Smashing Magazine - we smash you with the information that will make your life easier. really.

60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Advertisement

When scouring the design field, searching for stand-out artistic expression and fluid composition, one area that should always catch the eye, is poster design. Moreover, concert poster design, which has produced some truly revolutionary artists and works for generations now, should be paid particular attention to. Fluidity of design is especially key in poster layouts, as there is a finite space, and numerous points to capture and pass along within these confines.

The designer must encapsulate not only the band’s attitude and tone with the work, but also impart the feel of the album or tour that the poster is announcing. And speaking of announcements, the posters must seamlessly incorporate the typography that tells the reader the names, dates, and places of import. All the while maintaining the impact of the piece, and not overworking or overfilling the area and detracting from it’s overall arrangement.

So many shining examples of this exist in the art community, and in this episode of Monday Inspiration we present 60 inspiring concert poster designs from 10 amazing artists. The links at the bottom will take you to sites dedicated to showcasing other wonderful works from the concert poster genre.

Emek

Emek is an awe-inspiring artist with a natural depth and vibrance to his work. From stunningly styled typography to intricately carved creative designs, Emek’s work shines out among his peers, and was an easy addition to this inspiring bunch.

Emek1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Emek2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Emek3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Emek4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Emek5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Emek6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Mike Klay

Mike Klay is a stellar stand-out in the field of concert poster design. His simplicity of style and nature packs so much of the message in such compact creations, using clean, crisp vectors to achieve his task without using all of the available space. Saying so much with so little, is an awesome feat, and Mike Klay achieves this with ease.

Klay1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Klay2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Klay3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Klay4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Klay5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Klay6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Jim Phillips

Jim Phillips’ singular voice and untethered style give his work such a varied and boundless feel that it’s easy to see why his work has spanned generations, standing firmly against the tests of time.

Phillips1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Phillips2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Phillips3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Phillips4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Phillips5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Phillips6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Rex Ray

Rex Ray’s eclectic work in concert poster design combines a retro feel with a piercing, modern attitude that explodes from within his work and captures the attention while tickling the imagination. Rex Ray’s stimulating style can not, and should not be ignored.

Ray1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Ray2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Ray3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Ray4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Ray5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Ray6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Jermaine Rogers

Jermaine Rogers is one of those raw expressive aritsts whose work makes you feel like an addict. It seeps into your skin and excites your senses with it’s bite and it’s dark beauty leaving you longing for more. With his sharp and edgy style, Jermaine Rogers’ work will be inspiring artists for years to come.

Rogers1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Rogers2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Rogers3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Rogers4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Rogers5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Rogers6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Frank Kozik

Frank Kozik stylishly blends a punk rock attitude with intense colors and textures to stamp an imaginative mark on the design community. His no-holds-barred and uncompromising approach to his work, make it easy to see why this creative giant has been credited with reviving this lost artform.

Kozik1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Kozik2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Kozik3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Kozik4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Kozik5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Kozik6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Chris Shaw

Some artists’ work has an aura about it, that creates a tone which radiates from the piece and infects the environment around it. There are not many artists with a voice this vibrant and alive, but Chris Shaw is one of them, and a concert poster list would not be complete without giving this titan of artistic style and complex composition a nod.

Shaw1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Shaw2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Shaw3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Shaw4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Shaw5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Shaw7 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Nel ‘Jagmo’ Jacobson

Some artist’s style speaks volumes with the depths of their designs, and the intricate weaving of different elements throughout their work. Nel Jacobson, known also as Jagmo, is the type of artist that can accomplish these amazing feats with ease and simplicity. This inspiring artist consistently uses minimalistic design elements, and then fills the space brilliantly incorporating massive typography with balance and skill.

