We♥KC! June 14-21, 2024 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS)

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

Dads and Grads time! – Graduations are finally wearing down but Father's Day is upcoming, and most dads seem to like live music, so a ticket to a live experience seems like a lovely thought. Weather’s been a little hit-and-miss of late, but we’ve yet to be at a washed-out show, and the true heat and humidity is yet to come.

And take a minute to remember and celebrate Juneteenth on the 19th- Juneteenth is a day to commemorate freedom, celebrate African American culture, and reflect on the journey toward equality. (Lawrence has a great free celebration in their South Park on the 15^th). If headed to Crown Center for Boulevardia this weekend, make sure to stay hydrated too.  

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week, from June 14th- 21st.

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

FRIDAY JUNE 14

Stomp June 14- 16, Starlight Theatre, $12.80-$100

Established in 1994, in NYC, the percussion-based performance group known for its high-energy and innovative shows. STOMP’s high-energy performances are characterized by their dynamic rhythms, intense physicality, and lively choreography.

Their approach to performance, which often involves unconventional instruments and experimental techniques, demonstrates a similar boldness and willingness to push boundaries in pursuit of artistic expression. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.

Breakaway Music Festival, June 14 And 15, Azura Amphitheater, $30-$1199

Breakaway’s third edition in the KC metro marks yet another stop in the hot traveling EDM festival's summer tour across the US, its largest one to date. Since its inception in Columbus back in 2016, Breakaway has grown into the nation’s largest multi-city festival, with a presence in Tampa, Charlotte, Ohio, Michigan, Nashville and more.

Breakaway always aims to provide a holistic and all-encompassing festival experience- from the Silent Disco presented by Monaco to a myriad of onsite activations and interactive fan experiences. This year's lineup is impressive- featuring 20 nationally recognized artists and three local acts taking center stage across two explosive nights. Global dance music superstars Dom Dolla, Tiësto, Two Friends and Dom Dolla are slated to headline the fest. The undercard is also impressive, with the likes of Cloonee, PEEKABOO, Jessica Audiffred, Matroda, Coco & Breezy, Frank Walker and ISOxo, among others.

General Admission to the event includes access to the Main Stage, The Launch Pad, Silent Disco, food options and vendors, activations, activities, and access to the complimentary water refill station.

SATURDAY JUNE 15

Wanda Sykes (comedy), June 15, Music Hall, $45-$60

Sykes is out on her "Please & Thank You" comedy tour, the veteran stand-up comedian's first major tour in six years, which started in March and ends here in KC. Sykes hasn't toured since the COVID-19 pandemic, but she did appear occasionally in clubs and venues post-2020 to hone material for her most recent Netflix special, "I'm an Entertainer," which debuted in May.

That special – which was nominated for Emmys for best variety, music or comedy special and best writing for a variety, music or comedy special – focused on some of the hot button topics of the pandemic era, like the Jan. 6 insurrection, the importance of trans rights, and the murder of Black Americans like George Floyd and Elijah McClain.

Jim Breuer, (comedy) The Midland, June 15, $39.50-$69.50

A SNL cast member from 1995 to 1998 who has boasted roles in Half Baked, Zookeeper, and the sitcoms Home Improvement and Kevin Can Wait, the comedian brings his national "Survival with Laughter Tour" to KC.

As stated at JimBreuer.com, "The freewheeling, New York bred comic storyteller – who made the list of Comedy Central’s '100 Greatest Standups of All Time' – is hotter than ever, a touring sensation and regular presence on radio and television whose rabid audience is filled with 'lifetimers.'

Breuer estimates that 78 percent of his fans have seen him 'five, six, seven' times. It’s becoming a family thing, with parents even bringing young teens to see the family man and father of three daughters, all providing genius 'dad' material for his sets. Having evolved both personally and professionally since the beginning, Breuer’s pleased to say he’s been F-word free for 10 years and counting.

SUNDAY JUNE 16

Fuerza Regida, June 16, T-Mobile Center, $54-$244

Fuerza Regida’s Pero No Te Enamores Tour is on full swing – the Mexican American group just kicked off their U.S. leg of their current arena tour. Fans can look forward to Fuerza Regida singing hits that span across their latest projects, like Dolido Pero No Arrepentido (2024), Pa las Baby’s Y Belikeada (2023), and Pa Que Hablen (2022). They can also expect to hear their most popular collaborations with other artists like Peso Pluma, Calle 24, and Chino Pacas.

