It’s outdoor concert season in Kansas City. Check out these cheap or free summer shows
It’s the time of year to bust out your lawn chair, pack a picnic and find an outdoor concert to enjoy. If you’re not looking to pay big bucks for a headliner at Starlight, there’s still plenty to check out.
JAMMIN’ ON THE GREEN
Shawnee Town Museum hosts free concerts one Wednesday each month, and they even provide snacks and water bottles. You’re encouraged to bring your own chairs, since picnic tables and benches are limited.
A variety of performances are scheduled for this season, including:
June 29: The Kansas City Ukesters from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
July 27: Grand Marquis from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 31: AnnaLee and the Lucky So & Sos from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 21: Hot Club KC from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY
The Kansas City Symphony brought back its “Mobile Music Box” for the summer weather and free concerts are already underway. Check out our breakdown of what to expect and enjoy the local arts.
The Symphony also hosts the free Future Stages Festival on June 12 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
KANSAS CITY MUSEUM
The museum on 3218 Gladstone Blvd. is hosting summer concerts on the east lawn starting on June 10. Bring your picnics and lawn chairs and enjoy the shows. All shows run from 7 to 9 p.m. and the gates open at 6:30 p.m.
June 10: The Matchsellers: Kansas City Style Bluegrass and Old-time Music
July 15: The Black Creatures
Aug. 12: Rex Hobart & The Honky Tonk Standards
Sept. 9: Mariachi Estrella KC
It’s $5 for each adult and kids ages 12 and under are free as long as an adult accompanies them. Dogs and cats are also welcome to join the party.
LEMONADE PARK
Check out this outdoor venue in the West Bottoms for a wide selection of artists, ranging from local acts to tribute bands.
June 3: The Black Creatures, Eddie More and The Outer Circle, Flare Tha Rebel and Jass
June 10: A Benefit For The People of Ukraine
June 11: Soultru, Black Light Animals, Arquesta Del Solsoul and Illphonics
June 21: International Make Music Day
June 24: Ayllu
June 25: Motherfolk and Durry
July 2: The Freedom Affair
July 9: The Grisly Hand
All shows start at 7 p.m. and cost $15, except for the following:
The Ukraine benefit concert is $20
International Make Music Day is free.
Murder by Death and Amigo the Devil costs $32
You have to be age 18 and up to attend any of these shows and an age restriction for the Ukraine benefit concert will be announced later.
PARK PLACE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Every Saturday from June through August, come to Barkley Square in Leawood for a free concert experience. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., enjoy the following acts with surrounding food trucks, drinks and more:
- June 11: Right on Red, a cover band playing classic funk, groove and 60s classics
- June 18: progressive and classic rock band Way Too Famous
- June 25: Run With It, bringing visitors upbeat, danceable pop and rock
- Aug. 6: 80s new wave band The Zeros
- Aug. 13: The Suburbans, with dance hits from the 70s to today
- Aug. 20: Elton Dan & Gypsies, Doves and Dreams, tribute bands for Elton John and Stevie Nicks
- Aug. 27: Big Time Grain Co., playing top country hits
LENEXA’S CONCERT SERIES
Every Sunday from now until June 12, enjoy free concerts in Sar-Ko Park’s grand pavilion in Lenexa. From 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., enjoy performances from artists of all genres, including:
June 5: Brian Scarborough Quintet
June 12: Grand Marquis
That’s not all that takes place in Lenexa, as the Lenexa Public Market hosts its Friday Night Sound Bites series. Take a look at the schedule below:
June 3: Hard @ Play from 6 to 9 p.m.
June 10: The Champagne from 6 to 9 p.m.
June 17: The Magnetics from 7 to 11 p.m.
June 24: Private Stock from 7 to 11 p.m.
July 1: The Crossroad Sound from 7 to 11 p.m.
July 8: Lost Wax Band from 7 to 11 p.m.
July 15: Patrick Lentz Band & KC FLO from 7 to 11 p.m.
July 22: Way Too Famous from 7 to 10 p.m.
July 29: Vinyl Revival from 7 to 10 p.m.
Aug. 5: The Suburbans from 7 to 10 p.m.
OLATHE LIVE!
Break out the lawn chairs and blankets for these performances. Olathe Live! returns to Stagecoach Park and it brings free concerts for all to enjoy. All concerts start at 7 p.m.
