Wednesday Sept 21
Built to Spill, Granada- Lawrence. $29.50
The Boise ID indie rock band has now been around an amazing thirty years, and has a new album, When the Wind Forgets Your Name, out now on SubPop, their first of new material since 2015.
The French Tips and Orua to open.
Madison Cunningham w Bendigo Fletcher, recordBar, $20
The singer-songwriter and two-time Grammy nominee returns in support of her new album Revealer, released last week on Verve Forecast. She works again on the new record with Mike Elizondo (Twenty One Pilots, Gary Clark Jr.) as well as longtime producer and collaborator Tyler Chester and Tucker Martine (Neko Case, Sufjan Stevens). The comparisons to a young Joni Mitchell persist, and we’ve caught her live, opening in 2018 and headlining just last year.
Thursday Sept 22
Of Montreal, Granada Theater-Lawrence, $22 
The Athens GA alt indie-pop band has been busy during the lockdown, releasing I Feel Safe with You, Trash last year, and now their eighteenth studio album, Freewave Lucifer F<ck F^ck F>ck was released in late June. We caught them live several times last decade, the most recent being five years ago, and any band ending their set with a song titled, “Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse “is going to be an interesting one. Locate S, 1 and Surf Wax to open.
Jo Koy (comedian), Cable Dahmer Arena,$47.50-$72.50
One of today’s premiere stand-up comics has come a long way from his beginnings performing at a Las Vegas coffee house. The Filipino-American continues to gain fans with his astute observations of his mother, son, growing up, and everyday life. Koy released an autobiography (Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo) last year, and comedy film, Easter Sunday via Steven Spielberg and Amblin Pictures/Universal earlier this year.
His fourth successful Netflix special, Live at the LA Forum, just started streaming and this Independence, MO show, is a relatively small venue, so catch him here, a little more close-up, than elsewhere. The comedian is on his Funny is Funny World Tour. 
Nabil Ayers, Lawrence Public Library, reading/signing - Free
The drummer, entrepreneur, record executive, and essayist discusses his memoir, My Life in the Sunshine: Searching for my Father and Discovering My Family. His mother and former ballerina would have a son with acclaimed jazz musician Roy Ayers, fully expecting and agreeing to his absenteeism. Ayers recounts a life spent living with the aftermath of that decision, and his journey to build an identity of his own, despite his father’s absence.
Co-sponsored by KU's School of Music and Departments of American Studies and African and African American Studies. The Raven Book Store will have copies of the book for sale.
Friday Sept 23 
The Gaslight Anthem with Tigers Jaw, The Midland. $39.50
The New Jersey folk punk band announced their return to the road with their first headline tour in four years. “I am very pleased to announce to you all that The Gaslight Anthem is returning to full time status as a band,” said front man Brian Fallon. “We’re also beginning to write new songs for what will be our sixth LP. We’re looking forward to the future and seeing you all again. We want to thank you for staying with us.”
Live, they recently been covering some Seattle sounds with Mother Love Bone and Pearl Jam covers, as well as could sneak in a Nick Cave song. Most recently, we caught leader Brian Fallon and his band live at a 2018 Minneapolis show.
Scranton PA alt-rockers Tigers Jaw open, in support of last year’s I Won’t Care How You Remember Me.
Josh Turner, Ameristar, $58-$195
With his deep voice and distinctive style, Turner is one of country music’s most recognizable hit-makers with songs like “Hometown Girl,” “Would You Go With Me,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “Long Black Train”. (He also plays in Manhattan KS the night before this show)
Jake Shimabukuro, Lied Center. $14-$30
The acclaimed Hawaii-born ukulele player can play any genre of music on his small instrument - jazz, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk or even classical and added to his twenty-year career with last year’s Jake & Friends album release, collaborating with Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Loggins, and others. In 2021, he was also nominated by President Biden to serve as a member of the National Council on the Arts.
Protoje, Bottleneck- Lawrence, $35-$40
Jamaican dub reggae performer is out on his Lost in Time Tour, and has new single, “Family” with opener Jesse Royal. Lila Iké is also to open, both mentored on his own In.Digg.Nation label.
My Name is Not Mom, (comedy) Uptown. $39.50-$79.50
Billed as a hilarious journey through motherhood with internet sensations Tiffany Jenkins, Meredith Masony and Dena Blizzard. After helping fans get through the pandemic, this comic trio shares their take on mothering through the sleepless nights of the toddler years, middle school craziness and trying not to physically attack a high schooler. This live event features stand-up, stories and videos from their online community and audience interaction. Meet and greet packages available.
KennyHoopla with Nothing,nowhere The Truman CANCELED
Saturday Sept 24
Dinosaur Jr, The Truman, $28 
The heralded alt-rock band is now in the thirteenth year of their re-convening and a fifth album since, Sweep It Into Space, on which Kurt Vile guests and which was originally scheduled for issue in mid 2020. J Masics, Louie Barlow, and Murph still carry on, now almost forty years after thy first started playing together.
Ryley Walker to open, who we caught live at a 2018 headlining show.
Ozomatli, KC Live! Free
A guaranteed party atmosphere for Los Angeles Latin, hip hop, rock, salsa, jazz and funk band who began playing together back in 1995. The name Ozomatli is derived after the Nahuatl word for the Aztec astrological symbol of the monkey, the god of dance, fire and music with latest album being 2020’s Moving On.
The Grammy winners have even served as Cultural Ambassadors to the U.S. and embarked on a number of government-sponsored tours, created a song for the LA Dodgers, and performed with numerous orchestras across the States. And, it’s a free show!
Freedy Johnston, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $20
Longtime Kansas Americana singer-songwriter has a new album, Back on the Road to You, released earlier this year. Lawrence band Get Smart! who reunited in 2020, will open. 
GWAR, Grinders KC, $30-$59
Prepare to get messy in the best possible way, as your Lords and maggot Masters host the fabled GWAR-B-Q on their Black Death Rager Tour with special guests Light the Torch, Nekrogoblikon & Crobot. Food, booze, tunes, and no doubt a lot of showered blood, make this a memorable summer tradition.
Chicago Comedy All-Stars, TPAC, $25-$35
Billed as a group of the best stand-up talent the Windy City has to offer, and whose on-stage credits include The Tonight Show, Comedy Central, CMT, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Last Comic Standing, and more, and regularly tours worldwide.
Sunday Sept 25
Bear's Den, Knuckleheads, $23.50-$28.50
The British folk alt-rock duo returns to these shores in support of fourth full-length, Blue Hours, released in May (via Communion Records which they co-founded) and debuting at #6 in the UK. We saw them headline a few times in the last decade, when they broke from opening Mumford and Sons shows, to head out on their own.
Opening singer Izzy Heltai has his Day Plan EP out now.
Clinton Kane, Madrid Theatre, $26-$51
Australian pop singer-songwriter (LA-based, of Filipino/Norwegian heritage) finally released his debut full-length, Maybe Someday It’ll All Be OK with newest single, “14”. He is also a Vevo DSCVR Artist to Watch for 2022. 
Los Tigres del Norte, The Midland. $49-$199
San Jose norteño band has been around since 1965 (!) and celebrates in support of 2021 album, La Reunión. Originally founded in Mexico, the band is also known as “the voice of the people” often highlighting political and social issues of the day and have managed to sell over 60 million records with over 500 songs, along the way. True legends.
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