Kansas City Music Blog

If you want to see some holiday lights kick on, and want to avoid the hell of the traffic, crowds, and general insanity that is the Plaza lighting ceremony on Thanksgiving, hit up the Zona Rosa Shopping Center at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. There will the arrival of the Fairy Princess (a Kansas City tradition, revived from the days when she used to appear at Kline's department store), as well as the arrival of Santa, and carolers. There's plenty of stuff for the kids to do, as well.

​If you're wanting something a little less straight-laced, there will be the opening for "Take Two and Call Me In the Morning" at Lawrence's Love Garden Sounds (new location at 822 Massachusetts). Artists Kenneth Kupfer, Clint Ricketts, and b.d. eek will show works on paper at this event. Kupfer also has work right across the street at Wonder Fair. A whole pantload of info on the event can be found at the Rathaus.

By the way: if you're not reading the Rathaus, you're missing out on one of the best sources of information about Lawrence art out there. They cover national stuff, as well, but if you want to know what's going down in the hipper parts of the art scene, hit it up. We should really be stealing from referencing them more often.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

First Fridays hits the Crossroads art district tonight. You can check out the Pitch's First Friday Hitlist for a list of what we think is worth a look. Jason Harper's interview with Commander Cody might get you out and about to see some art, as well (what we're saying here is, "Go see that Commander Cody art show -- it's gonna be good).

Marc Haney plays what is described as "front porch" Americana tonight at Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts, in Lawrence. The show starts at 7:30pm, but you can always show up early, grab some coffee, and look at The White Show, "works by 49 established and emerging artists from 18 States and Puerto Rico explore the concept of 'white'." Mr. Haney goes on at 7:30pm.

​Saturday afternoon at the Inge Theatre in KU's Murphy Hall, you can attend a staged reading of Karel Capek's R.U.R., also known as Rossum's Universal Robots, from a new translation by PhD student Eva Hauska. Capek's play is famous for popularizing the use of the word "robot," rather than the previously preferred "automaton." The reading starts at 2:00pm and is presented by KU's Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies.

Sunday, November 8, you can get some culture. Patrick Buckley will be presenting a lecture recital at 4:00pm in the sanctuary of Congregation Kol Ami, 7501 Belinder Ave., in Prairie Village. Buckley will present information, both in German and in English, regarding influential German composers and poets. He will also sing Mahler's Kinder-Totenlieder, as well as compositions by Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms.

There will be a panel discussion on the subject "Is violence more effective for the right than the left?" at at the restaurant Ten at the Eldridge Hotel in Lawrence. You can find more information on the panel discussion and the optional brunch beforehand in our preview. The discussion starts at 1:30pm Sunday afternoon.

Lastly, Mark Cowardin's From the Ground Up solo exhibition has its opening reception from 2-4pm at the Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom. The solo exhibition features new large-scale sculpture by the artist. According the press release, "Cowardin approaches his subjects through the industrial complex of the building industry, namely construction materials such as actual two-by-fours and simulated cinder blocks, ductwork, and electrical switches." Directions and more information are available here.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

Wallace Cochran of Drakkar Sauna reads from The Moon For Its Citizens, the book that 20009 accompanies, at 7pm tonight. The reading takes place at the Raven Bookstore in Lawrence.

​The KC Home Show is at Bartle Hall this weekend. There's the usual array of exhibitors asking for you to consider their products, services, and gee-gaws. There's also a number of demonstrations on how to make your house look better without spending an arm and a leg on having someone else do it. There's also a Green Pavilion dedicated to energy-efficient and ecologically friendly products. It runs from 10am-9pm today, 10am-10pm tomorrow, and 10am-6pm Sunday. Admission is free, and sponsored by Time Warner Cable, but the Home Show will be collecting canned goods and non-perishable foods for the Harvesters Community Food Network.

​The Kansas City Metro Opera presents concert productions of John Gay's The Beggar's Opera this weekend. Described as a "funny satire on marriage, money and morals," the opera has three performances this weekend. The first is tonight at 7:30pm at Westwood Lutheran Church, 5035 Rainbow, in Shawnee Mission, with a Saturday show also at 7:30pm. There's a Sunday matinee, as well. It takes place at 4:00pm at Congregation Kol Ami, 7501 Belinder Avenue, in Prairie Village.

