June feels a little bit like Lawrence grabbed a bunch of genres off the shelf and threw them in a smoothie for a random concert calendar. There’s no rhyme or reason here, just events happening all over. Bluegrass and roots music are always mainstays, but we’ll see a couple of great LGBT-themed shows for PRIDE, as well as some reunions for the old fogies. Curating this list was like throwing a dart at a map with a blindfold on. Take your pick, it’s random all over for the month of June.
Nekrogoblin
The Granada | June 6
Melodic death metal and theatrics seem to go hand-in-goblin-hand. The Granada seems to be home to a never-ending stream of metal bands, and will go full goblin-mode this Summer when Nekrogoblin rolls through. This will be a different tour for the LA-band, as they’re replacing vocalist Nicky “Scorpion” Calonne with Vengeance’s Dickie Allen. The event is thrown in conjunction with 1313 Mockingbird Lane, the toy store across the street from The Granada owned and operated by supreme metalhead Terry Taylor.
RILY: goblins.
Scroat Belly
Lucia | June 10
This is for fans of bluegrass and punk. Comprised of members of Split Lip Rayfield, Scroat Belly tends to put on thrilling shows with fantastically engaging audiences. Considering this is going down at Lucia, we expect a full house in the tiny venue and a wild night. A little birdie told us you can expect new music from one of the members soon.
RIYL: Split Lip Rayfield, Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy, Kaw River Roots Fest
Cat Fight / Mic the Mains / Monochrome Home
The Replay | June 15
If you want to know what the young and emerging punks are up to but don’t want to go to a house show to find out, this is the show to catch. Cat Fight have been luring in audiences with their unapologetic energy, even scoring second place at Farmer’s Ball earlier this year. They’ll be joined by a host of other local punks at this show.
RILY: Bikini Kill, Hol
Miki P and the Swallowtails / The Creepy Jingles / Howard Mahan and Friends
The Replay | June 29
Miki P and the Swallowtails may be our favorite local band featuring a cello. The band just released their latest single, “Take It Slow,” in anticipation of their upcoming sophomore album, The World Still Spins, and it features the cellist front and center. Miki P is an insanely talented multi-instrumentalist, and pulls deep into the band’s talent to find something for every kind of fan. Come for the instrumental-know-how, stay for The Creepy Jingles opening the show with a bang.
RIYL: 90’s angst, cellos
The Embarrassment Reunion Concert
Liberty Hall | June 30
This is a pretty special musical event for Lawrence. As part of Free State Fest, Liberty Hall will be showing a documentary highlighting local band The Embarrassment. Through interviews and rare concert footage, the film details how the local punk band shot to fame (and what kept them from selling out). It’ll be followed up by a Q&A and reunion concert.
RIYL: local music, punk, Mission of Burma, Volcano Suns
Peep the trailer below:
The Free State Festival celebrates the free spirit of the state of Kansas with films that challenge, inspire, and entertain. This signature annual event brings independent films, live music, comedy and art to venues across the vibrant college town of...
Live Music Calendar
Concerts & Live Music
This is the place where Nirvana & Green Day played in a small, standing-room-only shack. This is the place where Janelle Monae packed in her hometown crowd. George Clinton has funked up our streets and we “fought the power” with...
