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Mid-month already?!
The culture calendar is hopping with many acts that played Coachella (and the associated Stagecoach that follows) are also making Midwest stops, and the same with those on their way to play the upcoming New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which starts soon too.
Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS / Topeka, KS metro for the week's musical and cultural happenings for April 14th-18th:
(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)
MONDAY APRIL 14
Hadestown (musical), Apr 14, Lied Center- Lawrence, $24-$65
Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and original director Rachel Chavkin is simply a tragic love story, full of heart.
We saw the Broadway touring production in Kansas City back in 2023 and also Mitchell perform her own music, the year before in St. Paul.
The musical intertwines two tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s melodies and Chavkin’s imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Hadestown is a modern, fresh, haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that continues to compel.
TUESDAY APRIL 15
Tax Day (boo)!
WEDNESDAY APRIL 16
Elderbrook, Apr 16, The Truman, $30
The UK multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer-songwriter is out on a 30-date North American tour supporting his latest album “Another Touch”. Aka Alexander Kotz, he’s best known for blending introspective lyricism with a dynamic electronic soundscape. 
Released last year, the album is a personal project that showcases Elderbrook’s evolution as both a songwriter and performer. “Another Touch is the first album that I’ve written that follows a story,” he shared with LA Weekly. “It’s the story of someone who loses their way and tries to reconnect with themselves by returning home. The idea came when I was touring years ago. Alone in a hotel room with the light shining in through the blinds. Having not slept and realizing that I could do better. Although this is definitely not a story about me, I’ve taken from personal experiences for sure.”
The 12-track LP features collaborations with Shimza, Carlita, and George FitzGerald, offering a mix of tracks like “Shallow Water” and energetic anthems like the Vintage Culture-assisted “Run.”
About what to expect from the show, he says, “It’s 107 minutes of pure, unadulterated, good fun times. The energy in the crowd is palpable and there’s just something in the air. Difficult to explain but you’ll have to come and see what I mean.”
WEDNESDAY APRIL 17
THURSDAY APRIL 18
Jerry Seinfeld, Apr 18, TPAC- Topeka, $57+
The master of observational humor returns to the Capital City! Seinfeld’s comedy career took off after his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1981 and just eight years later, he teamed up with fellow comedian Larry David to create what was to become the most successful comedy series in the history of television, which ran for nine seasons and is now in endless reruns.
We would have tried to cover this show but ended up attending the strong double-bill of he and Jim Gaffigan, earlier this year in Kansas City. This time, its a full Jerry-only set, that should be extra fun.
Champions of Magic, Apr 18, Kauffman, $51-$111
Champions of Magic are back with an explosive all-new show featuring thrilling and mind-bending illusions to celebrate their decade-long anniversary of putting on this tour. “Champions Of Magic: Chasing The Unbelievable” showcases leading magicians and illusionists from the US, UK, and Mexico who have captivated audiences worldwide and bring their blend of magic, creativity, and mastery that promises to leave audiences spellbound. The cast is to include: 
Young & Strange: Richard Young and Sam Strange began their magical journey at eight years old, bonding over a shared love of magic and creating Las Vegas-style illusions from cardboard and tape. Their innovative illusions and live shows have taken them to prime-time television, London’s West End, and the world’s biggest stages.
Liberty Larsen: She is a fourth-generation magician of the Larsen family, the creators of The Magic Castle in Hollywood and founders of Genii Magazine and the Academy of Magical Arts.
Fernando Velasco: Speaking of, Velasco got his inside look into the world of illusion through his father’s job at the “Magic Castle.” In 2017, he became the youngest performer to present his version of “Houdini’s Water Torture Cell,” escaping handcuffed and padlocked from a sealed six-foot tank of water.
James McMurtry Apr 18, Knuckleheads, $27.50
The Alt-country singer-songwriter returns to the road with his 2021 album, The Horses and the Hounds (2021) already met with widespread praise and his newest release is “The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy”.
McMurtry’s debut album, Too Long in the Wasteland (1989), produced by John Mellencamp, launched a successful career with Columbia and Sugar Hill Records. His 1997 album It Had to Happen won the American Indie Award for Best Americana Album, while Childish Things (2005) topped the Americana Music Radio chart and won Album of the Year at the Americana Music Association.We interviewed recently too, ahead of his Minneapolis date.
Har Mar Superstar, Apr 18, Warehouse on Broadway, $20
Minneapolis’ own Sean Tillman is out on a brief Spring Tour alongside his recent music video for "Hearts Have Misspoken," filmed in Monument Valley, from his recent album, “Roseville.”
“We let the road guide us to a location, which then became our concept for the clip,” says Har Mar on that Utah/Arizona location. “The immense skies of Monument Valley were the perfect backdrop for this song’s themes.”
We’ve seen him numerous times over the years, including pre-pandemic with his indie-pop duo side project, Heart Bones and it’s always an entertaining time with a shirtless Sean happening after just a couple songs.
John Vincent III, Apr 18, Bottleneck – Lawrence, $30
The indie-folk favorite John Vincent III brings his gentle, Americana-infused sound to Lawrence on this “The Roadtrip Tour”, which celebrates his 2023 album “Songs For The Canyon.” Vincent began writing the record when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and with his girlfriend and their puppy, Vincent drove for eight months across the country to explore and inspire, combined with the musical history of Laurel Canyon, CA, to create the new music.
Expect a healthy dose of the new tracks and fan favorites from his debut album.
Tallest Man on Earth Apr 18, Truman,$35
Aka indie artist Kristian Matsson may not be literally the tallest, but has been a fan favorite for years and is out on a solo tour. Following his most recent release in 2023, “Henry St.,” Matsson toured globally, including his home country, Sweden and has returned to the Midwest.
The recent album included trumpet and French horn by CJ Camerieri (Bon Iver), piano and organ by Phil Cook, strings by Rob Moose (Bon Iver, yMusic), and was produced by Nick Sunburn (Sylvan Esso) and it’ll be our secret that he only stands 5ft 7inches, as when we saw him live back in 2015.
National Touring act coming to Kansas City, Lawrence, KS, Topeka, KS, or vicinity? Let us know so we can spotlight the appearance-email [email protected]
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