Best Concerts To Look Forward To In 2013

A new year means new music. Many popular and talented artists planned 2012 stops in Minnesota to the delight of fans, and 2013 promises to continue the trend. Read on for a preview of some of the best concerts to look forward to in the new year.

Rihanna: Diamonds World Tour
Xcel Energy Center
199 Kellogg Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 265-4800
www.xcelenergycenter.com

Date: March 24, 2013
Price: $37.50-$123
Click here for tickets.

Hit R&B singer Rihanna will be swinging through St. Paul in late March on her Diamonds World Tour, promoting her latest album release "Unapologetic." Rihanna had this to say about her new album, which takes a different musical direction than previous releases: "I love experimenting and I love working with different sounds and putting them together so they're not one dimensional." Always evolving, Rihanna's live performances promise to be as entertaining and experimental as her music as she has reportedly vowed to make this tour bigger and "more impactful" than her previous tours.

George Strait: Cowboy Rides Away Tour
Xcel Energy Center
199 Kellogg Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 265-4800
www.xcelenergycenter.com

Date: Feb. 15, 2013
Price: $69.50-$89.50
Click here for tickets.

The "King of Country" George Strait plans on hitting the dusty trail with his Cowboy Rides Away Tour, with a stop scheduled mid-February in St. Paul. For decades, George Strait has been dominating the country music scene. This country legend is teaming up with Martina McBride to bring the "Heartland" to the Twin Cities. Dust off your cowboy boots, put on your finest plaid shirt, don a cowboy hat and jam out to some of country music's most talented artists.

Sesame Street Live: Can't Stop Singing
Target Center
600 1st Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 673-0900
www.targetcenter.comDates: Jan. 9-13, 2013
Price: $10-$75
Click here for tickets.

If you're looking for a fun concert to take your little ones to, why not treat them to Sesame Street Live? This long-running beloved children's TV series is hitting the road, with multiple shows scheduled in early January. You and your child will enjoy this fun, educational live show as popular characters like Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, the Cookie Monster and Big Bird make you laugh and sing along. Premiering back in 1969, "Sesame Street" was a show many parents grew up watching themselves and now have a unique opportunity to share and enjoy with their own children.

Shinedown
Target Center
600 1st Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 673-0900
www.targetcenter.com

Date: Feb. 5, 2013
Price: $23-$38.50
Click here for tickets.

This popular rock group will be hitting the stage early 2013 at the Target Center, promoting their latest album release "Amaryllis" (2012). Lead singer Brent Smith has said of the group: "We pride ourselves on being a band that each record sounds completely different than the last." Fans of Shinedown can attest to the band's musical progression over the years. Fellow popular rock groups Three Days Grace and P.O.D. will be opening for Shinedown. Practice your devil horns and fist pumping for a night of modern rock 'n' roll.

Lady Gaga: The Born This Way Ball
Xcel Energy Center
199 Kellogg Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 265-4800
www.xcelenergycenter.comDate: Feb. 6, 2013
Price: $49.50-$175
Click here for tickets.

Gaga's "little monsters" will be excited to hear that the Lady herself plans on gracing the Xcel Energy Center with her presence at the Born This Way Ball tour. This perpetually controversial pop star skyrocketed to fame in 2009 with "Just Dance." Follow-up hit "Poker Face" coupled with Gaga's eccentric dress and behavior has kept her prominently in the limelight with no signs of slowing down. Check out the "Fame Monster" herself this upcoming February.

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