Editor's ChoiceFeaturedLists

Johnny Cole’s Favorite Shows of 2021


● 1. “An Evening with Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: One Last Time” at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, NY * Tony Bennett’s final concert (Aug. 5)

● 2. Lady Gaga “Jazz & Piano” 2021 – Las Vegas Residency at Park MGM in Las Vegas, NV (I was able to see Lady Gaga during her previous run of Las Vegas shows in 2019 (Oct. 14)
● 3. WE LOVE NYC: THE HOMECOMING CONCERT “The Clive Davis Mega-Concert Event for The Reopening of New York City at Central Park’s Great Lawn in New York City, NY” ft. New York Philharmonic (conducted by Marin Alsop), Andrea Bocelli, Jennifer Hudson, Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean, Rob Thomas, Journey, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Jon Batiste, LL Cool J & Friends, JP Saxe & Julia Michaels, Kane Brown, Polo G, and Barry Manilow * Stormy weather caused the evening portion of show to be canceled (Aug. 21)
● 4. Bruce Springsteen “Springsteen On Broadway” at St. James Theatre in New York City, NY (TWO SHOWS: July 14 & Aug. 20)
● 5. Foo Fighters “Rock Returns To The Garden” with special guest Dave Chappelle (who performed Radiohead’s “Creep”) at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY (June 20)
● 6. Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden  “Billy Joel’s Return to The Garden” in New York City, NY (Nov. 5)
● 7. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Carole King, LL Cool J, Eminem, Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, The Go-Go’s, Christina Aguilera, Mickey Guyton, Keith Urban, H.E.R., Gary Clark, Jr., Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney and more at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, OH (Oct. 30)
● 8. Andrea Bocelli at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY (Dec. 15)
● 9. Royal Horses “Acoustic Show” at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (May 22)
● 10. John Henry’s Friends’ Autism Education Benefit ft. Steve Earle & The Dukes with guests: Bruce Springsteen, Rosanne Cash, Willie Nile, The Mastersons & Matt Savage (An event benefiting The Kesswell School) at Town Hall in New York City, NY * After-Party at The Loft at Pier 57 (Dec. 13)
● 11. Alanis Morissette with special guests Garbage & Cat Power….(TWO SHOWS) at Coastal Credit Union Music Park (Walnut Creek) in Raleigh, NC (Aug. 22) & the Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, OH (Sept. 8)
● 12. Genesis at TD Garden in Boston, MA (Dec. 16)
● 13. The Immediate Family featuring Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel and Steve Postell with special guest Willie Nile at Adler Hall at Society for Ethical Culture in New York City, NY (Nov. 20)
● 14. Larkin Poe with guest The Collection at the House of Blues in Cleveland, OH (Oct. 31)
● 15. “Sting: My Songs” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV (Nov. 13)
● 16. Phil & Foster with Donna Hall Foster, Sister Sara & Truitt Williams at Jack’s by the Tracks in Pascagoula, MS (Dec. 3)
● 17. Maggie Rose with guests Them Vibes & Dylan Hartigan at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis, MD (July 15)
● 18. Rolling Stones with guest Ghost Hounds at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN (Oct. 9)
● 19. Firefly Festival ft. Billie Eilish, The Killers, Cage The Elephant, Phoebe Bridgers etc at “The Woodlands” of Dover International Speedway in Dover, DE (Sept. 23 & 24)
● 20. John Hiatt with the Jerry Douglas Band at Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD (Nov. 19)
● 21. Phil & Foster with Jose Santiago and special guest Cary Hudson at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, AL (Mar. 31)
● 22. Molly Thomas & The Rare Birds at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, AL (June 13)
● 23. The Frog Pond Sunday Social ft. Grayson Capps, Corky Hughes, John Calvin Abney, Ross Newell, Gram Rea & Jimmy Lumpkin at The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm in Silverhill, NY (Dec. 12)
● 24. Eric Erdman “2021 Music Artist of the Year at The Southland Music Line” at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (Dec. 11)
● 25. Graham Parker with guest Stefan Heuer at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, MD (Oct. 28)
● 26. The Doobie Brothers featuring Michael McDonald at PPL Center in Allentown, PA (Oct. 29)
● 27. Jon Anderson (from Yes) with the Paul Green Rock Academy at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis, MD (Aug. 3)
● 28. Rod Stewart at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV (Oct. 13)
● 29. Lisa Mills at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (June 28)
● 30. Chip Herrington Jazz 5 at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (Sept. 10)
● 31. Chuck Cannon at Granny’s Garden & Buckdance Theater near Wade, MS (Dec. 4)
● 32. Sugarcane Jane at Lake Forest Yacht Club in Daphne, AL (July 4)
● 33. Mark Pfaff/Corky Hughes/Jim Roebuck Blues Trio at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (Dec. 23)
● 34. The Grammy Nomination Party & Celebration of the Music by Jimmy “Duck” Holmes at the Blue Front Cafe in Bentonia, MS. Some others to perform: Mississippi Marshall and Randy “19th Street Red” Cohen (Mar. 14)
● 35. Steve Forbert & The New Renditions at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club in Asbury Park, NJ (June 19); Steve Forbert & The New Renditions at Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY (Aug. 19) “TWO SHOWS”
● 36. Sammy Hagar & The Circle (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham & Vic Johnson) at Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, FL (May 25)
● 37. Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at “Concerts on the Green” at Suneagles Golf Club in Eatontown, NJ. (May 29)
● 38. Chris Botti at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City, NY (Dec. 14)
● 39. Stephen Lee Veal “New Music Release Show” at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (Jan. 30)
● 40. Night Ranger w/ Love & War, ROZY, and DJ Andy at The Studio at Warehouse Live in Houston, TX (May 8)
● 41. Max Weinberg at City Winery in New York City, NY (June 17)
● 42. “Stand Up For Heroes” ft. Bruce Springsteen, Brandi Carlile & others at Alice Tully Hall (Lincoln Center) in New York City, NY (Nov. 8)
● 43. American Aquarium with guest Katie Pruitt at The Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall in Pittsburgh, PA; earlier in the evening: Howling Mob on the Front Porch Stage at The Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall (Sept. 9)
● 44. Mississippi Songwriters Festival at various locations in Ocean Springs/Gautier, MS (Sept. 16-19)
● 45. “Invasion of the 251” ft. Red Clay Strays, Red & The Revelers and Abe Partridge at Duling Hall in Jackson, MS (Apr. 3)
● 46. Blue Mother Tupelo at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (July 30)
● 47. Danny Clinch and the Transparent Clinch Gallery “Cheers to 5 Years” Anniversary Event celebrating five amazing years in Asbury Park ft. live music by Low Cut Connie, Alexander Simone & Whodat, Black Flamingos, plus a Transparent Gallery Allumni Jam led by Danny Clinch, Rachel Ana Dobken & “Special Guests” at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ (Nov. 21)
● 48. Griffin House at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (Apr. 23)
● 49. Wilco and Sleater-Kinney at Altria Theater in Richmond, VA (Aug. 18)
● 50. Grayson Capps, Corky Hughes, Will Kimbrough, Andrew Duhon & Molly Thomas at The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm’s Tree House Hall in Silverhill, AL (May 28)

