September 8-10, 2026, Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS)

“Wearin’ next to nothin’, cause it’s hot as an oven!”

The B-52’s got it right and applies to the KC metro, as we’re still near triple-digit heat, despite being after Labor Day- games and outdoor events are being rescheduled to earlier and heat exhaustion is a very real thing, heading into Fall.

Starlight and (the “Saltshaker”) Morton amphitheaters are still in full swing, and both venues luckily have giant-size fans and other means to ease the temps. Lawrence brings the college students back and added show activity there and fall theater seasons are beginning. Time to get out and Support Live Music and Shows- you’ll wish you had, when we’ve all battened down the hatches to stay inside during the winter months.

Let’s look at the week in Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from September 8^th to September 10^th.

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

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8

Newsies (musical), Sept 8-13, Starlight,$22.40-$148.90

Set in turn-of-the century NYC, Disney’s Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a newspaper boy and leader of a band of teenage “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at their expense, Jack rallies them from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and to fight for what’s right.

Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, the show features a Tony Award- winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein and features the familiar songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe.”

This Starlight production of Disney’s Newsies is excited to welcome back David Grindrod who will lead the production as Director and Choreographer and he is a NYC-based director, choreographer, performer, and educator with a long resume.

Lucas Pastrana leads the company as Jack. Broadway veteran Graham Rowat joins as Joseph Pulitzer, and Aubrey Matalon will take on the role of Katherine Plummer.

The Well with Moon Destroys, Wasteland, Sept 8, Sk8bar, $10

The Well is an Austin, TX–based alternative psych/metal doom rock trio formed in 2011 by guitarist/vocalist Ian Graham, bassist/vocalist Lisa Alley, and drummer Jason Sullivan playing a genre-blurring sound rooted in ’70s proto-metal, ’60s psychedelia, Southern sludge, and New Wave.

Renowned for their immersive live performances, the band enters a new chapter in 2026 with Spaceflight Records and brand-new album ‘and flames ran like living animals’ due out September 14.

Moon Destroys was formed by guitarist Juan Montoya (a founding member of Torche) and drummer Evan Diprima (Gold Pyramid, Royal Thunder), and released their first EP ‘Maiden Voyage’ in 2020 and was soon followed by self-releasing their debut full-length She Walks By Moonlight.

They’ve recently added Zach Amster from Abrams, as both lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist and new album Omni, is just out. Good amount of buzz on this show, so plunk down your $10 and enjoy!

Motley Crue, Tesla, Extreme, Sept 8, Morton Amph,$35-$216+

Motley Crue has hit the road with Tesla and Extreme, celebrating their 45th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of their Carnival of Sins tour which includes this KC are stop, and will conclude on Sept. 26 in Ridgefield, WA.

“Bringing back the spirit of Carnival of Sins has been a blast, and we wanted to take it even further for its 20th anniversary,” Motley Crue said in a statement. “This new show is for the Crueheads who’ve been with us through it all and for the new Crueheads who didn’t get to experience Carnival of Sins last time around. Get ready — we’re coming your way and we can’t wait to see you.”

Make time for the often congested traffic into the venue, so you don’t miss any of the two worthy support acts; and as a reminder, you can bring your own snacks in a gallon Ziploc in and a sealed water bottle or can grab two hot dogs and two 12oz Natty Lights, all for $14, from concessions.

Dancefestopia, Sept 7-13, Lacygne, KS,$493+

Dancefestopia 2026 is a 7-day electronic dance music (EDM) camping festival taking place at the Wildwood Outdoor Education Center in La Cygne, just south of the KC metro.

The main music runs Thursday through Sunday, with early camping and pre-parties starting Labor Day Monday, so take the rest of the week off and pitch a tent!

Known as a bass-heavy music festival featuring a Wizard of Oz (“Emerald City”) motif, forest camping, and immersive art are part of the festivities, along with numerous DJs and musicians, including headliners Excision, GriZ, Zeds Dead. LSDream, and Crankdat.

