Concerts: Comparing the prices

Wilco's frontman Jeff Tweedy. Photo / Richard Robinson

In the coming months Auckland is being struck by endless waves of international music stars of varying pedigrees.

There's everybody from the wise and ancient likes of Paul Simon and Robert Plant to survivors of the great 1990s alt-rock explosion and new boy heart-throbs like Ed Sheeran. The various vintages might indicate varying ticket prices. But is Neil Young cranking out Tonight's the Night worth more than One Direction bouncing through Up All Night?

Well, we don't know either. But it got us thinking - how do all these big music act show prices compare? So here's a survey of who's on the way, their musical history, possible pulling power and what it's going to cost you to be there on the night...

GARBAGE
Late-90s alt-rock band fronted by Shirley Manson, reformed for the release of their 2012 fifth album Not Your Kind of People.

How much: $86.50
Last here: Played the Big Day Out in 2002.
Where and when: The Civic, February 20.

LINKIN PARK
Californian nu-metal band who formed in 1996, and whose five albums have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.

How much: $101.90 to $151.70
Last here: They played a sold out Vector Arena show in 2007.
Where and when: Vector Arena, February 21.

RONAN KEATING AND BRIAN McFADDEN
Double dose of Irish exboybanders - from Boyzone and Westlife respectively - with long-established solo careers and Keating having sold a cool 25 million albums.

How much: $95 to $109
Last here: Keating played a soldout show at Vector last February.
Where and when: Trusts Stadium, February 27.

SANTANA AND THE STEVE MILLER BAND
Veteran guitar hero Carlos Santana and the band that carries his name have sold more than 90 million albums since the Woodstock era.

Since 1968, the Steve Miller Band have released 20-plus albums of their classic rock.

How much: $149
Last here: Santana performed at Vector Arena in 2011.
Where and when: Vector Arena, March 19.

THE DARKNESS AND JOAN JETTAND THE BLACKHEARTS
Crazy glam Brit-rockers who found fame with their 2002 single I Believe In A Thing Called Love, toured their debut album for a few years then broke up, only to announce reunion shows in 2011, and release a new album, Hot Cakes. Joining them is 54-year old queen of rock 'n' roll, Jett.

How much: $86
Last here: The Darkness played at the Big Day Out in 2004.
Where and when: Logan Campbell Centre, April 9.

BRYAN ADAMS
Thirty-six years, 11 pop rock records, millions of albums, and one Summer of 69.

How much: $98.58 to $147.55
Last here: He performed at The Supertop in 1992.
Where and when: The Civic, April 23.

THE OFFSPRING
Veteran Cali-punk outfit who released their ninth album, Days Go By, last year and have sold 40 million albums.

How much: $97.50
Last here: Played the North Shore Events Centre in 1999.
Where and when: Vector Arena, February 27.

FUN.
Fresh from a Grammy win for Song of the Year for We Are Young, this New York indie outfit came to global attention with second album Some Nights.

How much: $50 (part of The Edge One Stand with Kids of 88, Ruby Frost, Kidz in Space.
Last here: First visit to NZ.
Where and when: Logan Campbell Centre, March 13.

PAUL SIMON
Prolific, and highly influential pop icon with a career spanning 50 years and 12 solo albums. The tour marks the 25th anniversary of his most successful solo album, Graceland (which sold 12 million alone) and comes after a brief Simon & Garfunkel reunion.

How much: $99 to $159 with support Rufus Wainwright.
Last here: Last played a sold-outshow with Garfunkel at Vector Arena in 2009.
Where and when: Vector Arena, April 8.

BLACK SABBATH
Often called the greatest metal rock band of all time, they've sold more than 70 million albums and are set to release their 10th studio album in June.

How much: $119.90 to $159.90
Last here: They played at the Great Ngaruawahia Festival in 1973.
Where and when: Vector Arena, April 20 and April 22.

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS
Rising rapper/producer duo from Seattle who have taken the world by storm with debut album The Heist and singles Thrift Shop and Same Love.

