Happy new year! We’re so glad you’re here! 2025 is going to be a great year for Lawrence live music. But don’t worry, we’re easing you into it. This is the perfect month to reset, refresh, and rebrand. We’re kicking the year off with a chance to get to know your local musicians a little better. Once you’re reading to finally head back out after the madness of the holidays, here are the events that will be waiting for you.
Suess Mace / ChuCho / GeezGuala / Booga Bang
The Replay | January 3
One of the most impressive hip-hop acts we discovered last year was Suess Mace. This performer is a little unconventional (we’ve never seen him wear shoes when he performs) but absolutely kills it on the mic. His lyrics are so smooth yet fast, it’s hard to know what hit you. He only seems to land on the best lineups (including opening for Tech N9ne’s sold-out show last year), so if you want to start your year getting familiar with regional hip-hop, this is the place to be.
RIYL: Silent Ave, local hip-hop
The Roseline and Friends Present: A Tribute to Oasis
The Bottleneck | January 10
It was bound to happen. After Oasis announced a reunion with a string of stadium shows for 2024, local bands started working covers of their hits into their live shows in anticipation. Well, your Gallagher cup runneth over now, as a slew of local musicians are gathering to pay tribute to Oasis.
Local roots band The Roseline are the masterminds behind this event, and they’ll be joined by Creepy Jingles, Lyxe, CS Luxem, Hello Biplane, Flash Floods, Carswell & Hope, Lauren Lovelle, Mason Gentry, and They’re Theirs. That’s, like, half the indie scene. There will be a raffle, a DJ, and a whole lot of us middle-aged folks reliving our glory days (shut up, it’s all we’ve got!).
RILY: Oasis.
Crys Matthews
The Lied Center | January 16
The moment you fire up any of Crys Matthews’ music, it’s impossible to turn it off. Her knack for powerful lyrics over folky guitar has been turning heads across the country and has even been called “the next Woody Guthrie.” The social justice songwriter has a strong and supportive fanbase, and is fitting right in as black artists have been reclaiming country music from the popular to the indie scene.
RIYL: Heather Little, Mouths of Babes, Flamy Grant
Cowboy Bebop Live
Liberty Hall | January 28
The hype is pretty big for this one, folks. And it WILL sell out.
Cowboy Bebop is one of the most beloved animes, especially here in the states. This month, 14-piece jazz ensemble Bebop Bounty Big Band will be providing a multimedia experience by playing a live accompaniment to the show on the big screen. The ensemble includes members from the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and they’re heading out on a massive tour this year (Lawrence is only their 4th stop on the tour).
RIYL: Soundtracks, anime, jazz
Other events to keep on your radar:
Howard Mahan
Northside Social | January 2
Reagan Zagan / Lynda Burghart / Lulu Glocken / James Rose
The Replay | January 16 (early show)
Goodnight, Texas
The Bottleneck | January 16
Kaw River Roots Presents: Armchair Boogie
Lucia | January 16
Open Mic Mondays with Tyler Gregory
Gaslight Gardens | Every Monday
This is the place where Nirvana & Green Day played in a small, standing-room-only shack. This is the place where Janelle Monae packed in her hometown crowd. George Clinton has funked up our streets and we “fought the power” with...