Jagmo1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Jagmo2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Jagmo3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Jagmo4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Jagmo5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Jagmo6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Craig Howell

For nearly a decade, Craig Howell, has led a charge through the concert poster design community leaving a vibrant and explosive mark in his path. His highly original work has kept his name circulating throughout the industry, and has kept this talented artist in popular demand. With an unmatched voice, and unparalleled vision, this behemoth of beauty is destined to be a classic in the field.

Howell1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Howell2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Howell3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Howell4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Howell5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Howell6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

James Rheem Davis

As far as insipiration goes, the work of James Rheem Davis is that rare breed of designer that adeptly captures the very essence of beauty in the dark and macabre. Flawlessly conveying the desired message with near nightmarish representations of a twisted take on the world around. With morbid and melancholy tones to match the images, Davis’ posters have a haunting effect on the viewer.

Davis1 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Davis2 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Davis3 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Davis4 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Davis5 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Davis6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Last Click

Again, with Chris Shaw’s amazing talents having inspired so many artists in the field, we felt the last click should go to him.

Shaw6 in 60 Concert Posters From Ten Amazing Artists

Resources

Robert Bowen is an emerging author, celebrated podcaster and poet, and most recently the co-founder and imaginative co-contributor of the creative design and blogging duo at the Arbenting Freebies Blog and Dead Wings Designs. Rob is also currently Co-Editor of Fuel Your Creativity along with his wife Angie Bowen.

Post Rating
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No votes yet)
Loading ... Loading ...

Tags: ,

Advertising
  1. 1
    Jurryt
    September 28th, 2008 12:48 pm

    Nice, good post, but something tells me it’s loads of the same… pitty

    1st btw, lol :P

  2. 2
    syed
    September 28th, 2008 1:01 pm

    dude, that just sooo awsome!

  3. 3
    DesignJunkie
    September 28th, 2008 1:03 pm

    Funny this was posted today. Last week a blog did interviews with Mike Klay & 7 other poster artists: http://stickersanddonuts.com/tag/poster-party/

  4. 4
    try-try-try
    September 28th, 2008 1:11 pm

    Great collection, but i still think, you forgott this one:
    http://www.rockcandyposters.com/catalog/1d04_1_290_1.JPG

  5. 5
    Ivan
    September 28th, 2008 1:14 pm

    agreed with Jurryt – too much of the same, but also a lot of inspiration.

  6. 6
    rss_ems
    September 28th, 2008 1:22 pm

    İnteresting,thanks. | Turkey

  7. 7
    Samuel Cotterall
    September 28th, 2008 1:39 pm

    Some really excellent work, but a lot of that is really awful.

    I understand that a lot of gig posters are designed to commemorate the gig, rather than advertise it, but the first thing you notice should be the band’s name, then the date, then the venue – not the artwork.

    Also, a lot of these are really out of keeping with the band’s image.

    And, where were the Small Stakes?

  8. 8
    Stewart K
    September 28th, 2008 3:25 pm

    I would have to say Rock posters are one of my biggest inspirations, So it was cool to see some artists in there that I didn’t know along with the heavy weights.

    I do think a great artist to mention would have been Rick Griffen, as he was obviously a big influence on a lot of these guys.

  9. 9
    Lenymo
    September 28th, 2008 4:09 pm

    Aussie artist Ken Taylor deserves a mention here.

  10. 10
    ArtHack
    September 28th, 2008 4:14 pm

    Good!I like it

  11. 11
    RD
    September 28th, 2008 4:56 pm

    Okay… two in a row. There is nothing unique about any of these artists nor should their work be highlighted and published like this out of the blue. These guys know what they’re doing ( Link ), if you’re looking for influential poster art. You, however do not. Smashing, what happened to the quality posts of old? I used to check your site every day for inspiration. One more BS ad to soak up advertising like this, and I am crossing you off my list. I advise and young and aspiring designers to do the same if you see what I see. Your work suffers when you waste your time on crap like this, I promise you.

    Am I expecting too much?

  12. 12
    p3@rl
    September 28th, 2008 6:35 pm

    thanks! i loved the first two. very inspiring. the others looked pretty much the same..

