Some great shows just announced–

…for early April of next year (Amyl and the Sniffers, April 2, Uptown; Franz Ferdinand, Apr 3, The Midland; Jack White, Apr 4, Uptown; and AWOLNATION, April 5, The Truman) which is great and all, but is a way’s off and there’s still some good events to help end 2024 with.

In venue news, KC Live! at Power and Light is getting some upgrades with a $10mil enhancement package that will complete by March 2025 and include a new seating area, large overhead canopy, misters for summer use, and improved lightning and heaters. The work will be done in phases so the entertainment area can still remain open as usual.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week, from November 15th-19th.

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

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15

The Barber of Seville, Kauffman Center, November 15 -17, $39-$224.50

The Barber of Seville is a romantic comic opera by Rossini that follows Count Almaviva through a plot that unfolds like an operatic obstacle course. With the help of Figaro, a former servant turned barber, Almaviva attempts to run off with his true love, Rosina, before her soon-to-be forced marriage to the scheming Dr. Bartolo.

What starts as a simple plan becomes an elaborate comedy of errors. The opera is considered a classic example of the buffa genre, which is known for being light-hearted and comedic and is an opera full of wit, excitement, and vocal fireworks.

Dance with the Dead, Korine, Nov 15, recordBar, $22

The pioneering dark electronic metal duo sets the tone of a dark dystopian synth world immersing audiences in the band’s sonic odyssey. “After taking a year off, we are super excited to get back on the road and play some new music for the first time,” says Tony Kim.

Drawing inspiration from classic cult horror and sci-fi films (from Hans Zimmer and Daft Punk to Metallica and John Carpenter), Justin Pointer and Tony Kim have spent over a decade crafting cinematic synth anthem that transcend genre boundaries. Since their haunting 2013 debut, Out of Body, Dance with the Dead has captivated fans with its unique fusion of analog synths, pummeling metal riffs, and moody storytelling.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16

Billie Eilish, Nov 16, T-Mobile Center, Sold Out

Following the success of her third studio album “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, which was released in May 17, singer-songwriter and two-time Oscar winner Billie Eilish is out on a completely sold-out arena tour, produced by Live Nation, that moves to Australia and Europe and the UK following the current US run. (FYI, Eilish played the recordBar just six years ago). Our Fan in the Stands just reported on the St. Paul, MN show here.

In keeping with her sustainability beliefs, Eilish has partnered with Reverb for the tour to commit to such actions as reducing greenhouse gas pollution, decreasing single-use plastic waste, supporting climate action, and updating concession offerings to promote and encourage plant-based food options with Support+Feed, with a portion of ticket sales going to Reverb for their continued efforts.

John McCutcheon, Nov 16, Liberty Hall- Lawrence, $34-$68

The multi-instrumentalist, six-time Grammy Award nominee and expert storyteller also brings his blend of folk and blues, along with rich, engaging language. McCutcheon plays banjo, guitar, jaw harp, fiddle, auto harp and piano. He has 43 albums to his name and his latest is a collaboration with legendary fellow folkster Tom Paxton. Titled “Together,” the album contains 14 of the pair’s best songs out of roughly 100 they composed together during the COVID-19 and Zoom days.

KC & the Sunshine Band, Nov 16, Uptown, $45-$125

Get Down Tonight! KC and the Sunshine Band will bring 50 years of hits to KC as part of their “Party Zone Tour”. Since the band’s inception in 1973, they’ve sold more than 100 million records, received nine Grammy Award nominations and won three Grammys and an American Music Award.

The band’s unique fusion of R&B and funk changed the sound of pop music with a string of hits that include “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and “Shake Your Booty.”

Since the 70s, fans across generations and the world have connected with the band’s music and look for a full stage of musicians and dancers playing all their familiar songs.

The Devil Wears Prada w/Silent Planet, Like Moths to Flames, + Greyhaven, Nov 16, Granada- Lawrence, $33-$36

On their “The Devil Wears Prada Is Eternal Tour.” the metalcore experimentalists will be joined by like-minded genre-leaders Silent Planet, Like Moths to Flames and Greyhaven.

“The Devil Wears Prada Is Eternal,” the band commented in a joint statement. “We are thrilled to announce our fall 2024 headline tour with an incredible lineup of bands. This will be the craziest TDWP show you’ve ever seen, so get your tickets now before they’re all gone! See you in the pit.”

Landon Conrath, Nov 16, Bottleneck – Lawrence, $15-$18

The Minneapolis alternative indie artist released his debut single, “Pieces.” in 2020. It accumulated 14k plays in a day, which inspired him to keep going. He released a six-song EP and now full-length album, “Employee of the Year.” with the album’s first single called “Will Nye.”

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 17

Livingston, Nov 17, Madrid, $25-$60

The North TX alt-pop phenom has released a new single entitled “Glow” via Republic Records. About the song, the 22-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer comments, “‘Glow’ is a conversation with somebody who doesn’t believe in themselves. You’re trying to tell them they are powerful, bright, and beautiful—no matter what the darkness inside tries to tell them.”

“Glow” arrives on the heels of his recent singles “Look Mom I Can Fly” and “Gravedigger.” “Gravedigger” amassed over 10 million streams in just two months.

Earlier this year, the 22-year-old Denton, TX native first unveiled his debut album A Hometown Odyssey which he wrote and produced and has it amassed more than 600 million impressions and over 100 million Spotify streams to date. It vaulted to #2 on the Spotify Album Debut UK Chart and #3 on the Spotify Album Debut US and Global Charts. Single “Last Man Standing” bowed on the Spotify Global Viral 50 Charts in the US, U.K., Sweden, Denmark, and Australia. Meanwhile, breakthrough single “Shadow” took flight as the #1 iTunes Global Song for over 24 hours upon release and cracked the Top 20 on the Spotify US and Global Viral Charts.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 18

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 19

Willie Watson, Nov 19, Knuckleheads, $25

The folk singer, central-NY native and current LA-dweller is best known for his time with Old Crow Medicine Show but has transitioned into a solo troubadour of traditional tunes which led to the new self-titled album and current tour with his three-piece band. “Music is the most direct line to God,” a friend once told him, and these new songs feel like a conversation with a larger energy.

In This Moment, with Kim Dracula, Nathan James, and Mike’s Dead, Nov 19, The Midland, $39.50-$65

Fresh off their “Kiss of Death” joint summer tour with Ice Nine Kills, In This Moment the LA-formed gothic alt-metal veterans are back out on their “Godmode 2 Tour” with a new set of tourmates and have also unveiled a new video for the record’s “Sanctify Me.”

Since forming in 2005, In This Moment has presided over a diehard fan base under the watch of “mother” figure and frontwoman Maria Brink—joined by co-founder and lead guitarist Chris Howorth, bassist Travis Johnson, guitarist Randy Weitzel, and drummer Kent Diimmel.

To date, in addition to the Gold-selling album Blood [2012], the quintet has garnered eight Gold and Platinum singles. They followed this with threeTop 25 entries on the Billboard 200 with Black Widow [2014] and Ritual [2017]. Their seventh full-length was 2020’s Mother, produced with longtime trusted collaborator Kevin Churko who has worked with Ozzy Osbourne and Five Finger Death Punch.

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