February 27, 2014, Updated August 5, 2015
Neil Young’s concert will be at Yarkon Park on July 17.

Israeli music fans haven’t had so many good picks for spring and summer concerts as 2014 is promising to offer. Neil Young and Justin Timberlake are the latest to announce that Tel Aviv will be included on their tours. There’s also Soundgarden and the Pixies, Passenger, old-time legends Paul Anka and Chris De Burgh, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, plus rumors that the Rolling Stones, Miley Cyrus and Beyonce are heading this way.

Unless you’ve got a bottomless budget, attending all the events won’t be an option. Social media is rife with local music fans denouncing the more expensive tickets (Neil Young is the priciest, with tickets ranging from $100-$400) and debating which show will have the best vibe.

Lady Gaga was expected to kick off the summer festivities with a May concert in Tel Aviv. But she recently announced a summer closer date of September 13 for her ARTPOP tour in Israel. The American music sensation was here in 2009.

At the moment, veteran British pop-rocker De Burgh will kick off the international spring/summer festivities on April 29 when the Lady in Red singer takes the stage at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv.

British musician Peter Doherty – of The Libertines and Babyshambles – will make his Israel debut a day later on April 30 at the Barby Club in Tel Aviv.

Canadian singer Justin Bieber — who has shed his good-boy image of late — is booked for a May 14 performance. The teenage pinup who has since had some run-ins with the law wowed Israeli audiences in a successful appearance in 2011.

Soundgarden will be at the Bloomfield Stadium June 17-18.

 

American heavy metal pioneer Manowar will get the crowds screaming with its first-ever concert in Israel on May 21 at Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv. The band will be in Israel as part of its Kings of Metal MMXIV World Tour.

“We are very excited to finally come to Israel. Our fans in Israel have always been incredibly supportive and finally we can reward their patience. We have countless stories of Israeli fans that traveled to our shows all over the world and always told us how much they would like to have Manowar come play in their country. We promise an unforgettable show packed with their favorite hymns!” Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio said in a statement. 

American heartthrob singer-songwriter Timberlake is scheduled to rock Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv on May 28, as part of his 20/20 Experience World Tour.

Next up, save June 4 at Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv for Greek composer and pianist Yanni. The New Age, Grammy-nominee has performed in front of over two million fans around the world.

If the reports are correct, legendary British rock band, The Rolling Stones, will rock the Ramat Gan stadium on June 10. Their Israeli debut will be made as part of their “14 on Fire” tour which begins on February 21 in Abu Dhabi. The Israeli newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, reported that the band had been offered a record $4.5 million for the Israeli show.

Also on June 10, British folk-pop guitarist Passenger will play at the Barby club in Tel Aviv.

Iconic alternative rock bands Soundgarden and the Pixies are taking part on June 17 and 18 in a new international music festival at Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium. The Pixies were meant to perform here in 2010 but cancelled.

 

The Pixies cancelled a previous date in Israel but are expected to perform in June.

Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell has performed in Israel twice before as a solo artist. “I enjoyed performing in Israel so much in recent years, and I’m really excited to be returning finally with Soundgarden,” he said.

Rock&Roll Hall of Famer Young and his band, Crazy Horse, will perform at the same location on July 17. The 69-year-old Young was last in Israel at the Caesarea Amphitheater in 1993.

Concert promoter Shuki Weiss told Haaretz that it took a long time to get Young to return. He said: “After years of negotiations, I am happy to report the arrival of one of the true greats.”

Another veteran Canadian singer-songwriter — Paul Anka — has added his name to the summer lineup. Anka, who has wowed local crowds before, will perform at Tel Aviv’s Bronfman Auditorium on July 24, 2014.

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