October 16-18, 2026- Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO / Lawrence KS)

Yes, he still hates KC!

Zach Bryan announced a handful of stadium dates for 2027, with KC not included. Blowback from an escalated online feud with the loyal Philadelphia Eagles fan against Chiefs fans, resulted in him saying he’d never play KC again (he could still play Morton in Riverside MO and keep his promise, though!).

Meanwhile, U2 is back in stadiums as well, starting their next mega-tour where else, but in Mexico and Latin America (where their fans are insane!), with Beck opening. New album, Carnaval de Luz drops November 13 (just in time for the holiday season) We caught them live last at The Sphere in Las Vegas in late 2023 and before that, at US Bank Stadium with Beck, in Minneapolis 2017. We prefer the smaller arenas, but hard to ask for that with the world’s biggest band.

Let’s look through the Weekend in Kansas City / Lawrence KS metro musical happenings from Rocktober 16^th to Rocktober 18^th.

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

FRIDAY OCTOBER 16

Wizard of Oz, Oct 16-25, KC Ballet w KC Symphony, Kauffman,$48-$163

The banner year of Oz-related works continues! Follow the yellow brick road as choreographer Septime Webre’s journey to the Emerald City returns. In the very familiar story, Dorothy and Toto are swept away to OS to join three unexpected friends on a magical adventure to meet the Wizard, outwit a Wicked Witch, and find their way home.

This beloved production returns with Broadway-caliber production values, advanced new LED stage technology, and eight dancers taking flight, the most of any KC Ballet production, matching the mark set when the show last was staged four years ago.

Dancer highlights include 220 pointe shoes, hand-painted in 23 different colors, including six shades of green, and the Ruby Slippers are adorned with 288 hand-placed jewels.

The show features an original score by Matthew Pierce, performed live by the Kansas City Symphony under the direction of KC Ballet Music Director & Conductor Ramona Pansegrau. The production’s design team includes sets by Michael Raiford, costumes by Liz Vandal, lighting by Trad A Burns, puppetry by Nicholas Mahon, and projections by Aaron Rhyne.

Modigliani Quartet (ChamberKC S51), Oct 16, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, $7.50-$35

The Modigliani String Quartet, (Amaury Coeytaux,violin; Loic Rio,violin; Laurent Marfaing,viola and François Kieffer,cello) returns with a program pairing a recent work by Czech composer Kryštof Mařatka (“visage de jeune fille’), inspired by a portrait by Amedeo Modigliani. The work explores themes of love, timelessness, and passion, placing a contemporary voice in dialogue with tradition.

Also included are two landmarks of their quartet repertoire (Debussy’s “String “Quartet in G minor, Op. 10” and Schumann’s “String Quartet in A major, Op. 41 no. 3”) and there will be a pre-concert talk with Dr. Paul Laird at 6:15 PM

SATURDAY OCTOBER 17

Black Country, New Road, Oct 17, Granada- Lawrence,$30-$35

Black Country, New Road is touring internationally in 2026 to support their album Forever Howlong (released via Ninja Tune). The Cambridge UK group play an eclectic blend of art-rock, post-rock, chamber pop, and experimental elements, as we saw when catching the band twice in 2023.

The six-piece band features Tyler Hyde (bass, vocals), Georgia Ellery (violin, vocals), May Kershaw (keyboards, vocals), Lewis Evans (saxophone, flutes), Charlie Wayne (drums), and Luke Mark (guitar) after original frontman and guitarist Isaac Wood lleft the band in early 2022 due to mental health struggles.

Following this US leg, a performance in Guadalajara, MX, a special orchestral collaboration with the English National Opera in London, and a leg through China, are all next.

Bright Eyes, Oct 17, Truman, $54-$201

Bright Eyes is back out on a fall tour around the country. Supporting all dates will be Lullaby for the Working Class, featuring Bright Eyes members Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott, who will perform with both bands each night, alongside Shane Aspegren, Megan Siebe and Lullaby singer/songwriter Ted Stevens (all of Cursive), as well as Macey Taylor, and Tiffany Kowalski.

The run marks a reunion of the influential Omaha indie folk, folk rock, emo, and alt-country outfit (formed in 1995 by Conor Oberst), bringing several longtime collaborators and members of the extended Bright Eyes family back together onstage.

Oberst named the group after the phrase Dr. Zira uses to address Taylor in the 1968 film Planet of the Apes and last full-length was 2024’s Five Dice, All Threes.

Sutton Foster, Oct 17, Starlight’s 39th Annual Gala,$2000+

Two-time Tony Award winner (and current Hugh Jackman squeeze) Sutton Foster will headline Starlight’s 39th Annual Gala. A 5:30 p.m. red carpet reception is followed by a 7:00 p.m. dinner, program, and Foster performance, and concludes with a 9:00 p.m. after-party, with Black Tie optional.

The evening will honor Star Award recipient Roshann Parris, with Gala Chairs Howard & Debbi Cohen, with presenting entertainment sponsors Shirley & Barnett C. Helzberg, Jr., and CEO & President Lindsey Rood-Clifford. Proceeds will benefit Starlight’s community outreach, arts education, accessibility initiatives, and student scholarships.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 18

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.