St. Louis this week: Cheap Trick, Blackberry Smoke, The Jayhawks and more

A last look at Cheap Trick before their break, a 25th-birthday show from Blackberry Smoke and The Jayhawks at 40, with punk and emo in the smaller rooms all week.

Some weeks the calendar plays it safe. This one has a band on its last stops before stepping off the road, two more celebrating milestones, and enough loud guitars in the small rooms to keep you busy every night from Wednesday to Saturday. Here's what to plan around in St. Louis for Nov 9 – 15.

Wednesday, Nov 11 — 311 at The Factory, Chesterfield. 311 starts at 7:30pm, with Beach Weather and Tunnel Vision opening. Tickets are $64.85. It's a 3,000-capacity room built for a crowd that knows every word, and this one will.

Wednesday, Nov 11 — Worst Party Ever at Old Rock House. Same night, a much smaller room. Worst Party Ever share the bill with Equipment, Ogbert the Nerd and Pomfret at 8pm. Four bands in a 500-cap room on a school night is a good deal, and the right kind of chaos.

Thursday, Nov 12 — Cheap Trick at The Factory, Chesterfield. This is the one with a clock on it. Cheap Trick have been out all year on the All Washed Up tour, named for their 21st studio album, and late last month the band said they will take some time off after this month's shows, calling it their first break in 50 years. The current run of dates was not affected. The Band Feel open, and the show starts at 7:30pm. Nobody has called it a farewell. But if you've been meaning to see them, this is the week.

If you've been meaning to see Cheap Trick, this is the week.

Friday, Nov 13 — Blackberry Smoke at Stifel Theatre. The Atlanta band's 25th Anniversary Tour has been on the road since June and gets to Stifel at 8pm. Part of the proceeds from each VIP package goes to the Brit Turner Family Fund at CURE Childhood Cancer, set up in memory of the band's late drummer and founding member. A band that has been at it for a quarter century, on a big downtown stage, should feel like a celebration.

Friday, Nov 13 — The Amity Affliction at The Pageant. If you're after something heavier, the Australian metalcore band headlines The Pageant at 7pm with Blessthefall and Orthodox. Three bands, an early start and a 2,300-capacity room: expect the floor to be moving by the second set.

Friday, Nov 13 — Midwinter at Old Rock House. Midwinter, What Lies Below and COLDSTATE also start at 7pm, back at Old Rock House. It's a good pick if you want your heavy music up close.

Saturday, Nov 14 — The Jayhawks at Delmar Hall. The Sanctuary Park tour is billed as a celebration of 40 years of The Jayhawks. It's named for the band's 12th studio album, released Aug. 28 on Thirty Tigers and produced by Bob Ezrin. A band this size, in a 750-capacity hall, should sound close and warm. The show starts at 8pm.

Saturday, Nov 14 — Sweet Pill at The Sovereign. Also at 8pm, Sweet Pill headline The Sovereign. If you'd rather spend Saturday with sharp guitars and a crowd that sings along, this is the alternative to The Jayhawks.

That's two nights with two strong options apiece, and one band headed for a break. Pick your Friday, and get to Chesterfield on Thursday if you can. Wear decent shoes. It's a long week.

Sources: Cheap Trick: 'We've Decided To Take Some Time Off After Decades Of Touring Because We Need A Break' (Blabbermouth) (blabbermouth.net); Cheap Trick All Washed Up 2026 tour (Ultimate Classic Rock) (ultimateclassicrock.com); Blackberry Smoke to Bring 25th Anniversary Tour to Warner Theatre (BroadwayWorld) (broadwayworld.com); Blackberry Smoke 25th Anniversary Tour 2026 — Warner Theatre (warnertheatre.org); Blackberry Smoke 25th Anniversary Tour 2026 — Live Nation (livenation.com); The Jayhawks Announce New Album Sanctuary Park (Grateful Web) (gratefulweb.com); The Jayhawks announce new album, tour (BrooklynVegan) (brooklynvegan.com); Sanctuary Park Tour: Celebrating 40 Years of The Jayhawks — Boch Center (bochcenter.org); 311 at The Factory — Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.evyy.net); Cheap Trick at The Factory — Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.evyy.net); Blackberry Smoke at Stifel Theatre — Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.evyy.net); The Jayhawks at Delmar Hall — Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.evyy.net)