We♥KC! March 15-21, 2026 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence, KS metro)

Settlement details are in-

In the recent lawsuit between the Justice Department and Live Nation/Ticketmaster (an anti-trust case accusing them of being a monopoly), a settlement has been reached that doesn’t change the concert landscape much, but does make some small moves to making the playing field slightly more level.

Under the settlement, a $280mil fine will be paid to 40 states, other ticket outlets will be allowed as official sellers, ticket fees will cap at 15%, some venues will break from their exclusive booking arrangements, and other promoters could be used to promote acts playing in their venues. All is contingent on a judge’s sign-off and there are already rumblings of a mistrial and/or an appeal, so stay tuned as the final chapter of this latest round is not quite done.

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the week from March 15th to 21st.

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

SUNDAY MARCH 15

Long Time Since Yesterday (Play) through Mar 21, KC Melting Pot, $21.50-$32.50

The play by P.J. Gibson, set in suburban New Jersey, is about black women learning to deal with the world without their close friend in the 1980s. These former college classmates are prosperous, professional Black women who have gone through the sixties and come out on top of the eighties. At the wake, they confront the truth about their own lives and about the suicide which has again brought them together and the play is a literate, humorous, sensitive look at the lives of contemporary Black women. Directed by Lynn King.

MONDAY MARCH 16

Last Dinosaurs, Mar 16, recordBar, $26

Brisbane, Australia indie rockers, Last Dinosaurs, have recently released Wellnxss (via Nettwerk Records) the re-imagined version of their 2015 album, Wellness, with band member Sean Caskey calling the release “the catalyst for the way we make music today.”

To celebrate Wellnxss, the band is traveling halfway around the world to take the stage in cities across North America and the UK, in addition to Australia! Indie-R&B duo elmjack will open here, followed by a UK stint, then they’ll return to Australia for five shows in June.

Caskey reflects: “Ten years ago, Lach, Sloane, Dan, and I released our sophomore album ‘WELLNESS!’ It was the second chance for four boys from Brisbane State High to make another leap in the music world. I used to look back on this album as a bit of a failure, as there was so much pressure to follow up ‘In a Million Years,’ but now I see it as the catalyst for the way we make music today. It forced us to completely change our approach to recording music by doing it all ourselves”.

TUESDAY MARCH 17

Cardi B, March 17, T- $287+Mobile Center,

The Grammy Award-winning, multi-diamond selling superstar is out on her first tour in six years, The Little Miss Drama Tour, in support of her recent second studio album, Am I The Drama? out last September via Atlantic Records.

Cardi B is the highest-certified female rapper on the RIAA’s “Top Artists (Digital Singles)” with over 100 million RIAA-certified units sold, with 3 diamond certifications. She is a Grammy Award-winner and her 2018 4x RIAA platinum-certified debut album, Invasion of Privacy, continues to be an achievement in female rap streaming history.

All 13 tracks on Invasion of Privacy are now certified at least Platinum (which is an amazing feat!), and the album also includes the history-making Diamond-certified “Bodak Yellow.” Newer releases include the tracks “Outside” (her 13th top 10 Billboard Hot 100 single) and “Imaginary Playerz,” from the newest album.

The Great Gatsby (Broadway Touring), Mar 17-22, $47-$176

PNC Broadway in Kansas City brings the North American Tour of the anticipated new musical, The Great Gatsby, to Kansas City as the sixth engagement in their 2025-26 Broadway in Kansas City series, for eight performances, playing through the weekend.

Led by Jake David Smith and Senzel Ahmady, this company delivers a Gatsby production that feels thrillingly alive and emotionally rich, according to show reports. Set in the lavish 1920’s, the story follows eccentric and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, who will stop at nothing in the pursuit of the lost love of his youth, Daisy Buchanan. This tale now comes to life across North American stages, with this grand Tony Award-winning production.

The production features music & lyrics by Tony Award nominees Jason Howland (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Little Women) and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square), a book by Larson Grant winner Kait Kerrigan (The Mad Ones), and is staged by award-winning director Marc Bruni and choreographer Dominique Kelley (“Mariah’s Magical Christmas Special”, “Dancing with the Stars”).

One of the most popular novels of all time, The Great Gatsby is a New York Times and USA Today perennial best seller. It has sold over 30 million copies worldwide since its release in 1925 and continues to sell over 500,000 per year. The novel has been translated into over 42 different languages, and has been adapted into television shows, radio plays, video games, and multiple films.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Tuesday, March 17, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, March 18, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, March 19, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 21, 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 22, 1:00 & 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 18

Dream Ivory, Mar 18, recordBar,$18

The LA Pinoy duo (brothers Chris and Louie Baello) recently released their new album, When You Come Back I Have So Much To Tell You, and they’re out on their 2026 North American headline tour. There’s also a recent EP, Pavement, featuring the songs “Pavement” & “Four On The Floor,” which shows off their blend of shoegaze, alt rock, SoundCloud rap, and more.

