We♥KC! April 17-19, 2026 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence, KS metro)

Well, we were mostly right about the Rock Hall nominees-

What we didn’t get right, was the Nov 14 ceremony will be staying in LA for a second-straight year (Cleveland will host next year), and there will be no livestream either – a broadcast version will air later on Hulu and ABC. Here’s who made the final cut:

Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the weekend from April 17th to 19th.

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

FRIDAY APRIL 17

Alice Cooper, April 17, TPAC- Topeka, $65+

The shock rock legend pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that drew equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, with a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors.

We’ve always thought of the photogenic Alice Cooper as one of our live favorites (even interviewing him on the red carpet before a mini set from Hollywood Vampires in St. Paul), he still puts on a well-paced and entertaining show and is still motivated to continue touring and recording albums.

Before the bigger and co-headlining summer dates, he’s currently on a smaller-scale headlining “Alice’s Attic Tour With …” which runs from April 14 to May 9, featuring his signature theatrical shock rock. The tour, named after his radio show, promises a mix of classic hits and new material from his 2026 album, The Revenge of Alice Cooper and debuts his new 22-year-old UK guitarist, Anna Cara.

“Alice’s Attic,” is also the name of his radio show, airing in dozens of cities in the US, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia. The five-hour long show features his favorite classic rock songs along with his insider anecdotes about many of the artists, five nights a week.

Renee Fleming, Apr 17, Lied Center- Lawrence,$21-$60 (see below for a free event)

Renée Fleming is simply one of the most highly acclaimed singers of our time. A 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree, winner of five Grammy Awards and the U.S. National Medal of Arts.

Her latest recital and concert program, Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene was inspired by her 2023 Grammy-winning album and includes an original film created by National Geographic to reflect the musical selections.

Fleming will also participate in a free panel about the powerful impacts of music on health and the human experience.

➡️ APR 16 | 7:30pm – Renée Fleming: Music and Mind, A Panel Discussion (free) 

➡️ APR 17 | 7:30pm – Renée Fleming’s Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene concert (ticketed)

Clutch w COC, Apr 17, Harrahs Voodoo, NKC, $65-$119

Clutch and Corrosion of Conformity (C.O.C.) are co-headlining the “Suffer No Evil” Spring 2026 tour, running from April 9th through May 3rd in Asheville, NC, featuring opener JD Pinkus (Butthole Surfers/Melvins).

C.o.C. stated in a Facebook post, “To all the free thinkers and beer drinkers! It’s gonna be a busy 2026 for us all. The new album is coming your way and we can’t wait to get this one out there!! In addition to a string of Headline dates and Festivals, we are pleased to announce this run of gigs with our good buddies in Clutch. Gonna be a blast as always! See ya on the horizon. Stay Heavy.”

Blue Man Group April 17-19, Kauffman, $55.50-$95.50

All the way from their small eclectic beginnings in 1987 NYC, Blue Man Group gained their worldwide acclaim by blending art, invention and mind-bending curiosity. The new production will continue to showcase classic favorites along with brand new content — including the addition of a new character exclusive to the tour. The “Rockstar” is a dynamic multi-instrumentalist with striking blue hair who will join the Blue Men in creating a multi-sensory experience.

The upcoming tour showcases over three decades of creative evolution, with the iconic trio continuing their legacy as innovators of experimental performance while consistently delivering their signature blend of musical innovation, visual spectacle and spontaneous humor. We’ve seen them at the original Astor Place Theatre in NYC, on tour in Minneapolis, and in Las Vegas, and the live show remains entertaining, joyous, and thoughtful.

SATURDAY APRIL 18

Record Store Day, April 18 (free!)

Christmas comes early for vinyl collectors and music fans!

Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture. Today, RSD is celebrated at thousands of independently owned brick-and-mortar record stores around the world.

Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, DJs spinning records, and on and on. Check your local store for available titles and related celebrations.

SUNDAY APRIL 19

Brigitte Calls Me Baby, Apr 19, recordBar,$24.73

Still riding a buzzing wave since the release of their debut album, The Future Is Our Way Out, Chicago-based quintet Brigitte Calls Me Baby have further defined their new wave-influence post-punk sound on their sophomore album Irreversible, which was released last month (via ATO Records).

Last year also found them opening for Morrissey (no easy task, haha) and releasing a memorable cover of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper.”

“Our first album taught me that you’ve got to reach as far down into your soul as possible and be willing to show something real and raw to the world, and with this album that felt even easier and more natural,” says the band’s Wes Leavins. “There was a time when I tried to bury the kind of feelings we’re displaying on this record, but now I’m at the point where I don’t feel the need to hold anything back.”

Arrive early for NYC-based high voltage “post-psych” band SKORTS who showcase a DIY ’70s glam-meets-’90s alt sound. Founded by Alli Walls and Char Smith, the band gained rapid attention with their debut album, Incompletement (released last Oct.) which features stadium-ready rock with a chaotic, energetic edge.

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.