July 13,14,15, 2026, Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS)

Ok, now we’re busy!

July has heated up (figuratively and literally) and there’s enough concerts happening that you’ll have to pick between several worthy shows happening on the same night for the next several weeks.

Between those and World Cup activities (Argentina vs. Switzerland will be massive at Arrowhead Kansas City Stadium, and Sporting Park still has events/concerts), there’s no excuse not to get out and about.

And not only does KC continue to lead FIFA match viewership as a TV market, but also leads in percentage of ‘hookups’ with visiting soccer fans (not sure how that was exactly measured), so there’s that– Let’s get physical, KC!

Let’s look at the half-week in Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from July 13^th to July 15^th.

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

MONDAY JULY 13

John Mellencamp, July 13, Morton Amphitheater,4 for $99 lawn to $216+

John Mellencamp is currently out on his Dancing Words Tour-The Greatest Hits taking place across 19 cities (just kicked off July 10), including this KC stop. The tour marks the first time Mellencamp will be performing all his most beloved songs in a single night, some of which haven’t been played live in many years (and a ‘hits tour’ is something he’s previously avoided, so this might be the last chance).

Fans can expect to hear Mellencamp’s best known songs including “Pink Houses,” “Jack and Diane,” “Small Town,” “Hurts So Good,” “Authority Song,” “Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First),” as well as beloved tracks that he hasn’t performed live in ten plus years, including “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,” “I Need a Lover,” “Wild Nights,” “Ain’t Even Done With the Night” among others.

Mellencamp is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is a recipient of the John Steinbeck Award, ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award, Woody Guthrie Award, Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and, more recently, the Founders Award, by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

TUESDAY JULY 14

Tyler Childers w Wednesday, July 14, Morton Amph,$106-$403

Tyler Childers returns to the road with 2026’s Snipe Hunt, including stops at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Boulder’s Folsom Field, and Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, so Morton in KC should be more intimate feeling, compared to those larger venues.

$1 from every ticket sold will benefit both Hickman Holler Appalachian Relief Fund (HHARF) and REVERB. HHARF brings awareness and financial support for philanthropic efforts in the Appalachian Region. REVERB’s efforts reduce environmental impact in live music, engage fans and fund carbon impact programs to address the impacts of the tour that cannot be eliminated.

Childers was nominated for four awards at the 68th Grammy Awards: Best Contemporary Country Album (Snipe Hunter), Best Country Song (“Bitin’ List”), Best Country Solo Performance (“Nose on the Grindstone”) and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Love Me Like You Used To Do” with Margo Price).

Released earlier this year, Snipe Hunter (via Hickman Holler Records/RCA Records) earned Childers his highest debut on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart to date (#7) and also entered at #3 on their Americana/Folk Albums, and #6 on their Top Country Albums chart.

Graham Nash, July 14, Kauffman Center, $70.80-$91.40 +VIP

Graham Nash will perform a career-spanning retrospective of his six decades of contributions to contemporary music. Joined by Todd Caldwell (keyboards), Adam Minkoff (bass, drums, guitar and vocals) and Zack Djanikian (guitar, bass, drums and vocals), Nash will take the audience on a musical journey that encompasses his years with The Hollies, CSN, CSNY and his beloved solo efforts.

Nash is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, with Crosby, Stills, and Nash and with The Hollies. He was also inducted twice into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, as a solo artist and with CSN, and he is a GRAMMY Award winner with latest solo release called Now (2023).

Nash’s solo career debuted with Songs For Beginners (1971), which included “Chicago/We Can Change the World” and “Military Madness” and others. In addition to his string of solo albums, he has performed and recorded with David Crosby as Crosby/Nash.

The Fray, Dashboard Confessional, Colony House, July 14, Starlight, $52-$109.50

The Fray is out on their Summer of Light Tour, featuring special guests Dashboard Confessional and Colony House. “We have such great memories of touring in the summer. The vibe for us and for the fans is something that we’ve all really connected with and had a good time with over the history of The Fray,” drummer Ben Wysocki says. “Getting these new songs in front of people is going to be exciting.

