May is a magical month. Flowers start blooming, grills start cooking,

and concerts move outside. I don’t know about you, but when I see a

show, I love to see it in the elements. It just so happens that there

are some fantastic outdoor concert venues in and around Boston, and

2012 will be a huge year for shows. Here’s a peek at a few of the best

ones coming up.

5/19- Radio 92.9 Earthfest- Hatch Shell

With this epic day, not only are you getting a pretty great concert,

you’re getting it for free. 92.9 is offering a fantastic lineup of

music featuring Third Eye Blind, The Spin Doctors, and Switchfoot.

This is an all-day festival that also features information on

environmentally friendly products and lifestyle choices.

6/5 and 6/6- Dave Matthews Band- Comcast Center

After a year off from heavy touring, DMB is back at it. This time

they’ll be bringing their jams to the Comcast Center on a two night

run. Dave and the guys play a hell of show, cutting deep into their

catalog to pull out different songs every night. For anyone into

acoustic, folky music with long jams, this is the show for you.

6/17- Drake- Comcast Center

This is for the hip-hop fans. Drizzy is closing out the biggest tour

of his career, the “Club Paradise” tour, at the Comcast Center on June

17. He will be joined by a myriad of talent from across the country,

including J. Cole and Wacka Flocka Flame. Drake has said numerous

times that he takes his live performing very seriously, which is

highly unusual in the album-driven, auto-tuned rap industry. If you

want to see a hip-hop/pop show, this is the one to see.

7/1- Roger Waters playing “The Wall”- Fenway Park

This might be the most anticipated show of the year. Waters last

played “The Wall” in Boston in 2010, and he sold out the TD Garden

three nights in a row. Waters is now taking his spectacular stage

setup outside to the now 100 year old Fenway Park, where the Green

Monster will serve as the backdrop to one monster of a show. If you can

afford it, this one will be a treat.

7/14- Jason Aldean With Luke Bryan- Comcast Center

For all of you country fans (there probably aren’t a lot of you, oh

well), this will be the highlight of the season. Aldean is one of the

best live performers in country music, with a list of hits longer than a

beer funnel. The guy puts on a fantastic show that brings rock

elements into great country songs. Luke Bryan, who himself is one of the

fastest rising stars in country music today and plays a phenomenal show,

will be joining Aldean. This will be the best country show of the year at the

Comcast Center, and the second best upcoming show overall in New

England.

7/17- Aerosmith- TD Garden

Okay so I know it’s indoors, but a show like this gets an exception. For

all of you classic rock fans, it doesn’t get more classic than

Aerosmith, the biggest band to ever come out of Boston. Steven Tyler

and company always put on a great hometown show, including 2010 at

Fenway Park, when Joe Perry played a piano on top of the Green Monster

for the band’s encore.

7/19- Vans Warped Tour- Comcast Center

This is the best show to get bang for your buck. The Warped Tour

features dozens of bands from numerous factions of rock music in a

multi-stage festival. Taking Back Sunday, Rise Against, All Time

Low, and Mayday Parade will be among the bands set to appear. This

thing starts at 11 a.m. so get ready for a long day of moshing and

sunburn.

7/28- Summerland Tour- Bank Of America Pavilion

Another good value. The tour will feature some great bands from the

90s in a fantastic venue. Everclear, Sugar Ray, and Lit are scheduled

to appear among others.

8/24 and 8/25- Countryfest- Gillette Stadium

This is the big one. The New England Country Music Festival is the

biggest one day country show in America, and Gillette Stadium will

host the massive event for the 10th year in a row this summer. The

music will be provided by Kenny Chesney, who will be headlining his

eighth festival. Joining Chesney will be fellow megastar Tim Mcgraw, who

is touring America this summer with Chesney on their “Brothers Of The

Sun” tour. Jake Owen and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals will also be

appearing. This is a full day of great music and heavy

drinking that can’t be missed.