W♥M

We♥KC! June 9-15, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Wichita and Salina, KS)

Read More Billy Strings Nashville’s Billy Strings (aka William Apostol) opened up the show. According to Billy Strings’ banters on stage, he “doesn’t make it to Minneapolis all that often”, so it was a real treat for him to be playing on the historic First Avenue stage

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This weekend- ...get out!

Normally, we showcase events in the KC and Lawrence metros, but listed below are a couple day-trip worthy festivals to check out as well (nothing against the local events either!).

Smoky River Festival in Salina brings together a variety of folk, Americana and bluegrass acts, and the Somewhere Festival in Wichita is really making waves, especially with the planned downsizing of SXSW, so this year is a good time to check this conference and concert weekend out, with artist appearances from many genres, before the thing gets really huge!

There’s a new big 16,000-capacity amphitheater coming to Riverside, that will change the KC concert landscape and Axios got an inside look here: Exclusive look inside Live Nation amphitheater in Riverside

Congrats also to The Big Slick, whose annual benefit weekend brought in a record of just over $4.5million for cancer research at Childrens’ Mercy- a great and worthy cause with a fitting tribute to Jason Sudeikis’ uncle, George Wendt (who recently passed) to have the whole arena crowd sing the “Cheers” theme in tribute.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week of June 9th-June 15th.

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)

MONDAY JUNE 9

TUESDAY JUNE 10

WEDNESDAY JUNE 11

Billy Strings, June 11, T-Mobile Center, $76-$108

This summer will be another busy one for two-time Grammy winner Billy Strings, who has exploded exponentially on the scene. He’s still on the Outlaw Music Festival Tour with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and more, as well as a host of headlining appearances — including his first-ever Canadian gigs, all still in support of last Fall’s “Highway Prayers”, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.

Aka William Lee Apostol, Strings got his stage name from his aunt, who was inspired by her nephew’s talent on multiple stringed bluegrass instruments including the guitar and banjo. “Home,” his 2021 sophomore album, earned the musician his first Grammy Award.

He’s also been awarded Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards, Artist of the Year at the 2023 and 2022 Americana Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year at the 2023, 2022 and 2021 International Bluegrass Music Awards, Best New Headliner at the 2022 Pollstar Awards and Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic at the 2021 Pollstar Awards among several other accolades.

James Arthur, June 11, Uptown, $62-$76

UK sensation James Arthur started playing in a band when he was a teenager, however his pop music career really started back in 2011, when he uploaded some tracks to SoundCloud and YouTube. It was in 2012, when he auditioned for The X Factor that his career sky rocketed. Arthur went on to win The X Factor and his winner's single, 'Impossible' went on to become the most successful winner's single at the time, selling 2.5 million copies worldwide.

As well as the independently released album 'Sins by the Sea', he has released six other studio albums; his self-titled, 'James Arthur', in 2013, 'Back from the Edge' in 2016, 'You' in 2019, 'It'll All Make Sense in the End' in 2021, 'Bitter Sweet Love' in January 2024 and brand-new album, 'Pisces' released in April., featuring single, 'ADHD' and 'Celebrate'.

THURSDAY JUNE 12

Samantha Crain w Quinn Christopherson, June 12, $23.23

The Choctaw singer-songwriter just released her seventh record (and first in five years) Gumshoe and has also been busy with film/TV projects lately (I.e. scoring the Lily Gladstone starring Sundance submission, “Fancy Dance”) this marks her first full-length in half a decade.

Arrive early for Alaskan Quinn Christopherson, a singer-songwriter from Anchorage who writes with emotional depth and a sense of perspective tha won him the 2019 NPR Tiny Desk Contest. In his entry video, "Erase Me," Christopherson muses about his complicated experience with privilege as a transgender man. He is part of Alisa Amador’s new single “I Need to Believe” and we caught Quinn live in 2022 in KC as part of the traveling Here and There Festival.

Natalia LaFourcade, June 12, Kauffman Center, Sold Out!

Natalia Lafourcade is a Mexican composer, artist, singer and music producer, recognized as one of the most influential voices in Latin popular culture of this century. She began writing songs at an early age and launched her first solo album in 2002.

Throughout her nearly 20-year career she has been part of countless musical projects and among her most popular songs are “En el 2000,” “Un derecho de nacimiento,” “Hasta la Raíz,” “Nunca es suficiente,” “Tú sí sabes quererme” and “De todas las flores,” among others.

She has appeared on well-known U.S. TV and radio programs such as Austin City Limits (where we first saw her live), NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concerts” and “Live from Here” with Chris Thile. Her unique style reflects a constant exploration within pop, jazz and Mexican/Latin American folklore.

FRIDAY JUNE 13

Somewhere Festival featuring Deadmaus, Suki Waterhouse, BigXThaPlug, Flying Lotus, more, downtown Wichita, June 13 And 14^th, $35 (conf.)-$259.

Somewhere Music Fest & Conference is a new two-day music and arts festival and conference in Wichita. The former Elsewhere Fest is a beloved celebration of music and culture that showcases genre-defying music, immersive art experiences, and dynamic community engagement in the heart of downtown Wichita.

The new name reflects the festival’s mission to elevate Wichita as a cultural hub, a “somewhere” where music, art, and creativity collide. Last year’s Fest attracted over 15,000 attendees and featured over 70 acts, including major headliners like Killer Mike and Steve Aoki. With this rebrand, the festival aims to build on that success and put Wichita firmly on the map as a top destination for live music lovers.

They write “our intention is to immerse ourselves in the vast unknown, explore what we cannot yet conceive, experiment with purpose, and embrace shared consciousness to discover ideas and creations that better the world.” We love this, and hope it succeeds even further in its mission!

Notable features of Somewhere Music Fest & Conference:

• Not-for-profit, with real-world ticket pricing

• Genre-agnostic lineup, from hip hop to EDM

• Hands-on opportunities to work in music and shape its future

• Education on community organization and transformative action

• Radical inclusivity, including a free concert stage

• Unwavering commitment to building music community

Flock of Seagulls, Bow Wow Wow, Animotion, June 13, Uptown, $46-$120

80’s pop hitmakers, A Flock of Seagulls, the Liverpool-based band known for their futuristic sound and gravity-defying hairstyles, rose to international fame with hits like “I Ran (So Far Away)” and “Space Age Love Song.” The band will headline this I Love The 80s Fest with an interesting three-band lineup. We caught the band, live outdoors a decade ago, while eating barbecue in MN.

Bow Wow Wow paired a percussion-heavy sound with Anabella Lwin’s powerful vocals, is best known in the U.S. for its bright, punky 1982 hit “I Want Candy,” a cover of a 1960s song by The Strangeloves. Their other hits included “Do You Wanna Hold Me” and “Go Wild in the Country.”

Although they found success, the band wasn’t around long, breaking up in the fall of 1983, when the other members left to surprise form a band called Chiefs of Relief and (like bands like LA Guns and Gene Loves Jezebel), there’s two versions of the band touring, but this is the version with the original lead singer.

Your ‘Obsession’ for the late 80’s might still be Animotion, who opens the evening, and was well known for their style, catchy hooks, and boy-girl vocals.

John Muq, June 13-14, Salina- Smoky River Fest,$10-$20

Jon Muq is a singer-songwriter born in Uganda and now living in Austin, TX and draws on African as well as western musical trends and traditions. “These days the world is sad,” he explains, “so I wanted to make happy songs. I wanted to write songs that connected with the listener in a very personal way. When someone listens to my music, it’s not just about me and what I’m singing. It’s about how they understand the songs individually. I think these songs can speak many languages, depending on what you want from them.”

With his debut album, “Flying Away” produced by Dan (Black Keys) Auerbach and tours with Billy Joel, Norah Jones, Mavis Staples, Amythyst Kiah, Corinne Bailey Rae, and others, Muq is expanding the scope of his music to speak to more and more people.