  13. 13
    mikemike
    September 28th, 2008 6:54 pm

    FAIL – every day that you put photos or random things like this I don’t click ads. When you put free icons, or fonts, or tools, good tips, lists of applications that help us or other good posts, I click at least 3 ads in one day, and refresh my page 10-15 times.

  14. 14
    Matt
    September 28th, 2008 7:23 pm

    You are missing one of the great poster designers of our time: Derek Hess. I’d even throw Modern Dog in there too, despite the fact that they are a design firm, their gig posters are great.

  15. 15
    Sean McCambridge
    September 28th, 2008 7:40 pm

    Mike Klay’s work is awesome! Can’t belive it’s already Monday. :)

  16. 16
    Dr. Girlfriend
    September 28th, 2008 7:46 pm

    Well, there goes my day! Concert posters — and album covers — are two of my favorite sources of inspiration. Thanks for the fun links!

    @Samuel Cotterall – I disagree. This is 2008, not 1968. We have the internet, tv, and advertisements everywhere: we don’t need such info prominently displayed on the poster anymore. If you want to know when your favorite band is playing, you don’t look for a poster, you go to their website. Posters are for the fans already at the show.

    Concert posters are one of the few remaining places where an artist can truly go wild with creativity; I, for one, love it!

  17. 17
    Daniel
    September 28th, 2008 8:00 pm

    What?! No mention of Alan Forbes? I call shenanigans….

  18. 18
    gaurav_m
    September 28th, 2008 8:33 pm

    mind freshing ..twister art work

  19. 19
    Marcos
    September 28th, 2008 8:47 pm

    Dude!…. This post is mind blowing! Good an fun time invested. Though I miss many real good poster of pearl jam. BTW you should do the same here but with concert tickets.

  20. 20
    Aurélio Reis
    September 28th, 2008 8:52 pm

    amazing. nice post
    ty 4 Brazil

  21. 21
    Robert Bowen
    September 28th, 2008 8:53 pm

    Thanks for all the feedback. Sorry to those who think that this is too much of the same, but I have to disagree. I think this is a nice variety of artists and styles. Also, I like the fact that you can see shared influences in some of their works. To me that feeds the inspiration, but again, that’s just me.

    @ mikemike – Sorry you don’t like the inspiration posts, I find them helpful, and well, inspiring. :)

    @ Daniel – Alan Forbes, and fans, please forgive the transgression.

  22. 22
    snark
    September 28th, 2008 8:54 pm

    sausage fest.

  23. 23
    doctorweaksauce
    September 28th, 2008 9:06 pm

    No Aaron Horkey? This is terrible. And this deceivingly gives the reader the idea that all great gig poster artists do work for shitty, awful bands.

  24. 24
    Sandeep
    September 28th, 2008 9:16 pm

    Nice collection, Smashing Magazine are expert in their own way….

  25. 25
    rajaraman r
    September 28th, 2008 9:37 pm

    It’s fine, but the title should like – horror collection

  26. 26
    Robert Frost
    September 28th, 2008 9:58 pm

    Failed to load any images.

  27. 27
    Bas Wit
    September 28th, 2008 10:10 pm

    More great posters and flyers can be seen at: Vera Groningen. A local underground club with a really cool homeprinted magazine and great posters.

  28. 28
    b
    September 28th, 2008 10:18 pm

    no derek hess? wtf?

  29. 29
    Andre
    September 28th, 2008 10:21 pm

    Doublenaut in Toronto does really great posters. Check them out!
    http://www.doublenaut.com/work/posters/

  30. 30
    abonymous
    September 28th, 2008 10:28 pm

    @ #7 Rick Griffin should have been at the top, or most notable. There were definitely a few others during the 60’s and 70’s, that a lot of these artists borrow from. Rick Griffins work aside from concert posters is equally stunning.

