We♥KC – March 16-31, 2020 Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

(MAR 16 UPDATE – Kansas City has put a stop to any public gatherings of 50 people or more, effectively postponing all shows.  Lawrence, KS shows remain on a case-by-case basis).

In the Kansas City / Lawrence, KS area, much like everywhere else, COVID-19/coronavirus is more in the headlines after being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and high-profile acts and events like Coachella, SXSW, Pearl Jam, Madonna canceling or postponing their shows. All major sports are on hold as well and places like Disneyland are now closing, as precaution as well.

Please check venue and performer social media channels and websites for the latest word on cancellations or postponements, for the latest tour info.

As long as you’re safe, careful, and adamant about thorough hand-washing, it’s still possible to see live music and support these artists that still need to make their living. 

Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas declared a state of emergency on Thursday, March 12 in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). 

All events with a crowd of 1,000 or more people have been canceled or postponed for the next 21 days (through April 2).

Here’s what’s happening in the area (as of this moment) for the last half of March (a few recommended shows are highlighted in bold below):

Mon 03/16/2020

R.LUM.R at The Riot Room (Tour Postponed)

Control Top at Replay Lounge – Canceled

Fran at Colonial Club – Canceled

Tue 03/17/2020

Bad Omens at The Riot Room   Postponed

Heart To Gold at The Rino – Canceled

Loud Luxury at Kansas City Live! Block – Postponed to 6/5

Gaelynn Lea at recordBar Canceled

Wed 03/18/2020

Allen Stone w/Samm Henshaw at The Truman (POSTPONED) He may look like a busking hippie but Stone has become a seasoned and confident live performer, this time out on his Building Balance Tour, in support of his third full-length. Mixing soul-pop to folk, and R&B/funk, Stone can channel Daryl Hall for one track and Stevie Wonder the next, and is always entertaining live.

Thu 03/19/2020

Slander at The Midland (Postponed)

Lil Mosey at The Granada – Postponed

Edgar Winter at Prairie Band Casino & Resort (Cancelled)

Aaron Lewis (Staind) at VooDoo Lounge/Harrah’s (8p, $44-$84) It’s Been a While since we’ve seen Lewis (see what we did there) but he has very successfully maintained two different careers, fronting the sludge metal of Staind, and exploring his country roots on this State I’m In Tour stop. Lewis may drop in versions of classic Staind songs (along with a Johnny Cash cover) and his many originals, and keeps each of his two stage personas, fairly separate entities.  Postponed

Albert Cummings at Knuckleheads, (+1pm signing at Vinyl Renaissance) POSTPONED

Om at The Bottleneck – Postponed

Fri 03/20/2020

Devin Townsend w The Contortionist +Haken at Granada Theater, Lawrence (Postponed)– the Canadian guitarist/singer-songwriter returns on his Empath Tour, in support of his newest album, which evolves his blend of heavy music and power metal further. A solid bill adds Indianapolis prog-rock band The Contortionist (supporting 2019’s Our Bones EP, which includes a Smashing Pumpkins cover) and London prog-metal band Haken, which makes it a full evening worth showing up early for.

PlanetCon Convention at Bartle Hall (Postponed)

Jim Jefferies at The Midland Postponed

MercyMe at Silverstein Arena, Independence  Postponed

We Banjo 3 at The Truman  Postponed

Third Eye Blind at Uptown Theater (Postponed to June 3)

Carrot Top at Ameristar – Postponed

Sat 03/21/2020

PlanetCon Convention at Bartle Hall (Postponed)

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at Uptown Theater   Postponed

Oak Ridge Boys at Ameristar KC- Postponed to 8/1

City Morgue at Granada Theater  check w/venue

C.W. Stoneking at Bottleneck, Lawrence – Postponed

Welcome to Night Vale at Liberty Hall, Lawrence Postponed

Sun 03/22/2020

PlanetCon Convention at Bartle Hall (Postponed)

