Live music in Kansas City, MO

DJ Rosie-J leads a high energy karaoke night at Hammer’s Dueling Piano Bar, featuring memorable performances and a welcoming vibe for all experience levels, from shower singers to stage veterans. The spotlight is open to anyone ready to choose a favorite track and share it with the room.

Grammy-nominated and Diamond-certified artist Teddy Swims sets out on the 2026 edition of THE UGLY TOUR, a North American arena run launching at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The performance features special guests Mac Ayres and MarcLo. Ticket access includes multiple presales such as VIP, Visa, artist pre-registration, Spotify, local, and platinum, along with a public onsale.

Stepping Stones KC hosts a weekly music session at MY Play Cafe where children can explore their musical talents during Music and Me time. There is no additional charge, as the session is included with open play. Reserve a spot in the open play session to participate, and adults attend at no cost.

Modest Mouse performs at Grinders KC Event Venue with a concert that is open to all ages. Guests can enhance their experience with a Preferred Viewing Area that offers a separate entrance, a lounge with air conditioning, restrooms reserved for that area, a dedicated bar where some locations may accept cards only, and designated viewing space by the main stage. Ticket access rolls out in multiple phases, including public, local, Spotify, and fan club presales, along with VIP package presale and onsale options.

Uptown Theater hosts Starbomb featuring DJ Commander Meouch on the Probably The Only Tour Ever, with support from Epic Rap Battles of History. The floor offers general admission while the balcony provides reserved seating. Ticket access includes artist and local presales, VIP and public onsales, plus an end of summer deal.

Bring your friends and choose the songs you want to perform. Each Wednesday, take the mic at a karaoke dance party with DJ Mic and step onto the stage to share your picks.

Maggie Moon brings her solo show to Horsefeather Social on the rooftop of Loews Kansas City Hotel, delivering a live performance in a lovely setting.

Breaking Benjamin performs live at Morton Amphitheater in Riverside, MO. The show features the band on stage at this Riverside venue.

At Worth Harley Davidson, a recurring motorcycle night offers live bands, tasty food, and cold drinks with free admission. Rows of bikes in a variety of makes and models set the scene for a friendly crowd of both riders and those arriving by car. It is a relaxed place to enjoy music, talk bikes, and spend time with friends.

Foster the People brings the Good Mourning Sunshine Tour to Starlight, with Goth Babe appearing as special guest. This concert is part of the Capitol Federal concert series.

The Vincents perform a lively blend of songs and onstage antics, led by vocalist and bassist Chase McRoy with guitarist Dustin White’s rapid-fire flat-picking and drummer Kellan Moore’s untamed energy. With more than a decade together, their tight chemistry fuels a set that stretches from 1950s rockabilly to current hits. Along the way they mix in playful surprises, from balance tricks to quick instrument swaps, so no two moments feel the same. Their performances have been featured on the Travel Channel, FOX4, KMBC 9, KSHB 41, and KCTV 5. Their mothers even crown them Kansas City’s best band and are pleased to report they are very nice boys.

Artemas brings the LOVERCORE / GETTING UP TO NO GOOD Tour to Uptown Theater with support from Henry Morris. The show features a GA floor. Ticket access includes public onsale, artist and local presales, a Spotify presale, a Memorial Day BOGO offer, and a 4th of July two for 50 deal plus fees.

