10 Must See Shows Coming To Austin in 2023: picking out the best of the cavalcade of concerts coming to ATX, including Ministry, Depeche Mode, The Cure, and more.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or don’t use apps like Bands In Town, you are probably aware that the amount of great bands coming to Austin is staggering this year. It can feel a bit overwhelming. Although more will likely pop up, we thought it was a good time to give a primer on all the best shows heading your way this Spring and beyond.
Here’s the best of the best, in order of show date, including links to buy tickets (excluding our first entry, which is a SXSW showcase):
10. New Order (ACL Live! At The Moody Theater, 3/13)
The veteran post-punk icons will kick off SXSW on Monday March 13th at ACL’s Moody Theatre with a collection classic cuts from their back catalogue as well as tracks from their days in Joy Division. Folks my age may want to down some coffee beforehand because they won’t hit the stage until midnight!
Click here for SXSW badges/wristbands.
9. Celebrating David Bowie (ACL Live! At The Moody Theatre, 4/4)
The recurring, revolving collective celebrating the Thin White Duke returns, featuring new additions Peter Murphy, Adrian Belen and Spacehog’s Royston Langon (among many) for a trip through Bowie’s glam years as well as his mid-90’s electronica period.
Click here for tickets.
Ministry (Emo’s, 4/26)
Following last year’s triumphant Industrial Strength tour, Al Jourgensen and co. return to Emo’s for a night full of blistering guitar, tormented samples and pulverizing percussion. And they also have stellar openers, including Frontline Assembly and New Wave architect Gary Numan. Ministry always puts on a stellar show, and this should prove no exception.
Click here for tickets.
Mastodon (Moody Center, 4/29)
The prog mettallers return two ATX with Gojira in tow, for a powerful one-two punch.
Click here for tickets.
Placebo (Stubb’s 5/7)
These 90’s gender-bending veterans are making up for their cancelled 2022 dates with a set at Stubb’s. Expect a mix of classic alt-rockers and select cuts off last year’s excellent album Never Let Me Go.
Click here for tickets.
The Cure (Moody Center, 5/14)
The Goth icons return to Austin for the first time since 2016. Hats off to Robert Smith and the band demanding that Ticketmaster to NOT offer “dynamic pricing” for the show.
Click here for tickets.
The Sisters of Mercy (ACL Live! at The Moody Theater 5/27)
Speaking of Goth icons, Andrew Eldritch’s gloomy outlet returns to Austin for the first time since 2004. And while the group haven’t released a studio album since 1990’s Vision Thing, expect some new material peppered in-between classic cuts.
Click here for tickets.
Garbage and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (Germania Insurance Amphitheater, 6/18)
Shirley Manson and co. team up with former Oasis-leader’s act for what should be a colorful and engaging tour.
Click here for tickets.
Depeche Mode (Moody Center, 9/29)
The synth-pop pioneers return, now as a duo (following last year’s death of founding member Andy Fletcher), to pump out their seminal miix of dark romance and throbbing beats.
Click here for tickets.
Kiss (Moody Center 10/29)
KISS have been a live music institution since forming in the early 70’s. And now that Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are IN their 70’s they’re going out guns blazing on a farewell tour. Expect all the hits, plenty of pyro and Simmons’s oversize tongue flickering away.
Click here for tickets.
That wraps up our list! Any upcoming concerts we’re forgetting? Let us know in the comments!