Music
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Praised for his stunning musicianship and dazzling stage presence, Brian Woods is an exciting young concert pianist who “represents the
Place Description: Praised for his stunning musicianship and dazzling stage presence, Brian Woods is an exciting young concert pianist who “represents the new generation of professional touring artists” (Robert Hart Baker). Combining formidable technique and unique artistry with a charismatic presentational style, he continues to delight and inspire audiences across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Guided by a firm belief in music’s power to improve the lives of all regardless of background, Woods continues to receive high acclaim for his performances, with audiences and critics alike praising his playing as “astonishing” (KDHX St. Louis), “inspiring” (Encinitas, CA), and “taking the audience on a journey” (Watertown, NY). His debut album WANDERINGS was released in 2024 by Navona Records and is now available on all major streaming platforms. Learn more by visiting Brian’s website or following him on Instagram @brianwoodspianist.
Contact Name: Diane Saldick
Address: Ballwin
Phone: 212-213-3430
Email: diane.saldick@verizon.net
Performance Fee Range: Available on request
Technical Requirements:
Tuned concert grand piano with artist bench, microphone for larger venues
Availability: General
Categories List: Music
Theater
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Circus Harmony, St. Louis’ only social circus school, uses the teaching and performing of circus arts to motivate social change.
Place Description: Circus Harmony, St. Louis’ only social circus school, uses the teaching and performing of circus arts to motivate social change. Their high flying youth circus performance troupe is composed of young people aged 10-17 from the St. Louis area. These acclaimed and accomplished young people appear year-round in their home ring at City Museum as well as at events throughout St. Louis and beyond. This talented troupe performs a variety of circus arts including acrobatic, aerial, juggling, and balancing feats of skill and daring. Their graduates can be seen touring the world with Cirque du Soleil, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, The Flying Wallendas, at NBA Halftime Shows, on Broadway, and with other circus companies. Their performances can be combined with circus workshops for audience members. Bring the excitement of the circus to you with ordinary children doing extraordinary things!
Contact Name: Jessica Hentoff
Address: Florissant
Phone: 314-436-7676
Email: circuslady@circusharmony.org
Performance Fee Range: $400 and up
Technical Requirements:
Adaptable but need 20’ x 20’ space minimum
Availability: Year-round
Categories List: Theater
Dance
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RESILIENCE Dance Company is a nonprofit professional contemporary modern dance company. Founded and directed by Emily Haussler in St. Louis,
Place Description: RESILIENCE Dance Company is a nonprofit professional contemporary modern dance company. Founded and directed by Emily Haussler in St. Louis, RDC comprises eight unique dance artists. Our mission is to create exceptional dance experiences that fuel human connection. Since 2019, RDC has engaged artists and strengthened communities through performance, education, outreach, and touring programs. RDC both performs repertory concerts and creates original evening-length works that comprise our mainstage season. RDC’s work is rooted in building healthy, sustainable dance spaces that put artists first and enable curiosity, play, and creative risk-taking.
RESILIENCE has touring to Kansas City, Columbia, and Cape Girardeau as well as to Detroit and Chicago for university, festival, and conference performances. We offer both full-length concerts and informal lecture demos, and can work with presenters to construct a program that suits your needs.
Contact Name: Emily Haussler
Address: Creve Coeur
Phone: 513-444-6114
Performance Fee Range: $1,500-$5,000
Technical Requirements:
Depending on the requested repertoire, RDC can perform in a variety of spaces, including outdoors. A marley floor at least 25’ wide x 20’ deep is required for select repertoire. Please reach out for more information.
Availability: Season: August–May. Off-Season: June–July. RDC prefers to schedule touring during our Season from August to May, but off-season touring may be possible with enough advance notice. Please reach out for more information.
Categories List: Dance
Music
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Kenny Ray Horton, a Joplin area native, is the former lead singer for the U.S. Navy Band Country Current (recently
Place Description: Kenny Ray Horton, a Joplin area native, is the former lead singer for the U.S. Navy Band Country Current (recently retired).
He grew up in the vicinity of Missouri’s own Albert E Brumley, raised on gospel, country, and bluegrass. He ventured to Nashville as a songwriter, writing A Soldier’s King, which was picked up by Kenny Rogers for his Christmas album. The Gift garnered Kenny Ray an RIAA Award. His publisher was John Prine’s Oh Boy Records. He continued writing and composing, including the song Missouri, performing it in the Navy and with Missouri’s own Opry Member Rhonda Vincent (she also sang with him on his current album).
Kenny Ray is a gifted vocalist, guitar player, and storyteller. Whether he sings one of his own songs or a song that inspires him, he delivers enjoyable entertainment to audiences. They are especially taken with his eclectic song choices and the stories behind the songs.
