Folk music is an expansive genre that spans traditional to urban contemporary styles of music and art. Kansas City will host this year’s Folk Alliance International conference and New Music Fair to showcase this diverse form of expression.
An event not to be missed by musicians and music enthusiasts!
History
Kansas City may be best-known for its vibrant jazz scene, yet folk music remains something of an afterthought. That doesn’t mean Kansas City doesn’t boast an extensive folk music history: many venues support folk musicians such as Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and 18thhand Vine; additionally there are a number of colleges with music programs as well as an active musician community in Kansas City.
In the 1980s, Kansas City produced two internationally successful folk artists in Connie Dover and Gerald Trimble; their success illustrated Kansas City’s ability to produce top-class Celtic musicians.
Dover and Trimble were both born and raised in North Kansas City, where they sang in school choir together. At age 19, they founded Foolkiller, an experimental folk music collective located at 39th and Main. There was both a performance space downstairs as well as meeting rooms upstairs at this venue.
As time passed, the group became a cultural hub that showcased local folk artists while also hosting visiting folk artists from out-of-state. Additionally, discussions regarding social issues were hosted as well as events for young people. Today CrossCurrents Culture Unlimited continues presenting folk music concerts.
The group also undertakes cultural preservation by maintaining an archive for folk music related materials, holding over 100,000 pieces that are rare or significant for their region’s musical history. Furthermore, there is a popular museum which showcases local folk art as well as other items related to its heritage.
Folk Alliance International, the organization that hosts an annual conference of its name, defines folk music as any style that draws upon tradition and indigenous to one’s culture, such as bluegrass, blues, gospel, protest songs, workers anthems, cowboy songs and music from Britain/Ireland/sea shanties as well as playing banjos/accordions etc. Folk is thus understood in terms of ethnic music/world music/spoken word.
Mission of Organization: to promote and sustain a diverse global contemporary folk music community. They aspire to become respected within the music industry while hosting high profile, meaningful events. Folk music by nature unifies communities.
Festivals
Food, drink, music, art and culture come together at Kansas festivals for an enjoyable outdoor celebration of food, drink, music, art and culture. You’re sure to find something suitable here for everyone – be it singing along on the front row or shopping for unique presents – don’t miss these Kansas festivals this year.
KC Folk Fest features such performances by Krystle Warren & Solomon Dorsey, Nokosee Fields, Mac Sauce, Hudspeth & Taylor, Flutienastiness and Sam Wells with Margaret Kocher. In addition, Waleska Barroeta, Les Izmore, Luke “Skippy” Harbur as well as poets The Recipe Natasha Ria El-Scari Jose Faus and Mary Silwance will take place throughout the festival.
The Kansas City Folk & Blues Festival is an annual event celebrating folk music, arts, and dance. Featuring local artists and performers – with an emphasis on community involvement and sustainability. Held in Downtown Kansas City and available for ticket purchase online – tickets to this festival can be found online.
The Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) is a non-profit organization that promotes traditional English and Anglo-American folk dance, music and song. Members include recreational dancers, musicians, callers and teachers; their activities are documented in Sing Out!, CDSS’s quarterly journal featuring lead sheets for folk songs as well as feature articles and interviews about them; instrumental teach-ins are held regularly, CD reviews published within it as well as listings of folk festivals/camps as well as discussions regarding folk processes.
Kansas City Community Theatre hosts this two-week festival featuring both local and international theater, dance, film, music and visual arts performances. Focusing on cultural perspectives across local, national and global boundaries – Kansas City Festival of Cultures is an integral component of Kansas City culture, and has earned national acclaim. Residents can learn about and celebrate world cultures right in their backyard! The festival also encourages and facilitates new works being created by Kansas City area theater, dance, and performance artists in theater, dance and other forms of performance. It provides a venue and support for emerging talent while encouraging established professionals to continue developing themselves and produce new works.
Venues
Kansas City boasts many unique venues to offer music lovers of all types a truly enjoyable musical experience. Acoustic venues, stage equipment and even food and drink service are available – each venue promotes music as it supports local artists in making an impactful statement about life’s issues.
Many of these venues can be found in Kansas City’s Arts District, an epicenter for culture. Here there are art galleries, theaters and music clubs; it makes it the perfect location for anyone interested in folk music kansas city.
Folk music performances tend to take place outdoors at parks or city streets, where audiences can experience its melodies while being transported back in time. It makes a wonderful family-oriented event!
18thand Vine in Kansas City is one of the city’s premiere venues for folk music, offering a wide variety of musical genres. Additionally, 18thand Vine hosts the Folk Alliance International conference each year; an innovative hybrid event with virtual showcases and live events; this year’s conference will run May 18-22 at Westin Crown Center Hotel.
Kansas City boasts both indoor and outdoor venues for musical entertainment, but also features many coffeehouses that specialize in folk music. Many are acoustic settings providing an intimate environment for musicians; many have been open for decades becoming staples on Kansas City’s music scene.
Kansas City churches and non-profit community groups host many acoustic folk music events as a means of unifying communities. Libraries also often host free concerts that provide the chance to discover new performers. House concerts provide another avenue to hear acoustic folk music within city limits – these intimate concerts usually hosted by friends or family offer an intimate concert experience.
The Green Guitar Folk House in Kansas City, Missouri offers nationally touring singer-songwriters and musical acts across various genres such as folk, Americana, bluegrass and roots music. Performers who have graced national television can be found performing here; making this an intimate venue where one can discover new talent while listening to traditional folk songs from all corners of the globe.
Artists
Folk music has deep historical roots while remaining constantly evolving. Kansas City stands as an epicenter for this musical form’s continual transformation due to the local community of artists creating and celebrating various genres such as blues, jazz, rock, country and folk music. Kansas City hosts world-class venues, universities and music education programs dedicated to this music; plus hosts the Folk Alliance International conference which brings musicians from around the globe together each year for sharing of ideas and showcasing of talents.
The Green Guitar Folk House in downtown Kansas City hosts nationally touring singer-songwriters specializing in folk, Americana, bluegrass and roots music styles. Don’t miss this unique venue for any live music enthusiast.
Green Guitar Folk House provides more than concerts – it also hosts educational workshops and offers community recording studio facilities. In addition, this organization strives to promote diversity within music industries by serving, strengthening and engaging its global folk music industry and community with programs like International Folk Music Awards, Artist in Residence program, Folk ExChange global market development program and Ethno USA gathering.
Folk Alliance is the world’s leading membership organization dedicated to folk music. Its membership comprises professional musicians from a variety of musical disciplines. Their annual conference draws thousands of industry professionals from around the world and offers multiple networking and mentoring opportunities such as Peer Sessions for agents, labels, festivals and artists; speed meetings; artist mentorship meetings as well as Affinity Group sessions such as BIPOC; LGBTQ2IA+; Women; and Folks 55+.
Connie Dover and instrumentalist Gerald Trimble, two artists who grew up together in North Kansas City and sang together in school choir, found success as members of Brewer and Shipley band with its soft country-rock sound; Dover particularly was inspired by folk music from her South Slavic heritage.