Read more Kansas City Music Guide.
Rocktober continues to bring the heat,
both in music and with the actual weather, which has remained unseasonably warm (fingers crossed). It’s all been good luck for the undefeated Chiefs and still-in-it Royals (damn Yankees!) and 2025 shows are already starting to announce with Starlight already releasing three big summer shows- Weird Al Yankovic, June 26; The Driver Era, June 29; and Teddy Swims on Aug 23, but that’s next year, so…
Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week, from October 11th to 13th.
(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)
FRIDAY OCTOBER 11
Unforgettable featuring Sachal Vasandani, Oct 11, Kauffman, $28-$80
Featuring vocalist Sachal who blends contemporary sensibilities with an old crooner soul and commands the stage with utter coolness. His debut album was Eyes Wide Open, his first release on Mack Avenue Records in 2007. His second album, We Move (2009), was a New York Times Critics' Pick. He is known for his unique interpretations of jazz standards and instrumental music, and is also a songwriter, composer and improviser.
A native of Chicago, he firsti attracted attention in 1999 when he was named Down Beat Magazine's Collegiate Jazz Vocalist of the Year. 
Ott. w G-Space, Danny Grooves, & Prismada Oct 11, Granada-Lawrence, $25-$30
Ott. is a UK record producer and musician who has worked with Sinéad O'Connor, Embrace, the Orb, and Brian Eno, and has achieved recognition since 2002 for his own psychedelic dub tracks and his collaborations with Simon Posford. He has released two albums on Twisted Records-: Blumenkraft (2003), Skylon (2008), and four albums on Ottsonic: Mir (2011), Fairchildren (2015), Heads (2022) and Hiraeth (2024).
Morgan Wade w Cameron Whitcomb, Oct 11, Uptown, $32-$55
Wade’s new album, “Obsessed”, was released in August and features fourteen stripped-down country, rock, and Americana tracks with authentic, raw songwriting. Wade collaborates with Kesha on the track “Walked on Water.” Inspiration for “Obsessed” comes from her candid and open struggles with mental health, past relationships, sobriety, and drowning out tabloid scrutiny.
She released "Wilder Days" in 2021 and in ways it told her own story. She is now five years sober and had some "Wilder Days" in her past. She is known for her tattoos and distinctive style. She's not afraid to talk about those "Wilder Days" that included a lot of alcohol and substance abuse. She hopes that by being open about her own struggles that others will know they are not alone.
Arrive early for young opener Cameron Whitcomb - from working on a pipeline after leaving home at 17, his ife took a turn when he discovered singing at the age of 19, doing karaoke on weekends. His talent caught the attention of an American Idol executive through a video posted on Reddit, marking the beginning of his ascent in the music world.
His latest single, "The Devil I've Seen," delves into the profound and challenging topic of sexual abuse. Through his music, Whitcomb offers a glimpse into the complexities of his life and the darker aspects of human experiences.
Lady Day at Emerson's Grill, Through Oct 27, KC Rep at Copaken Stage,$44-$70
Step into the smoky allure of this Tony Award-winning play and go on a spellbinding journey through the life and music of the iconic Billie Holiday. Step back into time and immerse yourself in the soulful atmosphere of Emerson’s Bar and Grill, where every note resonates with the magic of Lady Day. 
Featuring a selection of Billie Holiday’s most well-known songs including “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child” performed live, the magic of this night will echo through your soul as you experience the highs and lows of her journey. Don’t miss this experience that celebrates the enduring legacy of one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time in a night of jazz, blues, and the timeless magic of Billie Holiday. (Recommended for ages 14 and up due to adult themes.)
SATURDAY OCTOBER 12
Dark Funeral, Oct 12, Granada- Lawrence, $25
The Swedish black metal legends have a batch of headlining shows during off days on their tour with GWAR and are also celebrating their 30th anniversary with a reworked debut album, available now via Century Media Records.
Approaching nearly 30 years since the beginning of their journey as one of Swedish Black Metal’s most genuine exemplars, they continue to reach for new heights to bring audiences into its otherworldly & unholy visions on the band’s seventh full-length LP, ‘We Are The Apocalypse’.
The new record sees the Satanic vanguards deliver their most aggressive and expansive songs to date. Guided by the fortitude and musical ambition of lead guitarist, songwriter & founding member Lord Ahriman, the new album promises a number of ‘firsts’ for the band, while still pushing to improve upon the aural marriage of sinister atmosphere and ferocity that distinguishes Dark Funeral amongst their peers. Ghost Bath and others scheduled as support. 
