You’ve been spending half your time time stuffing your face at Epcot’s Food and Wine festival and the rest of it getting your scare on at Halloween Horror Nights. What are you going to do with all your free time the rest of the year once the events end? Check out these awesome concerts coming to town between now and the end of the year that can fill the void – there’s punk bands, hard rock turned country singer, classic rock and a Broadway superstar to close out the year.
- 11/7 – Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness/New Politics at House of Blues Two of the hottest acts in the alt-rock scene swing by the House of Blues. While we haven’t seen New Politics, Andrew McMahon (former projects include Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin) put on passionate night of piano rock last year at the Beacham.
- 11/14 – Kink Music Festival featuring Rise Against, Killswitch Engaged, Hollywood Undead and other at Central Florida Fairgrounds. Festival with car show, tattoo exhibits and several big names in the rock world performing. Rise Against is quickly becoming one of the bigger names in the rock scene from both their music and live shows. At $30 dollars this may be the best value on the list.
- 11/14 – Zac Brown Band at Amway Center. As one of the biggest bands in not only country, but as of late in rock music as well, you’ll can expect a big-sized show. Reports from shows earlier in the tour speak of 3-hour shows with a stage that has three different levels. In addition to their own slew of hits, the band famously throws in covers throughout the set which usually steal the spotlight from their own songs.
- 11/20 – The Wonder Years / Motion City Soundtrack at House of Blues. Two of pop-punk biggest names teamed up for this great double-bill tour. Both bands have new releases they are supporting but will surely mix in old favorites.
- 11/21 – Sublime with Rome at Hard Rock Live. “Love is… it’s what I got”. You may be surprised how many Sublime songs you may know. While the original lead singer is no longer with us, the now seasoned Rome leads the band through the classic as good as you would want.
- 11/27 Aaron Lewis at House of Blues. Best known as the lead singer of the rock band Staind, Lewis has taken a different approach to his solo career – country music. This is a great chance to catch one of rock’s bigger names in a small setting and even hear some Staind songs done differently.
- 12/3 – Hall & Oates at Dr Phillips Center for Performing Arts. As if there is a reason needed to see the duo plow through hit after hit at the amazing Dr. Phillips Center. The venue is about as good as it gets – especially for music. And its Hall & Oates, everyone has their songs listed as a guilty pleasure whether you admit it or not.
- 12/4 – The Academy Is at House of Blues. Once a pop-punk staple in the mid-2000s from their album “Almost Here”, the band returns after a long hiatus to perform their breakout album in its entirely. What’s up 2005!
- 12/5 – Kansas at The Plaza Live. Classic rock power house Kansas rolls into town for a surely intimate show at The Plaza Live.
- 12/12 – Trans Siberian Orchestra at Amway Center. Christmas meets hard rock with fire, lasers and a crazy light show. Now don’t let the hard rock branding scare you away – this is a great show for the familes. And maybe even better opportunity to introduce kids to a real rock show.
- 12/14 – RDGLDGRN at Backbooth. The smallest show on our list, yet could be the most fun. The band bends hip hop, jazz and rock for a fusion sound that landed them an opening spot at the massive Foo Fighter’s (Dave Grohl has a guest spot on their album) anniversary show earlier this year.
- 12/31 – Kristin Chenoweth at Dr Phillips Center for Performing Arts. Broadway superstar best known for her stint in Wicked is closing out the year with a NYE show.