Tune Into St. Louis: The Top 25 Music Events This Fall Wednesday August 21, 2024 Share Music By Rachel Huffman The beat never stops in St. Louis. From epic concert venues to invigorating music festivals, we’ve got your fall soundtrack. Hitting the right note, here are the top 25 music events this fall. If you want to delve deeper into the local music scene, peruse our roundup of St. Louis concert venues. From the intimate to the monumental, they offer live music any way you like it. September Evolution Festival | Photo by Lexie Alley John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra September 7 The Muny, in collaboration with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, will revive a beloved tradition in 2024, presenting its first live concert in more than 30 years. The special performance will feature songs and stories with 12-time Grammy Award-winner John Legend. Experience intimate re-imaginings of his greatest hits such as “All of Me,” “Ordinary People” and “Tonight;” selections from his most recent release such as “Nervous” and “Wonder Woman;” and unexpected stories from his life and career. Outlaw Music Festival September 8 Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp will rock the crowd at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis during the Outlaw Music Festival. Expect classics such as “Whiskey River,” “Blowin’ In The Wind” and “Cherry Bomb.” Music at the Intersection September 14 and 15 Music and heritage meet at this festival in the Grand Center Arts District. Encompassing multiple stages set up in streets and green spaces throughout the neighborhood, Music at the Intersection spans genres, including blues, jazz, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and hip-hop. Don’t miss headliners Black Pumas, Chaka Khan, Trombone Shorty, Esperanza Spalding, Lettuce, Samara Joy and St. Louis rapper Chingy. St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Forest Park Concert September 19 At this annual concert in Forest Park, you can experience the sounds of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra under the stars. Find a spot on Art Hill, sit back and enjoy the music, from classical tunes to modern scores. The event also includes fare from local food trucks for purchase and a stunning firework show. Don’t forget to bring a blanket or chair for added comfort! Blues & Brews September 20 Held at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Blues & Brews is an outdoor street party featuring appearances by St. Louis Blues players and alumni, food trucks, cold beers, yard games and live music. To strengthen the connection between music and hockey, which stands at the heart of St. Louis history, Blues & Brews will feature performances by country music star Matt Stell and the St. Louis-based Charles Glenn Group this year. Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival September 21 Twenty-two years ago, a small but passionate group of neighbors organized the first Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival simply because they wanted to throw a great party in their historic downtown. Today, the award-winning festival is one of the most family-friendly music festivals in the world. Offering nonstop jazz and blues on two stages, the free event showcases St. Louis’ most talented performers – plus, irresistible area restaurants and unique small businesses. South Grand Fall and Music Fest September 21 Now in its ninth year, the South Grand Fall and Music Fest includes more than 70 retail vendors and community organizations, along with ongoing entertainment in Ritz Park. During the fall festival, South Grand businesses will offer varying specials, discounts and entertainment, and tucked between the storefronts, you’ll find themed activities, games and crafts. There will also be a face painter and a balloon artist on site. Dashboard Confessional September 21 Moving audiences with bangers such as “Hands Down” and “Vindicated,” Dashboard Confessional will also play songs from their ninth studio album, All The Truth That I Can Tell, at The Pageant. Chris Carrabba – the band’s founder, songwriter and front man – has outdone himself with the new album, which has been described as “a strikingly potent musical look at himself through a rediscovered keyhole, both an achievement of vision and a vital burst of artistic clarity.” Billy Joel and Sting September 27 Billy Joel and Sting – two of the most respected recording artists in history – will perform for one night only at Busch Stadium. The iconic musicians will rock the house with songs from their illustrious careers – think “New York State of Mind,” “Only the Good Die Young,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” and “Englishman in New York.” The show promises to be one of the top music events this fall. Evolution Festival September 28 and 29 In its second year, Evolution Festival will once again shake things up in St. Louis. Held in Forest Park, the genre-bending music festival features live music infused with a bold beverage experience – plus, food that spotlights traditional recipes as well as cutting-edge trends from some of the most recognizable pitmasters in the Show-Me State. In 2024, top musical acts will include The Killers, Beck, Jane’s Addiction, Blondie, Nile Rodgers and Elle King. October Songblazers | Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil An Evening with Jimmy Webb October 1 Transcending generations and genres, Jimmy Webb has scored songs on the pop, country, R&B, rap, disco and new age charts. During this intimate music event at City Winery St. Louis, the Motown-trained composer will share his award-winning songs and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including insightful and often humorous stories that star Glen Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Linda Ronstadt, Art Garfunkel, The 5th Dimension, Kanye West and many more. Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday 2 World Tour October 2 Both a celebrated rapper and an engaging personality, Nicki Minaj returns to the stage for her first U.S. tour in eight years. From the moment that she rises from underneath the floor, sporting a metallic breastplate and white skirt, she exudes cool confidence, proving that she’s as spunky as ever. Don’t miss this grandiose production when it comes to Enterprise Center. Rachmaninoff: Vespers October 6 Embark on a profound journey of light and hope with Rachmaninoff’s Vespers. Held in the awe-inspiring Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, this concert by The Bach Society of Saint Louis reflects Rachmaninoff’s deep spiritual devotion while showcasing intricate harmonies, rich textures and emotional depth. The concert features guest soloists mezzo-soprano Emily Marvosh and tenor John Ramseyer. Twenty One Pilots: The Clancy World Tour October 10 Alternative rock band Twenty One Pilots has embarked on a mammoth tour in support of their new album, Clancy. Dropping into Enterprise Center on Oct. 10, the duo will play new songs such as “Navigating” and “Paladin Strait” alongside classic hits such as “Heathens” and “Stressed Out.” An Evening with Sturgill Simpson October 15 and 16 Respected, beloved and fiercely independent, Sturgill Simpson is set to make his highly anticipated return to music this year with the release of the forthcoming full-length album, Passage Du Desir, under a new name, Johnny Blue Skies. See his Why Not? tour at The Fabulous Fox, which will surely be one of the top music events this fall. Jelly Roll: The Beautifully Broken Tour October 23 Jelly Roll has been everywhere of late. He was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, he lobbied lawmakers on Capitol Hill to pass legislation to stop the spread of fentanyl and he hosted ABC’s 2024 CMA Fest special on top of performing with the likes of Lainey Wilson, Keith Urban and Jon Bon Jovi. Now, the rapper-turned-country-superstar heads to Enterprise Center, taking St. Louis audiences to church, along with special guests Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay. Cirque du Soleil Songblazers: A Journey Into Country Music October 23 to 27 Delivering the perfect harmony of guitar grooves and spectacular moves, Cirque du Soleil Songblazers is a one-of-a-kind theatrical production coming to The Fabulous Fox. Celebrating country music at its finest, the show pays homage to the genre’s trailblazers. The acrobatic and musical performance will showcase the captivating artistry of Cirque du Soleil as well as the soul-stirring melodies of beloved country rhythms, offering an engaging experience that spotlights the diverse influences of country music and its heartfelt stories through time. Lila Downs October 25 Winner of one Grammy Award and six Latin Grammy Awards, Lila Downs’ voice transcends language. Her symbolic stage presence, emotional storytelling and genre-bending music bring the narratives of Indigenous resistance and American tradition to life. As the daughter of a Mixtec Indigenous woman and an Anglo-American man, Downs embraces the folkloric and ranchera music of Mexico as well as the blues, jazz and hip-hop of the U.S. to generate sounds that will move you. The singer-songwriter will perform at The Sheldon, and all ticket prices include a $1 historical preservation fee. USHER: Past Present Future October 25 and 26 Usher will bring the music and the moves that his fans crave to Enterprise Center this October. “For my 30-plus career, 100 percent of my blood, sweat and tears has gone into putting on the best performance and creating a memorable experience for my fans,” the R&B legend wrote in a message shared on his Instagram account, so we’re expecting the Past Present Future tour to be nothing short of extraordinary. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats October 30 “Since 2015, [Nathaniel] Rateliff has led his denim-clad, horn-flanked Night Sweats, supplying the zeal of a whiskey-chugging Pentecostal preacher to songs about this world’s shared woes,” Concord, the independent worldwide leader in the development, management and acquisition of sound recordings, music publishing and theatrical performance rights and narrative content, writes. “They’ve had hits, sure, but their combustible mix of soul and rock quickly cemented them as the rare generational band who balanced ecstatic live shows with engrossing and rich records.” With a review like that, how could you resist seeing them at Chaifetz Arena? November St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Live | Photo courtesy of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation Cherokee Street Jazz Crawl November 2 The 12th annual Cherokee Street Jazz Crawl will bring music and dance to every corner of the thoroughfare. Featuring blues musicians and swing dancers alongside marching brass bands and racks of vintage clothing, the celebration is free, except for the grand finale at The Golden Record. Coco in Concert November 2 Celebrate the ageless power of music with Coco. As the Pixar film plays on the big screen at Stifel Theatre, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will perform the magical score live. Inspired by Día de los Muertos, the animated movie follows 12-year-old Miguel as he enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer, and confront his family’s ancestral ban on music. Fun fact: Whenever you see Miguel play the guitar, it’s an animation of guitarist Federico Ramos’ hands! Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble November 6 to 10 Few musicians embody the spontaneous energy of jazz like Matt Wilson. The New York-based drummer combines buoyant zeal, idiosyncratic style, infectious humor, joyous swing and an indomitable spirit of surprise to dazzle audiences every time he takes the stage. When Wilson plays at Jazz St. Louis this November, he’ll be joined by Ben Allison on bass, Dawn Clement on piano, Tia Fuller on saxophone and Jeff Lederer on reeds. The group of all-stars will put on some of the most anticipated performances of the season. Do you have your tickets yet? St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Live at the Pulitzer November 12 Experience bold chamber music by modern-day composers at this elegant evening event. The pieces in the concert are selected in response to exhibitions on view at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and performed within the museum galleries by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time November 29 Mariah Carey, the Queen of Christmas, will perform live at Enterprise Center on Nov. 29 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her Merry Christmas album. Every year, Carey breaks records with “All I Want for Christmas Is You” – last year, she shattered the record for the most Spotify streams in a single day on Christmas Eve with the song streaming 23,701,697 times. This is your chance to hear the endearing earworm live! Share