Salina Arts & Humanities has served a unique role in arts advocacy and support since 1966, and The Smoky Hill River Festival is one of several programs of this City of Salina division. A small gathering in a city park in 1977 has greatly expanded and evolved by combining its two art shows and re-envisioning its program and is now a large but very welcoming and friendly multi-day festival which runs June 12-15.

SATURDAY JUNE 14

SUNDAY JUNE 15

Future Stages Festival, June 15, Kauffman, Free

This FREE one-day festival invites everyone to explore a diverse range of performances and interactive arts activities. Futures Stages Festival is a community event that showcases youth in the performing arts and spotlights hundreds of young, talented artists throughout the day on multiple stages. Featuring a variety of performing arts organizations and arts activity partners, more than 30 youth performance groups will showcase their talents throughout the day on four stages.

FUTURE STAGES FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE GROUPS:

 AileyCamp the Group  Base Academy of Music Ensembles  Creative Emajinations  Crescendo Conservatory  Dramatic Truth School of the Arts  Driscoll Irish Dancers  Eva Moore’s Performing Arts Center  Grupo Folklórico Alma Tapatía  Gurukul Dance Academy  HK Chinese Folk Dance Group  HPKC Camerata Orchestra  Ice Studios School of Dance  Kansas City Aerial Arts – Training Company  Kansas City Horn Club Youth Ensemble  Kansas City Institute of Chinese Language & Culture  Kansas City Movement  KC Youth Percussion Ensemble

 Little Africa  Live Jazz KC High School All-Stars  Lyric Singers of St. Joseph Youth Chorale  MSACP Orchestra  Pleasant Hill Dance Academy  Priscilla and Dana’s Tap Dance Company  Pythons Drill Team  Rebel Song Academy  STG Studio  Storybook Theatre  String Sprouts KC  Tahitian Association of Kansas City  The A-Flat Music Youth Orchestra  The Barton Street Band  The Lawrence Arts Center Irish Dancers  The Last Carnival  Voler Aerial Academy Youth

Insane Clown Posse, June 15, The Truman, sold out

Juggalos unite! The Insane Clown Posse (ICP) are back in the area, so batten the hatches and hide your daughters! The notorious and controversial rap pairing of Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, who got their start in Detroit, are known for their “horrorcore” hip-hop style that has transformed them into cultural icons.

ICP has released more than 20 albums since forming in 1989, highlighted by songs like “Hokus Pokus,” “Boogie Woogie Wu,” “My Axe,” and the fan favorite “In My Room.” The pair have also competed as professional wrestlers in the WWF/WWE, WCW and other leagues, including their own Juggalo Championship Wrestling.

“Straight from the Dark Carnival, the wicked duo are packin’ up their hatchets, stackin’ up the Faygo, and hittin’ the road for a mad fresh rampage,” ICP said of their upcoming tour. JCW wrasslin’ featured too!

   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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

We♥KC! May 19-22, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS)

Read More Against Me! Punk band Against Me! recently announced that they have extended their Spring headlining tour to include a ton of new dates throughout May. They are currently touring in support of their sixth studio album ...

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Kelce takes a break--

Word came down that the new annual tradition of Kelce Jam, a party with brothers Jason and Travis and several of their favorite acts, is off for this year, but they're promising an even bigger and better experience next year.

That leaves KC with one less summer festival, but Starlight opens its historic 75^th season this weekend (with some renovations in-progress we previously mentioned) and look for LiveNation to offer some $30 tickets to several shows, beginning May 21, while they last (AEG books more shows locally at the moment, so selection won’t be as plentiful as in other markets)

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week of May 19th-22nd.

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)

MONDAY MAY 19

Volume, May 19, miniBar, $13.15

Heavy fuzzed out psych rock from the desert of 29 Palms, CA, this trip is for fans of Monster Magnet, desert stoner rock, and dense doom rock. The band is said to draw its musical influences from bands such as The Stooges, MC5 and Black Flag to name a few, while also crafting their own heavy identity.

Originally formed in 1993 by ex-Fu Manchu singer Patrick Brink, the band has featured a revolving set of collaborators, and the current live lineup includes Mingus on drums, bassist Jason Hernandez and lead guitarist Derek Christiansen and their recent release is called “Joy of Navigation”. The Soiled Doves and Momovudu slated as support on the bill.

TUESDAY MAY 20

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Climber: Defying Limits: Climbing the 14 Highest Peaks, May 20, Kauffman Theatre, $45-$68

Another great and interesting speaker from the Kauffman’s Changemaker Speaker Series. At 23, Austrian mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner achieved her greatest dream: climbing an 8,000-meter peak. Fast forward to today, Gerlinde has climbed all 14 peaks of 8,000+ without supplemental oxygen and without the help of high-altitude porters, the first woman to do so.

She completed the quest on her 7th attempt up what many consider to be the most daunting climb in the world, the world’s second highest peak, K2, known worldwide as the “Savage Mountain,” in the remote Karakoram Range of Pakistan and China.

Leon Bridges, May 20, The Midland, $216 (resale only)

Modern soul artist Leon Bridges is finishing up his The Leon Tour, which began last year in support of his self-titled album, Leon, released last October. We last saw live him a decade ago in Minneapolis as he was just starting out, and his sound has developed and evolved since, while staying relevant. He embarks next on a co-headlining tour with fellow Texan Charlie Crockett to take them both through the summer.

Alabama-born country singer Kashus Culpepper will open.

MIKE w/ duendita and Anysia Kim, May 20, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $24-$28

The NYC rapper / producer (aka Michael Jordan Bonema) alongside Tony Seltzer just released the second single from their recentl collaborative album, Pinball 2, which was just released on May 7th via MIKE’s 10k label and is the sequel to their first joint project Pinball, which arrived last March.

This is all in addition to his tenth solo LP Showbiz!, making him one of the essential and prolific young voices in hip-hop this decade via his own label ,10k, and his free Young World festival in Brooklyn. The current #aotc tour is the biggest of MIKE’s career, and includes 40 dates across the country, 

Arrive early for Queens, NY’s duendita band who compose and play bass-coated tones and mix of jazz, piano, soul and R&B,.Newest project is the 10-track EP, a strong desire to survive, released April 4th via MIKE’s 10k label with lead single, “baby teeth”. (yes, they seem to prefer lowercase).

Mean Girls (musical) May 20-25, Starlight, $14.72-$120.75

Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey ("30 Rock" and based on her film script), composer Jeff Richmond ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and original director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). and tells the story of a naïve newbie who falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies.

Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies, The Plastics – Regina, Gretchen and Karen. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina's reign, she learns the hard way that you can't cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.  Wearing pink seems to be encouraged.

WEDNESDAY MAY 21

Patti Lupone, May 21, Kauffman,$43-$137

“A Life in Notes, A musical touchstone of a life” – the legendary performer trained at Juilliard in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and began her professional career in 1972 with The Acting Company. LuPone has won three Tony Awards including Best Actress in a Musical and a Grammy Award.

In her new concert, Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes, she performs an array of songs which do just that — songs that are touchstones and reflections on her life growing up in America — from a young girl during the burgeoning rock and roll scene of the fifties, to coming of age in the politically and socially turbulent sixties, to eventually achieving success with both career and family. The show was conceived and directed by Scott Wittman with music direction and arrangements by Joseph Thalken and was written by Jeffrey Richman.

Laura Jane Grace, May 21, Granada- Lawrence, $29.50-$35

The musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the founder, lead singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist of the punk rock band Against Me! Is back on the road in support of the new upcoming album, “Adventure Club” (out July 18 with lead single, “Active Trauma”). and Lawrence gets an early date to hear the new music!