Christian helms the production while Louie is the primary lyricist/vocalist, but every song they make is a true collaboration. They have over 450 million streams across their catalog and their debut single “welcome goodbye” is RIAA certified gold. The new album follows their 2022 debut LP, About a Boy, and was a part of the SoundCloud rap boom. “Yugyugan Na”- let’s rock!

THURSDAY MARCH 19

FRIDAY MARCH 20

Band of Heathens, March 20, Memorial Auditorium, Ottawa, $35-$40

Worth a trip out to small town Ottawa! Austin, TX favorites, The Band of Heathens just released their new album Country Sides, late last month, self-produced with longtime collaborator Jim Vollentine (Spoon, Patty Griffin, White Denim), and it’s a guitar-fueled class in roots rock, packed with piano rockers and swaggering anthems, featuring lead single, “Take The Cake,” a sweet slice of country rock and roll.

Celebrating their 20th anniversary, The Band of Heathens have been long hailed as one of the most fiercely independent bands in rock and roll, the group has built a career outside the traditional music industry — and achieved platinum-level success doing so. The success of that independence has been officially recognized as the band’s recording of “Hurricane” has been certified platinum.

Never Too Much- Luther Vandross Tribute, Mar 20, Kauffman,$28.50-$48.50

It’s a well-deserved Tribute to Luther Vandross featuring Lee Langston and Friends on vocals, and by performing side-by-side with the Ad Astra Youth Orchestra, the KCJO will create a dynamic, contemporary tribute to one of the greatest vocalists of all time.

At the center is KC favorite Langston, whose tone, magnetic presence, and soulful storytelling make him an ideal artist to honor Luther’s legacy. The performance will lead us through the songs that defined a generation: the slow burn ballads, the joyful grooves, and the timeless hits.

Fingers crossed that “Never Too Much,” “Here and Now,” and “Dance with My Father” are on the setlist.

KC Ballet presents Stars and Stripes, Mar 20-29, Kauffman, $43.50-$158.50

This is a new mixed repertory ballet program featuring three short dance works, Stars and Stripes, to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary with a thrilling dance journey.

The program includes George Balanchine’s eponymous 1958 patriotic masterpiece, Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo, an exploration of the American West set to Aaron Copland’s vibrant score, and a world premiere by innovative choreographer Caili Quan.

Celebrate Kansas City Ballet’s tribute to our country’s 250th anniversary with this thrilling dance journey. This unforgettable performance promises to leave you with a deep appreciation for the power of movement and expression.

SATURDAY MARCH 21

Candlebox, Mar 21, Ameristar Casino,$52-$185

Emerging from Seattle’s mid-1990s grunge scene, Candlebox quickly found mainstream success with their lyrically-driven melodies and big radio hooks. Power anthems like “Far Behind” and “You,” from their debut, self-titled album exploded onto the charts propelling the album to sell more than four million copies worldwide.

$1 from every ticket purchased will go to RiptideSociety.org who assists young adults out of homelessness with wrap-around services, including mentorship, mental health, and food security.

War on Women, Mar 21, recordBar, $19.83

War On Women has their fifth full-length album, “Time Under Tension”, on deck for a May 8^th release (via Smartpunk Records) and this is a chance to hear the new music ahead of that, featuring latest single, “Messages Unsent” on their Time Under Tension Tour.

The band’s name also represents their ethos straight from the get. For over a decade, the group has stood at the frontlines of advocacy and change, shaping songs in reaction to headlines and current events around communities with the intention of raising awareness and conveying a response based in humanity, rather than division.

Oceanator and Belle and the Vertigo Waves (who we saw last year open for Jack White) are support.

Bill Frisell, Mar 21, Atkins Auditorium, $30-$50

It’s The Films of Bill Morrison: with music by Bill Frisell– Electric Guitar; Luke Bergman– Bass; and Tim Angulo– Drums.

Composer/guitarist Frisell turns 75 just days before this show and begins a massive run of “75th Birthday Concerts” across the US through March 29. Frisell and filmmaker Bill Morrison met over 30 years ago when they were both working at the Village Vanguard in the early 1990s, with Frisell on stage, and Morrison in the kitchen.

Their decades-long friendship and collaboration has produced a number of films and live performances, including The Film of Her (1996), The Mesmerist (2003), The Great Flood (2013), and The Tank and The West (2021). Frisell’s own career as a guitarist and composer has spanned more than 40 years and many celebrated recordings.

National / International act coming through the Midwest / Kansas City area? Please email details to johnc@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time to be considered for Show Preview and Show Coverage.