NOTES: We provide promotional poster files and set up listings on VisitMO and area event listings as well as arrange for radio, TV, and print interviews. We post on Facebook, Instagram, and BandsinTown. Contracts should be mailed to Valerie Clark, 24525 Ridge Road, Elkmont, AL 35620.
Contact Name: Valerie Clark, Print It PR
Address: Rocky Comfort
Phone: 615-473-1105
Email: prservices@PrintItPR.com
Performance Fee Range: $1,000-$4,000, depending on venue size and location; usual average is $2,500-$3,000
Technical Requirements:
Provides own sound if needed (BOSE system). Requires clean power for sound and standard spot.
Availability: Year-round; published dates are contracted dates
Categories List: Music
Theater
Favorite
Founded in St. Louis in 1999, Jest Murder Mystery Company is the funniest murder mystery dinner theater company in the
Place Description: Founded in St. Louis in 1999, Jest Murder Mystery Company is the funniest murder mystery dinner theater company in the U.S. specializing in interactive murder mystery parties for all occasions.
Jest’s professional entertainers lead audiences through interactive three-act murder mystery shows performed between courses of a meal (provided by a client). The audience is involved in every aspect of the show with everyone playing a part. That’s right, EVERYONE participates at their comfort level! Those with supportive roles get involved with cued exclamations while others are interviewed amid applause and still others are suspects who must defend themselves with improv to avoid suspicion. In the end, one of the guests will be outed as a murderer!
If you’re looking for a truly laugh-out-loud entertainment option that will keep your guests involved and guessing, this is it. Dates sell out months in advance so book your show right now!
Contact Name: Leslie Franklin
Address: Fenton
Phone: 888-234-9984
Email: office@jestmurdermystery.com
Performance Fee Range: $1,250-$5,000
Technical Requirements:
A private room close to the performance space for our actors to do quick changes and store belongings. This can be a storage room, an office, a closet, dry storage, unused banquet space, etc. (but not a restroom). Our shows are built to be performed between courses of a meal service. This can be changed to a snack/bathroom break if no meal is being served. Courses will need to be served and cleared between acts of the show. We ask that no table service, bar service, or other distractions occur during the performance. All guests will need to be seated in one space with no visual obstructions so every attendee can see the entire audience. We ask that tables be set up as close together as possible while still allowing ease of movement with 10’ x 10’ space left open in the middle. e ask that the room lighting be as bright as possible. If the audience is over 65 guests, we will require two lapel or headset microphones, one handheld wireless microphone, and a sound system (preferably run by a sound engineer depending on the audience size).
Availability: Year-round
Categories List: Theater
Music
Favorite
International award-winning ukulele duo Uke 66 delivers ukulele music with skill and depth, playing songs in an unexpectedly diverse repertoire
Place Description: International award-winning ukulele duo Uke 66 delivers ukulele music with skill and depth, playing songs in an unexpectedly diverse repertoire that demonstrates the small instrument’s ability to handle anything from jazz and swing to originals and covers, along with vintage and contemporary Hawaiian songs. Performances can be tailored for children, seniors, and everyone in between.
Created in 2014 by husband-and-wife duo Rick and Karen Maxson, Uke 66 has performed throughout the Midwest and in Hawaii, Mexico, and Japan, providing an intimate, evocative soundtrack for a variety of celebrations and community events.
Uke 66 also offers “Introduction to Ukulele” workshops for up to 20 participants ages 12 and up. Student ukuleles and instructional handouts are provided. The class learns easy chords and a simple strum, playing its first song within 10 minutes and four or five songs by the end of the workshop.
Contact Name: Rick Maxson
Address: Springfield
Phone: 417-830-7100
Email: uke66music@gmail.com
Performance Fee Range: $400-$1,500
Technical Requirements:
8 x 12’ space, protection from rain or sun (if outdoors), electrical outlet. We provide our sound equipment. Set-up time ranges from 30 minutes to one hour. Sound check requires 15 minutes. For ukulele workshops, tables and chairs for up to 20 students.
Availability: Year-round, day or evening
Categories List: Music
Music
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Ryan Marquez, a dynamic artist from Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, masterfully blends pop, hip-hop, and jazz to create
Place Description: Ryan Marquez, a dynamic artist from Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, masterfully blends pop, hip-hop, and jazz to create music that captivates and inspires. As a keyboardist, producer, songwriter, arranger, and vocalist, Ryan draws from Missouri’s rich jazz and blues heritage, infusing it with contemporary elements from progressive R&B, house, and hip-hop. Influenced by literary and spiritual giants like Joseph Campbell and Maya Angelou, his compositions offer profound social commentary and celebrate the power of the written word.
