Archives: June 2023

Snapseed
Music

Shakey Graves brought his evolving Americana sounds to a packed house at the Truman, June 5

The evening closed with a surprise duet featuring the headliner and his new bride, Stephanie Hunt, who had opened the show as Buffalo Hunt.
Tyler Schneider,

Shakey Graves. // photo by Tyler Hunt I first saw Austin, Texas native Alejandro Rose-Garcia—stage name Shakey Graves—in 2015 at the Blue Note in Columbia. Several months later, the actor with credits on Friday Night Lights and Spy Kids 3 would win the Best Emerging Artist award at the 2015 Americana Music Awards. It’d been a few years, but I’d…

Pride Fest 2023 1218
Culture

Photos: Kansas City PrideFest 2023

Jim Nimmo,

PrideFest 2023. // Photo by Jim Nimmo June 10 kicked off another annual Pride celebration at Theis Park in KC, and this month offers more citywide events than ever before in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our photographer Jim Nimmo was there to capture the colorful celebration. Categories: Culture Tags: Kansas City Pride, kansas city pridefest, LGBTQIA, Pride, Theis Park

Dsc08765
Sports

Marquez Valdes-Scantling makes a humble difference on and off the field

Alexa Stone,

Photo by Josh Gregory Thousands of fans flooded Legends Field Friday night as Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling hosted his first charity event for his recently launched foundation Humble Beginnings. Alongside to support MVS were over 30 Kansas City Chiefs players to participate in a home run derby, softball game, autograph signings, pictures, and much more. Fans could purchase anything…

Pxl 20230509 194551237portrait 1
Food & Drink

Mise en Place: Little Butter’s Kelsey Earl vows to make cake silly again

Kate Frick,

Courtesy Little Butter Kelsey Earl doesn’t dream at night, but you wouldn’t know that by looking through Little Butter’s Instagram. It’s a kaleidoscope of color, texture, mirrored disco balls, locally foraged flowers, candied citrus—and cake. Beginning with pastry boxes and pop-ups, Earl now has an arsenal of flavors that beguile Midwestern bake sales.  The Pitch: Are you a horoscope person?…

Screenshot 2023 06 10 At 30227 Pm
Culture

KCKCC Art Gallery to host photography exhibition “This Skin I’m In: A Visual Narrative of Self”

Jacqulyn Seyferth,

Looking for an event that celebrates both local artists and Pride Month? Kansas City Kansas Community College is hosting “The Skin I’m In: A Visual Narrative of Self,” a multi-artist photography exhibition. The exhibition will be free and open to the public June 6-12.  The photography and autobiographical visual narratives in the exhibit are created by LGBTQIA+ artists. The exhibition’s…

Photocredit Mattbarnes
Music

The Pitch doubles down with Barenaked Ladies and Semisonic about their careers and 30+ years

Tyler Stewart and Dan Wilson answer the same set of questions ahead of the show at Starlight on Sunday, June 11.
Nick Spacek,

Barenaked Ladies. // photo credit Matt Barnes On Sunday, June 11, two iconic ’90s acts, Barenaked Ladies and Semisonic, take to the stage at Starlight for a night of songs to which you know all the words, even if you’re too cool to say so. Given that both acts are identified with a singular single which defines them nearly 30…

0b8a2363 Web Landscape
Music

Photos: Pony Bradshaw at Knuckleheads

Mike Dotson,

Pony Bradshaw. // photo by Mike Dotson Pony Bradshaw with Ritch Henderson Knuckleheads Thursday, June 8 It was singer/songwriter night with a country kick at Knuckleheads on Thursday when Mississippi-born, Georgia-living country musician Pony Bradshaw took the stage in support of his latest album, North Georgia Rounder. Bradshaw was supported by opener Ritch Henderson, an upcoming singer/songwriter from Alabama. Our…

Yf9k2970 2
Music

Premiere: Heidi Lynne Gluck reaches new heights with ‘Skyscraper’

Nick Spacek,

Heidi Lynne Gluck. // Courtesy the artist It’s been nearly seven years since Lawrence musician Heidi Lynne Gluck released her debut full-length, Pony Show, on Lotuspool Records. In the intervening years, Gluck has released a few singles and a slew of demos, played as part of Frogpond and the Roseline, and generally kept musically busy. In early July, though, we’re…
Sports

KC Monarchs Update: Sweeping the Cleburne Railroaders, upcoming Pride Night

Carter Woodiel,

PHOTO: Kansas City Monarchs starter and Kansas City Missouri native Dalton Moats pitches in the Monarchs’ game with the Cleburne Railroaders on June 4, 2023. (Photo: Mason Hart / Kansas City Monarchs) KC Monarchs Update is our weekly look at what’s happening with hometown baseball heroes, both at Legends Field and on the road. Check out their season schedule here….

