Welcome one and all to the inaugural edition of St. Louis Magazine’s new Music newsletter! This space aims to serve as a comprehensive guide to St. Louis’ vibrant music scene, from the slew of exceptional artists and musicians who call the city home to the top national and international talents who find themselves lucky enough visit us to the movers and shakers who work behind the scenes to bring the sounds of St. Louis to life. Whether it’s neo-soul, pop, hardcore punk, indie rock, blues, hip-hop, R&B, heavy metal, hyperpop, jazz—and all genres in between!—it’s our goal to highlight as diverse an array of acts that are worth your time and attention as is humanly possible, compiled neatly and delivered conveniently straight to your inbox. I’d like to personally thank you for joining us on this mission, and I invite you to reply directly with any thoughts, questions, or story tips that you may have as we charge forth. And, of course, be sure to tell all your friends!
Know someone who would like this newsletter? Share this link with them to direct them to our newsletter subscription page.
KNOW SOMEONE WHO'D ENJOY THIS EMAIL? DIRECT THEM HERE TO SIGN UP.
Lucky Day’s Algorithm. Keep Cool/RCA Records.
Critic's Picks
JULY 13
WerQfest at The Big Top
WerQfest, St. Louis' premier celebration of Black queer art and culture, is marking its fifth birthday with a bang this year, bringing a bevy of talent both local and national to The Big Top in Grand Center. Initially launched during the pandemic as a way to keep St. Louis’ Black LGBTQ+ community connected through art, the annual affair has since blossomed from those humble beginnings into a destination event featuring high-level artists across multiple disciplines, with music and drag performances at the forefront of the event’s festivities. This year’s lineup is topped by queer icon and drag performer Kevin Aviance and Brooklyn-based R&B artist Serpentwithfeet, who will be joined by St. Louis’ Tre G + Friends, KVTheWriter, DJ Nico Marie, Wuhryn Dumas, Vanessa Frost Experience, Stazi, Rachel Bouzier, and Daniel Allyn. The event will also feature a vendor marketplace with an emphasis on Black-owned/operated and queer-owned/operated businesses, as well as an afterparty. While Pride Month may technically be over, WerQfest serves as proof that there’s still plenty to celebrate. The Big Top, 3401 Washington.
JULY 18
Loserville Tour at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst's metamorphosis from nu-metal's patron saint of aggro dudebros into what could be described as a shockingly self-aware practitioner of Dadaist absurdism happened so gradually that the casual observer could be forgiven for not seeing the signs. Perhaps nowhere can this transformation be better understood than through promotional material for the Loserville tour, hitting Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on July 18. In a May 22 YouTube video that would easily be at home in Adult Swim’s programming, Durst appears sans the baggy clothes and backward red baseball cap that were long synonymous with his style in favor of a set of striped pajamas and some wraparound Oakleys while sitting down with his fellow touring acts: Bones, Eddy Baker, N8NOFACE, Riff Raff, and, if you can believe it, Corey Feldman. In an increasingly surreal scene, Durst at one point displays to the assembled artists what he claims is an ability to communicate telepathically (it appears to work!) before ultimately laying out his expectations for their outing together. “I'm pretty sure if anyone comes to this f**king tour they are in the wrong place at the right time,” he states bluntly. “Absolutely a gathering of losers is what this is gonna be.” If that’s your thing, you’ve found your people. And even if the music itself doesn’t exactly tickle your fancy, this is one event that’s sure to bring enough ludicrous spectacle to make for a truly unforgettable night. Just don’t be surprised if you start hearing Durst’s voice in your head even when his mic is off. July 18. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 14141 Riverport.
JULY 21
Lucky Daye with Fana Hues at The Pageant
Even if you're somehow not familiar with neo-soul artist Lucky Daye's personal output, there is simply no chance you've not grooved to a song that he had a hand in creating. To say that the New Orleans–based singer-songwriter has penned tracks for some big-name acts would be to dramatically understate the case. His writing credits include work with no less than Beyonce herself, in addition to such luminaries as Mary J. Blige, Boyz II Men, Trey Songz, Usher, Smino, and countless others. That’s impressive enough, to be sure, but it should be noted that it was his own work, 2021’s Table for Two, that finally bagged the prolific artist a Grammy, in the category of Best Progressive R&B Album. Daye’s delivery is at once syrupy and nimble, hovering weightlessly over shimmering instrumentals and frequently soaring effortlessly into the stratosphere where, if there’s any justice in the world, Daye’s career trajectory will soon head as well. For the uninitiated, a good place to start would be his excellent new LP, Algorithm, released just last month, or perhaps one of Daye’s appearances on NPR’s Tiny Desk series—he’s one of very few artists out there with no less than three to his name. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar.
Hot Ticket
Sturgill Simpson, the Psychedelic Furs, ZZ Top, and Dayglo Abortions are among the acts that recently announced they'll be stopping in St. Louis. Check out our concert calendar of more than 100 upcoming shows.
A MESSAGE FROM CITY WINERY ST. LOUIS
Indulge your senses at City Winery St. Louis
Enjoy unforgettable concerts, world-class wine, and globally-inspired small plates in our intimate, one of a kind venue.
Plan a summer of fun with new exhibits and returning favorites at The Magic House
The Magic House’s new and returning exhibits are sure to spark imagination this summer. Learn more about “Story Time Magic,” “TapeScape,” and two national traveling exhibits to prepare for your visit.
FREE FUN
Free summer concert series for every day of the week
Whether you want to picnic and jam on the weekend or break up your Monday with some music, there's a free summer concert series waiting to welcome you.
Calling all music lovers! Gateway Arch Park Foundation hosts its ninth annual, free-to-attend Blues at the Arch Festival on the Arch grounds. Attend this free event.
.webp?upscale=true&width=320&upscale=true&name=CW-STL-logo-red%20(1).webp){kind=logo}