While all performance are free of charge, tax-deductible donations are appreciated.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

There isn't much in the way of free stuff this weekend. I'd recommend hitting one of the many pumpkin patches around the area. I went with a large gathering of friends after the KU game last weekend, and nothing is more fun than hanging out with your friends, mucking around in a field, and making crude jokes regarding gourds. There's usually hot cider, a maze of some sort, and the possibility that someone's going to lose a shoe in the mud or fall off the tractor. It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt -- after that, it's hilarity.

​Tonight, if you're willing to go get in line right fucking now, you can attend Late Night In the Phog at Allen Field House on the KU campus in Lawrence. Doors open at 5:30pm, and seating is first-come, first-served, and the doors close when the Field House is at capacity. The University of Kansas men's and women's basketball teams will celebrate the beginning of practice, along with the usually terrible skits and comedy routines. Most folks go for the practice scrimmage, which gives you your first look at KU's teams. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted, as well.

The Power and Light District has Son Venezuela playing free tonight from 8-11pm on the Live! Block stage. It's the after-party for Hispanic History month. It's 21 and up, as per usual. If you want to shake your culo to some latin grooves, there's no better band in the area with which to do it. The Power and Light also has this on Saturday:
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If you've got anything you'd like to add to the Friday Freebies schedule, feel free to post it as a comment below. Tracking stuff down has gotten considerably more difficult now that every area Parks and Rec department isn't offering free concerts and movies every weekend. I'll also take suggestions for upcoming weeks at nick.spacek@pitch.com.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

​If you've listened to KCUR for longer than an hour or two this past couple of weeks, then you've heard of the Shawnee Indian Mission's Fall Festival. This Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, the Mission will hold a free, family-friendly celebration of American Indian traditions and culture from 10am-5pm. A full line-up of activities is available here, but I recommend storytelling and music around the campfire at 7pm on Saturday. I've gone to it in years past, and if you bundle up, it's a very nice way to spend the evening.

Saturday, from 10am-5pm, Independence Center will host "Stars of the Community." It's a volunteer fair showcasing local non-profit organizations and charities. There will groups such as The American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Kansas City Rescue Mission and other set up in the mall, with information about their causes, and how you can sign up. There will also be a fashion show (from Indepence Center retailers -- I'd go just to see what Hot Topic has to offer) and other entertainment, including performances by local dance and cheer teams.

​Sunday is the Lawrence Zombie Walk. It gets cracking at 8:30pm in Lawrence's South Park, and works its way downtown.

If you're unfamilar with the concept, here's the lowdown: basically, a lot of people dress up like zombies, and shamble their way through a predetermined route, occasionally taking in new "victims" as they move along. It's fun to watch, as some folks put a lot of effort into their costumes. Plus...y'know, zombies! They're not played out quite yet, despite Hollywood's best attempts.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

In addition to the American Castrophe show with Adam Lee & the Dead Horse Sound Co. at Midwestern Musical Co., there's the usual First Fridays stuff going on down in the Crossroads. Check out the First Friday Hitlist for what's what.

In Lawrence tonight, Wonderfair: Art Gallery and How! will have the closing reception for "The Art of Pre Sense Form," by Jeffrey Isom. It runs 6-9pm, and there will be the release of five new limited-edition, screen-printed works on paper by Isom. F-14 Press will have their screenpress set up to throw Isom's images on your shirt, hoodie, etc. I did it for the screen-printing party Asteroid Head did, and it was pretty keen.

​The Louisburg Cider Mill's Ciderfest and Craft Fair has its second and final weekend tomorrow and Sunday. There will be live music noon-5pm both days from local bluegrass favorites Bluestem, as well as Cajun and old-timey music from Jamey Logan & Friends. That's in addition to pony & wagon rides, a moonwalk, the pumpkin patch, and assorted other family-friendly activities. As I can't get out there for a couple weeks more, could someone drive some cider doughnuts over my way?

