Fitz and The Tantrums
July 1, 8 pm
After a decade, upbeat indie act Fitz and The Tantrums are veterans of the scene. They’ve always been a live act above all, and they’re back on the road and coming to Grinders in the Crossroads, where you’ve got plenty of room to get sweaty dancing to “HandClap.” Grinders, 1826 Locust St., KCMO. $39-$59. grinderskc.com
Alex Moffat
July 1–3
Joe Biden is coming to town. No, not like that. Alex Moffat recently took over the role of playing the president on Saturday Night Live, where, as a cast member, he’s also played Mark Zuckerberg, Eric Trump and Tucker Carlson. As a standup who “takes perverse pleasure in bombing,” you can expect plenty of impressions and some weirdness. The Comedy Club of Kansas City, 1130 W. 103rd St., KCMO. $18–$26. thecomedyclubkc.com
Lindsey Stirling
July 3, 7 pm
Like Riverdance, Stomp or Trans-Siberian Orchestra before her, Lindsey Stirling stages wholesome, epic and genre-bending shows that defy easy categorization. The violin is her main instrument, but the lights, dancing and costuming make this a full experience. Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road, KCMO. $50–$200. kcstarlight.com
Masonic Lodge Paranormal Investigation
July 9, 8:30 pm
Grab your ghost hunting gear: The very old Masonic Lodge in Independence—founded decades before the Civil War, it’s marked on the first plat of the city—is being opened to the public for paranormal investigation for the first time. Independence Masonic Lodge, 120 S. Pleasant St., Independence. $40. Tickets at eventbrite.com
Kansas City BBQ Festival
July 9–11
This brand-new BBQ fest is going big in its first year, tapping locals like Deborah “Shorty” & Mary “Little” Jones of Jones Bar-B-Q in KCK (No. 2 on our 2019 best BBQ list) and national standouts like the folks behind Black’s BBQ in Lockhart, Texas, and James Cruse of Central City BBQ in New Orleans. Geha Field at Arrowhead Stadium, 1 Arrowhead Drive, KCMO. Free entry with purchases or Q Pit passes for all you can eat. kcbbqfest.com.
Festival of Butterflies
July 22–August 8
Monarch butterflies traveling between Mexico and Canada are the guests of honor at this annual event, a highlight of the year at Powell Gardens. Different events happen throughout the two-week festival. Powell Gardens, 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville. Free. Daily 9 AM-5 PM. powellgardens.org.
The Backseat Lovers
July 28, 7 pm
Utah-based indie band The Backseat Lovers comes to recordBar. The Utah four-piece swings between the soft folk of songs like “Olivia” and the energetic rush of anthems like “Kilby Girl.” The band is coming off their 2020 single “Heavy,” which mixes these sounds into a slow-moving but forceful tune. Recordbar, 1520 Grand Blvd., KCMO. $15–$18. therecorderbar.com
