August 24-31, 2026, Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS)

No ‘Roo for 2027–

The big recent news is the announcement of Bonnaroo canceling next year’s installment of the longtime Festival, after the last couple years of bad luck weather and amidst a changing concert landscape.

This does affect the KC metro whether you realize it or not- we often get bands scheduled in, for a show on their way from or to the festival and with next June’s weekend now no more, we may lose a few acts that would have otherwise played a show here.

Buckcherry’s tour bus was caught up in a resulting crash involving a fatal incident that killed a pedestrian on a highway in Spartanburg, SC, but all band members were ok (they just played Knuckleheads here on the 3^rd).

Bret Michaels (of Poison fame) is sidelined following kidney stone surgery, forcing the 63-year-old, to cancel remaining shows, but is expecting a full recovery.

Rock Hall of Famers The Hollies have just now decided to retire from touring and break up (after 63 years!). With both original members in their 80s and Graham Nash well into his solo touring, it was probably time.

Let’s look at the month-ending week in Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from August 24^th to August 31^st .

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

MONDAY AUGUST 24

Toto, Christopher Cross, The Romantics, Aug 24, Morton Amph,2 for $55 lawn to $103+

The throwback package of Toto, Christopher Cross and The Romantics are finishing up a 32-show run, which started in mid-July in Bethel, NY and will wrap August 30 in Toronto.

In their 48^th year, Toto can boast to having more than a half a million fans coming out to see them perform, alongside over a billion online streams counted this year alone. Total streams exceed seven billion across all platforms, with hit “Africa” accounting for two billion Spotify plays alone and “Hold the Line” exceeding one billion plays on the platform,

Led by Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams, the band’s “Africa” has been certified Dimond (re: 10million+ sold), “Rosanna” accounts for sales of two million copies and their cumulative album sales are at 50 million+ copies.

Special guest Christopher Cross and the members of Toto have been friends and collaborators for more than four decades and in Sept 2024, Cross supported the band at the Hollywood Bowl and the idea of touring together was born. Of course, Cross’1980 self-titled debut album won five Grammy Awards, and he’s gone on to sell more than 12 million albums. He’s also won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, an Emmy nomination and five Top 10 singles along the way.

Detroit-born The Romantics became a band on Feb 14, 1977, inspired by roots rock, the British Invasion, and their hometown music scene. The post punk band is best known for their hits including “What I Like About You,” “Talking In Your Sleep,” and “One In A Million.”

CAAMP, Brook and the Bluff, Aug 24, Starlight,$47.50-$146

Athens, OH band Caamp is out on their 2026 Tour, a 19-city headlining tour, in support of their recent Copper Changes Color album (via Mom+Pop Records). The band will donate $1 for each ticket sold to their Great Heights Movement, which supports charitable programs in the Columbus, OH area and beyond, which we always approve of.

The recent LP debuted at No. 1 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart and on Spotify’s Top 10 Albums plus topped Adult Alternative Airplay No. 1 single with “Mistakes.”

Taylor Meier (frontman + primary songwriter) and Evan Westfall (multi-instrumentalist), began the band In Ohio, soon adding Matt Vinson (bass), Joseph Kavalec (keys) and Nicholas Falk (drums) Their self-titled 2016 debut garnered the band their first gold single and will celebrate its 10th anniversary next month.

Arrive early for Nashville-based (via Birmingham, AL) Southern folk four-part harmony rockers, The Brook and the Bluff, in support of their album, Werewolf, out now.

TUESDAY AUGUST 25

Chicago and Styx, Aug 25, Morton Amph, 2 for $55 lawn to $134+

It’s gonna get Windy! Legendary bands Chicago and Styx unite on their first-ever co-headlining tour- with both from Chi-Town, it had to be called The Windy Cities Tour, a 25-date summer run that includes a KC area stop, concluding Sept 6 in LA. “All The Hits- Your Kind of Tour”, the bands promise.

Two of rock’s most enduring bands—both born in the Windy City—are finally joining forces. Chicago and Styx have announced The Windy Cities Tour – All The Hits…Your Kind of Tour, a 25-date summer 2026 co-headlining run marking their first-ever joint outing.

“We are excited about the summer tour,” says Chicago trumpeter and founding member Lee Loughnane. “Chicago has never toured with Styx before so it’s going to be a lot of fun, we’re looking forward to it.” Styx singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw adds, “The idea of Styx touring with Chicago is a major thrill all on its own. We can’t wait to spend the summer with them!”

Wicked (Broadway Touring) Through Aug 30, Music Hall, $61-$231

Final Days! – read our coverage here: Wicked (Broadway touring musical) at The Music Hall, Kansas City MO (2026-08-12 to 08-30) – W♥M

Wicked, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz... but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent.

When she meets a blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” You likely already know the story from previous runs of this modern Broadway classic, the original book, or the recent pair of successful movies.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, inspired by Gregory Maguire’s novel about the untold story of the witches of Oz, it’s been a crowd favorite ever since its debut in 2003. The production has earned more than 100 major awards, including three Tony Awards and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

The refreshed touring production is said to have refined the lighting, sound, and automation to travel efficiently without cutting the magic, so expect the full Defying Gravity moment and plenty of Emerald City sparkle. Mexico City native Aline Mayagoitia is set to play the green girl herself “Elphaba” while newcomer Claudia Bennett in her National Tour debut will resume the role of “Glinda.”