Lastly, you can plop your ass in Lawrence's South Park for most of the weekend for the Octoginta bike race. More information is available here. No maps, though. Sorry, kids.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

​All weekend long is the Lee's Summit Oktoberfest, with all the usual carnival accoutrements, such as rides, craft booths, and the like, as well as live entertainment on three stages. there will, of course, be a biergarten, but that'll cost you (as will most of the carnival stuff). The music is free, however, and a full line-up can be found here on the event's website

​All day Saturday in Lawrence's Broken Arrow Park (29th and Lousiana Streets) is the Rev It Up Car Show. There will be hot rods, antiques, customs, and muscle cars. And, what car show would be complete without some rock 'n' roll. The Lawrence and Kansas City car shows usually feature some stand-out entertainment, and this is no exception: The F Holes, Red Lefty, Miss Majors and Her Minor Mood Swings, and The Phantoms of the Opry. While the event is free, donations are appreciated, as Rev It Up is a benefit for the GaDuGi Safe Center, an organziation dedicated to "the common goal of ending all forms of sexual violence."

While in Lawrence Saturday, be it for the car show or football game, you also have the Bourgeois Pig's Oktoberfest. From 2pm onward, they'll have free food in the form of brats, sauerkraut, potato salad and a few surprises prepared by Lonnie from Wheatfields. German beer will also be on special (I hear tell of Warsteiner Dunkel -- hooray!).

​Before hitting up the beer specials, you can hit up the Spencer Museum of Art on the KU campus, where they'll have a free movie at 2pm. They'll be showing Left Field a film about the Chicago kickball league. It's directed former Jayhawk Ben Steger, who will speak after the film. Expect quite a few Kaw Valley Kickball folks to be in attendance. I'd suggest parking downtown and walking the mile or so to campus, as the film will be starting right around the time the KU football team's game versus Southern Miss ends. There will be traffic.

Saturday night, at 7:30pm, Zhenya Rock brings his virtuoso chops back to the Midwest, this time in the form of traditonal/not so traditional trio The Flying Balalaika Brothers at 1819 Central Gallery + Event Space. It comes recommended for fans of Gogol Bordello, and promoter Scott Burnett mentions, "Last time he did a free show about town there was borscht involved." I'm certainly intrigued.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

There are so many festivals going on this weekend, I don't know where to start. Suffice it to say, they're the big game in the area as we move into fall.

​Today and tomorrow is Riverside's Riverfest at EH Young Riverfront Park, located next to the Argosy Casino on Argosy Parkway. There's music tonight from the Benders, followed by a fireworks display at 10:30pm. Tomorrow brings such things as a car show, a parade, and more music. A comlete schedule of events is at the website link above.

​The city of Blue Springs has its Fall Fun Festival today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Musical entertainment tonight is Dog House Daddies and Levee Town, with Albert Flasher and Outlaw Junkies tomorrow. Sunday afternoon, following a late morning city worship service, there will be a Christian Rock Arena. A complete schedule can be found here with set times, as well as information for the carnival and Dock Dogs (Google it - it's hilarious).

​The last festival of note is Waldo's Fall Festival, which takes place Saturday from 10am-5pm in the CVS parking lot at 75th and Wornall. There's lots of music, as well as a clown show (nooooo, thank you). The schedule has set times and further events, including the promise of a "car bash," which I haven't seen the likes of in years. You pay X amount of dollars, and get so many hits at a junker. If you show up early, you get the satisfaction of knocking out a window, or taking off a mirror. Later, it's basically knocking a sledgehammer into a chunk of steel. Not so much fun.

​Last -- but not least -- this weekend is the Audio Reader For Your Ears Only sale. If you're not down with shelling out the $10 for tonight (which you should, since that gets you first crack at all the good stuff, as well as food from Scarlet Orchid, Biggs BBQ, Maceli's, Wheatfields, and Rudy's Pizza -- to say nothing of my sterling company), it goes for free tomorrow from 9am-4pm, "with bargains slashed to half price after noon."

