all tried to forget (for reminders why, see here or here), a low point that brought the 1990s to a merciful close.

Yet time has a way of smoothing over the past. What's old becomes new again, and what was once embarrassing is reclaimed as cool.

Look no further than Creed, once the most maligned of late '90s rock acts, a sales monster at the turn of the millennium that seemed locked in a time capsule that no one wanted to dig up. But suddenly that pendulum came swinging back around and Creed was reborn, the most unlikely of rock and roll comebacks, and this summer the band plays a sold-out show at Pine Knob. (And returns later this year for another show at Little Caesars Arena.)

The same goes for Limp Bizkit, the rap-rock titans who were seen as the instigators of the Woodstock '99 melee. Not too long ago, they also seemed doomed to the better-left-forgotten bin in our collective cultural consciousness, but they're back at Pine Knob this summer, too, with their biggest local concert since George W. Bush was in office.

Creed and Limp Bizkit are two of two dozen Woodstock '99 veterans with concerts on the area calendar this summer. On one hand it speaks to the breadth of that event's lineup, and that it was more than just the angsty headlines it generated. (Elvis Costello was on the bill, for crying out loud.)

On the other it shows how the '90s may be tucked in bed but we never really put them to sleep, and the summer concert season — which unofficially kicked off earlier this month with the opening of Pine Knob's season — is a playground where artists from the '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s and today all come out to frolic.

Here's a guide to all the Woodstock '99 artists on the road this summer, as well as other assorted highlights of the summer concert calendar. (For a full list of upcoming concerts, visit the websites of the individual venues.)

Recreating Woodstock '99

These are the Woodstock '99 veterans playing shows in the area this summer. Collect 'em all!

• Fatboy Slim at Movement, May 25-27 at Hart Plaza
• George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, May 30 at Sound Board

• Collective Soul with Hootie and the Blowfish and Edwin McCain, June 6 at Pine Knob
• Our Lady Peace with Scott Stapp, Finger Eleven and I Mother Earth at Bluewater BorderFest Music Festival, June 20-22 (Sarnia, Ont.)
• String Cheese Incident at Electric Forest, June 20-23 (Rothbury)
• Counting Crows with Santana, June 25 at Pine Knob
• Dave Matthews Band, June 26 at Pine Knob

• Supersuckers, July 6 at Small's
• Elvis Costello and the Imposters with Daryl Hall, July 8 at Masonic Temple Theatre
• Bruce Hornsby, July 11 at Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids)
• Alanis Morissette with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Morgan Wade, July 16 at Pine Knob

• Sevendust at Upheaval Music Festival, July 19 at Belknap Park (Grand Rapids)
• Limp Bizkit with Xavier Wulf, Eddy Baker, Riff Raff, Bones and Corey Feldman, July 23 at Pine Knob

• The Offspring with Simple Plan and Hoobastank, July 26 at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort (Mount Pleasant)
• Creed with 3 Doors Down and Finger Eleven, July 31 at Pine Knob
• Jewel with Melissa Etheridge, Aug. 4 at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor (and Aug. 5 at Kresge Auditorium in Interlochen)
• Vertical Horizon with Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket, Aug. 5 at Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids)
• Bush with Jerry Cantrell and Candlebox, Aug. 16 at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
• Buckcherry, Aug. 23 at Genesee County Fair
• The Roots with Arrested Development and Digable Planets, Aug. 25 at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
• Willie Nelson with Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp, Sept. 15 at Pine Knob

• Megadeth with Mudvayne and All That Remains, Sept. 21 at Pine Knob
• Korn with Gojira and Spiritbox, Sept. 27 at Pine Knob
• Godsmack with Seether and Asking Alexandria, Sept. 28 at Pine Knob

Two-night stands

Why play one night when you can play two? The following artists will double dip Detroit this summer:

• They Might Be Giants, May 17-18, Majestic Theatre
• Luke Bryan, June 28-29, Pine Knob
• Mitski, Aug. 27-28, Masonic Temple Theatre
• Usher, Sept. 12-13, Little Caesars Arena
• Sting, Sept. 17-18, Fillmore Detroit

Stadium country

These country artists are going big in Detroit this summer:

• Zach Bryan with Levi Turner, June 20, Ford Field
• George Strait with Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town, July 13 at Ford Field
• Kenny Chesney with Zac Brown Band, Megan Moroney and Uncle Kracker, Aug. 10 at Ford Field

Hot hip-hop

A look at some of the biggest rappers swinging through Detroit this summer:

• Megan Thee Stallion with GloRilla, May 18 at Little Caesars Arena
• E-40 with DJ Quik, Tha Dogg Pound and Mack 10, May 25 at Fox Theatre
• 21 Savage, May 28 at Pine Knob
• Moneybagg Yo with Skilla Baby, June 1 at Fox Theatre
• A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie with NLE Choppa, Luh Tyler and Dess Dior, June 14 at Pine Knob
• Boosie Badazz with Trina, Webbie, Juvenile and Trick Daddy, June 15 at Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
• Chief Keef, July 22 at Fillmore Detroit
• Killer Mike, Aug. 2, Majestic Theatre

• Future and Metro Boomin, Aug. 4 at Little Caesars Arena
• Missy Elliott with Ciara, Busta Rhymes and Timbaland, Aug. 15 at Little Caesars Arena
• Childish Gambino with Willow, Aug. 17 at Little Caesars Arena
• Action Bronson, Aug. 17, The Crofoot

Ladies of R&B

A sampling of female R&B singers headlining area venues this summer:

