On hotly anticipated tour, KC-area singer looks to next challenge: Fatherhood
It was just a few months ago when was fellow Overland Park resident and folk rock singer Kevin Morby last took the stage at the Uptown Theater, helping Kansas Citian Jason Sudeikis raise money for Steps of Faith Foundation through Thundergong!, the annual celebrity-led fundraiser, alongside partner Katie Crutchfield, better known as Waxahatchee.
A lot has changed since November 2025.
Now, Morby will return to the venue on tour in support of his newest album “Little Wide Open,” which has received overwhelmingly positive reviews since its May 15 release. Pitchfork called it the “most cohesive, tuneful and cleanly drawn album of Morby’s career.” (Pitchfork also called his tour one of the most anticipated for spring 2026).
He’s three weeks removed from an appearance on late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he performed “Javelin” from the new album.
The album was produced by the National’s Aaron Dessner at his iconic Long Pond Studio in New York, who also helped produce superstar Taylor Swift’s critically acclaimed albums “Folklore” and “Evermore” at the same studio.
Featured artists on the album include Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon and Lucinda Williams, who all contribute to the themes of Midwest living and maturing scattered throughout the 13-song, hour-long album.
These themes are amplified a bit more ever since Crutchfield announced that she’s pregnant, and that the couple are expecting their first child, a boy, in August.
“Watching that baby grow inside Katie is beautiful and psychedelic, but I know that whatever fatherhood holds I’ll only really understand when I’m experiencing it,” Morby said. “So we’re just sitting around in anticipation taking it one day at a time.”
Before they settle down and welcome their child to the world, Morby’s on the tour that takes him throughout North America and Europe. It’ll bring him back home to Uptown Theater in Kansas City Friday, May 29 (tickets start at $42).
Morby said it’s a dream to headline the venue. The 38-year-old singer and songwriter recalled talking his way into a sold out Pixies show on their reunion tour when he was 16.
Ahead of his hometown concert, Morby talked to The Star about his inspirations for the new album and where he goes from here.
The Star: It seems like your star is shining brighter than ever. How are you handling it?
Morby: It’s taken me a long time to get where I’m currently at. And not that I’m a huge pop star or anything like that, but I never skipped any steps along the way, so everything has had a very natural progression. All that just to say, my life feels very normal, and I’m still completely blown away that there’s an audience out there who want to listen to my music. I’m so grateful.
What or who inspired you as you were creating your newest album?
I bought a truck in the pandemic because I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to fly again, and it came with a few months free subscription for satellite radio. On it was the Tom Petty station, which finally led to me having a big Petty moment. So basically I set out to make an album that could possibly make someone feel how I felt crossing America in my truck listening to Tom Petty. Also butterflies, butterflies were a big influence.
How’s it feel that you and your partner are playing a role in helping get Kansas City back on the music map?
Feels amazing. Naturally when I was growing up I longed for a Kansas City that had more of a music community or could host more touring bands, but it was hardly there. I had to leave to find my people and my scene, but it feels good to have brought so many people through Kansas City since then. I’ve had people come up and tell me they’ve taken road trips to Kansas City after seeing how I talk about it, which feels great. It’s a special city, and everyone I bring here falls in love with it.
I remember when I first moved back an old friend told me not to get new people to move to Kansas City or tell too many people about it. To “keep it a secret.” I was like, are you out of your mind? I’m gonna tell everyone to come! Naturally, that person has since moved to Arizona.
Where do you go from here?
On the tour? Our next stop is St Louis! In life? Fatherhood! In music? My next album’s already done!
What do you hope people take away or feel about your music?
I just hope it brings them any sense of joy in this extremely complicated world we’re all navigating.