Grace fronts the band Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers, a solo project she started in 2016 but this time, the billing reads Laura Jane Grace and the Mississippi Medicals (featuring Mikey Erg, Matt Patton, Paris Campbell Grace) with support from Pet Needs.

THURSDAY MAY 22

The Lion King (Broadway touring), May 22-June 1, Music Hall, $79-$317

The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before! - This is Disney’s THE LION KING, making its triumphant return to the Music Hall! More than 100 million people around the world have experienced the inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular (since it first opened in Minneapolis!) and it has remained one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions in modern theater history!

Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, the production brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award®-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of visuals. Its return again features the extraordinary work of Tony Award®-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Whether your first time or a repeat- run, don’t walk for the chance to see this beloved classic!

Gráinne Hunt, May 22, KC Irish Center, $23

Irish folk singer-songwriter Gráinne Hunt enchants audiences with her heart-melting vocals and emotional songs and her two original records delve into personal experiences, evoking pain and longing. She showcased in Kansas City at Folk Alliance International last February before her first US tour, mid-last year.

Aside from her solo work, Gráinne collaborates with guitarist Brendan Walsh in the duo Gráinne and Brendan such as on their 2019 release, “Songs From Ireland” and is also part of the folk duo Hibsen with Jim Murphy who wrote an album of songs based on James Joyce’s “Dubliners” on 2023 album,‘The Stern Task of Living’.

Gráinne Hunt is appearing with the financial support of Culture Ireland and we just covered her recent stop in St. Paul, MN.

 

L.A. Guns, May 22, Knuckleheads, $30

L.A. Guns (we think) are Tracii Guns, Phil Lewis, Ace Von Johnson, Johnny Martin, Adam Hamilton and Shawn Duncan, but check those local listings to be sure. They’ve been around since 1983, but splintered into two versions, which is nothing but confusing. With Tracii and Phil on-board, you’ve got the right one.

The band is promising a new record, Leopard Skin soon, but has the previous Black Diamonds album and 2021’s “Checkered Past,” to lean on in the meantime. And don’t forget those classic 80’s hits either - “The Ballad Of Jayne” “Over The Edge”; “Kiss My Love Goodbye”; “Electric Gypsy”; “Never Enough”; “Sex Action”, and more.

La Cerca, May 22 at Lucia- Lawrence AND May 23 at The Ship, Kansas City, $9.92

The desert psychedelic guitar four-piece La Cerca from Tucson, AZ is out in support of their latest album, 'A Nice Sweet Getaway'(via Fort Lowell Records). They've actually been around since '90s (originally as Wise Folk Malcontent) and are helmed by Andrew Gardner, alongside other founding member guitarist Bill Oberdick.

Building on influences from Sonic Youth and The Cure to Dylan and Ride, La Cerca additionally incorporates a desert-infused blend of shoegaze, ambient, twangy pop hooks, and signature dueling guitars. They play Lucia in downtown Lawrence (thought I don't see the event listing on the venue’s FB), then are the middle act of a three-band bill at The Ship in KC the following evening, so you really have no excuse to miss.

   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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

We♥KC! April 7-10, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS)

Read More Papa Roach Not quite their 'last resort', Papa Roach continues to carry on, and Vancouver rockers Spiritbox will get things started. .

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Getting close to tax time--

For those of use that still haven’t filed (cough, ahem), they’re only a handful of days left. In the meantime, hit up some live music or see a NASA pioneer speak or local jazz personalities, as there’s plenty to select from, for a short escape from the doom and gloom daily headlines.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro for thee musical and cultural happenings for April 7th-10th:

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)

MONDAY APRIL 7

TUESDAY APRIL 8

Kobie Boykins, NASA: Beyond Earth: The Quest for Life, Apr 8, Kauffman Theatre, $45-$68

Next up on their Changemaker Speaker Series, embark on a journey through more than two decades of space exploration with leading NASA Engineer Kobie Boykins. After working on all of the Mars Rover programs, he has set his sights on more distant frontiers with his most ambitious mission to date – a circumnavigation of Europa, Jupiter’s icy moon.

As Chief Engineer of this project, he has been leading a team of thousands to build and deploy a spacecraft that will take eight years just to reach its target, before it slingshots around Jupiter and gets into a two-year orbit of Europa. The goal? To find out if there is water under the icy crust. Where there’s water, there’s life. The mission launched in Oct. 2024.

Boykins is a principal mechanical engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA, where he has worked since graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In more than twenty-five years at the lab, he has worked on every Mars mission since the Pathfinder mission, which took the first Rover, “Sojourner,” to Mars in 1996. In 2013, he received a NASA Exceptional Service Medal, one of the highest honors given to NASA employees and contractors.

Subhumans, Apr 8, recordBar, $25.49

The longtime U.K. punk band will make their return to the United States this month. Subhumans formed in 1980, as part of the UK’s anarcho-punk scene. They broke up in 1985 and reunited a couple of times in the ’90s before re-forming in 2004 and remaining active since then.

The trek just kicked off on April 4 at Minneapolis’ Uptown VFW, and it’ll conclude on April 18 with an appearance at Oakland’s BOB Fest. Subhumans'’ last studio album was 2019’s Crisis Point.

Jazz Alive- Common Ground Panel, Apr 8, Folly, $10-20

Discover the vibrant world of Kansas City jazz at the Common Ground Panel! This unique event brings together leading voices from the city’s top jazz organizations to discuss the future of jazz, its cultural impact, and how we can all contribute to its thriving community. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with passionate jazz advocates and be part of an inspiring conversation. Doors at 6PM, panel begins at 6:30PM. Admission includes one drink voucher and there is a BOGO deal on reg. $20 tix now.

Panelists:

B.J. Jansen – President of Kansas City Jazz ALIVE

Allyssa Bell-Jackson – Executive Director of Kansas City Jazz Orchestra

Dr. Dina Bennett – Executive Director of American Jazz Museum

David Basse – President of Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors

Rick Truman – Executive Director of Folly Theater

Anita Dixon – UNESCO City of Music KC

WEDNESDAY APRIL 9

Papa Roach, Rise Against, Underoath, Apr 9, T-Mobile Center, $34-$149

Papa Roach has joined forces with Rise Against and special guest Underoath for the first North American leg of the "Rise Of The Roach" Tour. In the tour parody video, comedian Bert Kreischer dropped the "big news" that he'll be hitting the road with PAPA ROACH next year. In fact, he even let fans in on a little secret — he's totally been in the band all along.

Both acts are celebrating 25th anniversaries, as P Roach will celebrate 25 years of their debut album "Infest" with hits and fan-favorite deep cuts from their entire catalog. In comparison, Rise Against also hit the 25-year mark since their formation and will be unleashing fan favorites and hits as well.

"We can't wait to bring the 'Rise Of The Roach' tour to North America next year," shares Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix. "RISE AGAINST are legends in their own right and will bring another dynamic to this tour. With both our bands celebrating our 25-plus-year legacy and deep catalogs, we are truly blessed to be able to put this show in front of fans."

Rise’s Tim McIlrath added: "After crossing paths with PAPA ROACH countless times over the years, we're stoked to finally team up and put our bands together on the same stage and our fans together in the same room. With the welcome addition of our old friends UNDEROATH, this will be the best damn tour of 2025. See you soon!"

Neal Francis, Apr 9, Knuckleheads, $29.50

The Chicago singer-songwriter has a new album, Return To Zero, following an almost non-stop tour schedule that found him playing nearly 400 shows from 2021 to 2024. Equal parts heady and hedonistic, pensive and euphoric, Francis’ third studio LP echoes both his deep-rooted psych-rock sensibilities and a lifelong affinity for classic funk. “I’ve always been intrigued by music that toes the line between funk and rock,” notes Francis. “In the past I’ve asked myself things like, ‘What would it sound like if Thin Lizzy cut a disco record?’ It’s something I’ve been fascinated with for a very long time, so I finally decided to really go for it.”

