Local rock History

If you’ve been kicking around the Kansas City music scene since the 1970s, then you know about Cowtown Ballroom. Those more recently out of diapers may know the ornate structure near 31st Street and Gillham as El Torreon, a skating rink and on-again, off-again site of ragtag all-ages shindigs. Not much musically has been happening at the 82-year-old building lately, but producer Joe Heyen has spent two years digging into its past, particularly the Cowtown period of 1971-74, when it booked such stars as Frank Zappa, Van Morrison and B.B. King. He interviewed some of them for the documentary Cowtown Ballroom: Sweet Jesus, which opens May 22 at Tivoli Cinemas. The cast and crew will have their own special screening tonight, but the public is invited to a free reception afterward starting at 9:30 p.m. at the Beaumont Club (4050 Pennsylvania). Scheduled to appear at the party: Roger Earl of Foghat and Michael Brewer and Tom Shipley, all former stars of the Cowtown stage. For more information on the movie and related events, see cowbr.com.

Fri., May 22, 2009