In 2012, the music agenda gets busy fast

Radiohead comes to the Sprint Center on March 11, its first stop in this area in nearly 17 years.

The end of the year is typically a slow period for the live-music world. But things are about to get busy.

The roster of shows for 2012 is already long and abundant, with dozens of shows in venues large and small. This list covers just some of the shows scheduled between now and April. So stay tuned; things are bound to get even busier. 

THE STADIUM SHOW

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw with Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

4:30 p.m. June 10, Arrowhead Stadium

Tickets: $25 to $250

This show will be Chesney’s second stop at Arrowhead in less than 12 months. On a sweltering Saturday in late July, he drew about 50,000 fans to the Goin’ Coastal Tour, which featured co-headliner the Zac Brown Band. In June, he’s bringing his Brothers of the Sun Tour into town, and his co-headliner is one of country music’s longtime big draws, Tim McGraw. Grace Potter is navigating a swift career change, one that is taking her into commercial country and one that picked up a lot of steam when she and Chesney recorded the duet “You and Tequila.” 

THE ARENA SHOWS

Brad Paisley with the Band Perry and Scotty McCreery

7:30 p.m. Jan. 19, Sprint Center

Tickets: $24 to $58.75

Paisley is a Sprint Center regular. Next month’s show will be his third in less than four years. He’s calling this the Camobunga Tour — a fusion of the worlds “Camouflage,” the name of a single off his “This Is Country Music” album, and “cowabunga,” a word coined by Howdy Doody and co-opted as a catchphrase by surfers (and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). At his website, Paisley defines the new word: “A mind blowing blend of country, fiery ’60’s surf guitar acrobatics, futuristic special effects, retro heart and soul and mind altering liquid beverages. The spirit of the deep woods meets the breakneck excitement of the California coast.” His openers are the Band Perry, a trio of siblings making a steady ascent into modern country stardom, and Scotty McCreery, this year’s “American Idol” winner whose debut album, “Clear as Day,” has already gone gold.

Cirque du Soleil, “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour”

8 p.m., Feb. 21-22, Sprint Center

Tickets: $50 to $175.

This tribute to the music of Michael Jackson features a mix of live and recorded songs and a blitzkrieg of visual stimuli: dancers, acrobats, contortionists, puppets, a mime, a guy dressed as Bubbles the chimp, nearly 300 costumes and an array of circus and theme park props. It also follows a loose narrative that, according to reviews of the show, needn’t be followed nor appreciated to get the ultimate point of this extravaganza: to give Jackson and his music a glitzy, garish Vegas-style treatment and makeover.

George Strait with Martina McBride

7:30 p.m., Feb. 25, Sprint Center

Tickets: $69.50 and $79.50.

Strait holds the record for the biggest crowd drawn into the Sprint Center: In April 2010, he and openers Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack drew 18,045 fans. Nearly two years later, he will return with another opener who is a headliner in her own right, native Kansan Martina McBride. Strait, 59, is touring off “Here for a Good Time,” his 39th studio album, released in September. But expect his set list, which typically exceeds 30 songs, to include many of his 44 No. 1 country hits.

Drake with ASAP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar

March 1, Sprint Center

On-sale dates, prices and starting time to be announced

Drake is a Canadian-born rapper, songwriter and actor who turned 25 in October and has but two studio albums and a handful of mixed tapes on his discography. Not the typical resume for an arena headliner. But he is also a four-time Grammy nominee who has put 10 singles in the Billboard Top 20 since 2009. (He is also the nephew of bassist Larry Graham, of Sly & the Family Stone and Prince fame.) This will be his second visit to Kansas City. In April 2010, during his first North American tour, he performed at UMKC.

Radiohead with Other Lives

7:30 p.m. March 11, Sprint Center

Tickets: sold out

Radiohead has been to Missouri before: In August 2003 and then in May 2008 it performed in the amphitheater west of St. Louis. Its show in March will be its first in our area since a July 1995 show at the Bottleneck in Lawrence, six albums and nearly 17 years ago. This is one of only 12 shows on the first leg of Radiohead’s North American tour. The opener is Other Lives, a five-piece band from Stillwater, Okla., whose ethereal, organic sound ought to satisfy fans of Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Bon Iver and the like. The Sprint Center show is sold out, but tickets still remain for the March 9 show at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

Lady Antebellum with Darius Rucker and Thompson Square

April 6, Sprint Center

On-sale dates, prices and starting time to be announced

The last time Lady Antebellum played in Kansas City, in November 2010, it sold out the Midland theater, and it seemed likely that their next stop in Kansas City would be a few blocks east, in the Sprint Center. True enough. The duo have graduated into that echelon of touring, up there with Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. This show is not yet listed on the Sprint Center website, but it is listed on the band’s official site. 

