A Brew with a View
If you’ve ever seen Fourth of July fireworks over the Missouri River in Parkville, you have the people swilling beer in April at the Parkville Microbrew Festival to thank. English Landing Park on the banks of the Big Muddy is home to both events, which are produced by the nonprofit Main Street Parkville Association. The fireworks are free, but the tasting glass will cost you about $50—which funds the fireworks.
Parkville Microbrew Festival is the oldest and most beloved beer festival in the area, having been founded in 2004, when Fat Tire was an up-and-comer, and having established itself as the social event of the year in the local beer scene. This year’s fest has new blood (Broken Hatchet, Outfield, Range 23 and Surly, among others). There will probably be rain—because there almost always is.
Also per usual, the festival has a row of taps pouring homebrew, a key part of what makes the event so unique. The best homebrewers tend to be even more adventurous than cutting-edge commercial brewers, and you can get a sip of the future if you find your way to the right line. “Having homebrewers adds such a fun element to this festival,” says Kelly Putnam, who heads the Main Street Parkville Association. “Throughout the years, we’ve had folks pour as part of the homebrew clubs, then eventually pour at the event with their own professional brewery. We love seeing and supporting that evolution.”
GO: Parkville Microbrew Festival, Saturday, April 22. English Landing Park. $45 in advance, $55 day of.
Black Hoof Disc Golf
April 1. 9:30 am.
Two brand new disc golf courses will be opening at Lenexa’s Black Hoof Park. The new courses will have a championship-level eighteen-hole timber course and a family-friendly nine-hole course to provide fun for people of all ages. On the grand opening day, there will be all-day events such as clinics (including one for beginners) and a tournament. April 1. 9:30 am. Black Hoof Park.
Harlem Globetrotters
April 1. 2 & 7 pm.
As the hundredth anniversary of the team approaches, the Harlem Globetrotters are making a stop in KC, showing off their athleticism and tricks against the Washington Generals. Although mainly seen as entertainers, they have truly changed the way basketball is played. Moves such as the jump shot, slam dunk and half-court hook shot are a direct reflection of the creative moves made famous by the Harlem Globetrotters. April 1. 2 & 7 pm. T-Mobile Center.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
April 1. 3 pm.
Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet plays from a wide catalog of music,
Masters of Percussion
April 1. 8 pm.
World-famous Indian classical instrumentalists Zakir Hussain, Kala Ramnath and Jayanthi Kumaresh come together for the first time as a trio, seamlessly fusing North and South Indian music traditions as a way for the traditional instrument veena and the violin to meld. They have named this tour “Triveni” in honor of the mythical site where three sacred rivers in India meet, representing the convergence of their varied musical talents. April 1. 8 pm. Yardley Hall.
Menopause The Musical
April 2. 3:30 pm.
Written in 2001 by Jeanie Linders, Menopause The Musical follows four middle-aged women who all happen to be shopping for lingerie at the same Bloomingdale’s sale rack. Each one’s symptom of menopause is told through lyrics parodying popular music from the Baby Boomer era through the sixties, seventies and eighties. April 2. 3:30 pm. Kauffman Theatre.
John Mellencamp
April 4. 8 pm.
Indiana native John Mellencamp’s musical career in music has spanned more than three decades. He’s transitioned from pop idol to heartland rock songwriter while dating a slew of famous women throughout the decades. He is perhaps best known for his music from the eighties, with now-dad classics like “Hurts So Good” and “Jack & Diane.” April 4. 8 pm. The Midland Theatre.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
April 5. 8 pm.
New Zealand psychedelic rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra is best known for their hit song “So Good at Being in Trouble,” which exemplifies their beach-rock, lo-fi sound that has served other contemporary bands like Tame Impala well. April 5. 8 pm. Uptown Theater.
Noel Miller
April 6. 8 pm.
Noel Miller got an early jump on the becoming-famous-from-the-internet game when he uploaded a viral seconds-long clip on now-defunct site Vine. Miller went on to capitalize on that small amount of fame, gaining popularity from his Youtube show and later, podcast. Now he’s on his “Everything Is F#&ked” comedy tour, a super-positive reflection of the state of the world today. April 6. 8 pm. Uptown Theater.
Floyd Nation
April 7. 7:30 pm.
Showing their reverence for one of the most influential bands in rock and roll history, Floyd Nation takes audiences on a journey through Pink Floyd’s discography, playing favorites from albums including Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. In true Floyd fashion, the show also includes immersive sound, lights and lasers to complete the psychedelic journey to the past. April 7. 7:30 pm. Kauffman Theatre.
Kevin Morby
April 7. 8 pm.
KC native Kevin Morby has been in a few bands over the years, but he’s best known for his work as a solo indie rocker, with a melodic sound that features croony vocals and soft guitar. April 7. 8 pm. recordBar.
Straight Jokes! No Chaser Comedy Tour
April 8. 8 pm.
This twenty-three city arena comedy tour is hosted by comedian and actor Mike Epps and features stand-up legends from Def Comedy Jam and The Original Kings of Comedy, including Cedric The Entertainer and D.L. Hughley, among others. April 8. 8 pm. T-Mobile Center.
