The Pitch’s June 2024 event calendar highlights Pride, Juneteenth, and the best concerts in the region
Photo by Chris Ortiz. // Art by Cassondra Jones
ONGOING
Photo Courtesy of Underneath: Children of the Sun
June 4-26
Juneteenth Film Festival, Screenland Armour Theatre
Curated by journalist and Fox 4 News film critic Shawn Edwards, the second annual Juneteenth Film Festival will come to the Screenland Armour Theatre beginning June 4. This year’s festival will feature six locally-produced independent films—four documentaries, and two features—along with two studio films, and one short film screened before each feature. This year’s film’s include Binding Us Together, a documentary about civil rights activist and public servant Alvin Brooks directed by Kevin Willmott, and Drout 2, a narrative feature directed by Isaiah King and a sequel to his first Drout movie. This year’s festival is sponsored by the Black Movie Hall of Fame, Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, Wilson’s Industries LLC, House of Kush and the Kansas City Film Office.
June 5-26
2nd Annual Juneteenth Film Festival, Screenland Armour Theatre
June 7 & 8
Arts in the Park, William E. Macken Park
June 7-9
Midwest Fest, Hy-Vee Arena
Photo Courtesy of Kelcie McKenney
June 14-15
Boulevardia, Crown Center
The annual beer, food, and music festival takes place June 14 and 15. Featuring musicians such as Thundercat, The Phantastics, and Danny Santell, the event offers several stages for everyone’s taste. Speaking of taste, Boulevardia is all about beer and food. Several breweries from the area will be setting up for the festival. Breweries such as Cinder Block and City Barrel will be there. Even distilleries such as Restless Spirits and J. Rieger & Co. will make a presence at the event. The festival takes place over Father’s Day weekend. If your father enjoys beer and music, make sure to stop by as a gift to them. Single-day tickets start at just $35, so it’s a cheap way to spend time with friends or family.
Breakaway Music Festival, Azura Amphitheater
June 14-16
Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts
June 20-22
Ron Funches, Comedy Club KC
June 21 & 22
Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park
June 21-23
Stern’s Farewell w/ Sibelius & Barber, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts
June 23 & 24
The Q BBQ Fest, GEHA Field
EVENTS
June 1
Juneteenth KC Cultural Parade, 18th & Vine Jazz District
Art On The Side, 118 N Main St.
June 2
Henhouse Prowlers, Bottleneck
Not Just A “Phase” Fest, Legends Field
June 3
Cloud Nothings, recordBar
June 4
The Victory Belles Vignette, National WWI Museum
Coffee Urban Hike, River Market
Ongina, Missie B’s
Building Resilient, Trauma-Informed Cultures, Kauffman Foundation Conference Center
Fleur-ette, Powell Gardens
June 5
James Taylor, Starlight Theatre
Noah Kahan, Azura Amphitheater
Peace Poles Community Art Project, Black Hoof Park
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, recordBar
Bo Johnson Live, The Emerald
KCK Taco Trail Tour, 333 N 6th St
Sculpt Like Everyone’s Watching, Belger Glass Annex
June 6
Lionel Richie w/ Earth Wind and Fire, T-Mobile Center
Greensky Bluegrass, Grinders KC
Amber Autry, Comedy Club of Kansas City
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma, Kauffman Center
Tiki Takeover, The Sentinel Room
Barely Alive (Better off Dead Tour), The Truman
June 7
Tom Segura, Starlight Theatre
Death to All, The Granada
Juneteenth KC First Friday Celebration, 18th & Vine Jazz District
Big Gay Disco Party, The Ship
Josh Johnson, Comedy Club of Kansas City
Fashion Honors Autism Fashion Show, The Monarch Room
June 8
Juneteenth at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
Juneteenth Jazz & Blues Festival for Bennecker School Restoration, English Landing Park|
Johnson County Museum Free Day, Johnson County Museum
Tim McGraw, T-Mobile Center
Brass Rewind, Downtown Raytown Greenspace
