By Brad Ziegler
Kansas City has never had a shortage of live music options around the city. From the jumping juke joints along 12th Street in the 30’s to the current sites in Downtown, Westport and the Crossroads, a music lover can find just about any style of music they are looking for at the T-Mobile Center, the Uptown Theater, the Midland, the Truman, the Record Bar or any number of other live music venues.
Live music venues in south Kansas City are fewer and farther apart, but listeners pack BB’s Lawnside BBQ six nights a week to hear funk, soul and Blues performances by local and touring acts. Mr. Biggs Place in Grandview calls itself the only lounge that caters to the 40+ crowd and The Piano Room is working to get their new space in Waldo open for a return to their regular schedule of jam sessions, open mic nights and scheduled performances.
The mix of tunes along 135th Street in Martin City is a microcosm of the summertime options that are available all over the city. Many weighed in on the benefits of adding live music to the dining experience.
Martin City Brewing Company offers live music on the patio of their pizza and tap room location four nights a week, as well as at some of their other locations around the city. Owner Matt Moore said, “We like the energy that live music brings to our restaurants and we think that live music, together with our food and beverages, helps Martin City Brewing Company stand out from other dining options.”
Jess and Jim’s Steak House co-owner Debbie Van Noy says that the impact that the performers make on their business ranges from good to great. “Sometimes the performers bring a following of their own who want to eat and drink and I think that is what everyone wants!” She admits that while weather can sometimes be a challenge for outdoor performers, they have plenty of room to bring them inside the restaurant if needed.
Rosehill Winery offers a variety of live music two or three nights a week and manager Jeff Menefee says that the music has made a measurable impact on both sales and attendance.
“It creates an energetic and inviting atmosphere that encourages guests to not only visit, but also stay longer and spend more,” he explained. “The vibe it brings transforms a space into a destination, making people want to gather, relax, and enjoy the full experience.”
While there are some performers who are recurring regulars at different venues, there are plenty of performers playing a variety of genres. “Kansas City is incredibly fortunate to be home to an extraordinary community of talented musicians,” said Menefee. “Few places—outside of perhaps Nashville—can match the depth and diversity of professional musical talent available here.”
A couple of the more popular local performers at area establishments are Drew Six and Mikey Needleman. “Performing in these types of settings has absolutely helped many of us sustain and grow our careers,” said Six. “They provide consistent opportunities to connect with new audiences, test new material in a real-world setting, and build relationships with venues that often lead to private bookings.”
Needleman agrees about the benefits of playing local venues and emphasized that geographic diversity of venues is important. “If a musician wants to take their career to the highest level, they need to play all over the town for all different types of people,” he said.
The websites of most south Kansas City restaurants featuring live music have a calendar of upcoming shows and the website www.kansascitymusic.com has a lengthy live music calendar of shows in all types of venues around the city.
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