The Emo Night Tour
April 8. 8 pm.
Starting nearly a decade ago in an East L.A. bar, Emo Night quickly became wildly popular with aging millennials. The now-national tour plays hits from early 2000’s pop-punk bands like Good Charlotte and My Chemical Romance for now-thirty-year-olds who got bullied in middle school and made it their entire personality. April 8. 8 pm. The Truman.
The Mountain Goats
April 9. 8 pm.
Despite their name, The Mountain Goats was a one-man band, formed by singer-songwriter John Darnielle, for the early years of its career. When other members joined in the early aughts, the band reached their pinnacle of success, relying on the croony vocals and folksy guitar that made them popular in the underground indie rock scene. April 9. 8 pm. Liberty Hall.
Life on the Vertical
April 11. 7:30 pm.
National Geographic Live presents Life on the Vertical, with a special engagement from climber Mark Synnott. After traversing peaks from Baffin Island to Pakistan, Synnott has used his skills to reach previously inaccessible environments and discover new species. Now he’s presenting his findings on the remote beauty, followed by a question and answer session. April 11. 7:30 pm. Kauffman Theatre.
Sullivan King
April 11. 8 pm.
Los Angeles DJ, vocalist and guitarist Sullivan King has risen to fame over the last few years through his surprising blend of EDM and heavy metal, taking his guitar-centered dubstep and rock beats to some of the biggest festivals around the world. April 11. 8 pm. The Truman.
Lil Duval
April 14–16.
Stand up comedian and actor Lil Duval isn’t a household name yet, but he is recognizable, especially among millennials, after successful runs on MTV shows like Guy Code and Hip Hop Squares. After a slew of cameos on Mike Epps’ comedy films, Lil Duval is back on tour, bringing his classic comedy/parody songs. April 14–16. Times vary. Improv Comedy Club.
George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
April 15. 8 pm.
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain has become somewhat of a worldwide phenomenon since they began over thirty-five years ago. When they began, the general public opinion was that an orchestra consisting entirely of various ukuleles was a strange concept. But performers had grown tired of the same conventions and instead formed the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, which combined elements of old-fashioned sound with a new performance style. April 15. 8 pm. Yardley Hall.
Dawes
April 16. 8 pm.
L.A.-based folk rock band Dawes has been on the scene for about a decade. They’ve followed suit with other folksy radio-hit makers of the same time, like Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers, focusing on melodic vocals and soft guitar riffs. April 16. 8 pm. Liberty Hall.
Annie
April 18–23.
PNC Broadway in Kansas City presents one of the most popular musicals of all time, Annie, at Kauffman Theatre. Originally written by playwright Thomas Meehan and composed by Charles Strouse, with lyrics by Martin Charnin, this production returns anew, now directed by Jenn Thompson. The musical still keeps its timeless celebration of chosen family and enduring optimism. April 18–23. Times vary. Kauffman Theatre.
Mandabi
April 19 & 22
Director Ousmane Sembène’s 1968 Mandabi was the first ever film made in the Wolof language, marking an important first step toward the director’s dream of making films for, and by, Africans. Heavily censored at its release, the film is an ironic—and brutal—takedown of colonialism. April 19, 7 pm; April 22, 2 pm. Stray Cat Film Center.
Holst, Haydn, and Hindemith
April 21–23.
Conductor Michael Stern and chorus director Charles Bruffy lead the Kansas City symphony chorus to Holst’s Walt Whitman Overture, Haydn’s Symphony No. 96, “The Miracle,” and Hindemith’s When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d. The first and last performances are based around poet Walt Whitman while the second is named after Haydn’s 1795 boisterous performance in which a chandelier fell from the ceiling, luckily injuring no one. April 21–23. Times vary. Helzberg Hall.
Black Flag
April 27. 7 pm.
Probably one of the most iconic punk bands of all time, Black Flag rose to fame in the early eighties with their no-nonsense attitude and anarchist mentality. As one of the pioneers of post-hardcore, the short-lived band went on to influence generations of rock rebels after them. Although frontman Henry Rollins and the rest of the band disbanded in the mid-eighties, founder Greg Ginn is touring under the band’s name, performing the album My War as well as their greatest hits. April 27. 7 pm. recordBar.
Blippi
April 29. 2 pm.
Blippi, the way-too-caffeinated adult man who has captured the attention of bouncy tots everywhere, is coming to KC, bringing his chaotic energy with a “musical party.” The event features monster trucks and excavators, along with song, dance and the opportunity for your child’s very own picture with Blippi—for an extra price, of course. April 29. 2 pm. Cable Dahmer Arena.
The Root
April 29. 8 pm.
KC Jazz Orchestra presents The Root, a celebration of the root of jazz in another great Black art form: the blues. Honoring various Kansas City musicians who have embodied the blues in many forms, such as Charlie Parker and Bobby Watson, this show is a celebration of the deep ties between blues and jazz. April 29. 8 pm. Helzberg Hall.
