Hot attractions: 20 buzzworthy concerts for summer

For live music in Indianapolis, 2015 has the look of one of the biggest summers in recent memory.

The Rolling Stones are grabbing most of the attention, for a historic Independence Day show at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's the iconic rock band's first visit to Indianapolis since 1994.

Not into the music's first British Invasion? Modern U.K. boy band One Direction makes its local debut by headlining Lucas Oil Stadium on July 31.

For all-American country, Luke Bryan will play two nights at Klipsch Music Center on July 24-25.

And Taylor Swift, who performs on Sept. 16 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, touches all the bases. She's a country singer gone pop, who once dated One Direction star Harry Styles and once sang "As Tears Go By" with the Rolling Stones during a 2013 concert in Chicago.

Here are 20 buzzworthy concerts, in chronological order:

1. Alabama Shakes

The show: 7:30 p.m. June 2, Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park, $34.50, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/94949003.

What's the big deal: Powerhouse vocalist Brittany Howard leads this blues-rock outfit that's on tour to promote 2015 album "Sound and Color." Alabama Shakes' performance history includes two episodes of "Saturday Night Live," and the band will play Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo festivals this summer.

2. Alt1033's Alt-imate Birthday

The show: 6 p.m. June 7, Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park, $29.50, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/95194201.

What's the big deal: It's been one year since modern rock radio station WOLT-103.3 (FM) rebranded itself Alt 103.3. To celebrate, the station is throwing a party headlined by Cage the Elephant, the frenetic band known for radio hits "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked," "Shake Me Down" and "Cigarette Daydreams." Bleachers, Joywave, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and Catfish & the Bottlemen also will perform.

3. WZPL Birthday Bash

The show: 7 p.m. June 19, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, $40 to $148, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/95513301.

What's the big deal: Pop radio station WZPL-FM (99.5) will celebrate its 32nd birthday with a contrasting mix of boy-band survivor Nick Jonas ("Jealous"), rapper Flo Rida ("Whistle") and "The Fault in Our Stars" soundtrack star Charli XCX ("Boom Clap"). Hoodie Allen, MKTO and Kalin & Myles round out the bill.

4. Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa

The show: 7 p.m. July 1, Klipsch Music Center, $20 to $61.75, LiveNation.com.

What's the big deal: Fall Out Boy is enjoying a fruitful second act after early hits "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" and "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" gave way to a three-year hiatus. Since reforming in 2013, the Chicago-based rock band has scaled the singles charts with "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)" and "Centuries." Rapper Wiz Khalifa is co-headliner of the "Boys of Zummer" tour.

5. Ed Sheeran

The show: 7:30 p.m. July 2, Klipsch Music Center, $24 to $74, LiveNation.com.

What's the big deal: One of the most popular male singers of his generation, 24-year-old Sheeran sold 1.4 million overall consumption units of his album "X" in 2014 — good for No. 8 among all releases, according to Nielsen. "Overall consumption" is a category that includes album sales, track equivalent albums and streaming equivalent albums

6. The Rolling Stones

The show: 8 p.m. July 4, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, $59.50 to $395.50, Ticketmaster.com.

What's the big deal: The biggest sporting venue in the world will host its first concert on a non-race weekend. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood will perform in the track's infield northeast of Pagoda Plaza. The title of the Stones' "Zip Code" tour refers to cities the band will visit as well as to the Andy Warhol-designed cover of the band's 1971 album, "Sticky Fingers." The album known for singles "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses" featured a working zipper in its packaging. An expanded reissue of "Sticky Fingers" arrived in stores on May 26.

7. Shania Twain

The show: 7:30 p.m. July 13, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, $44 to $134, Ticketmaster.com.

What's the big deal: Twain is on tour for the first time since 2004. The 1999 Country Music Association entertainer of the year is reportedly working on her first album since 2002's "Up!"

8. Dave Matthews Band

The show: 7 p.m. July 17-18, Klipsch Music Center, $39.50 to $84, LiveNation.com.

What's the big deal: These concerts will be the 35th and 36th shows that DMB has played at Klipsch Music Center (previously known as Verizon Wireless Music Center and Deer Creek Music Center).

9. Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration

The show: 8 p.m. July 18, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, $40 to $75, Ticketmaster.com.