The Pero No Te Enamores Tour’s setlist starts with one of their most popular collaborations, “Igualito a Mi Apá,” originally sung with La Doble P. It continues with “Dijeron Que No La Iba A Lograr,” “PLVO BLNCO” which was made popular alongside Pacas and Jonathan Caro, and “Ch y la Pizza” which was released with Natanael Cano.

“Chingas A Tu Madre,” their joint track with Grupo Frontera “Bebe Dame,” “911,” and their remix with Tiagz and El Alfa “TACATA” are all part of the live show, and they usually close with “HARLEY QUINN,” which remains one of their most streamed songs today.

Grace Pettis w/ Jack Summers Riverhome Park 900 S 9th St, Edwardsville, KS, Free / PWYC

Award-winning singer-songwriter Grace Pettiis just released a new single, “Joy”. Pettis is on the cusp of releasing “Down To The Letter,” her highly anticipated sophomore album, which follows her acclaimed debut, “Working Woman.” This album is out via MPress Records on June 14th, and i”jpy” is the lead single. About the track, she comments:

I wrote “Joy” some years ago, at a time in my life when I was fairly depressed. I’d just moved to a new city and I was struggling to make friends and make inroads in the music scene there. I kept running into setback after setback and I missed my old life, and my old friends. It was hard to feel motivated even to get out of bed some days. “Joy” was a kind of pep talk to myself, a reminder of all the beauty in my life.

It can be hard to access gratitude when I’m down. But I try to remember that I’m extremely lucky to be alive and breathing and doing what I was put on the planet to do: to sing, write, and play. I’m not always able to get there, mentally. But when I can, I tap into a powerful fuel source.”

See her and Jack Summers at this very unique houseboat live setting for a free/pay-what-you-can show.

MONDAY JUNE 17

Hot Water Music 30th Anniversary Tour w/ Quicksand, Tim Barry, June 17, Liberty Hall, $32-$77

The Florida indie punk band has been going strong since 1994, and they’ll celebrate their 30th anniversary on this current tour, joined by heroes and friends, including Quicksand and Tim Barry (of AVAIL). HWM says:

“This tour is insane! There is no world where anyone would come to us and say ‘You’ll be a band for 30 years,’ let alone ‘To celebrate your 30th anniversary, you’ll release your 10th album and tour with Quicksand, Tim Barry and Off With Their Heads’. We are super stoked to get back to so many spots we haven’t been in years and dust off some oldies that haven’t been in rotation for a while. Rest assured, these sets will have something for everyone. Thank you to everyone who has stuck by us and made this possible. We wouldn’t be here without you.”

TUESDAY JUNE 18

Dreamer Boy, June 18, recordBar, $18

The indie alt-pop singer-songwriter from Nashville (via Spokane) is touring in support of his just released new album Lonestar, available via slowplay / Capitol Records.

Talking about his new single, “Baby Blue,” aka Zach Taylor explains, “I think falling in love can happen over years, over weeks, or in a moment. I feel like this album was exploring my relationship with romance, modern romance. Hard truths leading to real heartbreak, and also ambient relationships that feel like they still linger somewhere in your soul forever. Not so black and white.”

Punch Brothers, June 18, Kauffman Center, $43-$77

Punch Brothers are mandolinist Chris Thile (from Nickel Creek) guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny and violinist Gabe Witcher. Their accolades include a Grammy® for Best Folk Album for their 2018 release, All Ashore. We saw them live in Minnesota on that tour.

In November of 2020, when the world felt so full of uncertainty, they stood in a circle, facing one another and made music. A weeklong recording session, after quarantining and minimal rehearsal aside from a few Zoom calls, had culminated in their new record, Hell on Church Street, a re- imagining of Tony Rice's landmark album, Church Street Blues — out now on Nonesuch.

Punch Brothers formed in 2006. Their record, Punch, was released in 2008 and combined elements of the band's many musical interests. In 2009, they began a residency at NYC club, The Living Room, trying out new songs and ultimately spawning Antifogmatic (2010). In 2012, the band released Who's Feeling Young Now?, and their 2015 album, the T-Bone Burnett-produced The Phosphorescent Blues, addresses with poignancy and humor, the power and the pitfalls of our connected world. 

WEDNESDAY JUNE 19

Buddy Guy w/ Ally Venerable, June 19 (rescheduled date) Lied Center- Lawrence, $21-$60

Back in good health, the legend- Buddy Guy is bringing his “Damn Right Farewell” tour to Lawrence after postponing last fall.