SOB X RBE at recordBar   Postponed

The Acacia Strain + Chamber at Bottleneck, Lawrence  check w/ venue

Tenci at The Rino – Canceled

Mon 03/23/2020

Deafheaven at Granada Theater Postponed

Houston Person at Lied Center, Lawrence CANCELED

Verite at recordBar Postponed

Tue 03/24/2020

“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” at Kauffman Center Postponed

Houston Person at Lied Center, Lawrence CANCELED

Wed 03/25/2020

Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real at Uptown Theater (POSTPONED) Known as much for backing Neil Young as their own career, this versatile band led by one of Willie Nelson’s sons also was very involved with the music in the recent Star Is Born remake, and has a new record, Naked Garden (on Fantasy Records) due out March 27.

Thu 03/26/2020

Del McCoury Band at Knuckleheads Garage   Postponed

Big Gigantic at the Midland (Postponed)

ABBA tribute at Kaufman Center Postponed

Marcus Lewis at Ca Va  Postponed

Cycles at Bottleneck, Lawrence   check w/venue

Borknagar w Rotting Christ, Wolfheart at The Riot Room   Postponed

Fri 03/27/2020

ABBA tribute at Kaufman Center  Postponed

Railroad Earth at Knuckleheads Postponed

G Herbo at Granada Theater, Lawrence Postponed

Matt Wilson at recordBar   Postponed

Candlebox at Ameristar – Postponed

Sat 03/28/2020

Unlikely Candidates at Riot Room (7p doors, $17-20) Indie rockers from Ft Worth, TX have returned with latest single, ‘Novacaine’ dethroning Billie Eilish to top the Alternative Radio Chart, with its YouTube video at some 20 million views. with Zero 9:36 and The Federal Empire.   Postponed

Blue October at The Truman (POSTPONED) The San Marcos, TX band is back pleasing their many diehard fans on their Get Back Up Tour, in support of new full-length, Sway (on Up/Down Records) and a positive, healthy and happy outlook that realizes the small everyday miracles.

Cole Swindell at Uptown Theater   Postponed

Mon 03/30/2020

Dan Deacon at Granada Theater (POSTPONED) The Baltimore experimental indie-pop musician returns with his first full-length in five years, Mystic Familiar (on Domino Recordings) which explores inner subconscious on perhaps his most emotionally open release to date. We haven’t seen the man live since in 2014 with Arcade Fire, so it might be time again. Ed Schrader’s Music Beat supporting.

David Cook at Kauffman Center (UCM President’s Gala)- free, but tkt required) Postponed

Tue 03/31/2020

Steve Aoki + Timmy Trumpet, Deorro, Global Dan, Max Styler at The Midland (Postponed)– fittingly, the last day of the month brings us dessert and the much-sought after chance to get caked by legendary DJ Aoki, in what is always an insane party atmosphere. This is the Neon Future IV: The Color of Noise Tour and $1 per ticket goes to the Aoki Foundation, which supports brain research and preservation, so a good cause as well. Aoki released a memoir last year, BLUE: Color of Noise, and the new tracks feature mega-collaborations with Sting, Maluma, Monsta X, and the Backstreet Boys and several other associated guests that will also join him on this tour.

Grouplove w Le Shiv at Liberty Hall, Lawrence (POSTPONED) The LA indie-pop band comes charging back with the driving ‘Deleter’, first single from their upcoming fourth full-length, Healer (on Canvas Back/Warner Bros), recorded with producer Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio, due out this week. Co-vocalist Hannah Hooper actually underwent brain surgery last year, but has recovered and watch them make some sense of the chaos of modern times. Formerly known as The Ruminaters, Sydney’s Le Shiv to open.

Lauren Ruth Ward at The Riot Room  Postponed

Cherry Pools at Bottleneck, Lawrence  Postponed

Kayzo at Granada Theater, Lawrence – CANCELED