This showcase brings together a standout lineup of songwriters rooted in the Kansas City and Midwest scenes. Across the bill, listeners will hear vivid lyrics and musicianship that moves from folk and country to blues, pop, rock, and electronic textures. IVORY BLUE crafts heartfelt tracks that fuse alternative pop, rock, and electronic elements. After winning the Next2Rock competition in 2017 and a season with a major label, she returned to independence, pairing polished production with personal narratives that can land as gently as an acoustic ballad or soar into a synth-lifted anthem. Lucy Gray stepped onto festival stages at age seven while studying both classical and fiddle violin. Now an award-winning writer and composer, she has earned multiple Missouri University COMP honors, national recognition from ASCAP in 2025 and 2026, and support from Heartland Song Network to record her debut single in 2024. Her recent release purple skies highlights a voice that bridges pop and classical influences. Haley Burke is a Kansas City guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter whose rootsy blend spans blues, rock, country, and Americana. Her résumé includes appearances at King Biscuit Blues Festival, Merle Jam at Knuckleheads, and the KCBS Women in Blues Showcase, participation in Pinetop Perkins Foundation programs, and representing the Kansas City Blues Society in the youth division at the 2026 International Blues Challenge. Her sets feature expressive guitar work and a vivid stage presence. Miki P, a Kansas City-based artist performing professionally for over a decade, writes melodic, imaginative songs that speak plainly from the heart. Listeners often hear echoes of 70s singer-songwriters like Carole King and Stevie Nicks alongside 90s and 2000s pop touchstones such as Alanis Morissette, The Cranberries, and Sheryl Crow. At 20, Kansas City songwriter Brooke Mertz centers authenticity in her music. She has opened for Forrest Blakk, Tre Mutava, and KAYKO from American Idol, and has shared the stage with Haven Madison while she was on the road with Stacy Ryan. Her catalog includes the single strings and a live EP, my side of the story, recorded in New York. Kristin Hamilton draws on a childhood spent on a Savannah, Missouri farm and a household soundtrack of 1970s country, rock, and gospel. Her sound lands in folk country with a bluegrass shimmer, shaped by stories of loss, faith, love, and a spirit of fun. Formerly part of Under The Big Oak Tree, she performs solo, pairs up with her daughter Lucy Gray, leads the honky-tonk outfit Kristin Hamilton & The Heat, and appears with the folk quartet Primrose Junction. After three albums with her former band, she released her first solo record, Touch Of Blue, in 2022. Together, these artists deliver a program of original songs and heartfelt vocals that shift from intimate to anthemic.

Live jazz fills Whole Foods Market as the JB Jazz Quartet brings a locally grown, organic and sustainable jazz feel to the Fountain Room Bar. Vocalist Joanna Berkebile, also known as JB, leads the group, with Jerry Pollock on drums, Leslie Maclean on keys, and Tim Brewer on bass. The bar offers drink specials and oysters, and surprise guests may make an appearance.

A neo-soul inspired arts celebration fills the Historic 18th & Vine District in Kansas City from September 25th through the 27th, bringing together visual art, live music, fashion, food, culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship while honoring the district’s rich legacy. The festival champions artists and small businesses, preserves local culture, and encourages emerging talent through community-focused programming. Festival passes are offered for the full weekend or a single day. Opening night spotlights fashion, music, and film with the Rock the Runway Fashion Show featuring original collections by local and regional designers, a Hair Show from creative stylists, an independent Film Showcase, and live music. The Artist Marketplace begins with opportunities to meet creators and purchase original works, and food vendors serve local favorites and inventive dishes. The second day is packed with main stage performances across R&B, neo-soul, jazz, blues, gospel, hip-hop, spoken word, dance, and community acts. The Live on the Vine Finals spotlight rising performers competing for a $1,000 grand prize along with a professional studio recording, photo shoot, and promotional opportunities. Demonstrations throughout the day offer a chance to watch pieces come to life, with many works available to buy. The Artist Marketplace features over 100 creators across painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, mixed media, woodworking, home decor, fashion, wearable art, prints, crafts, and gifts. A Vendor Marketplace showcases apparel, beauty, candles, wellness products, books, accessories, handmade goods, community organizations, and nonprofit resources. A food court serves BBQ, soul food, international dishes, sweet treats, lemonade, ice cream, specialty drinks, and family favorites. DJs keep the energy high, and families will find kids art activities, interactive experiences, community engagement, and youth artist opportunities. The finale day focuses on food and soul with regional musicians, a culinary experience highlighting local chefs and vendors, and the Artist Marketplace continuing for last-chance purchases and commissions. Visual art takes center stage for a final time in the Brush Wars Championship, another $1,000 competition where artists create live. The weekend closes with a community celebration that connects neighbors, artists, families, and visitors in one of the city’s most storied cultural districts. All weekend long, attendees can shop original artwork directly from creators, explore photo-worthy installations, and pick up official merchandise including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, collectibles, and limited edition items. Live interviews, artist spotlights, and behind-the-scenes content capture the spirit of the celebration. An information booth is available for questions, details on year-round programs, and ways to get involved. The 18th & Vine Arts Festival Foundation works throughout the year to support local artists, open doors for emerging creatives, invest in youth arts education through the Young Artist Initiative, build partnerships with businesses and community organizations, preserve the Historic 18th & Vine legacy, bolster entrepreneurship and small businesses, and promote arts and culture across Kansas City. Please check the official festival website for current participation opportunities.

