The Grandview Chamber Mixes Up The Music At This Year’s Bands On Byars Festival

 The Grandview Chamber of Commerce is mixing up this year’s Bands on Byars this Saturday to represent the diversity in the community. 

From Mexicana, to Motown, to the ages of Classic Rock, Bands on Byars brings a diverse mix of music for this year’s Bands on Byars festival, August 27, starting at 5 pm at the Grandview Amphitheater, 13501 Byars Rd. 

The first band features Mexicana/Americana by Maria the Mexican. Sisters Maria and Tess follow in the footsteps of their grandmother, who founded one of the first all-female Mariachi bands in the US. She performed more than 30 years before tragedy struck when seven members were killed in the devastating Hyatt Skywalk collapse in Kansas City. In the late 90’s, after their grandmother’s recovery, Maria and Tess began performing with their grandmother learning Mariachi and other traditional Mexican music. Today they play with an entire band including traditional Mexican string instruments, congas, trumpet, and more.

The second band is J.J. Johnson Band. Born in Arkansas and raised in St. Louis, J.J. has a long music career filled with R&B, Motown, and Soul. Imagine the likes of Otis Redding, James Brown, The Temptations, and Sam Cooke merged into one, and that would be J.J. Johnson. 

The third band is Way Too Famous, featuring a combination of rich vocal harmonies and strong band synergy. Originally founded in 2015 as an Eagles tribute band, the band has now expanded and evolved with new members to provide music from the Allman Brothers, The Beatles, Kansas, Steely Dan, Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters, U2 and much more.

Bands on Byars is also the last concert that Chamber Director Kim Curtis will organize before she retires September 27th after 27 years in the position. She helped lay the groundwork for the event in 2003 when it was called Jazz on the Corners, then held at Truman Corners. It evolved to Jazz Blast, Music on Main and now Bands on Byars. After 18 public concerts, she says she looks forward to coming to the show next year to simply enjoy it. 

Food vendors include Manila Bay Express, Kona Ice and hot dogs and popcorn from Grandview Parks and Rec. 

Gates open at 4:30 pm  and the first band kicks off at 5 pm. A fireworks show will wrap up the evening’s festivities at 9:45 pm. This free event is open to the community. It includes food vendors and a KidZone.