Calling all concertgoers! With the easing of pandemic restrictions, live music is steadily returningย as artists and venues are scheduling tours around the globe.
Vox writer Marisa Whitakerย has made a list of upcomingย concerts to see this spring in or around Columbia, including shows inย Kansas City and St. Louis. From Glass Animals to Leon Bridges to Snail Mail, numerous hit performers are touching down in the Show-Me State to provide their raw artistry and sound that weโve missed oh-so dearly (during all those late nights in the middle of June).
As the runner-up of American Idolโs 10th season, Lauren Alaina didnโt let her loss stop her passion for music. The country sweetheart is stopping in Columbia to show us what her โTop Of The World Tourโ is all about.
Even though COVID-19 restrictions have lessened overall, most (if not all) venues still have COVID requirements for attendees. If you have or want tickets to a show,ย make sure to check the venue's website for itsย COVID guidelinesย so that you,ย other fansย and the artists can have a safe yet rockinโ concert experience. โWe're working harder than ever before to bring the very best bands to Columbia that we can,โ Blue Note concert booker Pat Kay says.
Whether you prefer the intensity of Tool, Olivia Rodrigoโs all-too-relatable teen-heartbreak ballads, Yolaโs strikingย country soulย or the revamped classic rock of Spoon, our list spans genres and generations so that everyoneย can find a show best suited for theirย live music desires.
Concerts in or around Columbia
K.Flay,ย March 1 at The Truman in Kansas City
Ty Segall,ย March 6 at Off Broadway in St. Louis
Parquet Courts,ย March 7 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS
Lauren Alaina, March 11 at The Blue Note in Columbia
Radkey, March 12 at Rose Music Hall in Columbia
The progressive jazz-rock, Chicago-based band Marbin regularly performs in jam and jazz festivals around the world. Columbiaโs own jazzy roots should make them feel right at home.
Colbie Caillat, March 14 at The Pageant in St. Louis
alt-J and Portugal. The Man, March 15 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis
Bobby Weir and Wolf Brosย featuring the Wolfpack, March 15 at Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland in Kansas City
Journey with Toto, March 16 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City
Darius Rucker, March 17 at Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis
Tool, March 18 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis
Glass Animals,ย March 23 at The Factory in Chesterfield
girl in red, March 29 at The Truman in Kansas City
Spoon is on tour supporting its 10th studio record, Lucifer On The Sofa. The album was recorded over the last two years, and the band is bringing its new classic rock-rooted sounds to The Blue Note.ย
Yola, March 29 at Uptown Theater in Kansas City
Elton John, March 30 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis
Marbin, April 3 at Rose Music Hall in Columbia
Snail Mail, April 16 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence, Kansas
Olivia Rodrigo,ย April 20 at The Factory in Chesterfield
Spoon, April 25 at The Blue Note in Columbia
Jimmie Allen, April 29 at The Blue Note in Columbia
Leon Bridges, April 30 at Uptown Theatre in Kansas City
What venues have to say about the upcoming concerts
Nowadays, even though more shows are being booked, Kay says he feels โno more comfortableโ today than he did around this time two years ago. โA decision you make today,ย (and)ย the factors that guide that decision makingย may be wildly different next week,โ Kay says about booking decisions at Rose Music Hall. โOn the plus side, we are open.ย We are putting on concerts, and thatโs what weโre here to do.ย And it feels good to be doing that again.โ
Prior to the pandemic, if a show was canceled or postponed at the The Blue Note or Rose Music Hall,ย all hell would break loose at the venue. The fans, venue andย artist(s) would miss an incredible experience. Theย Blue Note director Mike Nolan says those feelings have shifted completely.ย
Radkey is a punk rock band of brothers consisting of Dee, Isaiah and Solomon Radke. Born not too far away in Saint Joseph, the brothers have opened for major rock acts including Jack White, Foo Fighters and Rise Against.
โBasically a few years ago, if a show would get canceled or postponed, it would have been a pretty big deal,โ Nolan says. โNow, if that happens, weโre like, โWe all know the drill here; kick this one into the fall or whatever.โโ
The Factoryย is a venue in Chesterfield that opened its doors last July. Talent buyer Dan Merkerย is most looking forward to seeing Olivia Rodrigo (whose concert sold out in minutes), pop-rock band Wallows and electro-indie kings Glass Animals at The Factory this spring.ย Even though Merker says the staff is feeling more optimistic about hosting shows this year, he wonders when a kind of normalcy will return with attending concerts.
โI always wonder, are people buying a ticket because they feel safer going into a show with the vax mandate or proof of a negative test?โ Merker says. โOr do ticket buyers view it as an inconvenience?โ
Kay, Nolanย and Merker alike continue to be excited in their rolesย and look forward to hostingย shows for music fans, artistsย and the great state of Missouri.
โMost people are just happy to have a job in this businessย right nowย after what we all went through,โ Merker says. โThere's definitely a sense that there's light at the end of the tunnel โย thatย we at least hope we're working toward normal times.โ
Not sure who to see? With so many incredible shows, we made the decision-making a bit easier for you. Take the quiz below to find out which concert Vox thinks you should snag a ticket to based on your personality and musical likes.
