We♥KC! April 20-23, 2026 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence, KS metro)
The Kansas City music schedule for the FIFA World Cup Fan Fest has been released…
…and it’s ok. Plenty of local acts on the bill with KC’s own Tech N9ne appearing on two weekends which is all fine, but national acts seem to be more DJ-oriented and also include The Chainsmokers, The All-American Rejects, and Flo Rida. Tix are free but do require a RSVP here: FIFA Fan Festival™ | FIFA World Cup 2026™ Kansas City
Let’s take look at the Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings for the week from April 20th to 23rd.
(ticket hyperlinks are embedded in each show’s headline)
TUESDAY APRIL 21
Kinky Boots (musical), Apr 21, Lied Center- Lawrence, $24-$65
The six-time Tony Award winner (including Best Musical, a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album and London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical), returns to the area for a single-night engagement in Lawrence!
Kinky Boots captivates and entertains audiences around the world with the dazzling Tony-winning score by pop legend Cyndi Lauper, an uplifting book by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, and original direction and Tony-winning choreography by Jerry Mitchell.
Based on true events, Kinky Boots follows the journey of two people with nothing in common- Charlie Price reluctantly inherits his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As Charlie and Lola work together to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they realized.
Dethklok, Amon Amarth, Nili Brosh, Apr 21, Midland,$63-$111
Swedish metal titans AMON AMARTH join forces with DETHKLOK for THE AMONKLOK CONQUEST. The extensive co-headliner crosses the country with favorite special guest, CASTLE RAT. These two titan sized bands are co-billing for the first time ever and the tour just kicked off in Phoenix April 15th.
Amon Amarth declares, “Three bands. One night. The strong will scream. The weak will fall. Limbs will be lost. We will crush skulls beneath our boots and tear the halls down stone by stone. This is not a concert. It is a reckoning. If you survive… perhaps the gods have other plans for you.“
Dethklok springs to life from the animated world of Adult Swim’s “Metalocalypse.” Live, they are a multi-media powerhouse that showcases animation, comedy and brutality, excellently recreating the popular albums and animated visuals live. Band members include musician and show co-creator Brendon Small and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan and more!
Guitarist extraordinaire NILI BROSH (Danny Elfman, Michael Jackson, ONE by Cirque du Soleil) who plays with Dethklok also has her fourth studio album, Eventide, just out, with a video for the album’s first song, “Pastel Dreams.”
Mt Joy, Apr 21, Starlight,$48.50-$110.50 (w/4pk offer)
Since forming in 2016, the Phily native indie-rock band Mt. Joy — comprised of Matt Quinn (vocals, guitar), Sam Cooper (guitar), Jackie Miclau (keys, piano), Sotiris Eliopoulos (drums), and Michael Byrnes (bass) has honed their craft and is out celebrating ten years on their Hope We Have Fun Tour.
The tour is named after the recent release of their fourth LP, Hope We Have Fun, and the record speaks directly to the band’s long journey together— “We’ve all worked incredibly hard together and done ridiculous things in sickness and in health. You just kind of look up and you’re at Madison Square Garden with these people, and it makes you emotional — it feels like something you never could have dreamed. The album is a realization that we pushed ourselves into this crazy world, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse”, they say.
Mt. Joy has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket sold supports local charities in the communities they visit. Funds are granted to organizations tackling urgent issues—from food scarcity and healthcare to human rights and cancer research.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 22
THURSDAY APRIL 23
Big Ocean, Apr 23, Distrkct, $55
Big Ocean is a groundbreaking K-pop trio comprised of PJ, Jiseok, and Chanyeon. The group made history as the first K-pop act made up entirely of all-deaf artists, blending powerful choreography, vocal performance, and sign language into a new performance style they call “free soul pop.”
Since debuting in 2024 with the single “Glow,” they have captured international attention for their barrier-breaking artistry and message of inclusivity, building a growing global fan base while expanding the possibilities of accessibility in music. The group is out on their second U.S. tour in support of their latest album, “The Greatest Battle.”
We’ve not been to this venue, but it’s billed as a Recording Studio, Event Space Music Production, Podcast Space and place for Music Education.
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.