Whiskey Myers at WAVE: southern rock on an outdoor stage in Wichita
Whiskey Myers is coming to WAVE in Wichita with a concert that combines hard guitar riffs, country storytelling and blues-driven weight. The performance is scheduled for July 26, 2026, doors open at 6:00 PM, and the program begins at 7:15 PM local time. The concert will take place in WAVE's outdoor area, at 650 E. 2nd Street in downtown Wichita, and Southall has also been confirmed alongside Whiskey Myers.
This is a date for an audience that wants to hear American southern rock without a strict boundary between rock, country and the Red Dirt tradition. Whiskey Myers has spent years building a reputation as a band that develops its songs on stage, with two guitars at the forefront, a powerful rhythm section and Cody Cannon's vocals, which can shift from a rougher rock expression to a quieter narrative ballad. At the same time, WAVE offers a considerably more intimate setting than the large amphitheaters on the rest of the band's summer route.
Ticket sales for this event are underway.
Why the performance matters in the band's current phase
Whiskey Myers comes to Wichita in the period following the release of its seventh studio album, "Whomp Whack Thunder". The album was recorded at Neon Cross Studio in Nashville and produced by Jay Joyce. The release contains 11 songs, including "Time Bomb", "Tailspin", "Icarus", "Midnight Woman", "Born to Do", "Rock N Roll" and "Monsters".
The concert at WAVE is not an isolated nostalgic performance, but part of an active touring phase in which the band presents newer songs alongside a catalog that has already become recognizable far beyond the Texas scene. On the summer schedule for 2026, Wichita is positioned between performances in St. Louis and Shakopee. Many surrounding dates are connected with large amphitheaters and shared programs with The Black Crowes, while WAVE is listed as an evening featuring Whiskey Myers with Southall. This gives the date a different character: it is less like a festival block and more like a standalone evening focused on the audiences of both bands.
WAVE already lists Whiskey Myers among the performers it has hosted previously. The return is therefore not the band's first encounter with this stage, although the venue does not publish details of the previous performance. For audience members who have already seen the band there, this is an opportunity to compare its earlier phase with the repertoire following the album "Whomp Whack Thunder".
Which songs may shape the evening
The exact set list for Wichita has not been confirmed in advance and should not be assumed. Nevertheless, recent performances from 2026 provide a useful framework for expectations. At one concert on the tour, the band combined the newer songs "Midnight Woman", "Time Bomb", "Tailspin" and "Icarus" with the titles "John Wayne", "Bury My Bones", "Broken Window Serenade", "Gasoline", "Stone" and "The Wolf".
This cross-section clearly demonstrates how Whiskey Myers structures its performances today. The new album receives significant space, but the center of the evening is still formed by songs that the audience recognizes after the opening notes. "Stone" is slower and more emotional, with extended guitar lines and a chorus that often draws the audience into singing together. "Broken Window Serenade" rests on a tragic story and quieter tension, while "Bury My Bones", "Gasoline" and "The Wolf" restore the weight, rhythm and harder rock feeling.
- Fans of the earlier albums can expect the older catalog to remain an important part of the performance, but without any guarantee for a particular song.
- Audience members coming because of the new album have a good reason to attend because several songs from "Whomp Whack Thunder" have already entered the band's 2026 concert repertoire.
- Country fans will get narrative lyrics and a southern accent, while the rock audience will probably respond more strongly to the riffs, solos and rhythm section.
- Visitors who know the band through the series "Yellowstone" will recognize the connection between its songs and the atmosphere of the modern American West, but the concert sound is harder and louder than the television context.
It is worth securing tickets in good time, especially if you want a particular admission zone and a better position toward the stage.
Southall brings rural rock from Oklahoma
Southall is the confirmed guest for the evening, not merely an unknown name appearing before the main performance. The band is led by Read Southall and describes its sound with the phrase "rural rock n' roll". It brings together Oklahoma country, guitar rock and songs created for clubs, halls and outdoor stages.
Their current album, "Kinfolk", was released in May 2026 and contains nine songs, including "Burning Bridges", "Southwestern Son", "Freight Train", "Kinfolk" and "Okie Pokin' Out". Thematically, it deals with family, heritage, loss and people who eventually become like relatives. The production keeps the country roots visible but drives them with a rock rhythm, making Southall a natural match for the Whiskey Myers audience.
Arriving earlier also makes sense because of the musical continuity of the evening. Southall is not a genre departure that merely fills time before the main performer. Their material builds a bridge between modern Red Dirt country and guitar rock, so the audience should already receive a sound during the first part of the program that matches the rest of the evening. The schedule of individual performances within the program has not been published in detail, so the most sensible option is to be at the venue before the 7:15 PM start.
WAVE as a concert venue
WAVE is a hybrid indoor and outdoor concert venue in downtown Wichita. The venue states that, depending on the event configuration, it accommodates an audience of approximately 500 to 3,500 people. The Whiskey Myers concert is marked as "Outdoor", so the main experience will be connected with an open-air stage, a summer evening and a standing audience.
Compared with large arenas, this capacity range allows a closer relationship with the stage. This does not mean that every position will have the same view or the same sound level. In the front zones, visitors should expect a denser crowd and stronger physical impact from the bass and guitars. Along the edges of the venue, it is usually easier to find slightly more air and room to move, but the viewing angle toward the stage changes. For visitors who consider proximity to the performer important, arriving when the doors open may be decisive.
