Big shows in the big outdoors

It’s summer, which means most of the big concerts and tours are playing amphitheaters instead of arenas.

There are four outdoor venues within a few hours’ driving distance that have shows worth the gas mileage and ticket prices. (A few concerts will appear at more than one of the venues below.)

Here are some of the best shows to enjoy outdoors through Labor Day.

— Otis R. Taylor Jr.

VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATRE

707 Pavilion Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262 (704) 549-5555

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Petty and his mates, along with opener Steve Winwood, will churn out classic hits — and maybe some of that newer stuff the majority won’t care about. 7:30 p.m. Friday; $29.50 to $95

Brad Paisley: Paisley is a country-pop singer who writes the kind of hooks that stick. With Jewel, “Nashville Star” host Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough. 7:30 p.m. July 18; $20 to $54.25

Rush: The Canadian rock band brushes against metal, prog-rock, blues and modern rock. And what about the voice of Geddy Lee: How did it get so high? 7:30 p.m. July 20; $19.75 to $84

Avril Lavigne and Jonas Brothers: Lavigne straddles the line between bubble-gum pop and mall punk better than any performer. Jonas Brothers, who recently scored big with the TV movie “Camp Rock,” is Disney’s latest multi-media juggernaut. 7 p.m. July 29; $27.50 to $79.50

Projekt Revolution Tour: Linkin Park, Chris Cornell, Busta Rhymes, The Bravery and Ashes Divide will play Linkin Park’s festival. Perhaps there will be an all-star rap-rock mashup at the end of the show. 2 p.m. July 30; $20.75 to $135.75

LAKEWOOD AMPHITHEATRE

2002 Lakewood Ave. Atlanta, GA 30315 (404) 443-5000

Dave Matthews Band: Jamming, sing-alongs and frat boys pretending they are at a Phish show. What more needs to be said? With Gomez, a respected English indie band. 6 p.m. Monday; $40.50 to $75

Poison: This is Poison’s “Live Raw & Uncut” summer tour. Will there be any uncut clips of lead singer Bret Michaels from VH1’s “Rock of Love?” With Dokken and Sebastian Bach. 7 p.m. July 27; $20 to $200

Jack Johnson: Johnson, the surf-pop songwriter, has been surfing the outdoor festival circuit. With Rogue Wave, a sonorous indie-rock band, and Neil Halstead of Slowdive and Mojave 3; 7 p.m. Aug. 13; $29 to $43.50

CHASTAIN PARK AMPHITHEATRE

4469 Stella Drive NW Atlanta, GA 30342 (404) 233-2227

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Plant, the lead singer of legendary heavy blues rockers Led Zeppelin, and Krauss, the bluegrass songstress, have formed a formidable tag team. With T Bone Burnett. 8 p.m. Thursday; $38.50 to $78.50

Michael McDonald and Al Green: With his new album, “Lay It Down,” Green has returned to his soul-singing roots. McDonald has always picked from the trees of singers like Green. 8 p.m. July 16; $25 to 90

BB King and Willie Nelson: Two legends will share the stage: King of rhythm and blues, and Nelson of country. 7 p.m. July 27; $38.50 to $90.50

Crosby, Stills & Nash: A supergroup of talented folk-rock songwriters and singers. 8 p.m. Aug. 2; $29 to $89

Beach Boys: The harmonizing group (how well will those weathered voices sound outside?) will perform with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. Aug. 13; $35 to $59

Erykah Badu: Badu is one of the most eclectic R&B performers, as her music melds psych-rock, hip-hop and soul. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27; $25 to $59

TIME WARNER CABLE MUSIC PAVILION AT WALNUT CREEK

3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, NC 27610 (919) 831-6400

Kenny Chesney: Country superstar Chesney, who kicked off his “Poets & Pirates Tour” at Williams-Brice Stadium in April, brings the show back to the Carolinas. He’s doing two consecutive dates with LeAnn Rimes. Wonder if he’ll have the same setlist? 6 p.m. Aug. 22 and Aug. 23; $37.50 and $75.75

John Mayer: Is he getting serious with Jennifer Aniston? Is he going to retire after this tour? He’s mad at paparazzi for taking what he calls “mundane” photos of him. Mayer’s life is complicated, but man, he can play guitar. And sing soft-pop songs. With OneRepublic, who isn’t going to apologize for its success. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27; $24.75 to $50.50