● 51. Brandon “Taz” Niederauer with guest Waiting On Mongo at Daydream Farm in (Wall Township) Monmouth County, NJ (Aug. 7)
● 52. Rodney Crowell with guest Phil & Foster (with Sister Sara) at The Grand Magnolia Ballroom in Pascagoula, MS (July 26)
● 53. Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis, MD (Aug. 4)
● 54. Ross Newell at Callaghan’s Irish Coast Club in Mobile, AL (July 11)
● 55. Tim Reynolds (Dave Matthews Band guitarist & collaborator) at Ridgefield Playhouse “Playhouse Tent” in Ridgefield, CT (June 18)
● 56. Squeeze at Hershey Theatre in Hershey PA (Aug. 6)
● 57. KISS at Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS (Oct. 5)
● 58. The Marlow Boys at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, AL (Dec. 29)

● 59. Third Annual Grand Magnolia Music Festival featuring Johnny Sansone & John Fohl, Molly Thomas & Rick Hirsch, Cole Hill, and Taylor Craven at The Grand Magnolia Ballroom in Pascagoula, MS (Apr. 17)
● 60. “Telling Songs and Singing Stories presented by The Gulf Coast Swamp Hippies” featuring Taylor Cook (Blacksheep Troubadour), Joshua “Catfish” Peacock, Ross Graham (Alabama Gandalf) at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (Aug. 1)
● 61. Winger, Jack Russell’s Great White & Hindsight at The Studio at Warehouse Live in Houston, TX (May 7)
● 62. Madison Grace & Jared Messinger Jazz Duo at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (June 26)
● 63. John Conlee with guest Double Dee at The Grand Magnolia Ballroom in Pascagoula, MS (June 11)
● 64. Wester The Band at The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (June 4)
● 65. “The Peoples Room Six Year Anniversary Shindig” featuring The Jollies at Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL (May 15)
● And many more shows, concerts & events enjoyed in 2021.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SOUTHLAND MUSIC LINE 2021: A YEAR IN REVIEW
CLICK HERE FOR JOHNNY’S COMPLETE LIST OF SHOWS IN 2021
CLICK HERE FOR JOHNNY COLE’S ANNUAL MUSIC AWARDS, FAVORITE ALBUMS, SINGLES/SINGLES & LIST OF MUSICIANS SEEN IN 2021
CLICK HERE FOR 2021 PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STEPHEN ANDERSON COLLECTION

Page Designed & Edited by Johnny Cole
Additional Editing by Brenda Germany
© The Southland Music Line. 2021.
All rights reserved

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