Oooooh boy, it’s hot out there! Luckily, Lawrence’s music scene is quite adept at putting on shows in the heat. If you’re not inside an ice-cold venue (some redid their air conditioning systems during the pandemic), then an evening patio show with a cold beer in-hand might be just the thing for you. There are tons of shows to cool off with this Summer, and no shortage of local excellence. Here are our best bets for July.
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Liberty Hall | July 17
It’s not every day we get country royalty gracing Liberty Hall. Mary Chapin Carpenter’s albums were a must-have accessory for every 90’s it-girl in rural Kansas. Her successes also brought her a barrage of awards under her belt from the Grammys, Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, and Americana Music Honors & Awards.
Her latest album, Between the Dirt and the Stars, was released in 2020 and shows us a softer side of the performer, allowing her songwriting a grace that comes with maturity. Like many artists, she was unable to tour during the course of the pandemic but she was able to bring us a YouTube series called “Songs from Home,” most which featured her playing alongside her lovable pet, Angus the Wonder Dog.
RIYL: Rosanna Cash, Nanci Griffith, Wynonna
Carswell & Hope
Replay Lounge | July 17
Mid-July brings us a special matinee courtesy everyone’s favorite Irish-fronted band. The Carswell & Hope show promises to bring an array of memorable moments thanks to a revolving door of guests. They haven’t been announced yet, but Nick Carswell is so well-connected in town, there’s no doubt we’ll be bowled over by the performances.
RIYL: Indie rock, patio shows, all-star lineups
Brick + Mortar
The Bottleneck | July 22
We’re not gonna lie, we’re pretty big fans of what Brick + Mortar do with their live shows. Costumes? Confetti? A million ways to connect with the audience? They do it all. The Jersey-based duo are known for bringing emotionally thick rock ballads laced with just enough weird to make you second-guess if you’re actually at a concert or, just, like, IMAGINING you’re at a concert, man. Their latest release, Self Care, dives deeper into that sentiment, exploring a neurotic inner monologue with the frenzied beats to match.
RIYL: Flaming Lips, Weird Stuff.
The Sluts / Local Darling / LYXE
Replay Lounge | July 23
Now, to the naked, untrained eye, this show may seem like your regular, run-of-the-mill rock show. But there is one binding thread between all three acts on the lineup: They are all fronted by the same musician. Every year, The Sluts tend to pull off some sort of stunt with a dog-days-of-Summer show. This year, they’re combining forces with all their related acts. Guitarist and vocalist Ryan Wise and Kristoffer Dover make up the Sluts. With a bassist added, they make up Local Darling. Ryan’s other project, LYXE, is a three-piece that leans heavily into the Joy Division era of new wave sound. Either way, their fans are absolute psychos (don’t worry, the fun kind!) and you’ll be sharing the floor with dozens of sweaty bodies dancing and thrashing as hard as they can.