Either way, you'll be helping out a sterling charity, seeing all sorts of cool folks, and walking away with some truly amazing shit for bargain basement prices. If you've got tonight or tomorrow free, make the trip from KC. If you live in Lawrence and don't attend, you'd best have a good excuse. Scrape up five bucks, go tomorrow, and make a game of what awesomeness you can walk out with.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

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Artsy type things in Lawrence this weekend include two art openings. Friday night is the opening reception for "Heaviness," an exhibition by Donika Wiley, at the Lawrence Arts Center from 7-9pm. Wiley was the 2008-09 artist-in-residence in printmaking at the Arts Center.

Saturday night is the last night of the Asteroid Head show, "Asteroid Head Would Like A Word With You." Entitled "Asteroid Head Summer Camp Reunion & Yearbook Signing," there will be a fireside sing-along with Fourth of July, in addition to your last chance to view the artwork from the show. An award ceremony for the Asteroid Head Summer Camp will also be held. The show runs at Wonder Fair: Art Gallery and How! from 6-9pm.

Right around the same time, but across town at the DotDotDot ArtSpace, is "????????????????????????????" The folks involved can't say much about it, as they're "sworn to secrecy," but if you're in town for the Asteroid Head show, why not take a chance? Having your curiousity satiated is surely worth a stop by, right? Get your curiousity satisfied from 6-10pm.

If you're not wanting to take the trip to Lawrence, art can be had in Kansas City all weekend at Art Westport, running tonight at 5pm through Sunday evening in Westport. Many artists are taking place, and you visit the event's website for a map and list of exhibiting artists, all of whom are from within a 40 mile radius of the Kansas City post office.

​If art isn't your thing, there's always the Tour of Missouri bike race, which ends this Sunday. You're sure to be able to catch some of the riders as they finish the final stage, possibly as part of the SportsFest Kansas City, taking place Saturday and Sunday at the Power and Light District, which promises "professional athletes, live sports radio broadcasting, autograph sessions, live entertainment, interactive activities, vendors, food and lots of fun." No clue as to the particulars. The Tour will feature a Sprint Line on Grand between 13th & 14th streets, as it winds down on Sunday.

​Should you feel a might doubtful as to whether or not you want to risk your day for unquantifiable sports diversions, know you could always just stick around after the SportsFest ends on Saturday to check out a concert from Luke Bryan at 8:30pm on the Kansas City Live stage, too, and just make a day of it. You do have to over 21 to attend.

However, if you need something to do that more family-oriented on Saturday night, at Migliazzo Park, Minor Drive and Pennsylvania Avenue, KC Parks and Rec shows Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3-D. It starts right around sundown (9pm). 3D movie, middle of a park, on what promises to be a nice evening? Not bad, really.

There's also a Health and Wellness Expo, noon-6 pm on Sunday in Washington Square Park. The expo will include food, beverages, exhibitors, vendors, children's activities, bike demonstrations and free bike parking. You can also get a free kid's bike helmet courtesy of BikeSource, while supplies last.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

​It appears the KC Parks and Rec department is getting Labor Day weekend confused with Halloween. Both of the movies they're presenting would work just as well a two months from now. Tonight, at Tower Park, Holmes Road and 76th Street, is Beetlejuice, which is the second-to-last good movie Michael Keaton ever made (the last being Batman). Then, on Monday is Ghostbusters at the Goin' to KC Plaza, at 12th and Paseo (which I inadvertently had as happening last month). Both movies start at or around sundown, around 9pm or so.

There is also, of course, First Fridays tonight down in the Crossroads. You can get a handy-dandy guide to things happening in this week's edition of the Pitch, or get a quick hit list of the high points from Chris Packham.

​SantaCaliGon Days (named for the fact that the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon trails all started in Independence) runs through Monday night in Independence, with concerts throughout the weekend from Damon Smith, LoCash Cowboys, Nate Dean, Outlaw Junkies, Marty Haggard, and Seven Bridges Road (an Eagles tribute band), among others -- as well as the usual carnival rides, vendors, and massive amounts of food. There's a root beer chugging contest on Sunday that looks promising, as well (chugging always allowing for massive belches and the possibility of someone puking everywhere).