At ArtsTech, 2Step To Help offers an evening of music, dancing, and community in support of The Salvation Army Prospect Corps in Kansas City. The event welcomes both seasoned two-steppers and newcomers who want to learn, with guidance and hosting by De Barker, known as KC two-step royalty. Attendees can enjoy live instruction, open dance time, and a showcase for experienced dancers, along with light refreshments. Each ticket helps strengthen programs that offer hope, practical support, youth development, and compassionate care for individuals and families. It is a chance to celebrate Kansas City culture, make connections, and dance with purpose while supporting a vital local resource.

Marking 20 years, The M80s present a high-energy 1980s celebration filled with dance-ready hits across pop, rock, and new wave. Their set is loaded with familiar favorites designed to keep the crowd moving from start to finish. Special guests The Hall and Oates Project and The Yachties join the lineup for an even bigger night of nostalgia and nonstop music.

Presented by CANN, Yacht Rock Revue brings its Primetime show to Uptown Theater. Seating options include general admission on the floor or in the rear balcony, with reserved seats available in the front balcony. Ticket access features multiple presales and seasonal promotions, including public, artist, Ticketmaster, and local presales, plus a summer deal, a Memorial Day BOGO promotion, a Fourth of July offer, and an end of summer deal.

Dustbowl Revival is a shape-shifting roots ensemble led by founder and songwriter Z. Lupetin, born from a simple Craigslist post in Venice Beach and grown into a collective that has counted nearly thirty members. Their live show blends folk, funk, jangly rock and soul with a brass section steeped in New Orleans flavor, layered harmonies that nod to Laurel Canyon, and lyrics that refuse to shy away from tough themes. The group has built its audience the old-school way, through hard touring and songs that linger long after the last note, earning coverage in outlets like Rolling Stone and Billboard along with steady AAA radio play. Across seven releases since 2008, milestones include the 2015 live set With A Lampshade On captured largely at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, a 2017 self-titled album produced by Grammy winner Ted Hutt, and 2020’s expansive Is It You, Is It Me with producer Sam Kassirer, where sweeping brass, detailed strings and cinematic, socially minded storytelling take center stage. Their catalog and collaborations reach wide, from the romantic favorite Honey, I Love You featuring Keb’ Mo’ to fan staples like Sonic Boom and Debtors Prison. A moving anthem, Get Rid Of You, regularly anchors the set, and the stomping blues Get Right, tied to a forthcoming 2026 record, confronts vigilante justice. A viral video with Dick Van Dyke dancing to Never Had To Go introduced the band to millions, and new studio tracks tease more surprises, including Ed Helms on banjo for Tall Tales and a cameo by Vulfpeck’s Theo Katzman on Change Your Mind. Recent years brought lineup shifts that energized the stage, with voices like Lashon Halley and Alex Nester alongside Chad Richard on guitar and Nick Phakpiseth on bass, plus longtime brass mainstays such as Ulf Bjorlin, Vikram Devasthali, Mike Jones, Austin Drake and Max O’Leary, original drummer Josh Heffernan, special guest Michael Villiers, and the return of early vocalist Caitlin Doyle. The band kept momentum through at-home festivals and their own in-person Sonic Boom Fest, while releasing the Set Me Free EP and folk singles Beside You and The Exception with The Secret Sisters. Life offstage shapes the songs too, with Be (For July) arriving after a harrowing family health scare and connecting with listeners around the world. Known for festival sets that often spill into the crowd, Dustbowl Revival has appeared at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Rhythm N Roots, Waterfront Blues, the Cambridge Folk Festival and Tonder Festival, as well as a State Department tour of China. They also craft special tribute programs, from a series devoted to the music of The Band that drew a personal thank-you from Robbie Robertson to a current run celebrating the legacy of Laurel Canyon. A brassy take on Oh! Darling with Ivan Neville and the pointed single The Truth, recorded in Wisconsin with engineer Brian Joseph, preview the forthcoming album Change Your Mind. This concert spotlights a band that thrives on connection, groove and harmony-rich storytelling, distilled from years on the road and more than twenty million streams.