- June 10: Elton John Generation and The Who Experience
- June 17: The Rainmakers and The Pic and Bow
- July 8: Liverpool, a Beatles tribute band with special guests Mikey Needleman and Caleb Blacksher
- July 15: Surfin’ USA, a tribute to The Beach Boys
- July 29: Bob Jovi, a Bon Jovi tribute band, and Ridin’ The Storm Out, a tribute band for REO Speedwagon
RAYTOWN LIVE
Every second Saturday of the month between June and September, the city of Raytown is hosting a free show from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the Greenspace in downtown.
June 11: Oasis Band KC
July 9: Platinum Express
Aug. 13: The Supermatics
Sept. 10: Nick Schnebelen. His performance will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
SHAKESPEARE IS HERE
If that’s not enough, check out The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, running from June 13 to July 3 at Southmoreland Park, right by the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum. While this event is free to attend, you can also get reserved seating for $25 on Sunday through Thursday performances or $35 for performances on Friday and Saturday shows.
You’ll have to visit the schedule, click on your preferred date and reserve your seats there.
SINGING SATURDAYS AT KC WINE CO.
Head over to KC Wine Co. in Olathe for free performances from local acts in the vineyard. You have to be 21 and older to attend these events and they all run from 2 to 5 p.m.
June 4: Matt Snook
June 11: Cameron Russel
June 18: Nathan Corsi
June 25: Justin Stancil
Guarantee your entry to the show by reserving a ticket.
THEATRE IN THE PARK
“Something Rotten” is coming to the amphitheater inside Shawnee Mission Park from June 3 to 11. It’s a play set in the 1590s about two brothers who are doing everything they can to write a hit play of their own. It’s family-friendly and fun for all.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for kids ages 4-10 and free for children ages three and under. Buy tickets here.
THE WEEKENDER AT CROWN CENTER
Every Friday in July, Crown Center brings the WeekEnder to its pavilion. It’s a free event featuring performances from local bands and food trucks. To end the night, they play a famous movie, so bring your blankets and enjoy the cinema under the stars.
The concert starts at 6 p.m. and the movie will start at around 9 p.m.
July 8: Damien Gunn Band, followed by “Jungle Cruise”
July 15: The KC All Stars and a showing of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”
July 22: Retroactive and “A League of Their Own” on the big screen
July 29: The Accidental Moguls and the “Guardians of the Galaxy” to close the event
VELO GARAGE
The North Kansas City backyard concert series is on for the summer, and they’re still taking bookings for Kansas City and Lawrence performers. If you fit the bill, submit an application here and you could be performing at a show later this season.
Each show costs $5 and showtimes vary for each performance:
June 3: Lee Walter Reading and Polaris Park. It runs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
June 4: The Creepy Jingles, Daniel Gum and Rachel Cion from 11 p.m. to 12:10 a.m. on June 5
June 11: Quiet Takes and Jean Claude & The Eclairs from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
WARD PARKWAY PERFORMANCES
The Ward Parkway shopping center is hosting a free summer concert series. Starting after Memorial Day and running until Labor Day, enjoy free music from local artists every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Restaurant Pavilion.
ZONA ROSA
Summer concerts in the park return to Zona Rosa. Every Friday and Saturday starting on June 10, see a free show by a local artist in Central Park, right next to Bravo Italian Cucina. Each performance is scheduled to go from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
June 10: The Zeros
June 11: Suburbans
June 17: The Uproot
June 18: Petty Thieves/Seger
June 24: Right on Red
June 25: Brass Rewind
July 8: Big Time Grain Co.
July 9: Boogie Nights
July 15: Way Too Famous
July 16: Steven Bankey & The Flatlanders
July 22: Drew Six
July 23: The Champagne
July 29: KC Groove Therapy
July 30: Stolen Winnebagos
Aug. 5: Run With It
Aug. 6: Cantaloupe City
Aug. 12: Lily B. Moonflower Band
Aug. 13: Ronnie Ward Band
Aug. 19: Nicole Springer Band
Aug. 20: Superstar Mafia
We will be adding to this list as more events are announced. If we’re missing one of your favorite places to visit or you think there’s something everyone can enjoy, let us know at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
