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With the winter coldness finally fading and beautiful days approaching on the horizon lovers of live music and/or a good 3-4 day rager rejoice because that amazing time of year has begun, MUSIC FESTIVAL SEASON!!! Though there are many "festys" all year long the spring to mid-fall is when things really get moving and literally every weekend in different parts of the country there are people coming together to celebrate community, music and the freedom of life. If you have never been to a music festival than it is an experience you certainly must be a part of to truly understand, and few festivals truly embody the absolute freedom and musical sustinance as Wakarusa.

Wakarusa is amazing because it brings all the best parts of the beauty of nature and a truly accepting community and combines that with epic debauchery and a down-for-whateverness that is hard to find anywhere in todays society. It is a place where ones freak flag can fly high and never be questioned. As well as Waka's beautiful atmosphere there is something to be said of the diversity of quality music. Every year it features amazing artists from genres as diverse as hip-hop, jazz, bluegrass/jamgrass, dubstep and everything in between. For more info on the artist lineup and the festival experience in general makse sure to check out www.wakarusa.com. Below are some live videos of my personal favs from this years lineup. So if you are looking for a fulfiiling experience that combines culture with one of the most incredible party atmospheres you've ever experienced check out Wakarusa 2012!!

The Motet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAQGrA...

RJD2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVB6ZP...

Soulive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04kJr6...

Daedelus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_zIvF...

Railroad Earth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en6SSw...

Orgone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0bMoD...

If singer/songwriters in the modern country-style acoustic rock vein are your cup of tea than Jay Nash's voice and songs will be a treat to your discriminating tastes. Many praise his songwriting abilities as they are clever without sacrificing substance and his voice is one that embodies the same essence that made many of the great singers in american acoustic legends. If you want to see somebody before they reach pop stardom and are being repeatedly played on all your local commercial radio stations than you'll want to catch this show. He'll be playing the Bottleneck this Wednesday March 14, so make sure to check him out and if you're interested in getting a preview check out the videos below.

Oh my word the lineup of shows that has been added to the Crossroads Of Kansas City lineup in the past few weeks has a reached a multitude of amazingness. Most of the bands that have been added are at the forefront of their respective genres and as awlays no musical taste has been left out. So if you still for some ridiculous reason haven't made it out to Crossroads find the show that suits you best and do yourself a favor and go enjoy one of Downtown KC's most beautiful venues.

Snoop Dogg Tuesday, July 26th Crossroads KC

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Brewer & Shipley Friday, August 5th Crossroads KC

EOTO Vibesquad Mouth EZ Brothers Saturday, August 13th Crossroads KC

Yonder Mountain String Band Wednesday, August 17th Crossroads KC

TV On The Radio !!! (Chk Chk Chk) Saturday, August 27th Crossroads KC

Tedeschi Trucks Band Thursday, September 1st Crossroads KC

Blue October IMDYNAMITE Friday, September 30th Crossroads KC

Its that time of year again, time for Crossroads Of Kansas City to do its yearly reopening and this year they have a line-up of shows that sure to please all musical tastes. If your unfamiliar with Crossroads its an outdoor venue that hosts some the best national and regional musical acts thats located in the heart of downtown KC. The location is awesome because the Kansas City skyline is the perfect backdrop for any show. So make sure you come enjoy some good music and fresh air some time soon

Lucinda Williams Wednesday, May 11th

Jamey Johnson Saturday, May 14th

Vanilla Ice "B Double E" Azylum Inmates Rashiyd Ashon Friday, May 20th

Big Head Todd and the Monsters Langhorne Slim Stone Foxes Saturday, June 4th

Ben Harper Rebelution Sunday, June 5th

Toots & The Maytals 77 Jefferson Kamikazi Kush Rude Punch Tuesday, June 7th

Think Floyd USA A Pink Floyd Tribute Saturday, June 11th

Old Crow Medicine Show Wednesday, June 15th

CROSSROADS BLUES FESTIVAL Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers Sugar Blue Brody Buster Band Knock Kneed Sally Friday, June 17th