The follow-up to his 2023 double live album and concert film Francis Comes Alive, the new LP marks Francis’ first full-length studio effort since 2021’s In Plain Sight.

THURSDAY APRIL 10

Larkin Poe / Parker Millsap, Apr 10, The Truman, $29.50-$60

The blues rock duo has a new and seventh album, Bloom, which was release in January via their own Tricki-Woo Records. To accompany the new track, the Nashville-based sister act of Rebecca and Megan Lovell have also released an official music video for “Mockingbird” and are out on an expansive 2025 tour. We caught them live in Winter 2023 at nearby Knuckleheads.

“Mockingbird” follows preview tracks “Bluephoria” and “If God Is a Woman,” which were released in the summer, as well as 2023’s Blood Harmony, which won the duo a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

On the project’s true-to-life process, Megan explained that Bloom is about “finding yourself, knowing yourself, and separating the truth of who you are from societal expectations.” Rebecca adds that it calls for an embrace of “the flaws and idiosyncrasies that make us real.”

Arrive early for this solid double-bill to catch blues/roots musician Parker Millsap as well, who we caught live in St. Paul MN back in fall 2021.

 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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

We♥KC! March 29-31, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS / Topeka KS)

Read More Bob Dylan Legendary Bob Dylan is back in town for a residency at the Orpheum Theatre from November 4-November 6th. This should be a much better experience than his last …

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Month’s end!

March weather may supposedly go “out like a lamb” (maybe not this wacky year!) but concerts and shows are definitely still “roaring like a lion” as this last weekend is pretty packed, with no less than the Bobfather himself returning to navigate the still-terrible street conditions of Topeka for the first time in decades!

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS / Topeka KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming weekend, from March 29th-31st:

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)

SATURDAY MARCH 29

Warrant, BulletBoys, Mar 29, Uptown, $29-$75

The Down Boys are back!

The Hollywood rockers have been around since 1994 and of course, had massive success with their debut album, "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich," from 1989 with its hit singles "Down Boys," "Sometimes She Cries," and "Heaven." That success paved the way for their second album, "Cherry Pie," which was released in 1990. The title track, "Cherry Pie," became the band's biggest hit, reaching number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band continued to release successful albums throughout the 1990s, including "Dog Eat Dog" and "Ultraphobic."

They continue to tour and release new music with vocalist Robert Mason, including recent album, "Louder Harder Faster," and we covered them live last, back in Minnesota in late 2016.

Arrive early for longtime rockers BulletBoys who are welcoming back a founding member after a few years absent from the band. Lonnie Vincent, who left the band in 2022, is coming back and joining him will be guitarist Jake Faun who’s worked with David Lee Roth and Winger. Smooth Up!

Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Mar 29, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $23-$25

Giovannie and The Hired Guns are back on tour in support of their fourth full-length album, Quitter, just out earlier this month and prefaced by the title track as a lead single. We saw them live at this same venue in 2023, and the band has a continued strong Kansas fan base, as evidenced by booking four KS shows on this tour.

Since their inception in 2015, the group has merged alt-metal, Red Dirt country, Latin pop, Americana, and much more. The new record is their second LP since signing with Warner Music Nashville through Warner Music Latina and was recorded at the famed Sonic Ranch (a residential studio near the Mexican border in Tornillo, TX).

““Quitter” is about being out on tour all the time and never getting to be at home and also feeling like you don’t deserve the person who’s back at home waiting for you,” says Giovannie Yanez. “Everything kind of clicked for this album after we wrote ‘Quitter,. Jerrod came up with a riff and I just jumped in and started singing those opening lines: ‘Here we go again/Pass me a Xan.’ It was exactly what I was going through at the time, but I didn’t even mean for it to come out.”

Harlem Globetrotters, Mar 29, T-Mobile Center, $20-$200

Don't bet on the Washington Generals! The basketball team that brings the most fun, the Harlem Globetrotters level-up every game with all-new, exciting challenges in 2025! You'll see all that you've come to expect at every Globetrotters game, plus new trials as players face-off to see who can pull off trick shots and more! See you favorite Globetrotter stars versus their renowned rivals, the Generals. Packages and VIP available, we saw them about ten years ago and they’re still a fun show.

SUNDAY MARCH 30

Killswitch Engage w Kublai Khan TX Fit for a King, Frozen Soul, Mar 30, The Midland, $39-$81

The Massachusetts three-time Grammy-nominated hard rockers (Jesse Leach, vocals; Adam Dutkiewicz, guitar; Joel Stroetzel, guitar; Mike D'Antonio, bass; and Justin Foley, drums) are back on tour with a renewed energy, in support of their brand-new album, “This Consequence” released February 21 via Metal Blade, with lead single, “I Believe.”

"We are very excited to be back out on the road in support of our incoming new album," states singer Jesse Leach. “['This Consequence'] means the world to us so we will be giving it our absolute all on these shows. Be sure to come out; it will be one for the memories!"

This tour leg started March 5 in Nashville and runs through April 12 in Portland, ME and is a packed four-band lineup, so make sure to arrive early to secure a good spot!

Bob Dylan, Mar 30, TPAC- Topeka, $65-$262

The Bobfather has expanded his touring schedule yet again, still on his “Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour,” named after his 2020 album of the same name, which mark his most recent original, full-length release to date. ahead of his participation in the 2025 “Outlaw Music Festival Tour.”

He returns to Topeka for the first time in years, having played TPAC in 1994 and the old Expocentre back in Spring 2001.

Of course, his early days were recently chronicled in the Timothée Chalamet-starring Oscar-nominated bio film A Complete Unknown, and believe it or not, he also recently joined TikTok. Live, Bob plays what he wants to play (so don’t expect a hit parade), doesn’t say much at all between songs, and the stage is usually dark, but that’s the legend for you!

Waylon Wyatt, Mar 30, Knuckleheads, Sold Out

This is one hot sold-out show! The teen rising Red Dirt Country singer-songwriter from Hackett, AR is out on his 13-date headlining Til The Sun Goes Down Tour.

He was recently named a 2025 Artist To Watch by Amazon and Music Mayhem Magazine and released his debut EP, Til The Sun Goes Down, in 2024, a project that he solely produced and wrote (in his childhood home!), which has racked up over 5 million streams across platforms.

Here’s what he said about the tour: "Going on my first tour ever!! Might just be coming to a town near you!! Thank y’all so much for supporting me. I’ll be on spring break from school during this tour so I’m actually gonna have some time to travel. Hope to see y’all at this next string of shows!!"

MONDAY MARCH 31

Kraftwerk, Mar 31, The Midland, $39-$100

Ze fun, fun, fun of fifty years of the Autobahn! Kraftwerk co-founder Ralf Hutter still leads the iconic German synth outfit and is celebrating five decades on this “Multi-media Tour-50 Years of Autobahn” paying tribute to the band’s first US tour in 1975 to promote their fourth album of the same name.

Bringing together electronic-music computer animations and performance art, Kraftwerk concerts are a true "Gesamtkunstwerk – a total work of art.”The group was founded in 1970 by Ralf Huetter and Florian Schneider. They set up their electronic Kling Klang Studio in Duesseldorf, where they conceived and produced all Kraftwerk albums.

By the mid 1970’s Kraftwerk had achieved international recognition for their revolutionary electronic ‘sound scapes’ and their musical experimentation with robotics and other technical innovations. With their visions of the future, they created the soundtrack for the digital age of the 21st century and were constantly ahead of their time.

