Touring behind her new album Femme Fatale (which hit number one on the Billboard charts and spawned the popular "S&M" remake by Rihanna), ever-resilient pop star Britney Spears hits the Verizon Center on July 31. Such a high-profile gig is worth the over-the-top spectacle alone, but upping the appeal here is sparkplug rapper Nicki Minaj, who stepped in to kick the show off when scheduled opener Enrique Iglesias bailed. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. $29.50 to $350.
Soul man R. Kelly is no stranger to scandal, but for our money, he's still one of the best R&B crooners out there. (Look no further than his buttery smooth, Motown-referencing 2010 Love Letter for proof.) Plus, he's got a whole arsenal of classic jams like "Bump and Grind" and "Ignition (Remix)" to unload. Kelly will play the Verizon Center with fellow R&B-pop singer Keyshia Cole on July 2, and tickets for the show go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. $78 to $103.
Long-running alt-favorites Death Cab For Cutie also have a summer gig scheduled, playing the outdoor Merriweather Post Pavilion on August 7. They'll be joined by the Scottish indie-rock band Frightened Rabbit, whose punchy, literate vibe should play nice contrast to Death Cab's grown-man emo. Tickets range from $35 to $45 and go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. through Ticketfly.
