A break from the heat is in the forecast soon–

In the meantime, there’s been a lot of heat from the recently-announced two pop-up shows coming in early October to the WWI Liberty Memorial from Chappell Roan, as close to a hometown show as there is (she’s from Willard, MO, near Springfield), and one of only three cities for the year.

There was also an announcement that work has begun on an expansion of the plaza near Children’s Mercy Park in KCKS, that will include a stage and space for a 9,000-person area for concerts and special events, that will be ready ahead of next year’s World Cup, so some exciting times ahead.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the upcoming week of August 1^st – 7^th.

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

FRIDAY AUGUST 1

Mark Mallman, Aug 1, miniBar, $13.15

Minneapolis longtime songwriter, author and TikTok music historian Mark Mallman has a new single and video for “I Know The Mothman,” featured on his 11th studio album, Magic Time, which was released in late June release via Hygh Tension Records (TLG)/Virgin Music Group.

Mallman remains a Twin Cities favorite, playing marathon shows and channeling stream-of-consciousness improvisations into finely crafted Glam and New Wave. During the 2020 lockdown, he became a storyteller for TikTok as has been acknowledged as a foremost music historian on the vertical platform.

Magic Time is a supernatural concept record chronicling the mythic reality of life as a touring musician in America. “I was recalling this story of the Hotel Monte Vista in 2009 – drummer Aaron Lemay didn’t want to stay in the room they gave us because of a bad vibe,” notes Mallman. “Fourteen years later I found out that the hotel is actually haunted. I started thinking of how the music business is like a ghost story in a way. People had been asking me to make a concept album forever, so I chose to make ‘Magic Time’.”

Come see what Minneapolis has already known for years- it’s a packed lineup too, so is a good bang-for-your-buck show.

Austin Meade, Aug 1, Warehouse on Broadway, $28.15

The Texas rocker is on the road continuing his ‘Happier Alone Forever’ US Tour in support of his recent EP, “Pretty Little Waist” which is out now on Snakefarm, with recent single being “Almost Famous.”

His metal and rock loving dad took a young Austin to see bands like Judas Priest and Whitesnake and in junior high he related to the intense emo-rock of Paramore and Fall Out Boy, and John Mayer. Add to that, songwriters like Tom Petty, and the TX/OK Red Dirt scene and you have an idea of his own sound came together.

Alabama Southern rockers Them Dirty Roses and Marty Bush are also appearing on this all-ages bill, so arrive early.

The Acacia Strain, Aug 1, Granada- Lawrence,$35.41

Following the releases of 2023’s “Step into the Light” and failure will follow, the longtime deathcore practitioners have announced a new LP this fall. Titled You Are Safe From God Here, the record is being previewed by way of ultra-heavy first single “A Call Beyond.”

The group noted in a joint statement that the upcoming 12- track record is “unapologetically the Acacia Strain. It’s angry, it’s sad, it’s us. We made a record that made us feel uncomfortable. We hope it makes you feel the same way.”

Early doors for this one, as it’s a packed lineup with Bodysnatcher, Ingrown and No Cure / Tribal Gaze, so prepare to rage all night.

SATURDAY AUGUST 2

Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Jayhawks, Sixpence None the Richer, Aug 2, GrindersKC, $59.65-$116.61

Walk on the ocean and continue to be uplifted by Toad’s melodic alt rock guitars, introspective lyrics, and vocal harmonies on their 2025 Good Intentions U.S. headlining tour. “It’s like a reunion of sorts,” reflects bassist Dean Dinning. “It’s almost like having family in the audience every night.”

“I think the enduring appeal of our band is the songs,” says Dinning. “Even though we were young when we made those early records, they don’t only speak to youth. As people have grown older, the songs have taken on new meaning in their lives.”

“As an artist, it feels good to know we can still make music that’s resonating,” adds singer Glen Phillips. “When we play ‘The Moment’ or ‘Transient Whales’ at our shows now, there’s a huge percentage of the audience who know every word of those songs, too.”

They’re finishing an acoustic greatest hits album and, on this tour, will spotlight the National Parks Foundation (www.nationalparks.org/ to support and protect our natural treasures and battered by recent Federal budget cuts.

It’s a great 90’s-centric lineup, with The Jayhawks gracefully stepping in for fellow Twin Cities band Semisonic (who still has an ailing bassist in John Munson – get well soon, tall guy!) and the classic lineup of “Kiss Me” era Sixpence None the Richer.

SUNDAY AUGUST 3

MONDAY AUGUST 4

Dropkick Murphys, Bad Religion, Aug 4, Grinders KC, $59.65-$240.72

Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion are teaming up for their first-ever co-headlining US tour. And the veteran punk acts outing features support from The Mainliners. Their “Summer of Discontent Tour” kicked off July 22nd in Spokane, WA, and runs through an August 17th show in Big Flats, NY.

Dropkick Murphys singer Ken Casey stated, “We are so fired up to spend the summer with these legends. We plan to give people a great night out when we hit their town. Gonna be a blast!!”

Bad Religion vocalist Greg Graffin added, “Bringing together our two bands and our respective audiences should create an event of epic proportions. But most importantly, I look forward to the community of camaraderie and togetherness we will share with such talented fellow musicians and punk fans across the Nation. I can’t wait!”

TUESDAY AUGUST 5

Ghost, Aug 5, T-Mobile Center, $48-$239

I think we’re currently at Papa V Perpetua (aka Tobias Forge) who leads melodic metal band Ghost, and who happens to be on their biggest world tour to date beginning with 55+ shows across the U.S., Europe, the UK, and Mexico. The Grammy Award-winning Swedish theatrical rock icons began the tour on April 15 at the AO Arena in Manchester UK, and is their first outing since their Re-Imperatour 2023 wrapped up its US/Canada run with two sold-out shows at the Kia Forum in LA.