WAVE states that a limited number of seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A general admission ticket does not guarantee a seat. Visitors may not bring their own chairs. If a ticket includes the pit, it provides access to the front section beside the stage and to a separate bar and restroom intended for that zone. Visitors should check the designation on their own ticket because access to individual sections is not the same for all categories.
Extreme heat changes the arrival plan
A forecast with a daytime high of around 40 degrees Celsius has been issued for Wichita on the day of the concert, along with an extreme heat warning for Sedgwick County until 9:00 PM local time. Because the concert is taking place outdoors, this is not a secondary detail but an important part of the preparation.
The hottest part of the day will occur before the evening program, but high temperatures may persist after the doors open. Light, breathable clothing, a hat while waiting in the sun and regular fluid intake are more important than the usual concert appearance. Alcohol can intensify dehydration, so it should be combined with water and breaks. Anyone who experiences dizziness, nausea, pronounced weakness or confusion should immediately leave the crowd and contact the staff.
WAVE does not allow outside food or drinks to be brought into the venue. The bar operates during the event, while the food offering is currently connected with outdoor concerts. Before entering, it is advisable to check the latest forecast and any schedule changes because the venue warns that door-opening and performance start times may change.
Arrival, parking and movement through Old Town
WAVE is located at 650 E. 2nd Street, in the Old Town district of downtown Wichita. Second Street is one-way heading west, which is important when arriving by car. The complex can also be entered through the access road from St. Francis Street, north of 2nd Street.
- A large parking lot is located directly across from WAVE.
- Additional parking is located along the western side of the building.
- The Old Town Square garage is a few hundred feet from the entrance.
- Street parking spaces are available along St. Francis Street, but they may fill up before the doors open.
- The free Q-Line does not operate on Sundays, so visitors should not rely on it for this concert.
Old Town is a historic district with brick streets and former warehouses converted into restaurants, bars, shops and hotels. This makes planning an earlier arrival easier: visitors can park, eat something nearby and then walk to WAVE. Nevertheless, because of the heat, it is not ideal to leave a long walk until the last moment. Visitors arriving from other parts of the city or from outside Wichita should allow additional time for traffic around downtown and the search for parking.
Entry rules to check before departure
WAVE is an all-ages venue unless stated otherwise for a particular event, and this concert is marked as "All Ages". Children older than six require a ticket. For younger visitors, the heat, volume level and length of time spent standing should be taken particularly seriously.
Bags larger than 8.5 x 11 inches are not allowed. Backpacks, large bags, outside food and drinks, coolers, cameras with interchangeable lenses, professional video or audio recording equipment, selfie sticks, monopods, tripods, laser pointers and large banners that obstruct the view are prohibited. Pets are not permitted, except for service animals in accordance with the law. Smoking is not allowed in the indoor area, while it is permitted on outdoor patios and outdoor surfaces.
The simplest preparation is to bring only a phone, identification document, ticket and a small bag that complies with the size rule. This speeds up the security inspection and reduces the possibility of having to return to the car. WAVE does not store items that cannot be brought into the venue.
Who will find this evening especially appealing
Longtime fans are coming because of the songs that accompanied the band's rise from Texas clubs to major American stages. For them, the combination of "Broken Window Serenade", "Stone", "Bury My Bones" and other older favorites with material showing where the band stands today is important.
The broader rock audience can expect a concert that is closer to southern rock and hard rock than to polished contemporary country pop. Guitars carry the arrangements, the rhythm is powerful, and the songs often leave space for instrumental transitions. Fans of Red Dirt country will receive two connected perspectives: East Texas through Whiskey Myers and Oklahoma through Southall.
For visitors who are only beginning to discover the band, the best preparation is not listening to the entire discography but selecting several contrasting songs. "Time Bomb" and "Tailspin" represent the current phase, "Stone" and "Broken Window Serenade" the more emotional side, and "Bury My Bones", "Gasoline" and "The Wolf" the harder concert intensity. This selection clearly shows why Whiskey Myers simultaneously attracts country, rock, Americana and blues audiences.
Doors open at 6:00 PM, the program begins at 7:15 PM, and because of the heat, security screening and limited number of seats, it is reasonable to arrive earlier without spending an unnecessarily long time in direct sunlight. Check traffic conditions, the forecast and any change to the entry time immediately before departure.
Sources:
- Whiskey Myers - tour schedule, confirmation of the Wichita date, Southall and the surrounding stops on the summer route
- WAVE ICT - door-opening and program start times, age designation, address, outdoor event configuration and venue information
- WAVE ICT FAQ - parking, seating, pit, item restrictions, bag-size limit and entry conditions
- Whiskey Myers - information about the album "Whomp Whack Thunder", its producer and track list
- setlist.fm - an example of the repertoire from a Whiskey Myers performance during the 2026 tour, used only as guidance and not as an announcement of the Wichita set list
- Southall - current album "Kinfolk" and a description of the band's musical direction
- City of Wichita and Visit Wichita - the Sunday Q-Line schedule, the character of Old Town and transportation options through downtown
- National Weather Service - forecast and extreme heat warning for Sedgwick County