In 2014, Huetter and Schneider were honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. and in 2021 Kraftwerk were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Danielle Nicole, Mar 31, Kauffman Center, free for Spotlight members

A true KC favorite and winner of eight Blues Music Awards, Danielle Nicole Band, led by vocalist and bassist Danielle Nicole, has carved a niche in the contemporary blues scene. Known for her soulful voice, stage presence and skillful bass playing, Danielle Nicole blends blues with elements of soul, rock and R&B. We caught her live last in 2023.  

Her solo debut album, “Wolf Den,” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Blues Charts and earned 7.5 million Spotify streams. Her follow-up album, “Cry No More” (2018), was Grammy-nominated in the contemporary blues category and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Charts – and can claim more than 10 million Spotify streams. Most recently, “The Love You Bleed” (2024) spun more than 1.2 million streams in its first year.

If not yet a Spotlight member, signup is available and consider supporting the Arts in this fine manner--
5:30 p.m. – Doors open. Complimentary wine, beer, seasonal cocktail and appetizers.
7 p.m. – Danielle Nicole Band performance in Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
8:15 p.m. – Artist meet-and-greet in Brandmeyer Great Hall. Cash bar available.

 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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

We♥KC! March 25-28, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS)

Read More The Faint Modern synth/Dark Wave/Danse band The Faint just released their Capsule: 1999-2016. The retrospective collects their early classics with new classics from their 2016

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

It’s officially Spring! -

Don’t count the weird weather out just yet though, but those flashes of warmer temps have had us feeling more optimistic.

The calendar has gotten busier with acts coming through to play, following last weekend’s SXSW in Austin, TX which sadly might be its last year as a music destination. We’re thrilled locally with recent show announcements by Cyndi Lauper, Deftones, Black Keys, and even Bill Murray, all coming later this summer.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence metro musical happenings for the upcoming week, from March 25th-28th:

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)

TUESDAY MARCH 25

Keith Ladzinski, Photographer: Forces of Nature, Mar 25, Muriel Kauffman Theatre, $45-$68

It’s the next exciting installment in the Kauffman’s Changemaker Speaker Series!

Keith Ladzinski is a National Geographic photographer and Emmy nominated director. His work primarily focuses on natural history, climate change, extreme sports, fine art and advertising campaigns, sending him to the furthest reaches of the seven continents on photo and film assignments.

Whether dangling from ropes to document first ascents in interior Antarctica, storm chasing in Tornado Alley, trekking up Mount Everest, or diving with wild alligators in the Florida Everglades, Ladzinski has been there, visually documenting it all. Journey to the farthest reaches of the planet in this sweeping look at nature and man.

Bewitcher, Deathchant, Persekutor, Mar 25, recordBar, $22.10

Since their formation in 2013, Bewitcher has seen their signature “Black Magick Metal” sound go from humble beginnings to new heights of creativity. The Portland OR black/speed metal band have earned a reputation as one of the hardest working touring acts around, bringing their high energy live shows to every corner of North America and abroad.

The speed metal demons have unleashed a new digital single, "The Warrior Trail," which was previously only available via the Decibel Magazine flexi series and is also joining forces with DEATHCHANT to co-headline a U.S. tour in celebration of their latest offering, 'Spell Shock,' along with support from PERSEKUTOR.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 26

Velveteers w Girl Tones, Mar 26, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $15-$18

Colorado indie alt rockers The Velveteers have embarked on their 2025 Million Knives tour, which coincides with the band’s sophomore album A Million Knives, released February 14 via Easy Eye Sound (Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach’s label). 

This follows their recent Kiss the Future tour from last Fall (still in support of first album, Nightmare Daydream), and we’ll say it again – we’ve been knocked out every time we’ve seen them live, so prepare to be thrilled.

Led by tour-de-force frontwoman Demi Demitro and backed by dual drummers Baby Pottersmith and Jonny Fig (playing on a conjoined kit), the band had released two singles ahead of the new record- “Go Fly Away” and most recently “Suck The Cherry.”

Arrive early for buzzing opener, Girl Tones, a high-energy rock duo brought to life by two classically trained sisters named Kenzie and Laila. Kenzie transitioned from cello to guitar and Laila from piano to drums and their debut singles were produced by Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant and released via his label, Parallel Vision.

THURSDAY MARCH 27

Steel Panther w/ Moon Fever, Mar 27, The Midland, $29.50-$169

15 years later, we’re all still Feelin’ the Steel-- Steel Panther have announced a March leg of their Feel the Steel 15th anniversary tour (before they head to Europe) celebrating the self-proclaimed “greatest heavy metal album of all-time,” also releasing a 15th anniversary expanded edition of the album late last year.

We’re always excited to catch one of the best party bands out there, as we did just over a year ago, and they’re back, and playing an even bigger venue, so expect even more metal mayhem.

Seattle rockers Moon Fever are on the bill again as well and have shared the King Zabb directed music video for their new track "TV Skin." The song is the latest from their debut album, Forever Sleep. Moon Fever is comprised of Triston Bracht [vocals], Mitch Micoley [guitar], Dave Orton [bass], and Troy Wageman [drums], has been making waves with their high-energy performances and infectious rock hooks.

honestav, Mar 27, recordBar,Sold Out

Rising Missouri-based alternative singer/songwriter honestav is out on his 39-date national headline ‘No License Tour”, selling out most shows, including Minneapolis, where we just caught the show live.

He just released “Growin Pains” ahead of the deluxe version of his debut EP hara-kiri, just out. The next single “Livin’ Wrong” will be coming later this month. Previous single “Hurts to Fall in Love” continues to grow in the Top 40 at Alternative Radio, while breakout track “I’d Rather Overdose” has amassed over 105 million streams globally, and details his personal battles with addiction and loss, while finding the hope to push through.

Wichita KS-raised, LA-based hip-hopper Damien Styles opens, so it’s really all a Midwest show.

FRIDAY MARCH 28

The Faint w Plack Blague, Mar 28, Warehouse on Broadway, $30

Electro band The Faint has returned to announce a reissue of two of their classic albums, 1999's Blank-Wave Arcade, and 2004's Wet From Birth, both of which are just out on the band's longtime label home Saddle Creek.

The band emerged in the late 1990s in Omaha, NE to pioneer a sound that combined the melodic essence of new wave, the raw edge of post-punk, and the futurism of electro. The distinctive, synth-driven sound that brought The Faint to wide acclaim first surfaced on 1999's Blank-Wave Arcade. Wet From Birth followed in 2004 with its electro-orchestral arrangements, cementing The Faint's reputation as pioneers of the indie synth scene.

The band’s now based in the Joshua Tree area of California and also released a found song from the Blank-Wave Arcade era called "Brokers, Priests & Analysts," along with a remaster of the single from that album, "Worked Up So Sexual." Plus, check out the brand-new venue the band will be playing at.

Michael Carbonaro (comedy), Mar 28, Midland,$39.50-$69.50

The magician and comedian is best known for his show “The Carbonaro Effect,” a hidden camera magic series that ran for five seasons on truTV and continues out live and in-person with his “Lies on Stage” tour.

A performing magician since his youth, Carbonaro went on to study experimental theater at NYU with the aspirations of entertaining audiences through a variety of theatrical mediums, including hidden-camera magic.

Michael’s extensive list of accolades includes the “Outfest Best Actor” award as well as the “Magician of the Year” honor, bestowed upon him by the Academy of Magical Arts in 2015. In 2016, he was the inaugural recipient of the Copperfield Prize which recognizes an individual for elevating the art of magic.