The legendary 87-year-old guitarist and singer has influenced generations of musicians, from Jimi Hendrix to Gary Clark Jr. The recipient of the 2015 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Buddy Guy’s incredible career spans over 50 years with just as many albums released. Career highlights include 8 Grammy Awards, 38 Blues Music Awards, the most any artist has had, a Kennedy Center Honors, NARM Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement, Billboard Music Awards’ Century Award for distinguished artistic development, Presidential National Medal of Arts, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to name a few.

Amid his core classics you’ll hear are new fan favorites from the latest album including “Gunsmoke Blues” ft. Jason Isbell, the forever timely and spellbinding “We Go Back” with Mavis Staples, and a harmonious collaboration with James Taylor on “Follow the Money.”

‘The Blues Don’t Lie” is his follow up to his 2018 Billboard #1 Blues Album Chart album, “The Blues is Alive and Well” which debuted at #1, making it his thirteenth Top 10 Billboard Blues album. Always a welcomed return to music, he won “Best Blues Album” at the 2019 Grammy Awards. This all followed his 2015 album Born To Play Guitar, which also debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Album charts and won “Best Blues Album” at the 2016 Grammy Awards. Damn right, he’s still among the best ever.

Motion City Soundtrack w Prince Daddy & The Hyena, June 19, Truman, $36.50-$70

The Minneapolis punk pop band’s 2003 debut album, I Am the Movie, turned 20 already and to celebrate, the band are out an anniversary tour where they'll be performing the album in its entirety. "Many of these shows will be in smaller, more intimate venues — and that is by design," Motion City Soundtrack said in a statement. "We want it to feel a bit like it did back when we released the record in 2003."

REO Speedwagon w Night Ranger, June 19, Starlight Theatre, $22.25-$299.50

Before hitting the road for the summer with Train (who comes to Starlight next month), REO Speedwagon plays an outdoor headlining show with Night Ranger along as support.

The longtime Champaign, IL band that saw a huge following in the 1970s and significant commercial success throughout the 1980s, after forming in 1967, The band has sold more than 40 million records and has 13 Top 40 hits, such as "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling." The band's last album was 2007’s "Find Your Way Home," featuring the Billboard-charting single, “I Need to Fall” and released through the band’s own label, Speedwagon Recordings.

While founding keyboardist Neal Doughty announced his retirement from touring last January, frontman Kevin Cronin is continuing to tour, alongside bassist Bruce Hall who joined the band in 1977.

THURSDAY JUNE 20

Warren Zeiders, June 20, KC Live Power and Light, $25

The Country rock outlaw recently won the CMT Award for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year for his chart-topping hit “Pretty Little Poison”. The song – which peaked in the Top 24 on Billboard’s Hot 100 – earned his first No.1 single on country radio and his second RIAA Platinum-certified single.

Zeiders is currently on his nearly sold-out 2024 North American headlining tour, and then will join Jelly Roll as direct support for his Fall The Beautifully Broken Tour playing arenas beginning in August. Zeiders currently boasts 2 billion career streams, 1 billion+ TikTok views and 8M monthly Spotify listeners, solidifying his place as one of Nashville’s hottest current headliners.

Shinyribs at Knuckleheads, June 20, $20

Shinyribs musically pulls from a ragbag of Texas Blues, New Orleans grooves and horn-driven Gulf Coast R&B- this Austin-based 9-piece show band led by Kevin Russell smears everything with a deep soul twang and wraps it up in roots that swing. Their genre-defying acrobatics are something to behold. Shinyribs was named Musician of the Year (2023) by the Austin Chronicle.

Transit Damage is the latest album that blends the soulful vocals of frontman Russell, frequent pop ups from a horn section, and lyrics mentioning reconsideration, humanity, and metaphors about love.

FRIDAY JUNE 21

Grand Funk Railroad, June 21, Ameristar Casino, $55+

They’re comin’ to our town, they’ll help us party down, with rock hits from over five decades. This tour celebrates the 50th anniversary of “The Loco-Motion” and fifty-five years of making music for their fans. Grand Funk Railroad has released seven gold albums and two platinum albums during their legacy. The group also collected ten certifications, exceeding 25 million copies sold worldwide.

National Touring act coming to Kansas City, Lawrence, KS, Topeka, KS, or vicinity?  Let us know so we can spotlight the appearance-email johnc@weheartmusic.com