  31. 31
    Roland
    September 28th, 2008 11:03 pm

    @ Samuel Cotterall (September 28th, 2008, 1:39 pm)
    “Some really excellent work, but a lot of that is really awful.”

    I agree with this part of your post. Most of those are god aweful and I don’t understand how they ever made it to print. If I were to even suggest such rubbish to my customers (yes, a few are artists, although not (rock) bands) they’d go elsewhere before I’d finished talking. But perhaps it’s a culture thing, with such designs called good being rooted in the music style.

    Still, it’s good to see such posts as they remind us how many different “good” designs there can be, and it can help us to think outside the box to accommodate new potential customers.

  32. 32
    MiSc
    September 28th, 2008 11:22 pm

    Great list, though I miss the ones from Atzgerei (Atzgerei.com) for Sonic Youth, Melvins, Fu Manchu, Xiu Xiu, No Means No and many more. They are great! Have to be in the next smashing list!

  33. 33
    Bozo Meko
    September 28th, 2008 11:44 pm

    Wow, thanks for leaving out Mati Klarwein, I guess you’ve shown the audience how limited your musical knowledge is; that’s what I’ve learned, and only that.

  34. 34
    Justin (www.DotNetMushroom.com)
    September 29th, 2008 12:23 am

    Whoa ! Now this is a truly interesting post !! I have an idea that you can do a blog post on – the creativity of Vinyl LP Sleeves – especially if you take the mid 60’s till early 70’s. Lots of complicated, intricate, phsychedelic freehand designs there. Let me start you off with Deep Purple’s The Book of Taliesyn ….

    DotNetMushroom

  35. 35
    Nikesh ponnen
    September 29th, 2008 12:55 am

    something is missing

  36. 36
    matt traut
    September 29th, 2008 1:00 am

    you forgot robert marx!!

  37. 37
    Martin
    September 29th, 2008 1:06 am

    No Coop? Awwwww.

  38. 38
    Jeffrey
    September 29th, 2008 1:32 am

    mmm, some are nice, but some are REALLY awful!!!

  39. 39
    emil
    September 29th, 2008 1:36 am

    Why are you guys compalining ? If you really think you can do a better job then give us something… Instead of mentioning just one or two names… The guy been doing his research and compiled it for us, show a little gratitude… Critics are critics, but there are limits guys…

    Besides, the tittle is monday inspiration… If this post turns out didn’t inspire you then what’s wrong with that ? You can’t have the world always turn on your ways only man…

    Btw, great job to you Robert… Thanks Man… Cheers..

  40. 40
    Matt
    September 29th, 2008 1:57 am

    Loving the “Sweet Vine” poster – Very Alphonse Mucha – One of my favourite poster artists of the Fin de siècle.

  41. 41
    darthdaddy
    September 29th, 2008 2:09 am

    @b (September 28th, 2008, 10:18 pm)

    “no derek hess? wtf?”

    My thoughts exactly. To me, Hess has always been the first artist I think of when it comes to concert posters.

  42. 42
    Shaun
    September 29th, 2008 2:17 am

    It does seem to be a very emo/rock biased collection.

    Pity again you missed Peter Saville – http://www.worldinmotion.net/newsroom/pictures/2003/factoryposter.jpg or http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/content/images/2007_3194.jpg or http://busstop.typepad.com/blog/images/2007/05/17/hacienda.jpg

  43. 43
    LC
    September 29th, 2008 2:18 am

    Concert posters are crazy. Great gallery ! (and cool to see so many mars volta’s ;))

  44. 44
    MrColourDrunk
    September 29th, 2008 2:30 am

    Yes they are of a very similar style! But with Concert Posters Especially American Events its all about the Venue and keeping that hand made photocopied feel and look. I agree the Cold Play poster made no sense but i love the Mars Volta Venue posters especially the System of a Down! Great Post

  45. 45
    Simme
    September 29th, 2008 2:31 am

    Mars Volta <3

  46. 46
    ChrisBenyamin
    September 29th, 2008 3:47 am

    Fantastic post! Love it!