 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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

Judy Collins at Kauffman Center for the Arts, Kansas City MO (15 March 2025)

JUDY COLLINS SETLIST Both Sides, Now (Joni Mitchell cover) Danny Boy (Frederick Edward Weatherly cover) Diamonds & Rust (Joan Baez cover) Born to the Breed Leaving on a Jet Plane / Take Me Home, Country Roads / Jet Plane reprise (John Denver covers) When I Was a Girl in Colorado John Riley (traditional) Mr. Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan cover) Suzanne (Leonard Cohen cover snippet) Since You Asked The Blizzard Send In the Clowns (Stephen Sondheim cover) -- Encore -- Amazing Grace (John Newton cover) OAKLAND RAIN SETLIST ? If You Were a Song Sister Hymn Diamonds are Diamonds Lighthouse Dear Josephine JUDY COLLINS TOUR DATES 16 MARCH Des Moines, IA Hoyt Sherman Place 18 MARCH Memphis, TN Halloran Centre- Orpheum Theatre 19 MARCH Birmingham, AL Lyric Theatre 22 MARCH Nashville, IN Brown County Music Center 23 MARCH Charlotte, NC Knight Theater, Levine Center 28 MARCH Victoria, BC, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 29 MARCH Victoria, BC, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 30 MARCH New Westminster, BC, Massey Theatre 6 APRIL Thousand Oaks, CA Kavli Theatre at B of A PAC 7 APRIL Colorado Springs, CO Pikes Peak Center 10 MAY New Brunswick, NJ State Theatre 11 MAY Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre 15 MAY Rutland, VT Paramount Theatre 17 MAY Old Saybrook, CT The Kate Cultural Arts Center 18 MAY Toronto, ON, Hugh's Room Live 21 MAY Buffalo, NY Shea's 710 Theatre 23 MAY Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse 6 JUNE Chicago, IL Cahn Auditorium 14 JUNE Boulder, CO Chautauqua Auditorium Read More Judy Collins 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 …

Over six decades later, we’re all still Spellbound watching her perform--

One of the great folk icons- a singer-songwriter, author, activist, and poet known best during the 1960’s & 70’s, Judy Collins returned to Kansas City, over the weekend. She’s still as active as ever at 85-years-young and enchanted the audience at the Kauffman Center for the Arts, while winter decided it wasn’t quite done outside- bringing cold, winds, and even some light snow.

The evening began with a well-received half hour set from Norwegian sister folk duo, Oakland Rain (aka twins Maren and Charlotte Wallevik Hansen), in support of their “Twin Flames Part One: The Evergreen” release, the first of two planned companion records, this initial one released in late January.

Like similar Scandinavian female traditional folk duos (First Aid Kit, Huldreokkk, Staallul), their shared harmonies are impeccable, mastery of English is probably better than our own, and their very kind in-between song banter, was spoken with a cheerful and spry impish lilt.

The band nicely introduced each song and gave some very brief background to it, with the recent “Sister Hymn” having the shortest intro, as its title and content seemed obvious. The sisters are staunch advocates of mental health and hope for positive change through their music and made sure to make mention of that (as well as their CDs for sale at merch, as reminded by their tour manager to say).

 

There seems to be another modern folk renaissance in music of late – from chart-topping bands like Mumford and Sons, Fleet Foxes, Noah Kahan, and Lumineers, to the acclaimed recent Bob Dylan biopic, to everyone’s favorite, Taylor Swift, even releasing a pair of award-winning folk-inspired records, produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff.

So, it’s a real treat when one of the 1960’s originators like Judy Collins comes to town, with a seemingly endless supply of stories and accompanying songs. Her ninety-minute performance was not as much as of a concert, as a musical conversation – peppered with anecdotes, one-liner jokes, and stories of her own journey, which started by learning piano at a very young age, as encouraged by her piano-playing and radio host father.

Collins began her ninety-minute headlining set (accompanied by her pianist and own twelve-string guitar) with her famous cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides, Now”, declaring afterword with some pep in her step, that “’85’ is the new ‘27’!”, which got an early collective laugh from the enraptured crowd.

She mentioned the recent pandemic beginning as a good thing for her, not having had any kind of ‘real vacation’ in some forty years but was brought back to reality by catching the virulent bug.

The early sing a-long of the classic “Danny Boy’ was not only an early chance to get the crowd’s St. Pat’s pipes rehearsing, but dated back to her own childhood, being brought up on stage by her father to sing classics like that one, and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” ...in April. A few Mae West quotes she learned along the way, kept things light as well.

Collins mentioned her longtime friendship with Joan Baez before her own version of the Baez hit, “Diamonds & Rust”, saying, “we’ve known each other so long, we play at each other birthdays” and noting she really never did many drugs back in the day, saying “they interfered with my drinking” to a crowd’s laugh.

She did admit to heeding a learned lesson to keep working as one ages and admitted these shows back on the road also served as her own therapy; having still to adequately overcome the death of her husband and partner since 1978, designer/artist Louis Nelson, who passed away in December.

Collins admitted her intensive music lessons ‘ruined’ her social life as a young girl (“...but I made up for it in the 60’s,” she exclaimed) and that the irresistible pull of acts like Jo Stafford, drew her away from classical piano, and towards folk and pop on guitar.

And like many musicians in the right-place at the right-time, she first met John Denver as an early teen, had 13-year Arlo Guthrie opening for her when she moved to NYC in 1961, and stayed in a farmhouse in Woodstock, NY as Bob Dylan finished writing “Mr. Tambourine Man’ from a room just down the hall.

Denver’s own “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “Leaving on a Jet Plane” were mashed together as a medley (with the crowd singing the choruses back) and Collins recalled running a Rocky Mountain lodge in Estes Park with her first husband, without electricity or modern conveniences (but loving it).

On her version of the traditional, “John Riley”, she proved she could more than hold an extended end note (to rave applause), mentioning her approval of the recent Dylan film and long friendship with Pete Seeger (though was somewhat comically disgruntled that the Woodstock Festival had three chances to invite her, but never did).

She would switch over to piano after the first hour, recollecting her 1966 meeting with a young Leonard Cohen and he recited verses of his own “Suzanne”, unsure that it was even a song (“It was!” Collins would assure him).

1967’s “Since You Asked” was her own song and had her mention her poetry writings as well; saying a poem can sometimes be “jammed” into being a song lyric, but the opposite generally did not work. Her most recent book of poetry, “Sometimes It’s Heaven” is out next week and she was thrilled to have her publisher’s representatives (from KC’s own Andrews McMeel) in the audience as well.

Her distinctive Sondheim cover and perhaps biggest hit, “Send in the Clowns” would end the main set, but the pair quickly re-emerged for a one-song acapella encore of “Amazing Grace”, which found Collins teaching the audiences the deeper verses, beyond the familiar chorus.

After what seemed a quick ninety-minutes, the show was over to bows and applause, feeling like it could have easily gone at least another ninety, with more stories, anecdotes and reflections, from a life well-lived. And there was no real time to touch on her activist roles and stance on social issues. Her most recent album, 2022’s Spellbound, was her first of all-original material, resulting in a Grammy Award nomination for Best Folk Album- further proof that even in her mid-80s, Judy Collins still has a lot left to say.