Missouri Chainsaw Grassacre Cornmeal Split Lip Rayfield The Wilders Mountain Sprout Deadman Flats Whistle Pigs Ben Miller Band Fast Food Junkies Honky Suckle Carrie Nation & Speakeasy Saturday, June 25th Crossroads KC

Elvis Costello & the Imposters Thursday, June 30th

Umphreys McGee Quixotic Saturday, July 2nd

Matisyahu The Wailers Thursday, July 7th

Gomez Civil Twilight Friday, July 8th

Ben Folds Kenton Chen Sunday, July 10th

Cinderella Tuesday, July 19th

Old 97s Those Darlins Thursday, July 21st

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones and Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers Friday, July 22nd

O.A.R. SOJA Wednesday, July 27th

John Butler Trio Tuesday, August 9th

Jonny Lang and JJ Grey & MOFRO Wednesday, August 10th

If you have been seeking a new concert experience other than the traditional band or DJ let me introduce you to Quixotic. Quixotic is an ensemble of musicians, dancers, aerialists, composers, designers, and choreographers collaborating to produce new forms of artistic expression. This inventive group of artists goes beyond the limits of any specific art form to create a total sensory experience for its audience. Quixotic makes performance art interactive and eliminates the barrier between performer and audience.Quixotic and Eliot Lipp descend onto Lawrence, KS on Febraury 11th and transform Liberty Hall into a night of enchantment. For their first public performance of 2011, Quixotic will create an evening of pure bliss filled with a host of delicacies to tickle your fancy. With an opening set from DJ and Producer Eliot Lipp, one can only imagine how this night will unfold. This is an all ages show, perfect for Valentine's Day weekend! As always check out the links for more on the performers

Facebook page and Band website:

http://www.facebook.com/uibfufbfjfufbanjkahenisnsiundhfiohndana#!/QuixoticFusion

http://www.quixoticfusion.com/

If your familiar with modern funk than you have surely heard of Galactic they are renowned as one of the best in the genre and one of the leaders in the modern New Orleans funk scene and if you are a fan of the old school funk than youre most likely a fan of funk trail blazers The Meters. Well this spring Galactic will be touring/playing with Cyril Neville himself of the famed Meters. To those that don't know Cyril is not a member of Galactic and doesn't always play with them so this is not an easy show to catch. Galactic & Cyril along with supporting act Orgone will be tearing the roof off the Granada on Friday March 18th. If you are a fan of a good funkin check this show out as Galactic is as i said before one of the best of the best in the modern funk movement and for your enjoyment check out some of the Galactic and Meters videos:

The Avetts Brothers music is some of the most powerful music that has been created in recent years. With beautiful string band harmonies and nice indie angst tinges. Their live show have been being widely praised, I would strongly advise to watch at least one their videos below the first is powerful. Also for your enjoyment there are some Grace Potter And The Nocturnals videos. They will be opening for The Avett Brothers At Crossroads @ 417 E 18th St in the heart of KC on Saturday September 25th.

Avett Brothers:

Grace Potter And The Nocturnals:

This Saturday Sept. 11 and Monday Sept 13 there will be two shows of epic proportions featuring some of the best upcoming artists from 2 very different genres. If you are an electronic fan and you have not heard of Producer/DJ Gold Panda (Saturday Sept. 11th) than you owe it to yourself to check him out, his production style brings a nice take on the increasingly overpopulated and frequently redundant electronic scene. If electronic is not your thing and more into instrumental proficiency and a fan of a solid groove check out the funk/jazz supergroup/quartet Garage A Trois on Monday Sept 13th featuring members of The Benevento Russo Duo(Marco Benevento), Galactic(Stanton Moore) and The Dead Kenny Gs/ Les Claypools Fancy Band (Mike Dillon & Skerik). However this is not mama and papas jazz-funk band Garage A Trois is known for their fast paced sometimes even old-school punkish jam and using interesting instrumentation such as overdriven saxophone and a plethora of circuit bent toys. As always if unfamiliar check out the vids below

Gold Panda:

Garage A Trois:

If you need your Sound Tribe fix before this weekend or you are unfamiliar with the band check out the following links to free downloads and the STS9 summer tour video and make sure to come see Sound Tribe And Ghostland Observatory out at Crossroads this weekend!!!!

