The Greeting Committee
Jan. 11, 8 pm
Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway blvd., KCMO
Fresh off the October release of a surprise EP, I’m Afraid I’m Not Angry, and a tour, buzzing KC indie pop act The Greeting Committee headlines one of its biggest venues yet.
KC Restaurant Week
Jan. 11-20
There’s something for everyone at this year’s restaurant week, with fifteen and thirty-five dollar prix-fixe menus for a casual lunch at Mission Taco Joint or a special trip to Corvino Supper Club. With an extra weekend thrown in, there’s no excuse to miss it.
Cory Wong
Jan. 16, 8 pm
Madrid Theatre, 3810 Main St., KCMO
Cory Wong’s funk-inspired guitar playing stole shows when he performed with session band turned headlining act Vulfpeck. He jams just as hard on his own, with enough effervescence to get any audience dancing.
K-State Wildcats at KU Jayhawks
Jan. 21, 7 pm
Allen Fieldhouse, 1651 Naismith Drive, Lawrence
Can the underdog Wildcats upset the Jayhawks at the Allen Fieldhouse? We still have to wait a year for the return of the Border War — which KU suspended after Mizzou leveled up to the premier conference in collegiate athletics, leaving KU behind in the Big 12 — but you can get the next best thing at this intrastate matchup in Lawrence.
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Jan. 21, 7:30 pm
Music Hall, 301 W. 13th St., KCMO
The always-touring Tedeschi Trucks Band marries the talents of former Allman Brothers guitarist Derek Trucks and singer-songwriter Susan Tedeschi for potent blues rock.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Jan. 21-26
Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., KCMO
Call this live production pure visual candy: enticing, bright and sweet. This adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory blends the best songs from the 1971 film with new music from Hairspray’s composers.
Babel
Jan. 22-Feb. 9
Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main St., KCMO
The latest play by feminist Southern Gothic writer Jacqueline Goldfinger (who workshopped her acclaimed Click at KCRep), Babel takes on the ethics of choosing your child’s traits and comes complete with a talking stork.
Royals FanFest
Jan. 24 & 25
Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St., KCMO
Meet all your favorite Royals stars this offseason for autographs. It’s the perfect holdover before opening day for the boys in blue on March 26.
Mo’Nique
Jan. 24 & 25
Kansas City Improv, 7260 N.W. 87th St., KCMO
Enjoy four sets from a comedian who’s performed for over twenty years, hosted on radio and late-night TV, written a bestselling memoir and even won an Oscar for her dramatic turn in Precious.
Chicago: The Musical in Concert
Jan. 24-26
Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., KCMO
Ring in the (20)20s with the classic 1920s story of Chicago. The Kansas City Symphony performs classics like “Cell Block Tango” from Broadway’s longest-running American musical.
Panic Fest
Jan. 24-30
Screenland Armour, 408 N. Armour Road, North KC
One of the nation’s premier genre movie festivals happens right here in Kansas City in January. Movie Maker recognized the event as one of the best horror fests in the country, and programming has grown to include live podcast recordings, a short film showcase and other fun oddities.
Girlfriend
Jan. 24-Feb. 9
Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park
The third Kansas City premiere of Spinning Tree’s impressive season, Girlfriend stages Matthew Sweet’s 1991 cult-following rock album as a love story in Nebraska, with a healthy dose of nostalgia.
Fun Home
Jan. 24-Feb. 16
Spencer Theatre, 4949 Cherry St., KCMO
Based off comic artist Alison Bechdel’s canonical memoir, Fun Home is a dark comedy that follows a lesbian growing up in a family of artists with a closeted gay father.
George Strait
Jan. 25, 8 pm
Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., KCMO
The Cowboy rides again when George Strait returns to Kansas City six years, nearly to the date, after what was supposed to be the country icon’s final Kansas City performance.
Chinese New Year
Jan. 26, 10 am
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St., KCMO
Ring in the Year of the Rat, seen in Chinese culture as a symbol of wealth, at the Nelson’s annual celebration, taking in the museum’s extensive Chinese art along with performances, calligraphy demonstrations and food.
Magic City Hippies
Jan. 28, 7 pm
recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd., KCMO
Relaxed Miami pop-rock band Magic City Hippies tours on their sparkling debut, Modern Animals.
Sesame Street Live!
Jan. 30, 10:30 am & 2:30 pm
Silverstein Eye Centers Arena, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway, Independence
Remember the magic of Sesame Street amid its fiftieth season with a magic-themed live performance, where Elmo meets a magician who teaches him new tricks.
Todd Barry
Jan. 31, 8 pm
recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd., KCMO
Todd Barry may not sound excited to perform the recordBar, but it’ll be hard to have a muted response to the deadpan comic known for his witty and too-relatable life observations.