Screenshot 2023 06 08 At 72357 Pm
Music

Premiere: “Goddamn You Kansas City” is a bittersweet love letter signed by Crystal Rose

Be the first to hear the new single from Kansas City native Crystal Rose.
Emma Hilboldt,

“Goddamn You Kansas City” cover art. Musician Crystal Rose is swinging back through KC with an August 19 show at recordBar. Her homecoming is somewhat bittersweet, as Rose’s connection to the city—and its sudden catastrophic demise—were recently featured in a new documentary highlighting issues at Hillsong Church. In the wake of the Secrets of Hillsong doc’s release and fascination in the…

Open The Doors Coaching
Culture

Keep Them Coming: Where have all the lesbian bars gone?

Kristen Thomas,

Kristen Thomas. // Photo by Nicole Bissey It pains me when lesbians who are new to Kansas City ask me: What’s a good lesbian bar in town?  The unfortunate answer is: There are none.  There are about two dozen LGBTQIA+ bars and restaurants in the metro, but there is no longer a dedicated gathering space for queer women.  Gay and…

Pc Scott Simontacchi 1
Music

Robbie Fulks on collaboration, Bluegrass Vacation, and trying new things at 60

The country musician plays Knuckleheads Saturday, June 10.
Nick Spacek,

Robbie Fulks. // photo credit Scott Simontacchi Musician Robbie Fulks has been making records for decades. Ostensibly, they’re country, but they encompass so many genres it’s impossible to pigeonhole him. Case in point is Fulks’ latest album, Bluegrass Vacation, on Compass Records. The record features the likes of icons Sam Bush, Ronnie McCoury, and Tim O’Brien, to name but a…
Politics

Missouri governor signs ban on gender-affirming care, restrictions for trans athletes

Annelise Hanshaw,

A counterprotestor holds a sign over the balcony that says, “Trans kids have heartbeats too” (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). A week into Pride month, Gov. Mike Parson signed legislation Wednesday banning minors from beginning gender-affirming care and limiting sports participation for transgender athletes. In a press release announcing his decision to sign the bills, Parson said he supports every person’s right…

Nea Maaa Creative Forces Blixt1
Culture

National Endowment for the Arts announces over $760,000 in Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants

Jacqulyn Seyferth,

Photo Courtesy of NEA / M-AAA. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) partnered with Mid-America Art Alliance (M-AAA) to award over $760,000 in grants to Creative Forces Community Engagement. The grants were given to 34 Creative Forces organizations to support creative expression, social connectedness, resilience, and independence.  The Creative Forces Initiative is a result of a collaboration between the…

Kc Sips 01
Food & Drink

KC Sips: New menus, patio events, and a tropical pop-up

Sarah Sipple,

Art by Cassondra Jones Looking for delicious plans? Whether you want to impress a date, show your fam the best of KC, or just get out of the house, we’ve got you covered… all while supporting local.  Here is your weekly roundup of the best food and drink offerings around Kansas City. Cheers! Something New Iron Grill: A new eatery…

High Dive Records 10th
Music

High Dive Records celebrates 10 years this weekend

Nick Spacek,

Courtesy image Kansas City’s High Dive Records turns a decade old this year, and the label’s Jeff McCoy is throwing a party at recordBar this Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10. There’s a lot to celebrate—the label released three amazing records at the height of the COVID pandemic with Koney’s self-titled, the long-awaited Heal_Thyself from Ebony Tusks, and Fullbloods’…

Transformers2
Movies

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is big, dumb metal mayhem

You weren’t really expecting a masterpiece, were you?
Adrian Torres,

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. // Courtesy image For over a decade, one film franchise stood taller (literally) than everything around it: Transformers. Under the watchful eye of Michael Bay, stories of those once fun and child-friendly robots in disguise slowly morphed into exercises in excess and tedium. When Bay handed off the reigns after Dark of the Moon, we…

Cover Image
Games

The Ultimate RPG Tarot Deck is a thing of the now

Orrin Grey,

Courtesy image Tarot cards are “having a moment,” according to The Washington Post. The five-hundred-plus-year-old cards saw their sales skyrocket as the coronavirus pandemic swept the country, while Kickstarter reported that backers pledged more than $20 million to tarot-related projects over the past ten years. At the same time, Dungeons & Dragons and other roleplaying games have also been growing…

Ladybird Diner Pie By S Sipple 3 1
Food & Drink

Eat This Now: Chocolate Cream Pie at Ladybird Diner

Sarah Sipple,

Chocolate Cream Pie at Ladybird Diner. // Photo by Sarah Sipple There’s nothing like popping into a timeless diner to cool off and pause than with a cold mason jar of iced tea and a slice of chilled pie. Ladybird Diner on buzzy Mass. Street in downtown Lawrence has been serving comfort food and fresh pie since 2014, but their…