Worth Harley Davidson sets a laid-back scene with live music, cold drinks, and a parking lot buzzing with motorcycles and familiar faces. It is a come-as-you-are gathering where you can ride whatever you like and linger as long as you want while the band keeps the vibes rolling.

Travel back to Elvis Presley’s 1970s concert era as world champion Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists Dean Z and Cote Deonath lead a production backed by a dynamic live band. Inspired by “That’s The Way It Is,” “Elvis on Tour,” and “Aloha from Hawaii,” the show channels the sound, spectacle, and drive of those landmark moments into one concert, letting fans relive highlights from the King in a single experience.

Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds return with the 2026 Mutiny for the Masses tour, showcasing music from the new album Mutiny After Midnight. Their previous run drew praise for physically charged, marathon-length shows and even sparked conversation about whether they rank among the very best live acts. Expect extended sets, grittier grooves, and no opener... the entire night is devoted to the band from the first downbeat to the final note.

Creedence Revived brings a high-energy tribute led by four standout musicians from Chicago and Los Angeles. The lineup features an award-winning vocalist known for remarkable versatility, a globally recognized blues guitarist with an international following, a studio bassist heard on numerous hit records, and a drummer whose distinctive style fills theaters under his own name. In demand across the world, the band has performed for audiences of up to 30,000 and has a strong history of sellouts. International tours have included Europe and Malaysia, and presenters frequently invite them back thanks to enthusiastic audience response. Their approach is to honor the songs with the passion and precision of the originals, delivering the spirit of CCR as if the music were their own.

Peachtree presents a stop of Alana Springsteen's I Hope This Helps Tour in Kansas City, featuring guest artist Erin Kinsey. The performance will be held at PBR Big Sky. All attendees must be 21 or older. Photo and video recording will take place, and entry constitutes permission to be filmed or photographed and for those images or recordings to be used in any media, including for promotional purposes.

PUMP EDM Night turns Woody’s KC into a full-throttle EDM playground hosted by Synematix. Expect nonstop drops, neon-drenched vibes, and signature high-energy sets that keep the dance floor moving from open to close. Synematix curates an immersive lineup built for continuous motion. Doors open late, special visuals elevate the atmosphere, and more unfolds as the night progresses.

A community-focused full moon drum circle brings the Kansas City Drum Tribe to Loose Park for shared rhythm, mindful movement, and welcoming connection. The gathering takes place in the grassy area south of the access road behind the large Stone Pavilion and the Japanese garden southeast of the Rose Garden, with a rain plan that moves everyone under the large Stone Pavilion on the main circle drive. The emphasis is on listening, blending, and creating music together rather than individual performance, with core intentions that include deep listening, ego-free participation, respect for instruments and the group, substance-free connection, and community over performance. Participants of all experience levels are welcome to drum, dance, listen, or learn within a respectful container. To support the group sound, attendees are asked to find the pulse, keep volumes balanced, leave space for the music to breathe, follow changes, ask before playing someone else’s instrument, remove rings or watches before playing hand drums, keep high-pitched instruments gentle, leave the center open for dancers, step away for calls or side conversations, be open to feedback, and care more about the overall rhythm than personal attention. Hand drums are preferred and kit drums are not used because of volume, while other instruments such as flutes, violins, guitars, and harmonicas are welcome. Bring water, dress for the weather, and consider a comfortable seat if needed. Spectators, flow artists, and dancers are encouraged, children are welcome, and dogs may attend on a leash in keeping with park rules. The circle is hosted by Jessica Snyder and Jo Burke, who can be identified by Jessica’s short brown and purple mullet and Jo’s short blond spiky hair, and they are available to address safety or conduct concerns as they arise. Participation includes honoring the space, the hosts, fellow drummers and dancers, and the shared rhythm, and anyone creating a disruptive or unsafe environment may be asked to step away so the community can continue to drum, dance, listen, learn, and belong.