Second year of Independence Roots Fest knows you can’t go wrong giving folks to KC folks
Photo by Jason Stillwell/StillSkies Media
A historic house with a giant wrap-around porch, large trees providing comfortable shade, hot dogs, and 9 talented local musicians—these are what make up the best underground music festival of the Kansas City area: Independence Roots Music Festival.
The August event marked only the second year of this festival’s existence, but Executive Director of the Independence Square Association Jeff Rogers says the attendance was already double the inaugural event’s turnout.
Photo by Jason Stillwell/StillSkies Media
The non-profit Independence Square Association is a historic preservation group that initially got the idea for this festival when looking for ways to build up local and regional artists, something Rogers says is easy due to the extensive talent in the area.
Photo by Jason Stillwell/StillSkies Media
“We love being able to take these local people and lift them up, and the level of talent is really just amazing,” Rogers says.
Thus, Independence Roots was born: Letting residents hear music tied to their hometown and supporting bands by offering a place to showcase their work, all while holding the event on the historic Bingham-Waggoner Estate.
The featured music groups performed 45-minute sets on the estate’s porch, while attendees lounged in lawn chairs and on picnic blankets under the leaf-provided shade. The stage transitioned from the east and west side once each set was done, a purposeful move by Rogers so listeners can have a break to stretch their legs and check out the food and beer stands.
Rogers says the bands get extra visibility from their performances at the festival, as the Independence Square Association can connect them with further opportunities.
“We have a good relationship with local media, so we’ve been able to have several of these bands featured on television and in radio,” Rogers says. “And that’s been wonderful because that lifts them up and gives them more exposure.”
Each band had a similar folk vibe but unique sounds and instruments, from Primrose Junction, an all-female group with ghostly harmonies to the indie Americana group Gullywasher. This musically versatile festival shows no signs of stopping, with Rogers hoping to continue to grow its audience and promote local music in the area.
“We’d like to keep it to at least regional artists and music that has risen up out of the United States. You know, the roots of who we all are, here where rock n roll comes from,” Rogers says. “There’s nothing cooler to me than listening to these voices, these instruments, you can really see where our current music has developed and celebrate it through an event like this.”
Photo by Jason Stillwell/StillSkies Media
Most festival attendees stayed for multiple hours and seemed to be enjoying themselves, like Independence local Sara Geelan, now living in Kansas City, who says she loves events like this near her hometown.
“Anytime people have a talent that is enough to put out there, I’m all about seeing it,” Geelan says. “This folk music, you can’t go wrong.”
The local food was a big pull for audience members—with Mama Jenn’s Freshly Pressed, Chef Tim’s Catering, and drinks from Fringe Beerworks.
“I’m also planning on enjoying the food. Food trucks, snacks, beer, the venue, beer. Beer and food are the number one draw for me usually,” Geelan says.
Geelan says this event’s unique description and dedication to local artists were what pulled her to purchase a ticket, and she was surprised she hadn’t heard of another festival like it to showcase these bands.
“I think it’s great. I thought it was weird I didn’t know this existed, but now I know it’s because it’s brand new,” Geelan says. “But I think it will end up being a good event.”
You can read more about Independence Square Association and their upcoming events online.
Photo by Jason Stillwell/StillSkies Media