Anthrax headlines a show at the Midland theater on Jan. 26.

THEATER SHOWS

Shelby Lynne

8 p.m. Jan. 13, Folly Theater

Tickets: $29 to $50

For years, Lynne bounced around the world of country music, a great voice in search of the proper sound. Thirteen years into her career, she found that sound when she released “I Am Shelby Lynne,” her sixth album, in 2001. For that, she won the Grammy for best new artist at the 2002 award show. She has since started her own label, Everso Records, which has issued her three most recent albums, including “Revelation Road,” released in October.

Nnenna Freelon

8 p.m. Jan 14, Folly Theater

Tickets: $18 to $50

Freelon, 57, didn’t release her first album until 1992, when she was 38 years old. She has released 10 jazz studio albums and is a five-time Grammy nominee: twice for best jazz album and twice for best jazz vocal, including a tribute to Billie Holiday.

The Civil Wars with the Staves

8 p.m. Jan 17, Liberty Hall in Lawrence

Tickets: sold out

In less than three years and after only one album, the Nashville singing/songwriting duo of Joy Williams and John Paul White have succeeded swiftly, thanks to gravy trains like “Grey’s Anatomy,” National Public Radio and an opening slot on the Adele tour. They have already sold out a show in Kansas City: in June to a crowd of 300 or so at Crosstown Station. Next month, they’ll play to a sold-out Liberty Hall, which holds more than 1,000 people. Openers are the Staves, three sisters from England whose pop/folk sounds ought to dovetail nicely with the headliner’s.

The Kills with Jeff the Brotherhood and Hunters

8 p.m. Jan. 21, Midland theater

Tickets: $9.65

The Kills take the blues/rock scheme and give it just enough flair and twists to make things refreshing. It helps that lead singer Alison Mosshart is an arresting grimy-blues/gothic rock diva, one who connotes PJ Harvey and, at times, Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Martha Davis of the Motels. 

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

7:30 p.m. Jan. 24, Muriel Kauffman Theatre in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets: $29 to $55

The a capella vocal group from South Africa became well-known in the United States after it contributed to Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album in the mid-1980s, yet it has been around for more than 50 years. It is still led by Joseph Shabalala, 70, its founder, lead singer and music director.

Anthrax with Testament and Death Angel

7:30 p.m. Jan. 26, Midland theater

Tickets: $17.75

Anthrax, one of heavy metal’s Big Four, was in town in October for the Freakers Ball at the Independence Events Center, where it opened for Five Finger Death Punch. It’s coming back in January, again with lead singer Joey Belladonna, to headline its own show at the Midland. The openers: thrash-metal stalwarts Testament and Death Angel.

Deadmeat Tour featuring Steve Aoki and Datsik

7:30 p.m. Jan. 31, Uptown Theater

Tickets: $33

Just weeks after he releases “Wonderland” on his own Dim Mak Records, Aoiki, a DJ, producer and label owner in the dance-music world, will bring his Deadmeat Tour to the Uptown. From his website: The tour “will showcase the debut of new live visual productions from both Aoki and Datsik alongside an all-star supporting lineup of some of the most sought-after, up-and-coming producers in electronic music today, including Alvin Risk, Mustard Pimp, Autoerotique, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Terravita, who will perform throughout the trek on alternating dates.”

Ryan Adams

8 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Music Hall

Tickets: $36.50

His previous show in Kansas City was nearly three years ago and it did not end well: In late February 2009, Adams pulled the plug early on show that comprised about 75 minutes of music plus a 15-minute intermission in the middle. He was with his stellar band, the Cardinals, that time. This time he is a solo artist, touring on his latest album, “Ashes and Fire,” a collection of acoustic and introspective folk songs. 

Andrew Bird with Eugene Mirman

8 p.m. March 23, Uptown Theater

Tickets: $23 and $28

Bird’s 15-year music career has been eclectic and colorful, his music difficult to pin down and pigeonhole. He is a singer, a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (with a degree in violin performance) who dabbles eccentrically in folk, jazz and an array of pop and rock flavors. Bird will release “Break It Yourself” in 2012. Each ticket purchased to his Uptown show comes with a download of that album plus downloads of two live EPs.

The Naked and Famous with Vacationer

8 p.m. April 17, the Midland theater

Tickets: $15

This five-piece band has been decorated with acclaim and awards in its native New Zealand for its mix of high-energy electronic pop, indie rock and, now and then, bursts of dance music. Most of its songs are derivative yet instantly engaging, thanks in no small part to the vocals of Alisa Xayalith.

