Heartland Rhythm: KC's Music Scene Hits High Notes

By ANN CLIFFORD

Music isn’t in the background in Kansas City. From intimate stages and concert halls to stadiums, festivals and coffee shops, KC Heartland’s soundtrack is a lively mix of homegrown talent and visiting artists that satisfy the widest range of musical tastes.

In the historic 18th & Vine District, jazz takes center stage in the Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum, often featuring local talents like vocalist Delynnia Jannell or composer and saxophonist Bobby Watson. Live jazz is also the focus at Lonnie’s Reno Club, where local musicians and luxe dining meet.

Photos courtesy of Todd Zimmer

Beyond the city’s history in jazz and blues, local musicians are redefining genres, including Calvin Arsenia, a classically trained singer and harpist, The Phantastics, a party band described as “ambassadors of phunk, rap, rock and soul,” Making Movies, a group that mixes Afro-Latino rhythms with rock and roll, and, of course, the multi-talented, Grammy-nominated Janelle Monáe.

The area’s venues are as varied as the music. Take in a show or six on the multiple stages at Knuckleheads Saloon, or venture to The Rino for SongLab, a weekly open mic night for aspiring singer-songwriters. Join 19,000 friends for a concert at T-Mobile Center in the Power & Light District, or keep it small with live music at the elegant Corvino Supper Club in the Crossroads Arts District.

Even a global pandemic couldn’t stop the music. Lemonade Park, a new outdoor venue showcasing live, local music, arose in the KC’s Stockyards District in 2020.