Read more Kansas City Music Guide.
Ahh, it’s St. Pat’s weekend, lads and lasses!
Weather seems to be either 30 or 80, hard to tell of late, but that won’t stop the revelers, with most parades happening Saturday, rather than on the Monday itself. Cheers and be safe!
Radio giants Audacy and Cumulus have been re-aligning and letting many go nationwide, including KC’s own Johnny Dare Morning Show after a long 32-year run.
Whatever you may think of Dare as a person, you can’t deny his impact on the music scene and influence in bringing more rock and metal shows to the Heart of America, that otherwise may have skipped KC. From Rockfest to Freaker’s Ball, to many of the bands he developed friendships with, KC’s concert scene (and radio landscape) just got that much dimmer.
Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence metro musical happenings for the upcoming week, from March 15th-17th:
(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)
SATURDAY MARCH 15
Delain w/ XANDRIA, Edge Of Paradise, Mar 15, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $25
Delain, the Dutch melodic synth-metal greats continue on tour around the world in support of their latest opus, "Dark Waters", out now via Napalm Records. Support for this leg comes from German symphonic metal patriots and Napalm label mates XANDRIA, who are touring in support of their latest album, "The Wonders Still Awaiting".
Fans should expect to hear fan favorite songs, the latest hits, as well as brand new material from both bands during this tour, so don't miss out. The tour kicked off March 7 in Phoenix, and ends in Austin, TX near the end of the month, so consider it lucky that they’re making a nearby stop.
Delain's Martijn Westerholt says: "After such a warm welcome and meeting so many amazing fans, performing new music and introducing our new members to the metal masses of North America last year, we are absolutely stoked to return to the United States and Canada to meet again. This time, we're thrilled to share this experience with our special guests and good friends XANDRIA. Each night will be stunning for all. Don't miss this one!"
XANDRIA's Marco Heubaum adds: "We are delighted to come back to the USA and Canada, and even better, with our good friends DELAIN! We are super excited to bring this package to the North American fans! This is going to be amazing!" 
Judy Collins, Mar 15, Kauffman Center, $61-$111
Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 50-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century.
Collins, now 85, is as creatively active as ever- writing, touring worldwide, is an accomplished painter, filmmaker, record label head, musical mentor, and an in-demand keynote speaker for mental health and suicide prevention.
She officially celebrated her recent birthday on Saturday with an all-star concert at Town Hall in NYC (where she recorded a live album in 1964), which included Rickie Lee Jones, Martha Redbone, Paula Cole, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Ari Hest, Richard Thompson, Stephen Stills, and Sophie B Hawkins among the many guests on stage.
Norwegian sister indie folk duo Oakland Rain will be opening.
Brantley Gilbert w Black Stone Cherry, Colt Ford, Mar 15 Cable Dahmer Arena- Independence, $32-$126
The outlaw country star is hitting the road on “The Tattoos Tour”, and he’s bringing special guests Black Stone Cherry, and Austin Snell to play in Independence, Gilbert’s in support of his latest full-length record, Tattoos. The 10-track album includes collaborations with Justin Moore, Ashley Cooke, Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones, and ex-Rascal Flatts singer, Gary LeVox.
Gilbert said in a statement via his record label that his albums “capture a chapter of my life. If somebody wants to know who I am, what I’ve been through and where I stand, they can start at the beginning and listen through, and that’s why it was undeniable that Tattoos should be the title – because my tattoos do the same thing.”
Branford Marsalis, Mar 15, Folly, $31-$66
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. He’s a NEA Jazz Master, Grammy Award winner, and Tony Award nominee and is known for performing concertos with symphony orchestras, as well as sitting in with Sting, or members of the Grateful Dead. 
After more than three decades of existence with minimal personnel changes, his own Quartet is revered for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics. After the Grammy‐nominated Upward Spiral, on which guest vocalist Kurt Elling was seamlessly integrated into the group, the Quartet followed up with the Grammy‐nominated The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul, its most emotionally wide‐ranging and melody driven collection to date.
Arrive early as the Jazz Talk session begins at 6:30pm with the performance beginning at 7:30pm.
Robert Earl Keen, Mar 15, Uptown, $46-$77
Soon after his holiday Lights, Camera, Christmas! Tour, Texas music legend Robert Earl Keen is again on the road, un-retired, but maybe touring a little more conservatively at sixty-eight years old. Keen and his longtime band are said to be playing tighter than ever and raising crowds to their feet to sing and dance along to his vast catalog of songs.