David Cross (comedy), Oct 12, Liberty Hall-Lawrence, $47-$71
The comedian is out on his new ‘David Cross: The End of the Beginning of the End Tour,’ which will see him hit 46 cities across North America through December. Cross will tape his next special at the December 7 show in Missoula, MT.
An Emmy winner and two-time Grammy Award nominee, Cross recently unveiled his first podcast, Senses Working Overtime with David Cross, and in February released his eighth stand-up special, David Cross: Worst Daddy in the World, via 800 Pound Gorilla.
Atmosphere, Oct 12, Voodoo Lounge at Harrah's, $20-$54
The MN natives Slug and Ant and their Rhymesayers label pals are out on their The Traveling Forever Tour. This run features support from NoFun! and Reverie.
Also Atmosphere released their video, “Hear Hear (feat. Bat Flower)” which is from their latest Talk Talk EP. The video, directed by Slug & ZooDeVille, was filmed amidst bustling city streets, featuring Polaroids that were captured at various social gatherings with loved ones. Each snapshot conveys the message that a piece of someone significant is ever-present, offering support and a listening ear regardless of location or circumstance.
DJ Ant, announced Collection of Sounds: Volume 2, which is the second installment in his four volume series of instrumentals. The album consists of unreleased material from the artist‘s vault, offering a new window into his decades long career. 
Cody Johnson, Sammy Kershaw, Drew Parker, Oct 12, T-Mobile Center, $50-$155
The platinum recording artist and ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee is bringing The Leather Tour to downtown Kansas City. Known for his explosive live shows and stage presence, Johnson has established a following of loyal fans who regularly sell out shows across the country.
Johnson began making noise with four celebrated albums – Ain’t Nothin’ To It, Human The Double Album, A Cody Johnson Christmas and Cody Johnson & The Rockin’ CJB Live,. He’s also known for his double platinum-selling, Grammy winning (“Country Song of The Year”) two-week #1 single “’Til You Can’t”, 17 career RIAA certifications, a Pandora Billionaire Award, and more.
Country veteran Sammy Kershaw and relative newcomer Drew Parker fill out the evening’s bill.
David Spade (comedy), Oct 12, The Midland,$45-$75
The SNL alum is bringing his “Catch Me Inside” tour to KC. Spade ascended to stardom during his 1990s tenure on “SNL,” where he became a fixture with his smarmy, sarcasm-laden celebrity reports on Weekend Update segments. Also in the ‘90s, he earned acclaim for playing David Finch in the sitcom “Just Shoot Me,” a role that yielded Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
In the movies, he co-starred with “SNL” buddy Chris Farley in the 1995 comedy hit “Tommy Boy,” followed by roles in “Black Sheep” (1996), “Senseless” (1998), “Joe Dirt” (2001), “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star” (2003), “The Benchwarmers” (2006) and “Grown Ups” (2010), among others.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 13
Nilufer Yanya with Lutalo, Oct 13, Bottleneck- Lawrence, $25
With a new song, “Like I Say (I Runaway),(via her new label, Ninja Tune) out now, Nilüfer Yanya has announced a bunch of tour dates starting in late September in Philadelphia, wrapping at the end of this month before she heads to Europe. 
It’s her first piece of new music since her 2022 album PAINLESS. And she’s yet to announce the follow-up, but the new music and tour dates suggests there’s more to come from her this year.
Arrive early for MN raised /Vermont-based Lutalo Jones’s debut album, The Academy, newly out via Windspear Records. The 24-year-old musician named the record after the prestigious private school that he attended on scholarship in St. Paul, MN. The Academy draws inspirations from lo-fi, slacker guitar acts like Mac DeMarco and Palehound-oriented indie rock, with an added dose of weirder, experimental post-punk and some inspired folk
Michigander, Oct 13, recordBar, $18
The indie rock project led by singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jason Singer has a new single, “Giving Up,” available now via his imprint Totally Normal Records via Thirty Tigers. “Giving Up” has fast proven among Michigander’s biggest hits to date following three previous top 10 singles, earning immediate airplay on Alternative Rock radio outlets nationwide.
“I was so excited after I wrote this song,” says Singer. “It’s an anthem for the people pleasers who are always trying to make other folks happy. They go to great lengths to make things work out in situations where it’s really not worth their time or good for their mental health. It’s a special song for me, because it’s self-referential.” Support comes from Cece Coakle, from Knoxville TN who has a 2022 EP, “Tender” out.
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