Top 10 things to do in St. Louis this week: Imagine Dragons, Moonlight Ramble and more (2024)

FRIDAY

‘Into the Woods’

Stephen Sondheim wrote a lot of good musicals, but “Into the Woods” has to be one of his best and most enduring. In it, fairy tales collide as Jack (with the Beanstalk, not with Jill), Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel and more go into the woods to solve their problems. Central to them all is a baker who is trying to lift a curse. He just so happens to need a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, a slipper as pure as gold and hair as yellow as corn. I bet you can guess which fairy tale characters those items belong to. The show aside, the key word here is “musical.” Union Avenue Opera, which is putting on the show, is trying other styles of production this year and branching out from opera. By Rosalind Early

Imagine Dragons ‘LoomWorld Tour’

With its latest album “Loom,” Imagine Dragons has grown up. First, the quartet became a trio after drummer Daniel Platzman took an indefinite hiatus. Plus frontman Dan Reynolds went through a divorce, renounced Mormonism, and faced criticism for performing in Israel and Azerbaijan. It’s been a tumultuous time. Through it all Reynolds kept a journal and with remaining bandmates Wayne Sermon (guitar) and Ben McKee (bassist) created “Loom.” The album was inspired by Weezer’s “Blue” with the aim to have no-skips. You can listen for yourself to see how they did. By Rosalind Early

Festival of the Little Hills

Some festivals offer something for everyone. This enormous festival, which has been held every year since 1971, offers a whole lot of things for absolutely everybody. Also known as the Féte de Petites Côtes (St. Charles’ original name was Petites Côtes), the event brings together more than 300 artists and crafters, more than 50 food vendors, more than a dozen musical acts and a whole bunch of shows for children. By Daniel Neman

SATURDAY

“When Doves Cry” The Prince Tribute Show

You may not be able to catch Prince in concert anymore (tear). But you can catch the next best thing, the “When Doves Cry” tribute show will perform the entire “Purple Rain” album to celebrate its 40th anniversary. By Rosalind Early

Sheila E and the E-Train

When she was in her 20s, Shelia E had a fortuitous meeting with none other than Prince. Together they collaborated on his albums, and he wrote her biggest hit “Glamorous Life” for her. Since then, the “queen of percussion” has gone on to explore other genres including Latin jazz and pop. Expect a little of everything at this concert. By Rosalind Early

Cherokee Street Brewed Arts Festival

This walking beer tasting festival will feature 20-plus kegs at different shops along Cherokee Street. If you have the wrist band, you’ll get a pour in your complimentary tasting glass. But even if you don’t want to splash out for a ticket, you can still enjoy the live music and indoor and outdoor art showcases for free. By Rosalind Early

The Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers first broke on the scene in 2009, and they recently released their 11th studio album “The Avett Brothers.” The latest offering “offers earnest and wistfully philosophic songs set within well-polished soundscapes,” according to an album review in No Depression. The brothers have made a name for themselves with a folk-rock sound that occasionally veers into pop and draws on influences from REM, Todd Snider and the Bee Gees, according to the review. Trampled by Turtles will open. By Rosalind Early

Moonlight Ramble

There are two major bike rides in St. Louis, the naked one and the night one. You missed the naked one, but you can still catch the night one on Saturday as bikers ride through the city into the small hours. The event starts at 7 p.m. with vendor tents opening. At 8 p.m. live music starts. The Ramble begins at 11 p.m., and the course closes at 1 a.m. Please be aware, no riders will be allowed to start after 11:20 p.m. By Rosalind Early

MONDAY

Cole Porter’s ‘Anything Goes’

“Anything Goes” is one of those Great American Songbook musicals. Songs from the show like “You’re the Top,” “Anything Goes” and “I Get a Kick Out of You” are standards sung by great vocalists like Tony Bennet and Michael Buble. But now you can hear them in context as the S.S. American sets sail and four people on it find themselves on an unexpected voyage toward true love. By Rosalind Early

WEDNESDAY

The Smashing Pumpkins ‘The World Is a Vampire Tour’

The MTV generation definitely remembers something of the Smashing Pumpkins. Maybe it was the silent-film-stylized music video for “Tonight, Tonight.” Or maybe it’s the tire ride and raucous party (complete with tee-peeing trees) from the “1979” video. (Seriously, if kids nowadays want to know what teens did back before internet, watch that video.) The band, led by Billy Corgan, was all the things: alternative, poppy and pretentious. (Hey, after releasing the double album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” the band went on the release the 5-CD box set “The Aeroplane Flies High” so if the shoe fits...) The tour name indicates that Corgan and crew will be revisiting some of their early hits such as “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” from “Mellon Collie,” which starts “the world is a vampire.” By Rosalind Early