David McClister
Son Volt
Ryan Adams’ newest, Prisoner, is a breakup record—but a fierce, inventive, gravely, and sincerely beautiful one that avoids all the clichés of the genre. August 1, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar, thepageant.com.
It’s a little more under the radar than some other local music fests, but the Open Highway Music Festival is top-notch; this year’s lineup includes Josh Ritter, Foxygen, Son Volt, JD McPherson, and more. August 3–5, Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp, offbroadwaystl.com.
The 1992 movie bombed—then became a hit Disney musical 20 years later. Newsies tells the story of the 1899 newsboys’ strike; it makes its Muny premiere as the season finale. August 7–13. The Muny, 1 Theater Drive in Forest Park, themuny.org.
The brilliant, divine Em Piro’s gone, but the equally marvy Matthew Kerns continues to steer St. Lou Fringe into new theatrical territory. August 17–26, Grand Center, stlouisfringe.com.
UPDATE: This event has been canceled as of 7/21/17. Val Kilmer comes to St. Louis to present his acclaimed Mark Twain biopic, Citizen Twain (in which he performs as Samuel Clemens) for a one-night-only screening. August 20, The Sheldon, 3648 Washington, thesheldon.org.
The St. Louis World’s Fare is back with a vengeance—or at least with beer, cocktails, live music, a graffiti wall, a Ferris wheel, and an interactive exhibit that’s designed to take you back to 1904. August 18–20, Forest Park World’s Fair Pavilion, stlworldsfare.com.
St. Louis is in the path of the 2017 solar eclipse, and though the totality here will only be 10 seconds and some change, we’re ready to pop on our paper sunglasses and celebrate at the Moonrise, and hobnob with astronomers at an eclipse expo. August 21, missourieclipse2017.com.
Every year, the Festival of the Little Hills offers up more than 300 craft booths, demos by regional artisans, live music, not to mention hand-squeezed lemonade and kettle corn. August 18–20, Frontier Park, 230 S. Main, St. Charles, festivalofthelittlehills.com.
The International Institute’s joyous annual celebration of world culture, the Festival of Nations offers a chance to experience food, dance, music, and crafts from around the world. August 26 & 27, Tower Grove Park, festivalofnationsstl.org.
A cappella is just for choir nerds, you say? Not if it’s Pentatonix, who’s pushed the art form into the 21st century with pop arrangements, basslines and beatboxing. August 31, The Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand, fabulousfox.com.