(click on any image to enlarge and see in full)

JUDY COLLINS at Kauffman Center- Kansas City MO (2025-03-15)

JUDY COLLINS at Kauffman Center- Kansas City MO (2025-03-15)

JUDY COLLINS at Kauffman Center- Kansas City MO (2025-03-15)

OAKLAND RAIN at Kauffman Center- Kansas City MO (2025-03-15)

 

John C ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥X / twitter.com ♥ bsky.ap

We♥KC! March 15th-17th Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS)

Read More Paris Paloma She released her debut album “Cacophony” last August, with her viral, break-out single “labour” playing to tens of thousands of TikTok uses, 180 million+ streams on Spotify, and a recent …

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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

Parade (Broadway Touring musical) at The Kauffman Center, Kansas City MO (2025-01-28 through 02-02)

(Parade playbill from The Kauffman Center, Kansas City, MO)   KANSAS CITY SHOWTIMES   Tuesday, January 28: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 29: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 30: 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 31: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 1: 2 p.m. Saturday, February 1: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, February 2: 1 p.m. Sunday, February 2: 6:30 p.m.   PARADE TOUR DATES   February 4-23 Cleveland, OH Playhouse Square February 25 - March 9 Detroit, MI Fisher Theatre March 11-23 Boston, MA Emerson Colonial Theatre March 25-30 Charlotte, NC Belk Theater April 1-6 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre April 16 - May 4 Seattle, WA The 5th Avenue Theatre May 6-11 Sacramento, CA Safe Credit Union PAC May 13 - June 8 San Francisco, CA Curran Theatre June 10-15 Las Vegas, NV The Smith Center June 17 - July 12 Los Angeles, CA Ahmanson Theatre July 15-20 Houston, TX Hobby Center July 29 - August 3 Des Moines, IA Des Moines Civic Center August 5 - 17 Chicago, IL CIBC Theatre August 19 - September 7 Washington, DC The Kennedy Center Read More Broadway in Kansas City Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album.... …

Maybe the most unlikely story for a musical--

After technical rehearsals in NY and a tour debut in Minneapolis, the Broadway touring version of Parade plays in Kansas City, now through Sunday at the Kauffman Center and we were in attendance to take in opening night. This production was nominated for six Tony Awards®, including a winner for Best Revival.

Parade tells the true story of Leo Frank, a college-educated Brooklyn Jewish man who lives with the Atlanta area with his Southern wife, Lucille, and works as a superintendent in a pencil factory, trying to fit in and adapt to life in the pre-WWI South. He becomes accused of an unspeakable crime, which tests the couple’s faith, devotion, humanity and faith in justice itself.

It’s directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Arden, with book by two-time Tony Award® winner, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Academy Award® winner Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Jason Robert Brown and was initially co-conceived by 21-time Tony Award®-winning legend Harold Prince, so the collective resume should speak for itself.

88-year-old Urhy is himself a Jewish writer form the South and one of the most decorated playwrights alive. For Parade, he won both a Tony Award® for Best Book of a Musical in 1999, and another for Best Revival in 2023. He won his Pulitzer for 1988’s Driving Miss Daisy (and an Oscar for the film adaptation, which he also wrote) and also previously won the Tony for Best Play for 1997’s The Last Night of Ballyhoo.

Those three works comprise Uhry’s “Atlanta Trilogy” and each examines a different social aspect of Uhry’s hometown. His real-life connection to Parade is that his great-uncle owned the actual pencil factory where much of this production is set.

The production originally opened in 1998, receiving nine Tony Award® nominations and this current production is based on many of the revisions of its influential 2007 London run. Max Chernin and Talia Suskauer lead the cast as Leo and Lucille Frank, with Chernin taking on the role full-time after serving as an understudy during the Broadway run, and Suskauer has previously had the plum on-stage role of Elphaba in “Wicked”.

Many from the Broadway company including Prentiss E. Mouton, Danielle Lee Greaves, Emily Rose DeMartino, Bailee Endebrock, Caroline Fairweather, and Sophia Manicone, have decided to help take the show on the road. It’s their collective talent and experience, along with the sheer size of the company and their ability to make powerful songs seem more powerful in numbers, that is one of the production’s key strengths.

The stage features a large centered elevated platform on which most of the story occurs and the set design utilizes complex projections (via projection designer Sven Ortel), to set the scene, state the date and location, and also often projects a photo of the actual person being portrayed. The full orchestra is located behind the translucent projection screen but was easily and clearly heard within the pristine confines of the Kauffman.

Current Georgia Senator and Reverend Raphael Warnock begins the evening with a taped introduction, which not only reminds patrons to silence their phones, but helps bring the story’s themes immediately into current times.

The tale unfolds in 1863 as a young man leaves his sweetheart to defend his homeland during the Civil War, then fast-forwards fifty years later, as that same war wounded and now aged soldier, prepares to march in a Memorial Day parade.

A discovery is soon found in the nearby pencil factory and the tale unfolds with a trial, verdict and eventual sentence with the audience emotionally invested and along for the ride. We see familiar themes of witness coaching, misinformation, antisemitism, and the limits of justice, embellished by melodic songs that range from folk to gospel, and even blues in a stirring second act chain gang performance.

Chernin and Suskauer play the couple as very relatable and sympathetic, and the audience effortlessly becomes immersed in their predicament, despite the seeming melancholy that almost everyone is against them. The cast was all in good voice and the staging was so smooth in transitioning between scenes, it often left no moment for even short applause but that was integral in keeping the story moving forward.

The subject matter is tough, and it’s maybe the most unlikely idea for a musical we’ve seen, but the execution of the show is so professional and well done, it’s stirring both in its emotions and the history lesson most of us were likely unaware of. That makes this show one Parade worth marching towards to see.

Parade plays in Kansas City at The Kauffman Center through Sunday, February 2 with tickets available here: Parade | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

  (National Tour Photos by Joan Marcus / Click on any image to enlarge and see in full) 

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / Twitter.com

We♥KC! February 1-8, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO, Lawrence KS)

Read More Chvrches It’s good to hear that Chvrches will be releasing their fourth studio album Screen Violence in the Summer. We’ve already got a sneak peek with their single, “How Not to Drow”, featuring legendary The Cure ...

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

A chilly February already-

The area is still digging out from the record snowfall of three weeks ago (about the amount for a whole typical season) but once again, Super Bowl plans and watch parties are being made, in pursuit of a history-making three-peat, and the town seems be awash in Chiefs Red.

What’s no fun is shivering on an upper-deck seat at an outdoor stadium (been there), so we’re grateful to have a handful of indoor shows for this first week of the month, to keep entertained.

The month looks a bit slow, and the year locally as a whole is a little ‘off’, as there aren’t as many touring events, KC keeps losing shows to other markets due to less overall support (venues/booking agents, no influential radio station like The Buzz (r.i.p.), and newer competition like the Steelhouse in Omaha) but there is hope on the horizon in 2026 with the FIFA World Cup coming and other high-profile events.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week, from February 1st-8th:

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1

Parade (Broadway Touring), Through Feb 2, Kauffman Center, $61-$131

Landing in Kansas City is one of the most anticipated recent Broadway productions and the winner of the 2023 Tony Award® for Best Revival of a Musical. Leo and Lucille Frank are a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in the red hills of Georgia. When Leo is accused of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and devotion. Riveting and gloriously hopeful, Parade reminds us that to love, we must truly see one another.

The New York Times said, “this revival, filled with deft flourishes by director Michael Arden, recalls an era of big casts, big stories, and big talent–a time when musicals actually felt like events. ”Entertainment Weekly called it “the most gorgeous production on Broadway. ”Time Out New York stated that “Parade will echo for a long time to come.”

Parade is directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Arden, with book by two-time Tony Award® winner, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Academy Award® winner Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Jason Robert Brown, and co-conceived by 21-time Tony Award®-winning legend Harold Prince. Look for our review soon!

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2

Lauren Maybury (Chvrches) Feb 2, Granada-Lawrence, $30-$35

The Chvrches singer just released her debut solo album ‘Vicious Creature’ on December 6 via EMI Records, and is out with her latest single, ‘Crocodile Tears’. She first played a series of six headline shows around the UK and is hitting the US with more dates over the winter, including one in Lawrence.

Her blossoming solo career is self-described as “fun, freaky, sad, weird, joyful” and a change from the overt electro-pop sound Chvrches is known for (though Mayberry’s lyrics remain as, or more personal), and the band is simply on an extended hiatus we’re told. In concert, she’s of course concentrating on the new record, so don’t expect Chvrches hits, but has been playing covers of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” and Spice Girls’ “Viva Forever” in her own distinct and imitable voice.