Saturday night offers up some culture, as the Kansas City Symphony performs a free concert at 7pm in the Park at Shawnee Mission Park, for the 27th year in a row. The show celebrates American music (befitting the holiday weekend on which it occurs) from movies like Superman and West Side Story.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

​Tonight marks your final chances to do a few things for a while. At the City Market is the final free film of the summer, and it's a doozy -- the Rocky Horror Picture Show. According to the City Market website, "creative RH attire welcome." So, feel free to wear lingerie (ladies and gents), or whatever gets you goin'. I am unaware of their position on toast, water guns, or toilet tissue. The film starts tonight at sundown, which is usually meant to be right around 9pm or so. It is not, by any means kid-friendly. Leave the rugrats at home.

The last free Friday Night Live! concert of the summer takes place at the Power and Light District tonight. On the KC Live stage will be Pomeroy, with a show that starts at 9pm, and is 21 and up.

For a kid-friendly movie, Roanoke Park (Valentine Road to 34th Street and Karnes Boulevard) shows Hotel For Dogs on Saturday night. It starts at sundown.

​The Kaw Valley Kickball League championship game takes place Sunday night at Hobbs Park at 11th and Pennsylvania Streets in Lawrence. The game will be the winner of whomever wins the semi-finals at 5pm in Lyons Park (in North Lawrence, at 7th and Lyon).

It's down to First Blood vs. Love Garden, and Pita Pit vs. Eastsiders. Come out, drink some beers, and enjoy the last weekend before the official end of summer -- Labor Day weekend is just around the corner.

As part of a family arts festivasl, 18 year-old violinist Amanda Shaw will play an outdoor concert at the Lied Center on the University of Kansas' west campus. Shaw is based out of New Orleans, and while a classically-trained, her compositions have a pop edge with Cajun influence. The festival starts at 6pm, and the annual arts fair includes more than 20 local arts and community organizations and features prize giveaways, crafts, balloons, face painting and other activities. The concert gets going at 7 p.m.

For more music Friday night, you can see the Zeros play '80s new wave as the second to last installment of this summer's Friday Night Live free concert series at the Power & Light District's KC Live! stage. The show is 21 and up, and starts at 8 p.m. Just down the street, classic rock hitmaker and former cop Eddie Money is playing for free at Crown Center. Bring the family and expect the hits, plus, perhaps, some of the new songs he wrote for his autobiographical production, Two Tickets to Paradise: The Musical. Yes, it's real. Show starts at 8; local band Red Guitar opens.

Happening in Lawrence this weekend is the second annual Lawrence Busker Festival. It runs Friday through Sunday at various locations downtown, featuring everything from fire eaters to aerial dancers to living statues, along with plenty of music. Now, while this is technically free, the performers do make their money at this, so if you see something you enjoy, please don't hestitate to throw a dollar or two in the hat as it makes its way around. The complete schedule can be found on the Busker Fest website

After checking out the Busker Fest Friday and Saturday, you can check out the Kansas State Picking and Fiddling championships during starting Sunday at noon in Lawrence's South Park, right at the south end of downtown. There's fiddle, banjo, flatpick guitar, mandolin, and more to check out. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and a big ol' jug of tea, and you're set for the afternoon. Get there early for a spot in the shade -- they go quickly.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

Things are coming to an end, as we get to the end of summer. Kansas City schools get kicking Monday morning, so your options for kid-friendly stuff pretty much come to an end this weekend. I imagine most places assume homework and after-school stuff's going to take the place of movies and whatnot. Still, there's plenty to do this weekend that'll allow you to end your summer with a bang.

​Crown Center's final Friday Night Flick is a doozy: Pirates of the Caribbean. Y'know, the good one? The one that made sense and was amazingly cool, before guys in greasy hair and eyeliner started thinking they were Johnny Depp instead of shitty Goths? It's the only free movie this weekend, so enjoy it if you can. The movie starts around sundown.

