The first quarter of the new year will bring some big names to Atlantic City and area casinos, including classic-rock deity Rod Stewart; country powerhouse Jason Aldean; and a literal knockout act, ex-heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson.
Also on tap for winter are a slew of pop-chart heroes from the 1980s, a multiple Emmy and Tony winner and a longtime Las Vegas favorite.
Following is a chronology of noteworthy bookings for the coming three months. Tickets for shows are available at ticketmaster.com, except where noted:
“Mike Tyson Presents the Return of Mike”: Jan. 23 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
This one-man show is the follow-up to Tyson’s acclaimed freshman effort, 2012’s “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth.” According to the promotional material, it promises to be a “brutally honest and hilariously unfiltered as he delves into his battles with addiction, mental health, and the man in the mirror.”
Jason Aldean: Jan. 31 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
By any metric, the 48-year-old Macon, Georgia, native is a country-music giant: According to his label, BBR Music, Aldean has sold 20 million albums worldwide since the mid-2000s and his tracks have streamed some 20 billion times. His upcoming “Full Throttle Tour: 2026” is expected to include enough favorites to satisfy the most demanding fans.
Pat Benatar and Neil Gerardo: Feb. 6 at Ocean Casino Resort
The belter Benatar and her guitar-shredding husband Gerardo are the first couple of classic rock and a popular Atlantic City attraction; they have been regular visitors for many years. Expect plenty of hits, including “Heartbreaker,” “Love Is A Battlefield” and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot.”
Musiq Soulchild: Feb. 6 at Tropicana
The veteran singer-songwriter from Philadelphia – his real name is Taalib Hassan Johnson – has carved out a singular piece of musical turf with his deft blending of African American musical modes from multiple generations, including soul, blues, funk and hip-hop, turning them into something both contemporary and timeless.
Alan Cumming – UNCUT: Feb. 6 at Parx
The multi-talented Scotsman certainly wears a lot of hats, including that of stage star (he has a Tony Award for “Cabaret”), TV star (five Emmy awards), raconteur and cabaret attraction. It’s the latter category that Cumming will bring to Parx with a two-man program – accompanied by a pianist – that surveys his unique life and career. Tickets at axs.com.
Billy Gibbons & The BFG Band: Feb. 7 at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
The 2021 death of bassist Dusty Hill put a huge dent in the career of rock ‘n’ boogie masters ZZ Top, but it freed up lead vocalist-guitar wizard Gibbons to strike out on his own. It’s a pretty safe bet there will be plenty of top favorites included.
Trevor Noah: Feb. 13 at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Given current events, the former “Daily Show” host should have no problem filling 75 minutes or so with observations on politics and pop culture.
Diana Krall: Feb. 14 at Ocean
Jazz has historically been under-represented in local gaming halls, but celebrated vocalist-pianist Krall will be carrying that flag this winter.
Black Violin: Feb. 20 at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City
Arguably the season’s most interesting headliner, Black Violin consists of violinist Kevin Sylvester and viola player Wil Baptiste – aka Kev Marcus and Wil B, respectively – who fuse their classically trained style with hip-hop.
Boy George and Culture Club: Feb. 27 at Borgata
Few acts are more representative of the 1980s heyday of MTV than this British unit, whose tunes like “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” – and lead singer Boy George’s over-the-top visuals – resulted in global superstardom.
Piff the Magic Dragon: Feb. 27 at Rivers Casino Philadelphia
The Brit who was born John van der Put has captivated audiences during his decade-long residency at the Flamingo Casino in Las Vegas with an act that combines some magic and a heaping helping of hilarity. Tickets at etix.com.
Rod Stewart: March 7 at Hard Rock
At this stage of the game, what’s left to say about “Rod the Mod?” Bottom line: The 80-year-old classic-rock legend is still going strong, and if you’ve never seen him in concert, you might want to put it at the top of your “to-do” list.
Sheena Easton: March 8 at Borgata
While it’s been decades since this 1980s pop-music icon scaled the heights of stardom, the Scottish singer is still delighting fans with such signatures as “Morning Train” and “Sugar Walls.”
My Generation Tour: March 14 at Caesars Atlantic City
The passage of time continues to thin the ranks of 1960s hitmakers, so this package featuring Gary Lewis & The Playboys (“This Diamond Ring”), The Lovin’ Spoonful (“Do You Believe in Magic”) and a band billed as The Hollies Greatest Hits starring Terry Sylvester – not to be confused with The Hollies, which features two original members – is definitely a schedule highlight for nostalgic Baby Boomers.
John Oates: March 13 at Borgata
The surprisingly bitter and public rift between Oates and his partner for decades, Daryl Hall, may have destroyed one of the most beloved pop acts of the past 50 years, but it has enabled the former to leave the shadow of his more celebrated former partner and bring his particular talents to the forefront.