    Chris

  47. 47
    Trevor Lee
    September 29th, 2008 4:26 am

    nice post, but so very incomplete…if I had to rate this post on a 1-10 scale, it would get a 1 for incompleteness.

    these are some great posters by some great artists, but there are even more missing…so sad.

    My favorite is Jeff Wood of Drowning Creek Studio in GA. He’s done posters for Conscious Alliance, Christmas Jam, Smilefest, Widespread Panic, and many many more!

    http://www.drowningcreek.com

    All that being said…one of my biggest inspirations is concert posters, the walls of my office are almost literally wallpapered with posters, as I look up above my monitor, there are 20+ right in front of me…so that being said, good post for inspirational source.

  48. 48
    Michael
    September 29th, 2008 4:38 am

    I am with the guy that called fail due to no Horkey.

    Well worth the time for anyone here to check him out.

  49. 49
    Grafiko
    September 29th, 2008 4:39 am

    Great post!

  50. 50
    devolute
    September 29th, 2008 4:39 am

    The Coldplay poster is a lot more exciting than the actual band experience. A credit to the artists.

  51. 51
    Andreas Nieckele
    September 29th, 2008 5:20 am

    fuck yeah FU MANCHU!

  52. 52
    Tim Roberts
    September 29th, 2008 5:48 am

    I’d add Salt Lake City’s Leia Bell to this list.

  53. 53
    Jonathan
    September 29th, 2008 6:05 am

    Wow, I was hoping for some really amazing posters, but instead I had to endure looking at probably the ugliest, most puke-inducing “art” I’ve seen in a long while.

    Please, spare us this crap from now on.. Thanks.

  54. 54
    Robert Bowen
    September 29th, 2008 6:26 am

    @ bozo meko – Nice work, but there is a difference between ‘Album Covers’ and ‘Concert Posters’. Guess you should have tried to learn that as well. kthnxbye!

    Thanks for all the links, love, and again feedback. Some really other great artists have been recommended, so thanks for that. Sorry for some of the omits, but I’m a deeply flawed individual so that’s probably why ;) .

    @ emil – Thanks for that!

    Once again, there have been some great artists mentioned and linked, so much gratitude for the heads up!

    @ Jonathan – So what you are saying is that it made you feel something! That rocks!

  55. 55
    Lanceromance
    September 29th, 2008 6:35 am

    This Art is the Bomb-bo Boombastic BooYA- YO !!!!

  56. 56
    RM
    September 29th, 2008 6:51 am

    You missed the best artist by far R. Black

  57. 57
    nick
    September 29th, 2008 7:01 am

    wow you ppl cry so much on here. typical “designers” who think they know everything. haha.

  58. 58
    kristy
    September 29th, 2008 7:07 am

    I loved the collection of Jack Johnson posters from this summer…very diverse…http://twoifbysee.blogspot.com/2008/09/jack-johnson-tour-posters.html

  59. 59
    Lyle Hebel
    September 29th, 2008 7:12 am

    Where are the Ames Bros? http://www.bigpopposters.com/posterMain.asp?Category=3

  60. 60
    Radke
    September 29th, 2008 7:28 am

    Needs more Horkey, Hess and Klausen

  61. 61
    Roshan
    September 29th, 2008 7:33 am

    This just made my day. Excellent references.
    Thank you SM.

    http://www.instantshift.com

  62. 62
    jan
    September 29th, 2008 7:49 am

    rex ray was a bit week, but lotsa good stuff here. götz bockstedte has some good stuff too!

  63. 63
    brandon
    September 29th, 2008 7:55 am

    A really bad post. Promotional posters are supposed to communicate something. I couldn’t even read / understand what more than half of those posters were for. That makes them failures as posters. Art perhaps, but successful posters they are not.