Those performances that were immortalized in the band’s debut feature film “Rite Here Rite Now” and the new record is Skeletá, released in April via Loma Vista. We’ve been seeing them live for over a decade (remember when they had to be called Ghost B.C.?) and always find them entertaining.

Note this will be a no-phones show with Yondr bags used to make sure you’re immersed in the moment and their performance, rather than checking your socials or recording every second.

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Aug 5, Kauffman Center for the Arts, sold out

Still serving up their special kind of whipped cream!- Herb Alpert and his brand-new Tijuana Brass (six great musicians), will be playing all of your favorite hit songs just as you remember.

A legendary trumpet player, Alpert’s musicianship has earned him five #1 hits, nine Grammy® Awards, fifteen Gold albums and fourteen Platinum albums. He has sold over 72 million records worldwide. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass propelled his sound into the pop music limelight, at one point outselling The Beatles two to one. In 1966, they achieved the feat of simultaneously having four albums in the Billboard Top 10 and five in the Top 20. (oh, and he’s the “A” of classic label, “A&M Records”)

2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic album, “Whipped Cream & Other Delights.” Alpert and the band will be performing many of those songs in addition to many other hit songs like “The Lonely Bull,” “Spanish Flea,” “Taste of Honey,” “Mexican Shuffle,” “Tijuana Taxi,” “This Guy’s In Love With You,” “What Now My Love,” “Zorba the Greek,” “Ladyfingers,” “Rise” and many others.

Frozen (musical) Aug 5-10, Starlight, $14.72-126.50

Don’t ‘let it go’ without seeing it on stage! Disney’s Frozen is a tale of sisterhood and acceptance that unfolds with magic, humor, and a memorable musical score. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, the stage production includes all of the beloved songs and characters—including Anna, Elsa, Sven, Olaf, and more.

Loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Snow Queen,” the narrative unfolds in the Scandinavian setting of Arendelle. Two royal sisters, Elsa and Anna, find themselves growing up in isolation after the loss of their parents in a sea accident.

Elsa, the older sibling, grapples with a secret ability—she can conjure ice and snow with her bare hands. This power must remain hidden, even from her sister, as a childhood incident nearly claimed Anna’s life. In contrast, Anna is a cheerful yet somewhat naive young woman who longs for the outside world, having been separated from Elsa since the accident.

As Elsa reaches the age to ascend to the throne as Queen, the kingdom opens its doors for her coronation, albeit just for one day. Anna encounters a charming Prince named Hans, whom she desires to marry, much to Elsa’s dismay. A heated argument unintentionally exposes Elsa’s powers, prompting her to flee to the wild North Mountain, seeking a life of solitude and freedom. Anna, accompanied by an ice-seller, his reindeer, and a talking snowman, embarks on a quest to find her sister and bring her back.

Squid Pisser, Aug 5, Farewell, $10-$15 (PWYC)

What a creative band name- the avant-grind maniacs are out a full U.S. tour, joining forces with King Parrot and Bonginator for a run of chaotic shows. The trek includes a stop at Gathering of the Juggalos and a finale supporting O Sees in Los Angeles. Fresh off their 2024 full-length Dreams of Puke, the group went right back in the studio with producer Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Big Business) to work on new material expected to drop soon.

Frontman Tommy Meehan comments: “After we dropped ‘Dreams of Puke’ and ‘Vaporize a Neighbor’ and toured a bunch with GWAR last year, we never really stopped. We’re wrapping new recordings with Toshi Kasai and we’re deep in the mixing phase right now—it’s some of the nastiest stuff we’ve done.”

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6

Broncho, Aug 6, recordBar, $28.32

The Tulsa indie band with a effortlessly cool, genre-blurring sound returned with Natural Pleasure—their first album in over five years, released in April.

A swirling fever dream of lo-fi textures, pulsing grooves, and hazy psychedelia, Natural Pleasure sounds like Kid A filtered through a haze of pot smoke—a hypnotic, late-night ride that feels both effortless and otherworldly. Leading the charge are Imagination and Funny, two standouts that set the tone for Broncho’s boldest, most immersive record yet.

Ryan Lindsey’s vocal delivery, whether a whispered murmur or a stretched-out yelp, is distinctive and their Oklahoma indie rock sound leans heavily into the roots established by bands like Velvet Underground in the late 1960s and Jesus and Mary Chain in the mid-1980s

Horsegirl, Aug 6, The Bottleneck- Lawrence, $20-$25

Horsegirl are on a new leg of shows in support of their new album Phonetics On and On, released in February with accompanying lead single, Frontrunner.” It’s their sophomore album and the follow-up to 2022’s Versions of Modern Performance. Although they relocated from Chicago to New York so that singer-guitarists Nora Cheng and Penelope Lowenstein could attend NYU, they returned to their hometown to record the album at Wilco’s studio the Loft, with Cate Le Bon serving as their producer.

Locally based band Sweeping Promises is also on the bill and recently covered The Bangles’ Prince-penned single “Manic Monday” for a new benefit compilation supporting wildfire relief efforts. Battle for L.A.: A See/Saw Benefit.

Sweeping Promises’ Lira Mondal said in a statement, “I have a funny relationship to this song. My mom was/is a huge Bangles fan, and when I was a little girl, she made me memorize the song and sing it to her co-workers in the cosmetic aisle of a Walmart (one of her many odd jobs growing up), and it’s one of the most bewildering memories I have of singing in public.”

THURSDAY AUGUST 7

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