Tassel Takedown, The Emerald
Cut Chemist, The Ship
Cemetery Socie-Tea, Union Cemetery
June 9
Sarah McLachlan w/ Feist, Starlight Theatre
A Day to Remember, Azura Amphitheater
Future Stages Festival, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts
Jack Tucker: Comedy Standup Hour, The Emerald
Risqué Revelry Bottoms Brunch, The Arts Asylum
June 11
Donny Osmond, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts
Excision Nexus Tour, Cable Dahmer Arena
Goose, The Midland
June 12
Chris Stapleton, T-Mobile Center
Pride Month Pottery Pub with Amy, Big Rip Brewing Company
Speed Dating, Society
June 13
The Chameleons Performing Strange Times, Missing, recordBar
Summer Madness Silent Concert, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
June 14
Guardin, recordBar
Liza Treyger, Comedy Club of Kansas City
Breakaway KC, Azura Amphitheater
June 15
Juneteenth KC Heritage Festival, 18 & Vine Jazz District
Juneteenth Twilight Parade & Festival, Haymarket Square
5th Annual Peace March & Rally: A Juneteenth Celebration!, Thompson Park
Jim Breuer, The Midland
Proud N’ Loud Bar Crawl, Kansas City
SMOKUS POCUS: A 420 Magic Show, Music Theater Heritage
Succulent Plant Art, Powell Gardens
June 16
Beard, Beer, Brunch, Vine Street Brewing Co.
June 17
Hot Water Music, Quicksand, & Tim Barry, Liberty Hall
June 18
Dreamer Boy, recordBar
Punch Brothers, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts
June 19
Juneteenth History Drop-In, John Wornall House
Motion City Soundtrack, The Truman
mc chris, Crunk Witch, Bacon Shoe, recordBar
June 20
Patio Fest, Brookside Area
Photo Courtesy of Queer Dyke Night’s Facebook
June 21
Queer Dyke Night!, Big Rip Brewing Company
The queer-owned brewery will be hosting a night out highlighting queer women and non-binary folks, free of a cover charge. Featuring music by DJ cQuence, the party will last from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. They have plenty of room for dancing, drinking, and fun indoors and outdoors. The event will focus on a safe space to celebrate pride and queer love. Everyone over the age of 21 is welcome to join the fun and make Queer Dyke Night’s first event a special one.
Sunflower Music Festival, White Concert Hall
Shrek Rave, recordBar
Make Music Day, Merriam Community Center Courtyard
Courtesy of Folly Theater’s Website
June 22
Folly Pride Concert, Folly Theater
The Folly Theater hosts its first-ever Pride Concert featuring *Glee* star and Tony Award winner Alex Newell. Their performances have landed them a spot in several magazines and TV shows including “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” as Monique and “Glee’s” Unique. As a non-binary actor, the roles they play have great impact on their community being rightly represented, and With talent featured on the “The Voice,” Newell is bringing Kansas City a performance to remember.
Flatland Cavalry, Grinders KC
Juneteenth Celebration, 4142 Main St.
R&B Culture Fest, Cable Dahmer Arena
Emo Nite LA, recordBar
Tech N9ne, Kansas City Convention Center
Stems: A Garden Soirée, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Faux Cactus with Pompoms, Powell Gardens
June 23
The Flaming Lips, Uptown Theater
French Cassettes, recordBar
June 24
Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts
Pixies, Modest Mouse, & Cat Power, Starlight Theatre
June 25
Amos Lee, Uptown Theater
New Kids On The Block, Starlight Theatre
KC Bass Workshop Showcase, recordBar
June 26
Little Feat w/ Marc Broussard, Uptown Theater
The Menzingers w/ Lucero, Madrid Theatre
Oliver Hazard w/ Olive Klung, recordBar
June 27
Mat Kearney Headlights Home Tour, Madrid Theatre
Shane Torres, Comedy Club of Kansas City
June 28
Lyle Lovett & His Large Band, Uptown Theater
Night at the Museum | Build Better Series, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
June 29
Parker McCollum, Starlight Theatre
Jamiroquai – Funk Tribute, recordBar
June 30
Softcult w/ Present, recordBar
