Here are eleven great things to do in KC this weekend, March 9-12, including: the Big 12 Basketball Championship at T-Mobile Center, Gaelic Storm & The High Kings at the Kauffman Center and Chicago Blues pioneer Buddy Guy at Uptown Theater.
Big 12 Basketball Championship
This will be the twenty-second time that KC will host the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship. The game series has proven to be the most exciting conference in college basketball, so get your brackets and bets ready.
March 8–11. Times Vary. T-Mobile Center.
Union Station Blockbuster Summer Exhibition Announcement
Union Station is kicking off its newest summer exhibition celebrating one of the most beloved superheroes worldwide. Making its world premiere as a touring exhibition, the experience promises immersive, interactive installations and expansive set pieces with cutting-edge technology for guests of every age. Co-curated by pop culture scholars, the exhibition covers the last six decades of heroic history and pop culture.
March 9. 10 am. Union Station Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre.
Gaelic Storm & The High Kings
Celebrating Ireland’s folk heritage, The High Kings are internationally acclaimed singers and instrumentalists, with the versatile quartet playing thirteen instruments between them. The group performs an array of Irish folk songs, bringing a nostalgic acoustic sound to old favorites as well as showcasing contemporary Irish songs.
March 9. 7 pm. Kauffman Center.
Josh Johnson
Although you probably don’t instantly recognize his name, Josh Johnson has been a staple in the writing room of some of the most successful late-night shows in recent years. Johnson was previously a late-night writer for Jimmy Fallon before going on to open for Trevor Noah’s comedy tour, which led him to a permanent spot in the writer’s room for Noah’s The Daily Show. Consistently gaining the title of “Funniest Comic” at comedy festivals, Johnson is proving he deserves recognition in the comedy scene all his own.
March 10, 7:30 & 10:15 pm; March 11, 7, 10 & 9:45 pm. Improv Comedy Club.
An Evening With The ‘Rents
This uniquely KC fundraising event is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Bringing humor and empowerment to the autism community through this special comedy event to benefit its mission, all the comics included are parents of autistic children or adults who are working alongside local comedians to craft their life experiences into hilariously touching stories.
March 10. 7:30 pm. Folly Theater.
Buddy Guy
Now in his mid-eighties, Chicago blues pioneer Buddy Guy has been singing and playing blues guitar for decades, influencing generations of musicians from Jimi Hendrix to John Mayer. Now a legend in his own right, Guy is touring a last time for his well deserved “Damn Right Farewell Tour.”
March 11. 7 pm. Uptown Theater.
John McCutcheon
Although you may have never heard of John McCrutcheon, he has been a prolific singer-songwriter and instrumentalist for nearly fifty years. His songwriting has garnered quiet attention and honors, including a handful of Grammy noms earned while collaborating with and producing for other artists, from fiddlers to documentarians. His huge catalog of original songs has his signature storytelling style with help from his mastery of a dozen instruments, including the rare hammered dulcimer.
March 11. 8 pm. Polsky Theatre.
The Shining
Stephen King’s horror novel The Shining gets updated as the Lyric Opera of Kansas City adapts the classic. Jack Torrance’s descent into madness and paranoia at the picturesque Overlook Hotel gets heightened with accompanying music and dramatic opera.
March 11, 17 and 19. Times vary. Kauffman Center.
Nicholas Johnson
Midwest rust-belt rock meets Southern roots musician Nicholas Johnson is playing his new album, Shady Pines Vol. 2, the follow up from his 2017 album of the same name. Johnson’s mix of roots and rock manages to sound both “achingly familiar and fiercely original.”
March 11. 7:30 pm. The Rhino.
Torn Label Plant Swap
Local favorite brewery Torn Label is holding a plant swap where people can bring a healthy plant to swap cuttings with others, or take home a cutting from one of the plants at the brewery, they’ll also be offering happy hour priced beers during the event.
March 12. 12 pm. Torn Label.
Prizefighter
Chicago based band Prizefighter recently released their debut EP REWIND, an indie Alt-Rock sound with catchy lyrics that toes the line between indie rock and alternative pop.
March 12. 9 pm. Replay Lounge.
