DETROIT – 2023 was a big year for concerts. If you have been following The Go Guide, you would see just how many shows come to the Motor City every week.
As an avid concert attendee, even I was overwhelmed with the number of artists filling seats at Little Caesars Arena, Ford Field and, even, El Club.
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Four shows, however, left an impact on me. Here are my top spots for the best shows that went to Detroit this year.
4. Stephen Sanchez – The Majestic – October 17, 2023
A relative newcomer, Stephen Sanchez blew up on TikTok with his hit “Until I Found You,” gaining radio and streaming attention shortly after.
Sanchez performed in Detroit last year at El Club but sold out very quickly. Thankfully, The Majestic is a much more forgiving space, with ample room for his growing fan base.
At just 21 years old and with only one album under his belt, the recently released Angel Face, Sanchez performs like he’s been headlining Vegas revues for generations. With his 50s and 60s-style music, his entire look and stage persona is built like a modern-day time machine.
His stage show is adorned in the warm glow of vintage light bulbs with minimal tech effects. Sanchez guides his fans through each song with a plot about a lovestruck Troubadour with Elvis-like snarls and hip shaking. Sanchez is a born storyteller physically and vocally and the energy he brought to Detroit was electrifying.
3. P!NK – Comerica Park – August 16, 2023
I did not think I was a Pink fan. I have never searched for her on Spotify.
Yet, I knew about 90% of the set list.
That is the power of Pink’s music. It’s everywhere even when you’re not looking for it.
The Summer Carnival tour jumpstarts with her biggest hit “Get This Party Started” and Pink bungee jumping from the top of the stage. But wait, if she’s already singing her most popular song, what are we going to listen to for the next two hours?
Worry not because Pink has been entertaining for two decades and there were so many moments where I thought, “I forgot about this song!”
Her powerful voice alone could be the star of the show, but she amps up the action with Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics and a show-stopping “So What” finale that has her literally flying all around Comerica Park. If you were in the 300s section, you got a front row view of Pink.
It was a perfect end-of-summer concert at Comerica Park with great weather to top it all off.
2. Taylor Swift – Ford Field – June 10, 2023
I know. I hear you. How was the biggest concert from Time’s Person of the Year not number one?
To begin with, I was never a Taylor Swift fan. I only became a fan because of the concert. When asked if I’m a Swiftie, I respond that I’m an “Eras Tour” fan.
I had the time of my life. It was my birthday weekend, and the energy was unlike anything I’ve ever felt at Ford Field. It wasn’t just a concert. It was an experience that began long before the show. From the intensity of getting tickets to learning all the fan chants, to securing hard-to-get merch days before the show, there was a lot to do before Taylor Swift ever stepped foot on Ford Field.
And knowing that I only had three hours to be in the room that so many people wanted to be in just felt like a lot of pressure to have the perfect experience.
A lot of that was in my own head, but it was still one of the biggest spectacles I’ve ever witnessed. Perfectly crafted with just the right amount of nostalgia. If I only ever went to one Taylor Swift show in my life, this was the best one to be at.
At over three hours, I definitely got my money’s worth. Now with the Eras Tour available for streaming, I can relive it over and over again without the pressure.
1. Beyoncé – Ford Field – July 26, 2023
You know it’s going to be a good show when Beyoncé opens for Beyoncé.
The Renaissance World Tour, named after her seventh studio album, was a glittering, Disco-fueled party that never stopped.
When Beyoncé rose to the stage for the first time, you could just feel her presence and what that presence meant to her fans that filled Ford Field.
From the outrageous on-screen visuals to dancing robotic arms, to the silver shimmers around a flying Beyoncé, Renaissance was a flawless concert that gave fans what they wanted: Beyoncé just having fun.
I left Ford Field that night thinking, “Wow, that was so much fun.”
And, really, isn’t that all a concert is supposed to do?
Next year is already looking bright with Bad Bunny making his Little Caesars Arena debut and Madonna’s hometown return.
If there’s anything this year has solidified, it’s that Detroit is a mandatory stop for the biggest artists in the world.