The tour supports The Fray’s new album, A Light That Waits, released in mid-March. Written by Joe King (lead vocals), Ben Wysocki (drums), Dave Welsh (guitar), and producer Jason Suwito, the title track holds special significance as the first song born from a full collaboration between the three band members since their return. The band (with vocalist Isaac Slade, who departed in 2022) earned four Grammy Award nominations, three Billboard Music Awards, and multiple Billboard Top 10 hits. Breakout single, “How to Save a Life,” is RIAA Diamond-certified and spent 58 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

We like Dashboard Confessional and singer / songwriter Chris Carrabba who rocketed the band into mainstream focus as one of the biggest alternative bands of the 2000s. All The Truth That I Can Tell, the band’s ninth studio album, was a notable renewal and step forward, and he’s recovered from a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2020.

Colony House returns with their fifth studio album, 77. “We’ve always wanted our music to bring people together,” says frontman Caleb Chapman. “This album is asking: what does that look like in a world that feels more divided and distracted than ever?”

WEDNESDAY JULY 15

Post Malone with Jelly Roll, July 15, Kauffman Stadium,$44.25-$294+

Batter Up! Post Malone and seven-time Grammy nominated Jelly Roll are back together with their Post Malone and Jelly Roll Present: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour Part 2, with a stop at the Royals ballpark. The duo behind recent radio hits like “I Had Some Help” and “Save Me” will take the stage along with rising country singer-songwriter Carter Faith as support act.

The tour continues Post’s highest-attended and best-selling tour to date, which drew over 1 million fans and grossed more than $170 million. The KC stop will be the only performance in an MLB stadium on this leg of the tour.

The tour blends pop, hip-hop, and country, driven by Posty’s record-breaking F-1 Trillion country material and his string of pop hits while recent divorcee Jelly Roll supports with his confessional, Southern rock-style country storytelling. The artists also team up for joint moments on stage, including their collaboration on the track “Losers” so break out those (temporary?) face tats of your own!

Of Monsters and Men, July 15, Harrah’s Voodoo Lounge, NKC, $72-$136

From Reykjavík to the global stage, Of Monsters and Men (OMAM) first captured the world’s attention with their 2011 debut My Head Is an Animal, transforming from Icelandic indie favorites into a worldwide sensation. Breakout single “Little Talks” alone, has over a billion Spotify streams and counting and their follow-up album, Beneath the Skin (2015), debuted Top 3 on the Billboard 200.

Now, after pursuing solo and side projects, the band reunited with a new full-length, All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade, a tapestry of stories, moments, and conversations which all explore how love and pain intertwine. We’ve seen the band live several times- from a small Minneapolis club in 2012, to last November in St. Paul, MN.

Ded, Dropout Kings, VRSTY, July 15- Bottleneck-Lawrence, $20-$25

In support of their third studio album, Resent, the nu-metal band from Tempe, AZ, DED is out on a headlining tour scheduled for this summer after touring in support last fall of In This Moment and The Funeral Portrait. The band released its debut track FMFY in late 2016 and have played headline shows as well as toured with the likes of Korn, Stone Sour, Yelawolf and Pop Evil.

Support comes in the form of fellow Arizona rockers Dropout Kings, having toured together in 2024.

Arrive early for the self-described “heavy pop” band VRSTY out of Brooklyn, NY. Pronounced “varsity”, the post-hardcore band is known for blending R&B and pop vocals with heavy metal riffs and breakdowns. Founded in 2015 by Puerto Rican frontman Joey Varela, the band’s core lineup includes Javy Dorrejo (bass), Chris Cody (drums), and Paul Gregory (guitar). Growing up in NYC, Varela was initially immersed in Spanish music, Usher, and Michael Jackson but shifted entirely in high school after attending a metal concert, inspiring him to combine the smooth vocal stylings of R&B with the weight of hardcore.

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.