Lainey Wilson, Take 6 lead list of February concerts in Columbia

February feels like a shaking off of January's slowness, especially in a college town like Columbia.

This feeling, of taking what the new year gives and being up to something again, is true of the concert calendar too. Several shows promise a special experience. Here are just seven of the many to anticipate.

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Feb. 4: Opal Agafia at Rose Music Hall

The up-and-coming queen of Arkansas blues, Agafia wields a powerhouse voice that recalls all-timers such as Janis Joplin yet is distinctly her own. Backed by a band as versatile as her natural instrument, Agafia can swoop through blues, country, soul and rock without batting an eye. One Way Traffic shares the bill; tickets are $8-$10. Visit https://rosemusichall.com/events/ for more details.

Feb. 16: Take 6 at Jesse Auditorium

The Cadillac of American vocal groups, Take 6 — which owns exactly 10 Grammys and 10 Dove Awards — blends gospel, soul and pop as seamlessly as they blend their voices. With one exception, this Take 6 lineup has been together for over 30 years (and the most recently-added member has been around more than a decade), so the group is the very embodiment of the word "fine-tuning." Tickets are $38-$50. Visit https://concertseries.missouri.edu/ for more information.

Feb. 18: Kolby Cooper at The Blue Note

The scope of this East Texas native's country music might be best summed in the title of his 2022 album "Boy From Anderson County to the Moon." Cooper certainly is primed for something stratospheric with his weathered voice and charismatic, seemingly effortless melodies. Tickets are $18-$35. Visit https://thebluenote.com/events/ for more information.

Feb. 18: Flipturn at Rose Music Hall

On its 2022 debut "Shadowglow," this Florida band casts a vote of confidence for itself, nimbly melding cinematic, arena-ready pop sounds with more earthbound and eccentric flourishes. The result is winsome and musically alluring. The band has shared stages with the likes of Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Mt. Joy, and sound more than ready to carry their own weight. Hotel Fiction shares the bill; tickets are $18-$21.

Feb. 21: Willi Carlisle at Rose Music Hall

Last year's album "Peculiar, Missouri" should be of, well, peculiar appeal to local fans of Americana timbres and traditions. Carlisle's sound might well be classified as old-school — an Ozark troubadour's shoes fit him fine — but he offers of-the-moment musical sermons that sting and satisfy. Tickets are $12-$15.

Feb. 24: Lainey Wilson at The Blue Note

The Country Music Association's female vocalist and new artist of 2022 rides a wave of goodwill into Columbia. Wilson's "Bell Bottom Country," released last fall, is an appealing, often darkly funny mix of raucous country and hippie-leaning classic rock that immediately establishes the Louisiana native's considerable charisma. Ben Chapman and Meg McRee share the bill. Check The Blue Note's website for ticket details.

Feb. 26: Giovannie and The Hired Guns at Rose Music Hall

"Tejano Punk Boyz," the latest from this Texas band, is both an act of self-definition and a rallying cry. Led by frontman Giovannie Yanez, The Hired Guns achieve a crowd-pleasing unity between arena rock, country and '90s punk. At times, think the spirit of Sublime transferred to sawdust-covered floors; at others, the band evokes Ryan Bingham at a basement show. Tickets are $18-$21.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. Find him on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Lainey Wilson, Take 6 take charge of Feb. concert slate in Columbia