How much: $75
Last here: First time in NZ.
Where and when: Vector Arena, February 22.

DIZZEE RASCAL WITH AZEALIA BANKS
English rapper who's been releasing hits since his Mercury Prize-winning 2003 debut Boy In Da Corner. Banks is a 21-year-old rapper from New York who made waves last year with the release of her EP 1991, and is expected to release her debut album in coming months.

How much: $89
Last here: Dizzee performed at the 2010 Big Day Out, and it'll be the first time in NZ for Banks.
Where and when: Vector Arena, March 1.

NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE
Fifty-plus albums and counting, the 67-year-old rocker who's been performing since 1960 is returning with his loud mates, Crazy Horse.

How much: $111.60 to $163.60
Last here: Young performed at the Big Day Out in 2009.
Where and when: Vector Arena, March 21.

ROBERT PLANT
Led Zeppelin voice and rock legend (the band have worldwide sales of more than 300 million), turned Americana and World music troubador. Here with the Sensational Space Shifters.

How much: $123 to $153, with the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Last here: Led Zeppelin first played Auckland at Western Springs in 1972, and Plant played Mt Smart in the early 80s.
Where and when: Vector Arena, April 11.

ONE DIRECTION
English boy band who came third on Britain's X-Factor in 2010. Two albums have sold more than eight million so far.

How much: $99 to $129
Last here: Played two sold-out shows at Trusts Stadium in April last year.
Where and when: Vector Arena, October 12 and 13.

DEEP PURPLE AND JOURNEY
The surviving members of two huge 70s rock bands from different sides of the Atlantic. Deep Purple have sold 100-plus million albums and Journey are not far behind.

How much: $99 to $135
Last here: Deep Purple performed at the Logan Campbell Centre in 2006. This is Journey's first performance in New Zealand.
Where and when: Vector Arena, February 24.

ED SHEERAN
Ginger-haired 21-year-old Brit who performs his folk-pop-rockhip-hop blend solo. Has released just one album (2011's +, which has sold more than two million copies) and has written a number of songs for One Direction.

How much: $92.70
Last here: Played a sold-out show at the Aotea Centre in July 2012.
Where and when: Vector Arena, March 9.

THE JACKSONS
The 1970s Motown quintet minus one notable exception.

How much: $89 to $399
Last here: Never been before.
Where and when: Logan Campbell Centre, March 26.

THE SCRIPT
Big-at-home Irish rock band who've been gaining attention in the US since 2009 and whose third album, #3, is gaining a global fan base, particularly after frontman Danny O'Donoghue appeared as a judge on The Voice UK.

How much: $88.50
Last here: First time in NZ.
Where and when: Vector Arena, April 12.

THE STONE ROSES
Much-loved, influential Brit-rock four-piece, who made a huge impact with their 1989 debut album before splitting in 1996.

How much: $99 to $125
Last here: This will be their first time in NZ.
Where and when: Vector Arena, February 26.

GLENN FREY
The most successful solo flight from the Eagles (who sold more than 120 million albums), Frey's released five albums on his own including last year's After Hours.

How much: $99.90 to $164.90
Last here: The Eagles played in Auckland in 1995. This will be Frey's first solo show here.
Where and when: Vector Arena, March 10.

WILCO
Chicago based Americana-meets experimental rock group and critics' faves.

How much: $79.50 to $90, with soul singer Mavis Staples (whose last album Wilco frontman, Jeff Tweedy, produced)
Last here: Performed a sold-out concert at The Civic in 2010.
Where and when: Auckland Town Hall, April 6.

JOSH GROBAN
Easy-listening US popera star with six albums and 25 million sold.

How much: $99.90 to $149.90
Last here: First time in NZ.
Where and when: Vector Arena, April 13.

MOST EXPENSIVE:

1. Santana and The Steve Miller Band: $149
2. Robert Plant: $123 to $153
3. Black Sabbath: $119.90 to $159.90

AND THE CHEAPEST:

1. Fun.: $50
2. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: $75
3. Wilco: $79.50 to $90

-TimeOut