15 MORE SHOWS

• Jason & the Scorchers: Jan. 11 at Knuckleheads. $15.
• Billy Joe Shaver: Jan. 15 at Knuckleheads. $22.50.
• Doomtree: Jan. 19 at the Granada in Lawrence. $12.
• Old 97’s: Feb. 1 at the Bottleneck in Lawrence. $16.
• Dr. Dog: Feb 2 at the Granada in Lawrence. $15.
• Jimmy Webb: Feb. 10 at Knuckleheads. $28.50.
• Craig Finn with Mount Moriah: Feb. 11 at the RecordBar. $12
• Mutemath: Feb. 16 at the Beaumont Club. $27.
• Cursive with Ume: March 2 at the RecordBar. $15.
• Puscifer: March 6 at the Music Hall. $28 and $38.
• Middle of the Map Fest: April 5-7 in Westport. Single-day ($20), two-day ($30) and three-day ($35) passes available. 
• Cults: April 14 at the Granada in Lawrence. $12. 
• Metal Alliance Tour: April 15. Granada in Lawrence. Seven bands, including Devil Driver and the Faceless. $22.
• Hot Chelle Rae with Electric Touch: May 1 at the Midland. $10.
• M83: May 1 at the Granada in Lawrence. $15.

Comments

[Superfreq]

Also coming on March 9th:
Corrosion of Conformity w/ Torche, Valient Thorr & A Storm of Light at the Beaumont Club

[Aaron]

You hear anything about the Black Keys headed this way, Tim?

[Green]

Looks like the Black Keys are playing arena shows now, guess that puts them in Sprint Center if they return.

Current North American dates below

3/2/12 - Cincinnati, OH
3/3/12 - Detroit, MI
3/4/12 - Columbus, OH
3/6/12 - Portland, ME
3/7/12 - Boston, MA
3/9/12 - Washington, DC
3/10/12 - Philadelphia, PA
3/12/12 - New York, NY
3/13/12 - Montreal, QC
3/14/12 - Toronto, ON
3/16/12 - Indianapolis, IN
3/18/12 - Grand Rapids, MI
3/19/12 - Chicago, IL
3/20/12 - Cleveland, OH
3/22/12 - New York, NY
3/23/12 - Norfolk, VA
3/24/12 - Charlotte, NC
4/24/12 - Houston, TX

[Rick]

From Knuckleheads' site:

"Tues 2/28 Hugh Cornwell of the stranglers & Glen Matlock of the sex pistols with Clem Burke of Blondie, Steve Fish Fishman and James Stevenson backing band"

Since neither the Stranglers nor the Pistols - even their reunion tours - have ever played KC, this oughta be intriguing.

[pellboy]

You're right, Rick, very interested in that show. btw, Hugh Cornwell's most recent album can be downloaded for free off his website.

[onthemark]

Pellboy, you in for Jason & The Scorchers at Knuckleheads Wednesday night?

[pellboy]

Yep, I'll be there!

[onthemark]

Cool. Should be a good show. My first time seeing them. A buddy describes them as a mix of Hank Williams and The Clash. See ya there!

[pellboy]

You'll love it, if it's anything close to their 2010 show there. Longer in the tooth just like the majority of their fans, but I'll tell you, Jason and Warner brought it that night pretty damn close to as they did in their early 80s heyday and that's saying alot.

[Green]

More Black Keys dates but no KC, STL made the cut, not to far away, Arctic Monkeys support.

The Black Keys North American Tour

03-02 Cincinnati, OH
03-03 Detroit, MI
03-04 Columbus, OH
03-06 Portland, ME
03-07 Boston, MA
03-09 Washington, DC
03-10 Philadelphia, PA
03-12 New York, NY
03-13 Montreal, Quebec
03-14 Toronto, ON
03-16 Indianapolis, IN
03-18 Grand Rapids, MI
03-19 Chicago, IL
03-20 Cleveland, OH
03-22 New York, NY
03-23 Norfolk, VA
04-25 Austin, TX
04-27 St. Louis, MO
04-28 Tulsa, OK
04-30 Denver, CO
05-02 Salt Lake City, UT
05-04 Oakland, CA
05-05 Sacramento, CA
05-07 Portland, OR
05-08 Seattle, WA
05-09 Vancouver, British Columbia
05-11 Calgary, Alberta
05-12 Edmonton, Alberta
05-14 Winnipeg, MB
05-15 Minneapolis, MN
05-16 Milwaukee, WI

* with Arctic Monkeys

[Nike Heels]

Since neither the Stranglers nor the Pistols - even their reunion tours - have ever played KC, this oughta be intriguing.