  64. 64
    Robert Bowen
    September 29th, 2008 8:11 am

    @ Brandon, sorry to disappoint. Though, I do have to say, I disagree. I think these posters communicate so much, not just through the art, but with some very interesting typography. Though, admittedly, that may just be me, and they don’t speak that way to everyone.

    @ Radkey, thanks for the reco’s!

    @ RM, will keep that in mind! Thanks.

  65. 65
    Scott
    September 29th, 2008 8:14 am

    No Kuhn posters? Come on. Denver rep-rah-zent!

  66. 66
    Jonathan
    September 29th, 2008 8:38 am

    @ Jonathan – So what you are saying is that it made you feel something! That rocks!

    The feeling I get is that the “designers” of such posters should not be allowed to design, and instead should be relegated to menial labor in some gulag in Irkutsk

  67. 67
    walter
    September 29th, 2008 9:18 am

    i agree…def. derek hess needs to be here….and coop as well. i think someone mentioned small stakes…they’re stuff is great.

  68. 68
    Mike
    September 29th, 2008 9:19 am

    thanks for the recognition robert. truely humbled to be amongst some of the greats. picking out poster designs and artists it no easy feat because there are just so many excellent ones out there. visit a flastock and you’ll see what i mean.

    oh and jonathan is soooo negative he needs to eat a bag of dicks.
    link up your work buddy.

  69. 69
    MDH
    September 29th, 2008 9:24 am

    Had to add these guys. https://www.theheadsofstate.com/

  70. 70
    PosterMan
    September 29th, 2008 9:52 am

    No Ames Bros, Klausen or Emek?!?!?!?!

  71. 71
    Robert Bowen
    September 29th, 2008 10:08 am

    @ Mike, no thank you for the wonderful and inspiring work. Glad that you’d stop by.

    @ PosterMan, uhm, dude, Emek’s the first artist on the list.

  72. 72
    Devin
    September 29th, 2008 10:29 am

    So many ppl on here have negative things to say – so where is your work. – Well… Where are the links

  73. 73
    Jaime V
    September 29th, 2008 11:26 am

    There could’ve been something here since some variety would’ve helped. Perhaps a theme such as time period, distinctive style or even genre. Also, a lot of late 90’s and early 2000 posters containing every Photoshop filter out there.

  74. 74
    Matt
    September 29th, 2008 11:27 am

    I would have to say Emek and Mike Klay were my favorites.

  75. 75
    devnull
    September 29th, 2008 11:49 am

    Guess movie posters don’t count?

  76. 76
    Neesh
    September 29th, 2008 12:04 pm

    Intriguing post. Curious how these designers work with the same bands. No Storm Thorgerson or Rob Dobi? Brian Ewing? Alex Gray? I myself am very intrigued with the evolution of concert posters. Favorite would be Arnold Skolnick’s poster for Woodstock 1969.

  77. 77
    anthony
    September 29th, 2008 12:38 pm

    Mike King’s been doing it since before most of us were born. Highly influential. http://www.crashamerica.com/html/posters.html

  78. 78
    NotSoShy Anne
    September 29th, 2008 4:02 pm

    Hmm. I agree with the comments that there’s a lot of the same here. I mean, it’s interesting, I suppose, but I see very little that I can even use for inspiration. A little, but not a lot. And I design websites for musicians. Just… not the kind of musicians that you’re pushing here. (Celtic, Americana, blues, Cajun, tradfolk…)

    Branch out a little, kids.

  79. 79
    April
    September 29th, 2008 5:18 pm

    I happened to come across this site – Splash Posters, and I think they have an amazing range of posters too, although I don’t think all are concert posters.

  80. 80
    Tommy
    September 29th, 2008 9:59 pm

    @Samuel Cotterall: Glad to see that someone else expected to see Jason Munn of the Small Stakes here! He’s an exceptional artist.