• Lalah Hathaway with Mike Phillips, June 5 at Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
• Jhené Aiko with Coi Leray, Tink, UMI and Kiana Ledé, June 19 at Little Caesars Arena
• Regina Belle with Jonathan Butler and Jarrod Lawson, July 3 at Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
• Xscape with SWV, Mya, Total and 702, Aug. 9 at Little Caesars Arena

Pop stars galore

These artists are headed from the pop charts to Detroit stages this summer:

• Melanie Martinez with Beach Bunny and Sofia Isella, June 14 at Little Caesars Arena
• Joey Fatone and AJ McLean, May 31 at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
• New Kids on the Block with Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff, June 18 at Pine Knob
• Maroon 5 with Maren Morris, June 21 at Pine Knob
• Janet Jackson with Nelly, July 2 at Pine Knob

• The Kid Laroi with glaive and Chase Shakur, July 3 at Fillmore Detroit
• Niall Horan, July 10 at Pine Knob
• POP 2000 TOUR With Chris Kirkpatrick Of *NSYNC, O-Town, BBMak, Ryan Cabrera and LFO, July 13 at District 142
• Tate McRae, July 28 at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
• Jennifer Lopez, July 31 at Little Caesars Arena
• Teddy Swims, Aug. 3 at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
• Pitbull with T-Pain, Sept. 4 at Pine Knob

• Avril Lavigne, Sept. 7 at Pine Knob
• Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, Sept. 14 at Little Caesars Arena
• Meghan Trainor with Paul Russell, Sept. 30 at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre

Festivals of note

A look at some of the festivals heading to Metro Detroit this summer:

• Concert of Colors, July 15-21, Detroit Institute of Arts
• Faster Horses, July 19-21, Michigan International Speedway
• The Ribs R&B Music Festival Weekend, Aug. 9-11, Hart Plaza
• Afro Nation Festival, Aug. 17-18, Bedrock's Douglass Site
• Detroit Jazz Festival, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Hart Plaza
• Soaring Eagle Arts Beats & Eats, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Downtown Royal Oak

Keep on rockin'

Classic rock, hard rock, alt-rock, pop-rock: Put your lighters (or your cell phones) in the air for these rockers hitting Detroit this summer:

• Say Anything, May 15 at Masonic Temple Theatre
• Violent Femmes, May 18 at Masonic Temple Theatre
• Heart with Cheap Trick, May 21 at Little Caesars Arena
• Gary Clark Jr., May 21 at Fillmore Detroit
• Neil Young & Crazy Horse, May 22 at Pine Knob
• Laura Jane Grace, May 24 at El Club
• Khruangbin with John Carroll Kirby, June 4 at Masonic Temple Theatre

• Kim Gordon, June 9 at El Club
• Styx and Foreigner, June 15 at Pine Knob
• Roger Daltrey, June 25 at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
• AJR with mxmtoon, June 30 at Little Caesars Arena
• Hawthorne Heights with Anberlin and Emery, July 1 at Fillmore Detroit
• My Morning Jacket, July 2 at Masonic Temple Theatre

• Third Eye Blind with Yellowcard and A R I Z O N A, July 7 at Pine Knob
• The Guess Who, July 12 at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
• I Prevail with Haelstorm, Hollywood Undead and Fit for a King, July 13 at Pine Knob
• Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, July 16 at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
• Def Leppard and Journey, July 18 at Comerica Park

• Warren Haynes, July 20 at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
• REO Speedwagon and Train, July 21 at Pine Knob
• Sleater-Kinney, July 26 at Majestic Theatre
• Taking Back Sunday, July 26, Royal Oak Music Theatre
• Slash with Keb' Mo', ZZ Ward and Robert Randolph, July 27 at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
• Sammy Hagar and Loverboy, Aug. 2 at Pine Knob

• John Fogerty, Aug. 4 at Pine Knob
• Thirty Seconds to Mars with AFI, Poppy and KennyHoopla, Aug. 6 at Pine Knob
• Five Finger Death Punch with Marilyn Manson, Aug. 7 at Pine Knob
• The Struts, Aug. 9, Royal Oak Music Theatre
• Imagine Dragons, Aug. 12 at Pine Knob
• Blink-182 with Pierce the Veil, Aug. 12 at Little Caesars Arena

• Doobie Brothers with Steve Winwood, Aug. 15 at Pine Knob
• Incubus with Coheed and Cambria, Aug. 23 at Little Caesars Arena
• Bret Michaels with Chris Janson, Dee Snider and Don Felder, Aug. 23 at Pine Knob
• New Found Glory, Aug. 27 at Fillmore Detroit
• Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie, Aug. 30 at Pine Knob

• Bikini Kill, Aug. 31 at Masonic Temple Theatre
• The Gaslight Anthem, Sept. 1 at Fillmore Detroit
• Green Day with The Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and The Linda Lindas, Sept. 4 at Comerica Park

• Cage the Elephant with Young the Giant and Bakar, Sept. 10 at Pine Knob
• Staind with Breaking Benjamin, Daughtry and Lakeview, Sept. 11 at Pine Knob
• Lynyrd Skynyrd with ZZ Top, Sept. 13 at Pine Knob
• Sum 41, Sept. 14 at Masonic Temple Theatre

• The Sisters of Mercy, Sept. 14 at Fillmore Detroit
• Sigur Rós with Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Sept. 19 at Masonic Temple Theatre
• Vampire Weekend with Cults, Sept. 23 at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
• PJ Harvey, Sept. 28 at Masonic Temple Theatre
• Twenty One Pilots, Sept. 29 at Little Caesars Arena

agraham@detroitnews.com