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26

Santana with The Doobie Brothers, Aug 26, Morton Amph,2 for $55 lawn to $196+

In another summer pairing, Grammy Award-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists Santana and The Doobie Brothers are on the road together for the Oneness Tour, which started June 13 in Chicago, and wraps the day after this show, in the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopee on August 27 so nab a ticket for this legendary double-bill!.

Carlos Santana emerged from the Bay Area more than 50 years ago as a pioneering Afro-Latin-blues-rock force, and created music that transcends genres and generations. Expect decades of favorite hits and guitar work that still amazes.

The Doobie Brothers bring their rich legacy of roots-based, harmony-laden, guitar-driven rock and roll with an intact core lineup that shouldn’t be missed- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, John McFee and Michael McDonald. They still put out good records too, including their recent full-length, Walk This Road. their 16th, and the first-ever Doobies studio album to feature their ‘big four’ (McDonald exited in the day for a solo career) with songwriting by all three Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees.

THURSDAY AUGUST 27

FRIDAY AUGUST 28

SATURDAY AUGUST 29

Spotlight: Charlie Parker 2026 Tribute, Aug 29, Folly, $11-$81

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra will roar with local favorites Bobby Watson, Matt Otto, Stephen Martin, and area up-and-coming sax students, for a KC-focused, big band reflection on the artistry of its native son and creator of bebop: Charlie Parker. in partnership with KC Jazz Alive

Bird forever lives, and forever swings- the KCJO is partnered for a 3rd year with KC Jazz Alive and the celebration should be an entertaining reminder of Parker’s influence and legacy in the genre.

Chad Gray (Mudvayne, HellYeah) Aug 29, Harrah’s Voodoo Lounge- NKC,$42-$122

Chad Gray, frontman of Mudvayne and Hellyeah, is out on a 2026 US tour (since neither band is on the road) on which he’ll perform songs from both of his bands.

Gray’s solo band features guitarists Marcus Rafferty and Joe Bonasorte, drummer Devin Attard, and bassist Nick Villarreal. Support will come from Butcher Babies and Devil’s Cut.

After recently testing out the waters with a handful of dates in April and May, the full tour Is called “30 Years of Madnesss,” running through an October 29th show in Nashville, with KC being only the second show of the run.

Gray says about the outing, “Since the beginning, I’ve wanted to bring this to all my fans everywhere. From here in America and everywhere abroad. And now I have the opportunity, so I’m gonna take it. This fall, I’m hopefully going to come to a town near you and we are gonna walk in a room, let go of life and its problems and have some fun!”

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, Sept 29, Ameristar Casino,$79.25

Bonham and his band is out on a new leg of shows that began Aug. 13 in Pocatello, ID and lasts until Sept. 6 in Bettendorf, IA, with the drummer promising a “set featuring the biggest radio hits Zeppelin ever wrote,” along with “fan-favorite deep cuts.”

The son of the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, he formed the tribute band in 2009 and also remains a member of the supergroup The Circle along with vocalist Sammy Hagar, bassist Michael Anthony and guitarist Vic Johnson.

SUNDAY AUGUST 30

OAR w Gavin DeGraw, KT Tunstall, Aug 30, Starlight,$40.50-$121

Rockviile, MD band O.A.R. is out on their Three Decades Tour, an expansive North American run celebrating the band’s remarkable three-decade journey. In celebration, O.A.R. has released a brand-new single, “Where We Are Right Now,” which you’ll undoubtedly hear, along with the band’s favorite hits, including “Turn the Car Around.”

Says frontman Marc Roberge. “The fact we’ve gotten to live that life for the last 30 years is a testament to the power of our audience. This tour is our way of saying thank you- to every fan who made our dreams come true. We can’t wait to see each and every one of you out there on the Three Decades Tour.”

The tour kicked off in Vail, CO on June 19 and features all of the band’s career defining hits and a special guests Gavin DeGraw, and KT Tunstall, who we last saw live three summers ago, in Topeka.

MONDAY AUGUST 31

Benson Boone w/Luna Li, Aug 31, T-Mobile Center, $68-$256

Benson Boone is bringing backflips and magic on his 2026 U.S. Wanted Man Tour. Which kicked off in Pittsburgh, PA on July 7th and will wrap in Casper, WY on September 3^rd and follows his previous global American Heart Tour.

Last year, Boone received his first Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist and delivered a show-stopping performance of his breakthrough smash “Beautiful Things.” That song catapulted Boone into superstar status and was the most streamed song in the world in 2024. His platinum-certified debut album Fireworks & Rollerblades followed which logged seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart, hit #1 at Top 40, Hot AC, and AC radio, and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Canadian bedroom indie pop artist Luna Li wlll provide support, behind her second full-length, 2024’s When a Thought Grows Wings. She’s opened for the likes of Japanese Breakfast and Wolf Alice previously.

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.