Imminent Domain plays Power and Light's Friday Night Live concert this week. Surprisingly, they're neither a cover band, nor some sort of retro act. They're actually a pop-punk band that sounds kind of like Blink-182 or Fall Out Boy. Warning: Auto-Tune noticeably present in their MySpace tunes, which bodes not well for a live show. Catchy, though. As always, the show starts at 9pm and is 21+.

Friday and Saturday, you can take yourself to the 102nd Annual Vinland Fair at at the fairgrounds northeast of Baldwin City (south of Lawrence). Friday has bicycle races, tug of war, sack races, and Wood Valley Pickers Band plays at 7:30pm. Saturday features box turtle races, a pedal tractor pull, watermelon seed spitting contest, and Witness Band plays at 7:30pm. Everything is free, and you can register for any of the events you want to compete in when you get there. It's obviously very family friendly.

Lots more stuff on Saturday, actually. Power & Light has their "Imagination Station" Family Fun Day from noon-4pm, with "a Stone Lion puppet show, story-telling, face-painting, air brush tattoos, puppet-making and more."

​The Cultural India Club at the University of Kansas will be celebrating India's 63rd Independence Day at the Kansas Union Plaza on Saturday, as well. There will be a flag-hoisting ceremony at 9:30am, with cultural programs and free Indian snacks afterwards. Also, the club will screen A Wednesday, the critically acclaimed story of one man's fight against terrorism, at 2:45pm in the Union's Woodruff Auditorium.

Expect a lot more KU-related stuff in the coming months, as classes begin next Thursday (such as the Union Fest concert there on Sunday night).

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

There are scads of things to do this weekend. Your decisions will be tough, but you're guaranteed to be entertained no matter what. I've divvied up things by type to make them a little easier to figure out.

​First Friday musical stuff for you first. Hearts of Darkness plays in front of Mid-American Arts Alliance, 2018 Baltimore Avenue, at 7pm as part of LIVE! in the Crossroads concert series. The Brody Buster Band plays Midwestern Music Company at 8pm.

Just over from the Crossroads at the Power & Light District is this week's Friday Night Live concert with Perpetual Change, a cover band "specializing in recreating the sounds of the '80s & '90s with a few originals thrown in as well as a few from the 00's." The show starts around 9pm, and as per usual is 21 and up.

The Douglas County Fair is this weekend, as well. Tonight, Sierra Band plays from 8-10pm, Black Top Area, and Rural Route 4 plays 7-10pm on Saturday. Both bands perform in the Black Top Area just south of the 4-H exhibit building.

And, while it's not free, tonight's demolition derby is always fun if you're a fan of loud noises and things ramming into another at high velocity. If you're willing to see some more loud machines, the McLouth Threshing Bee happens Saturday at 10am and 2pm with steam-powered threshing machines, as well as an AWESOMELY named "parade of power" at 1:30 pm.

​Free movies this weekend include The Wizard of Oz as part of Crown Center's Friday Night Flicks. Also on Friday, the Kansas State Historical Society wraps up this year's Sundown Film Festival with Raiders of the Lost Ark on the wall of the Kansas Museum of History, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, in Topeka. The museum also offers free admission from 5-9pm as part of the whole shindig.

Saturday night at Budd Park, St. John and Brighton avenues, is Hotel For Dogs, and Sunday has Ghostbusters at Goin' To Kansas City Plaza at The Paseo and 12th Street. Crap -- if I didn't have to work Monday morning, Ghostbusters outside would be totally cool. All films start around sundown (9pm or so).