Free Downloads: http://tour.sts9.com/?p=62

Videos: http://www.youtube.com/sts9band#p/a/u/0/YOqy9ajdPRc

Theres going to be a plethora of awesome shows for all music tastes in the Lawrence/KC area so make sure to come rage This what we've got lined up so far:

Everytime I die Season To Risk Mansion The Cast Pattern Wednesday, August 18th The Bottleneck

The Watson Twins Ferraby Lionheart Wednesday, August 18th Crosstown Station

George Thorogood Eddie Shaw Thursday, August 19th Crossroads KC

American Heart Association Benefit Saturday, August 21st The Bottleneck

Yo Mamas Big Fat Booty Band Fuzz Nasty Wednesday, August 25th The Bottleneck 18 & over

Big Head Todd and the Monsters The BoDeans Friday, August 27th Crossroads KC

Sonic Sutra Billy The squirrel Friday, August 27th The Bottleneck 18 & over

Split Lip Rayfield Brody Buster Band Pope County Bootleggers Saturday, August 28th The Bottleneck

Godhate Common Grave Natron Electrikchair Confined In Flesh Monday, August 30th The Bottleneck

The Floozies The Malah Thursday, September 2nd The Bottleneck 18 & over

Pat Green Friday, September 3rd Crossroads KC

Mountain Sprout Red Eye gravy Friday, September 3rd The Bottleneck 18 & over

STS9 Ghostland Observatory Sunday, September 5th Crossroads KC

Two Fresh Tuesday, September 7th The Bottleneck 18 & over

Reverend Peyton''''s Big Damn Band Wednesday, September 8th The Bottleneck 18 & over

Karnivool Tides of Man Thursday, September 9th The Bottleneck

Girl Talk Friday, September 10th Crossroads KC

Autolux GOLD PANDA Saturday, September 11th The Bottleneck

Garage A Trois Monday, September 13th The Bottleneck

Crooked Still Tuesday, September 14th The Bottleneck 18 & over

You Me & Everyone We Know Queens Club Take Cover Wednesday, September 15th The Bottleneck

Hacienda Friday, September 17th The Bottleneck 18 & over

Nadis Warriors Mouth Funkotron Saturday, September 18th The Bottleneck 18 & over

Jesse Malin & the St. Marks Social Moneybrother Monday, September 20th The Bottleneck

Martin Sexton Thursday, September 23rd The Bottleneck 18 & over

The Toadies Friday, September 24th The Bottleneck

Avett Brothers Saturday, September 25th Crossroads KC

The Delta Saints Saturday, September 25th The Bottleneck 18 & over

Drive-By Truckers The Henry Clay People Sunday, September 26th Crossroads KC

Dirtfoot Friday, October 1st The Bottleneck 18 & over

Scion garage Saturday, October 2nd The Bottleneck 18 & over Blue October Sunday, October 3rd Crossroads KC

Citizen Cope Monday, October 4th Liberty Hall

The Mountain Goats Wye Oak Monday, October 4th The Bottleneck

Trampled By Turtles Tuesday, October 5th The Bottleneck 18 & over

Menomena Tuesday, October 12th The Bottleneck

Cornmeal Wednesday, October 13th The Bottleneck

The Walkmen Japandroids Tuesday, October 19th The Bottleneck

Portugal. The Man Wednesday, October 20th The Bottleneck

Tyrone Wells Andrew Belle Wednesday, October 27th The Bottleneck

Gogol Bordello Friday, October 29th Liberty Hall

Yonder Mountain String Band Friday, November 12th Liberty Hall

Yonder Mountain String Band Saturday, November 13th Liberty Hall

Reverend Horton Heat Saturday, November 13th The Bottleneck

Matt Costa Monday, November 15th The Bottleneck