We, of course, remain big fans of all things Chvrches, having covered them pretty regularly for the last decade plus.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 3

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5

The Dirty Nil, Feb 5, recordBar, $16

The longtime Ontario Canada punk trio is out on a two-month tour and come to KC along with openers Grumpster, House & Home. Though their latest album is “Free Rein To Passions“ released in 2023, they’ve recently released two new songs- “True Devotion” and I Hate the Internet”. Both are available digitally via Dine Alone Records.

Appropriate for the new year, “I Hate The Internet” compares Wi-Fi to God and predicts how the future has no meaning except for next-day shipping...very “2025”.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 6

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 8

DRUMline Live, Feb 8, Kauffman Center, SOLD OUT

This international tour is based on the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching band tradition. With rhythms, beats and ear-grabbing energy, this stage show is a synchronized musical showcase of the HBCU experience. Incorporating original compositions and soul-infused interpretations of top 40 hits, group performances range from choreographed routines to heavy doses of drum riffs and cadences.

The show was created by the musical team behind the hit movies, “Drumline” and “Drumline: A New Beat,” and is described as “a high-octane musical roller coaster ride that is guaranteed to touch every emotion and is for the entire family”.

Tyler the Creator, Feb 8, T-Mobile Center, $190-$2500

The enigmatic rapper/producer Tyler, the Creator will spend most of 2025 on the road touring his upcoming "Chromakopia" album and KC gets an early date, following the tour kickoff in St Paul, MN on Feb 4, and he’s bringing along openers Lil Yachty and hip-hop duo Paris Texas. Most major cities geet a stop, including a three-night Los Angeles stand at the Crypto.com Arena.

The new record came out last Oct. 28 along with first single "Noid" (with music video featuring Ayo Edebiri) and "St. Chroma," the leading track and introduction to the album. He’ll head to Europe in April and May, and the tour will also hit Australia and New Zealand in August and September.

Tech N9ne, Feb 8, VooDoo Lounge- Harrah’s Kansas City, $93+

Call this an early Super Bowl party with the area’s premier rapper and media mogul, and diehard Chiefs fan. Tech has been well-loved in KC for over three decades and the fact that he can always announce a random local show and have it sell out or close-to, speaks volumes for his continued popularity.

Latest album was 2023’s “Bliss” but he’s released and collaborated on a handful singles since, most on his own Strange Music label, the industry’s largest independent hip-hop label.

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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

We♥KC! January 22-31, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO)

Read More Natalie Jane ‘Natalie Jane’s first-ever North American headline run – is completely sold-out. She will be stopping by St Paul, at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall, on March 23, 2024. Jane recently shared her new single, “Tattoos”, a song... …

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

It’s those dog days of winter, when you think it can’t get any colder and it seems easier to stay in, with a bowl of soup.

But streets have been cleared and more people staying in, means less traffic outside and hopefully better parking for any show. It also means the best NFL games of the season and playoff football in full effect, with the Chiefs hosting the AFC Championship on their quest for a historic three-peat. Good days to be a local sports fan.

As January ends, the current Broadway season continues with a recent Tony Award winner for Best Revival and a handful of interesting other shows. And anyone’s dry January concludes- cheers!

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week, from January 22^nd to 31st:

(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)

 

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22

THURSDAY JANUARY 23

FRIDAY JANUARY 24

David Ramirez / Dylan LeBlanc, Jan 24, Knuckleheads, $25

Singer/songwriter David Ramirez has announced the March 21st release of All The Not So Gentle Reminders (Blue Corn Music), his most ambitious album to date, and is currently on a co-headlining US and UK/European tour. The twelve-song album, his sixth LP, is a creative revelation. “I love all the records I’ve made in the past,” says Ramirez. “But in making them, there was always the thought in the back of my mind of where and what it could get me… this time it was all about just the joy of making it, about having fun with it.”

Jan 24 Ramirez LeBlanc

Meanwhile, fellow singer/songwriter Dylan LeBlanc drew from his experience growing up as a poor kid in Louisiana on his fifth LP, Coyote (released last October on ATO Records). LeBlanc left his fans with a cliffhanger on the 2023 album’s final song, “The Outside,” which found Coyote and his girlfriend driving a stolen Camaro toward the Mexican border only to be stopped by a police roadblock. The song ends with our anti-hero grabbing his gun, unsure of his next move, his fate up in the air.

A deluxe version of the album including four additional songs, now picks up where the original LP left off. “I kind of [knew] this was going to be part of the plan,” LeBlanc says. “Just put out the rest of it and sort of tidy things up.”

The singer-guitarist grew up poor in Shreveport, LA, where he fell in with a tough crowd during his teenage years. LeBlanc himself could have easily drifted down a troubled path, but his love of music helped him avoid that. By age 20, LeBlanc had released his debut album, Pauper’s Dream. Then came two more albums and a move to ATO Records with the release of his 2019 album, Renegade.

Jan 24 Nat Jane

Natalie Jane, Jan 24, The Truman, $25

Continuing her 'Sick To My Stomach' Tour' which is named after her recent EP, released last September via Capitol Music Group/ 10K Projects. Her set will showcase everything fans have come to love about the New Jersey-raised, Los Angeles-based artist - her exhilarating vocal range, her evocative music choices, and her gift for making complex feelings feel relatable.

Natalie was one of 2023’s most viewed artists on TikTok in the U.S., landing at #2 on “The Hitmakers” year-end list. She’s racked up over 500 million combined global streams to date with hits like “AVA,” “Seven,” “Mentally Cheating,” “Do or Die,” and “Intrusive Thoughts” — all found on her debut EP, Where Am I?

 

SATURDAY JANUARY 25

Aerosmith w The Black Crowes, Jan 25 T-Mobile Center, CANCELED

SUNDAY JANUARY 26

MONDAY JANUARY 27

TUESDAY JANUARY 28

Parade (Broadway Touring), Jan 28-Feb 2, Kauffman Center, $61-$131

Jan 28 Parade

Landing in Kansas City is one of the most anticipated recent Broadway productions and the winner of the 2023 Tony Award® for Best Revival of a Musical, Parade. Leo and Lucille Frank are a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in the red hills of Georgia. When Leo is accused of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and devotion. Riveting and gloriously hopeful, Parade reminds us that to love, we must truly see one another.

The New York Times said, “this revival, filled with deft flourishes by director Michael Arden, recalls an era of big casts, big stories, and big talent–a time when musicals actually felt like events.  Entertainment Weekly called it “the most gorgeous production on Broadway. ” Time Out New York stated that “Parade will echo for a long time to come.”

Parade is directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Arden, with book by two-time Tony Award® winner, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Academy Award® winner Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Jason Robert Brown, and co-conceived by 21-time Tony Award®-winning legend Harold Prince.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29

THURSDAY JANUARY 30

FRIDAY JANUARY 31

Wayne Newton, Jan 31, Ameristar, $60-$80

Away from the desert and out on his “Up Close And Personal Tour”, Newton, a.k.a “The Midnight Idol,” a.k.a “Mr. Entertainment” has been entertaining folks for 60 years, earning his musical fame in 1963 with what would become his signature song, “Danke Schoen.” (Remember it in “Ferris Bueller” too?

Jan 31 Newton

Newton has released an amazing 165 albums and had several other hits across his career, including “Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast,” “Red Roses for a Blue Lady,” “At This Moment,” “The Letter,” and “Summer Wind.”

Fun fact is that he also plays 13 different instruments and has performed more than 25,000 shows in Las Vegas earning him the title of “Mr. Las Vegas”. Newton’s acting career has seen him appear in scores of tv shows and movies, including “Bonanza” and “The Lucy Show”, “Vegas Vacation,” “License to Kill,” “Sharknado: The 4th Awakens,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and most recently the comedy series “Hacks.”

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]

john c ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com