  81. 81
    Jeffrey
    September 30th, 2008 1:22 am

    What’s next: designers listing their favorite photoshop filters…. To all the people who say we should not be so critical: what’s wrong with criticism, some of these posters would have been much better if someone had told the designers to show some restraint in the use of effects over effects over effects. It just makes it look really cheap. Photoshop is great, but not if you just use all filters at once. Do yourself a favor as deisgner and show some restraint…

  82. 82
    gouranga
    September 30th, 2008 4:54 am

    NOOOOOOO!!!!

    you missed MALLEUS!!! http://malleusdelic.com

    what a shame

  83. 83
    mp3
    September 30th, 2008 7:16 am

    My favorite concert posters are that of The Drive By Truckers. The artist is a guy named Wes Freed. http://www.wesfreed.com/

  84. 84
    Jonathan
    September 30th, 2008 7:34 am

    oh and jonathan is soooo negative he needs to eat a bag of dicks.

    While I respect your right to “eat” what you wish, I’ll pass on what must be your favorite snack.

  85. 85
    Aashish
    September 30th, 2008 7:39 am

    Not impressed with this article frankly! Was hoping for some more gorgeous stuff.

  86. 86
    Robert Bowen
    September 30th, 2008 8:42 am

    Wow, so many great links have been offered here! Really appreciative of that. Some more artists and work to get lost in.

    I’m really blown away by the amount of feedback, I wish I could take each message one by one to respond to, but alas, I cannot. So an overall blanket “Glad to oblige” to those who enjoyed the post, hope it was as inspiring to you as it was putting it together. And a blanket “My bad!” to those who haven’t enjoyed the post, I hope that though we differ on our appreciations of certain styles and artists that we can still find inspiration together elsewhere.

    And once again, to all, thanks for taking time to drop off a thought or two! Much appreciated.

  87. 87
    patrick
    September 30th, 2008 9:32 pm

    no Pollock or Jeff Wood? are you fucking retarded?

  88. 88
    web design company
    October 1st, 2008 4:01 am

    Wonderful collection of concert posters.

  89. 89
    catfiche
    October 1st, 2008 5:39 am

    Amazing. Impressive. The whiners and complainers missed the point. This celebration of poster art makes everybody take note and increases the appreciation of everybody working in this genre.

    Haters will hate on though whatever the occasion.

  90. 90
    Matt Carpenter
    October 1st, 2008 8:59 am

    Cool stuff. Though it is rather strange to see Flyleaf just above Slayer.

  91. 91
    Jeff
    October 1st, 2008 10:04 am

    I miss Storm Thorgerson in this list. My favourite..

  92. 92
    Robert Bowen
    October 1st, 2008 12:09 pm

    Thanks again for more continued feedback.

    @ catfiche, Perhaps people get upset when they don’t see certain artists on the list, thinking that their favorites are being dismissed, even though this is not a list of ‘the BEST concert poster designs of all time’ or the ‘the TOP DESIGNERS of concert poster art’ in fact it’s not a rating in any way, simply a compilation of inspiring work found in that genre. Maybe that’s the rub, maybe not.

    Again, much appreciated on all the comments and sharing!

  93. 93
    graphiconcepts
    October 1st, 2008 2:58 pm

    Some of these are really cool and some are not super appealing. Kudos to the artists on their different styles, very inspiring. As for some of these comments, could your nose be any higher in the air?! For what it’s worth, if it’s not your cup of tea, then move on and spare us why you think these type of posts are not up to your standards. Great Job to Smashing IMO for putting all artworks up for us to enjoy!

  94. 94
    VIVIANA
    October 1st, 2008 7:29 pm

    E – X – C – E – L – E – N – T – E – S !!!!!!

  95. 95
    Bruno Bergher
    October 2nd, 2008 6:29 am

    You guys missed Aesthetic Apparatus!
    Those guys are the gods of rock concert poster design.

    Both their website and their section over at GigPosters are most definitely worth checking out.