Ryan’s music, characterized by its “feel-good vibes” and infectious energy, has garnered acclaim on major platforms like MTV and BET. His 2023 Blues Music Award-winning keyboard work on Dylan Triplett’s Who Is He? and collaborations with artists like Kingfish, Terence Blanchard, Randy Brecker, Wiz Khalifa, and Chance the Rapper highlights his versatility and talent. His collaborative album Saint Unity embodies the spirit of “The Confluence of Cool” in Missouri.
Contact Name: Ryan Marquez
Address: St. Louis
Phone: 816-550-4180
Email: consciouskeys@gmail.com
Performance Fee Range: Solo: $500+; Jazz Trio: $1200+; Ryan Marquez Band (4-7 pieces): $1500+
Technical Requirements:
Ryan has an adaptable setup and can accommodate just about any type of performance space, environment, or theme. Please inquire for specifics about your space/idea.
Availability: Flexible
Categories List: Music
Theater
Favorite
Kinetic Tapestry is an international troupe performed in Spain, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Egypt, and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in
Place Description: Kinetic Tapestry is an international troupe performed in Spain, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Egypt, and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In 2018, Kinetic Tapestry was named “Favorite Stage Act” at the St. Louis Renaissance Festival.
Kinetic Tapestry will captivate your audience and give them an experience they will remember forever. Our one-hour performance material is original and inventive, and will leave a lasting impression through entertaining and meaningful performances using a unique blend of Theater, Dance, and Circus Arts. Whether the gathering is intimate or large-scale, our ensemble of storytellers, comedians, and circus artists will impact and inspire your audience.
Contact Name: Jaime Zayas
Address: Maryland Heights
Phone: 314-939-7760
Email: jaime@kinetictapestry.org
Performance Fee Range: $300-$5,000
Technical Requirements:
Technical rider available upon request
Availability: Year-round
Music
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Chris Shepherd, St. Louis singer/songwriter, is known for his soulful vocals and smooth delivery of the blues. From intimate acoustic
Place Description: Chris Shepherd, St. Louis singer/songwriter, is known for his soulful vocals and smooth delivery of the blues. From intimate acoustic concerts to major festivals featuring a full band, Chris delivers quality. With an expansive catalog of original songs, classic blues, and soul, he excites audiences. Chris has been lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Kingdom Brothers for several years. They were semi-finalists at the 2015 International Blues Challenge and have opened for artists such as Victor Wainwright, Curtis Salgado, and Nick Moss, establishing them as an esteemed group. In 2020 Chris joined guitarist extraordinaire Rich McDonough performing as Shepherd and McDonough. They opened for the great Robert Cray in 2021. In October 2024, they will embark on their fourth European tour. Chris also originated the Chris Shepherd Band, which includes some of St. Louis’s best bluesmen. Chris Shepherd spreads the news that St. Louis has a prominent blues legacy and hosts a dynamic blues scene.
Contact Name: Chris Shepherd
Address: St. Louis
Phone: 314-497-1680
Performance Fee Range: $250-$5,000. Fee may be higher depending on the size and details of the event.
Technical Requirements:
Prefer to have sound system supplied but not absolutely necessary. Can be determined per event.
Availability: Year-round, although some international touring dates may limit availability
Categories List: Music
Music
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With the unlikeliest of instruments—the accordion—Ernest James and his band Ernest James Zydeco travel on a soulful musical journey, from
Place Description: With the unlikeliest of instruments—the accordion—Ernest James and his band Ernest James Zydeco travel on a soulful musical journey, from the most traditional Louisiana Zydeco to irreverent foot-stomping dance parties. EJZ plays upbeat music featuring the accordion and scrub board with a fulfilling, authentic grittiness. Ernest, a professional zydeco musician for over 15 years, draws on southern roots to share his joyful music. Weaving multiple styles into their unique brand of traditional Zydeco music, the band creates a sound that taps into the heart of American music. And where better to experience that tradition than in the heart of American itself: Kansas City. The upbeat, traditional sound of EJZ engages people of all ages the world over. Headlining the International Cajun and Zydeco Festival in the Netherlands in 2014 won Ernest James Zydeco new audiences, turning observers into dancers, each show a celebration.
Contact Name: Ernest James Zydeco
Address: Kansas City
Phone: 816-830-6797
Email: jamrat@hotmail.com
Performance Fee Range: $1,500-$4,000
Technical Requirements:
Power supply at performance area
Availability: Contact with date of event
Categories List: Music