Come From Away- KC Rep, Sept 1-20, Spencer Theatre,$69-$109

Helping to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, KC Rep presents this breathtaking tale of triumph that will leave you cheering for the power of community. This Tony Award-winning musical tells the remarkable true story of nearly 7,000 airline passengers from around the world who were grounded in the small town of Gander, Canada in the wake of 9/11.

This production reminds us that amid fear and uncertainty, joy and resilience prevail. Through music, humor, and heart, this Broadway hit celebrates the power of human connection, shows how kindness can unite us, and affirms that hope can arise in the most unexpected places.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9

Black Label Society, Sept 9, Harrah’s Voodoo Lounge NKC,, $67-$144

Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society released three singles, “The Gallows”, “Lord Humungus”, and “Broken and Blind” ahead of new album, Engines of Demolition, released in late March.

All of BLS will be pulling double duty on stage each night: Zakk Wylde, Dario Lorina, Jeff Fabb, and John DeServio as Zakk Sabbath, their tribute to the fathers of heavy metal, will serve as direct support, along with Dark Chapel opening.

Judy Collins, Bruce Cockburn, Sept 9, Liberty Hall-Lawrence,$57.50-$90.75

Singer Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 50-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century.

Collins is as creatively active as ever- writing, touring worldwide, is an accomplished painter, filmmaker, record label head, musical mentor, and an in-demand keynote speaker for mental health and suicide prevention, but is saying goodbye to live performances after this run. We saw her last year in Kansas City and were thoroughly entertained and in awe of her.

Add Canadian folkster Bruce Cockburn to the bill, and you have a great evening of time-tested music.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10

Marilyn Manson / Rob Zombie, The Hu, Orgy, Sept 10, Morton Amph, $40-$194+

The Freaks on Parade Tour is the fourth double bill concert tour by Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, consisting of 21 shows and running through September 20 and includes this KC area stop.

Mongolian folk metal band The Hu and industrial rock band Orgy will provide support for the tour. The pair have obvious success sharing the bill, following their Twins of Evil Tour in 2012, the Twins of Evil: The Second Coming Tour in 2018, and the Twins of Evil: Hell Never Dies Tour in 2019.

We last saw Zombie, along with Alice Cooper, in the rain in KC, back in 2023.

The Hu‘s music combines heavy metal with traditional Mongolian instruments such as the morin khuur, while their vocalists use techniques such as throat singing and war cries while LA-based Orgy has released several platinum records and has a memorable New Order cover as their best-known song. We caught them live at a crazy Minneapolis show with Lords of Acid in 2019.

Zac Brown Band w Brothers Osborne, Sept 10, T-Mobile Center, $48-$341

Zac Brown Band recently released the group’s eighth studio album Love & Fear which was followed by a residency at Sphere Las Vegas, becoming the first country group to headline at the coveted venue. This 27-show Love & Fear Tour runs though November 21 with Brothers Osborne along for the KC show.

“I can’t wait to get this back on the road after an epic experience at Sphere,” the band’s lead singer Zac Brown said in a statement. “Every night we play is a chance to turn it up, mix things around, and share an unforgettable night with our incredible fans. The Love & Fear tour is all about big energy – our new album, entertaining covers, the hits you know and love, a few unexpected curveballs, and a whole lot of fun. We’re ready to bring it!”

Peaches, Sept 10, Liberty Hall- Lawrence,$47.20-$75.80

Daring musician, producer, director, and performance artist, Peaches first catapulted to stardom with her 2000 debut, The Teaches of Peaches, which introduced the world to her sexually transgressive, fiercely assertive, and utterly captivating persona. Since then, Peaches has released four more trailblazing albums, won the prestigious Polaris Heritage Prize, collaborated with everyone from Iggy Pop and Daft Punk to Christina Aguilera and Yoko Ono. Expect the envelope to be pushed at this show.

A first album in 10+ years is entitled No Lube So Rude, out now, and of the new music says, “When the world is friction, lube isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s how you turn that friction into pleasure, into power, into pride. I want people to understand that they can still have a voice no matter who they are or what the world says about them. Now more than ever, there are so many forces that just want you to give up and be quiet. If this album can help you resist that, then that’s what it’s for.”

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.