  96. 96
    Caique
    October 2nd, 2008 9:38 am

    first thing i think: they are all geting inspired by the same inspirations. designers should stop looking around and and look more at themselves.
    but they (the posters) are still cool…

  97. 97
    itsbooyer
    October 2nd, 2008 7:41 pm

    I have liked Jermaine Rogers’ work for a while. Very cool.

  98. 98
    booloo
    October 3rd, 2008 2:03 am

    Fantastique, beaucoup d’affiche de style psychédélique… j’adore!!!

    Merci pour ces minutes de bonheur des yeux

    Booloo

  99. 99
    dilan
    October 5th, 2008 4:39 am

    Bir tasarım öğrencisi olarak çok beyendim bence hepsi çok etkileyici

  100. 100
    alexus
    October 6th, 2008 10:15 am

    dis is amazing

  101. 101
    Graham Pilling
    October 9th, 2008 3:36 am

    A nice article which raises awareness of a medium that a lot of contemporary artists work in (myself included), thanks for researching and writing.

    People interested in concert poster art should most definitely have a proper browse through the work over at http://www.gigposters.com. Horkey, Hess, Hynes, Jay Ryan, Guy Burwell and all the other artists people have mentioned in comments are all on there, and a great community has formed around the site.

  102. 102
    kayla
    October 9th, 2008 9:16 am

    these are freakin awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :]

  103. 103
    jackob bangiel
    October 19th, 2008 12:52 pm

    very inspiring. ooh ahhh :)

  104. 104
    Crystal Danley
    October 27th, 2008 10:49 am

    And then there’s…

    Pedro Bell

    Perhaps the best-known P-Funk artist, Bell and his distinctive style were responsible for illustrating Funkadelic classics such as Cosmic Slop, Tales of Kidd Funkadelic, One Nation Under A Groove, Hardcore Jollies and Uncle Jam Wants You, as well as more recent solo albums for George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars. Bell also pioneered the song illustrations that would accompany P-Funk liner notes.

  105. 105
    Beto
    December 11th, 2008 2:52 am

    There are far better Mars Volta posters available for sale on their site than what was posted here by them

  106. 106
    aiko
    December 12th, 2008 5:51 am

    Nice post. I am a collector of Concert Posters and there are some good designs here. I always appreciate peoples points of view, and tastes (i dont always agree:) . Maybe you could do a post on early artists like Griffin (He was mentioned). Mouse & Kelley or some of Pollacks works… just a thought. Thanks for the time you put into this post.

  107. 107
    necea
    January 10th, 2009 7:37 pm

    oh man, this post is great!
    i am trying to design a concert poster myself, and this post gave me a shitload of ideas.
    thanks!

  108. 108
    Music Executive
    February 16th, 2009 2:15 pm

    I can’t believe Jefferson Wood is not listed here. He is considered by many to be the best tour poster artist in the world, has won 1st place in the Pollstar poster contest several times, and is possibly the most sought after concert poster artist of our time.

  1. 00

    There are no trackbacks at this time. If you are interested in leaving a trackback, please use this URL.

Leave a Comment

Make sure you enter the * required information where indicated. Please also rate the article as it will help us decide future content and posts. Comments are moderated – and rel="nofollow" is in use. Please no link dropping, no keywords or domains as names; do not spam, and do not advertise!



Advertisement Advertise with us!
Join in Smashing Forum
  • Re: Correct way to learn PHP

    Start off by reading all the 15 parts of PHP 101 on Devzone.

  • Re: Using Tutorials?

    I say you're okay. I wouldn't straight up jack someone else's design and present it as my own, even if it was a tutorial, but it's certainly acceptable to learn some…

  • Correct way to learn PHP

    So, I'm a designer but I wanna expand my abilities and learn PHP, to be more exact I wanna learn CI - Codeigniter!

  • I wanna make comics!

    Hello,I'm designer but I've never involved in vector painting so I need your help

  • Re: Twitter

    @gatorwebdesignShould tweet something really...

Post your job