The March tour finds the Robert Earl Keen Band—Brian Beken, Bill Whitbeck, Tom Van Schaik, and Kym Warner playing the tour’s beginning and ending shows in his native Texas, as well as Keen’s already announced shows supporting Willie Nelson & Family in New Braunfels, TX next month and Tyler Childers at the Hollywood Bowl in June.
Foghat, Mar 15, Ameristar NKC, $15-$65
Over five decades later, the slow ride continues! British-born Roger Earl – drummer and founding member, still anchors the longtime group, showing no signs of stopping at the young age of 79. 
In 2025, Foghat celebrates 54 years of rock ‘n’ roll history. This legendary band released their latest album, Sonic Mojo, in November 2023, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts with tracks like "She’s A Little Bit of Everything," "Mean Woman Blues," and "Drivin’ On"
Expect plenty of classics too, as Foghat continues to captivate audiences with their unique boogie rock, delivering high-energy performances that are just as thrilling as they were in 1977 when their multi-platinum album, Foghat Live, broke them worldwide. Still they ride, ride, ride!
Alcest, Mar 15, Granada- Lawrence, $27.50
Alcest have are out on their 2025 North American tour — the French post black metal band’s first tour here in seven years. Icelandic post-punk darkwave act Kælan Mikla is providing support for the trek.
Alcest is out in support of their new album Les Chants De L’Aurore. The band’s seventh studio LP was released last June to widespread acclaim. Neige of Alcest said in a press release. “It was about time and we are so excited to come back. On this occasion will be accompanied by our friends, the mesmerizing Icelandic band Kælan Mikla. We can’t wait to see you at the shows!”
SUNDAY MARCH 16
Bonnie Raitt, Mar 16, The Midland, $175
Fresh off her 31st career Grammy nomination, Bonnie Raitt is still something to talk about! The 75- years-young singer /guitarist is back out playing theaters, casinos, auditoriums, concert halls, performing arts centers, amphitheaters and festivals through May. 
Raitt isn’t promoting a new album this time around; her most recent release was 2022’s “Just Like That” which took home three Grammy Awards. “What’s different this time is that I’ve tried some styles and topics I haven’t touched on before,” she mentioned about the recent record.
Lucy Kaplansky, Mar 16, Lied Center- Lawrence, $16-$30
Lucy Kaplansky is an acclaimed singer-songwriter who has released nine CDs, two of which were awarded Best Pop Album of the Year by the Association for Independent Music.
She was also part of the folk supergroup Cry Cry Cry with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell who have released two albums to date. Her recording of Roxy Music’s “More than This” has over 12 million streams on Spotify, and she has sung harmony on albums by Suzanne Vega, Bryan Ferry, Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin. 
Naruto: The Symphonic Experience, Mar 16, Kauffman, $43-$83
The score from the anime hit comes to life! NARUTO: The Symphonic Experience is a live concert that brings the series to life on a grand scale. This two-hour event features a film montage of iconic scenes from over 220 episodes, synchronized to a live orchestra performing Toshio Masuda's original score. Fans will relive Naruto Uzumaki's journey to become Hokage, facing rivalries, challenges, and growth along the way.
The orchestra performs not only Masuda's unforgettable soundtrack but also the series' most famous openings and endings, inviting the audience to sing along with the music they love.
The film and musical montage created can only be seen at these shows and audiences will have a unique opportunity to sing, laugh, cheer, and feel the excitement of seeing their favorite characters on screen. VIP Package Offers are available as well.
MONDAY MARCH 17
Paris Paloma, Mar 17. The Truman, Sold Out
No offense to the Irish, but we much prefer spending our St. Pat’s with this seriously buzzing singer/songwriter from Derbyshire UK. We first heard her name playing Bonnaroo 2023 as part of her first US Tour, and she’s back with a 15-date North American Tour that finally brings her to KC, and guess what? – all shows are very sold out, so you might have the ‘luck o’ the Irish’ if you managed to nab a ticket.
She released her debut album “Cacophony” last August, with its viral, break-out single “labour” playing to tens of thousands of TikTok uses, 180 million+ streams on Spotify, and a recent memorable US TV debut performance on Stephen Colbert.
She has also cultivated a very devoted fan community who have made her live shows a truly magical experience, from trading fairy messages to swapping books to impromptu fae circles, all in the spirit of her own inspiration behind Cacophony: mythology, art history, and the Romantics, alongside her own personal experiences. With a sound influenced by the likes of Florence and the Machine, Hozier, and Aurora, we’re expecting even bigger things ahead for this rising star.
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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