What's the big deal: The ticketed concert of Summer Celebration features R&B icons Patti LaBelle and the Isley Brothers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Summer Celebration's annual free show, starring Blackstreet, happens one night earlier at American Legion Mall.

10. Luke Bryan

The show: 7 p.m. July 24-25, Klipsch Music Center, $30.75 to $70.75, LiveNation.com.

What's the big deal: Country star Bryan plans to issue a new album, "Kill the Lights," in August. So far, he's landed 10 singles at No. 1 on Billboard magazine's U.S. Country Airplay chart.

11. J. Cole

The show: 6:30 p.m. July 26, Klipsch Music Center, $27 to $82, LiveNation.com.

What's the big deal: Cole took home the Top Rap Album trophy at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. His "2014 Forest Hills Drive" release sold 371,000 copies during its first week in stores. Cole's summer tour includes guest performers Big Sean, YG and Jeremih.

12. One Direction

The show: 7 p.m. July 31, Lucas Oil Stadium, $26.50 to $99.50, Ticketmaster.com.

What's the big deal: Although Zayn Malik never made it to Indianapolis (he left One Direction in March), Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne will perform at Lucas Oil Stadium. All four of One Direction's studio albums have reached No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Top 200 chart.

13. John Mellencamp

The show: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, $39.50 to $129.50, Ticketmaster.com.

What's the big deal: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mellencamp will play the final date of his "Plain Spoken" tour at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. .

14. Meghan Trainor

The show: 7 p.m. Aug. 11, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, $46 to $56, Ticketmaster.com.

What's the big deal: "All About That Bass" singer Trainor will perform as part of the 160th edition of the Indiana State Fair. In two changes from previous policy, alcohol will be sold during fair concerts at Indiana Farmers Coliseum and fair admission will not be included with the purchase of concert tickets. Concertgoers need to buy fair tickets at the gate for $12 each or in advance for $8 each.

15. Jason Aldean

The show: Aug. 21, Klipsch Music Center, Megaticket.com.

What's the big deal: Making his first Indianapolis appearance since the 2014 Legends Day concert at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Aldean topped Billboard magazine's U.S. Country Airplay chart with consecutive singles "Night Train," "When She Says Baby," "Burnin' It Down" and "Just Gettin' Started." Cole Swindell and Tyler Farr will perform as Aldean's supporting acts at Klipsch Music Center.

16. Foo Fighters

The show: 7 p.m. Aug. 27, Klipsch Music Center, $41.50 to $74, LiveNation.com.

What's the big deal: Led by Dave Grohl, the Foo Fighters haven't performed in Indiana since a 2008 show at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. In 2014, the band made an album and HBO mini-series titled "Sonic Highways."

17. Van Halen

The show: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2, Klipsch Music Center, $30 to $159.50, LiveNation.com.

What's the big deal: Despite years of feuding, vocalist David Lee Roth continues to work with guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen. Roth, born in Bloomington in 1954, is heard on the first six Van Halen albums (released 1978-84) and 2012's "A Different Kind of Truth." Van Halen's current bass player is Eddie's son, Wolfgang Van Halen.

18. Dierks Bentley

The show: Sept. 5, Klipsch Music Center, Megaticket.com.

What's the big deal: An 11-time Grammy Award nominee, Bentley has yet to break through as a Grammy winner. But he collected video of the year honors at the 2014 Country Music Association Awards. The winning clip accompanied "Drunk on a Plane," a song that reached No. 1 on Billboard magazine's U.S. Country Airplay chart and No. 27 on the all-genre Hot 100 chart.

19. Zac Brown Band

The show: 7 p.m. Sept. 13, Klipsch Music Center, $31.50 to $71.50, LiveNation.com.

What's the big deal: After headlining a night of April's March Madness Music Festival at White River State Park, Zac Brown Band will return to Indianapolis in September. The seven-member group is on tour to promote new album "Jekyll & Hyde."

20. Taylor Swift

The show: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, $37.50 to $198, Ticketmaster.com.

What's the big deal: Swift sold 4.4 million overall consumption units of her album "1989" in 2014 — good for No. 2 among all releases, according to Nielsen. The country-turned-pop singer collected eight Billboard Music Awards on May 17.

Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.