Concert Poster Typography

Concert posters are one of the last places where hand-lettered typography and screen printing are still the primary production method. Best ones function as art independent of the event they advertise. I went to a show last month and the poster at the merch table was better than the performance. With a 3-color screen print on heavy French Paper stock that used a condensed gothic typeface I couldn't identify. Interesting to me is how the poster market has split into 2 economies: the functional flyer designed in Canva and posted on Instagram. Limited-edition art print designed by illustrators who charge $1,000+ for the commission. Art print version gets sold at the venue for $40-$60 in runs of 100-200, and the aftermarket prices for popular artists can reach $500. For music fans who collect these, the poster is more tangible than a digital ticket stub and more personal than a t-shirt.