August 1-4, 2026, Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS)

It’s a baby boy!

Local alt-rock/country royalty couple Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) and Kevin Morby are proud parents of their first child who was two weeks early, causing Morby to cancel his scheduled appearance at Wisconsin’s Eaux Claires Festival, for the best possible reason – Congrats to all!

The Great White Way will turn purple next Spring, as Prince’s Purple Rain musical which debuted in Minneapolis last Fall, is now heading to Broadway! The show will play at NYC’s Majestic Theatre starting March 12 for previews, with an opening night set for April 12. Saheem Ali (Buena Vista Social Club) will now direct with a book by Peter Duchan, and the cast to be announced. Our friends loved the show, but are super fans, while other reviews were mixed, so the re-tooling should help with wider acclaim.

Lollapalooza takes place for four days in Chicago over the weekend, and for those that think tix and jet fuel are still too high, dial it up on Disney+/Hulu instead, with schedules posted here.

Let’s look at the upcoming weekend in Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from August 1^stto August 4^th.

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

SATURDAY AUGUST 1

Turnpike Troubadours, Aug 1, Starlight, $76-$154

The Turnpike Troubadours are taking their 2025 Album of the Year The Price of Admission, on the road in 2026, with dates just announced well into the fall, wrapping Oct 25 in Clearwater FL. It’s not just their recorded music that comes highly recommended and critically acclaimed, seeing the band live is a memorable musical experience as well (we caught them last September at a very sold-out Uptown Theatre in KC).

Direct support from Muscadine Bloodline and other rotating openers are featured on the tour, including Katie Pruitt, Dexter & The Moonrocks, The Creekers, and Drayton Farley depending on the show.

Radkey, August 1, Celebrate Amerikana Fest, The Concourse Park, Free!

The St. Joseph, MO power riffing trio of young siblings Isaiah Radke (bass), Solomon Radke (drums), and Dee Radke (vocals/guitar) , who began making music together in 2010 return with another, and Free! KC show. The band opened for Fishbone in 2011- less than a year after first playing together – and eventually headed out on the road to play shows with the likes of Red Fang, Against Me, and Touche Amore.

They are promoting their new album, Bedroom Sand (released July 14), recorded at Syracuse University mid-last year while students were gone for the summer.

As far as the free Fest, AMERI’KANA highlights the influence of the Black and Brown musicians that created and continue to carry the legacy of American music, honoring lineage and legacy while exploring its impact. It is also a response to intolerance and division, and engages underserved, immigrant and Latinx communities in a retelling of the American music story, among many other inclusive goals, which are worth looking into.

SUNDAY AUGUST 2

Young the Giant, Cold War Kids, Aug 2, Starlight,$47.50-$97.50

The multi-platinum band Young the Giant is back out on their Victory Garden Tour across North America, a 40-date North American headline run supporting their new sixth studio album, Victory Garden, focusing on themes of connection, resilience, and optimism. We just caught them live last October in Kansas City.

Support for the tour will feature the Cold War Kids who we’re also fans of (we saw them last here in 2023, opening for Tears for Fears) and will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their debut record Robbers & Cowards.

Showcasing their first full-length album in four years, written across retreats in Idyllwild and Joshua Tree. frontman Sameer Gadhia describes the outdoor amphitheater-heavy layout as a “gathering” to bring people back together.

Mumford and Sons, Aug 2, Morton Amph,$59-$310

Mumford & Sons’ new album and the second is less than twelve months, Prizefighter, is out via Glassnote Records/Gentlemen of the Road. Long celebrated for their electric live performances, touring has defined the band from the beginning, in shaping their sound, building their global fanbase and fostering their collaborative spirit.

Co-produced and co-written with The National’s Aaron Dessner, the new record features collaborations with Hozier, Gracie Abrams, Chris Stapleton and Gigi Perez. Support for the KC show comes from Medium Build. Give extra time for slow traffic into the venue too.

MONDAY AUGUST 3

TUESDAY AUGUST 4

Dirty Heads and 311, Aug 4, Morton,2 for $55 lawn, to $144+

311 and Dirty Heads are teaming up once again for a 2026 North American co-headline summer tour, bringing their signature blend of rock, reggae, and hip-hop to amphitheatres and outdoor venues across the continent from July 11 in MN until August 30 in West Palm Beach, FL.

Ocean Alley and the now Sublime-less ROME are listed as support. The bands rotate who headlines, and though 311 is strong in this area (due to their Omaha roots), it appears that Dirty Heads will close.

Dirty Heads are celebrating the release of their new ninth full-length album, 7 Seas, out last month via Better Noise Music. Single “One of Those Days,” is a laid-back, feel-good anthem that captures the group’s blend of sun-soaked reggae, breezy hip-hop, and alternative pop.

311 have also announced the return of their 311 Day Cruise in 2027, continuing their tradition of creating destination-driven experiences for their fans.

Monty Python’s Spamalot (musical) Aug 4-9, Starlight,$22.40-$148.90

Adapting the film classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot has everything that makes a great knight at the theater: from flying cows to killer rabbits, British royalty to French taunters, dancing girls, rubbery shrubbery, and of course, the Lady of the Lake. The show features well-known songs including “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “The Song That Goes Like This,” “Find Your Grail” and more that have become classics in the musical theater canon.

The show first galloped onto Broadway in 2005, features a book & lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle and took home Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It’s hilarious and one of our all-time favorites, whether you know Python’s skits well, or not- recommended!

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.