​Last, but not least, comes Saturday's "Asteroid Head Would Like To Have A Word With You" opening at Wonder Fair Art Gallery in Lawrence. The show features 64 new works on paper by Lawrence's Asteroid Head Art Club. The evening will certainly prove to be far out fun for the whole family as the A-Head Gang will be welcoming each and every visitor with a nice word and a cheerful grin. All Wonder Fair guests that night will be entered into a very special drawing, with winners announced every half hour on the half hour. Other scheduled events include "The Word Party Rap" performed by Asteroid Head, Pin the Word on the Word, and The Word World Mystery Tour. These kids are fun, and you might find yourself passing out from the whimsy. It runs from 6-9pm.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

​Friday night's free movies appear to be for musical fans. You can choose between the new and the classic. Crown Center's Friday Night Flick this week is the ABBA musical, Mamma Mia!, with Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried. City Market Cinema in the (surprise!) City Market shows Little Shop of Horrors. Really, it all boils down as to whether you prefer doo-wop or Swedish pop. Both movies start around 9pm.

For live music Friday night, you've also two choices: Liverpool, Kansas City's premier Beatles tribute, plays as part of FREE Olathe Summer Concert Series at Frontier Park, 15501 Indian Creek Parkway in Olathe. The show starts at 7pm. Blankets or lawn chairs are recommended and encouraged.

​If you'd like something a little less pastoral, Pomeroy plays the Power & Light District's Friday Night Live concert series at 8pm. The Pomeroy show, unlike everything else mentioned here, is 21 and up.

Saturday night, Budd Park, at St. John and Brighton avenues, shows Tale of Despereaux, which wasn't really seen by anyone during its original theatrical run. It's as if Stuart Little thought he was a knight.

If you're looking for more adult fare Saturday night, the DotDot Artspace in Lawrence offers up "Naked Leftovers: William S. Burroughs' Art Objects." It's a one-night only event, and an excellent way to check out some rarely-seen pieces. DotDot Artspace is located at 1910 Haskell, and the retrospective runs from 6-9pm.

​For those who weren't able to make it to last weekend's San Diego ComiCon, Craig Klotz and the folks at Kansas City Fan Conventions present KC Fan Con #22 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel this Sunday. The con is certainly smaller than ComiCon, but far more friendly.

This con's special guest is Brent Engstrom, artist for Garbage Pail Kids and Hollywood Zombies trading cards. The Wyndham Garden Hotel is located at 7000 West 108th Street, in Overland Park, and the con runs from 10am-4pm. You'll be asked to give your address, both mailing and e-mail.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

 Crown Center's Friday Night Flicks has Dr. Strangelove, while at Gladstone Amphitheater, in Oak Grove Park you can take your family to see Madagascar. On Saturday, you can head over to Budd Park, at St. John and Brighton, and see Madagascar 2 courtesy of Kansas City Parks & Rec, in what is probably the only opportunity to see a movie and its sequel on the big screen for free in one weekend. Definitely a good double-header for the kids this weekend.

In music, Better Than Ezra, best known for their '90s alt-rock jam "Good" plays the Power & Light District Friday night as part of the Rock the Block concert series, wherein the P&L folks bring in nationally recognized bands to play free shows. The show starts at 8pm, and is 21 and up. Jason from 96.5 the Buzz will also be present giving away free stuff.

MP3: Better Than Ezra, "Good"

 In other Power & Light news, if you're willing to ride PBR Big Sky's mechanical bull on Friday night, you can bypass the $3 for ladies/$5 for men cover charge and see Justin McBride perform live on the PBR Big Sky stage at 9:30pm. I imagine that you'll be in dire need of a padded chair and enough drinks for them to make that money back right quick, however.

Zona Rosa has blues act Trampled Under Foot on Saturday from 6-9:00pm, and Dan Doran from 1-4pm on Sunday. Concerts are on "The Square." Bring your lawn chairs.

Downtown Lee's Summit has country acts Devin Amos and Plan B in Howard Station Park this Friday at 6:30pm. Both acts play as part of Music in the Park.

Saturday night at the Legends in WyCo, Adam Blue and the Taxis play '80s covers from 5-8pm.

Lastly, the Shawnee County Fair runs through Sunday at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka. There's free music Friday night in Landon Arena, starting at 8pm. Streetside will be singing doo wop classics from the 50s and 60s, and Randy Wills and The Exceptions "will sing a variety of songs that will definitely get you up and dancing." Check out the list of sponsors, where you can get free tickets.

As if our big, insane 496th annual (yes, the first on was in the year 1513) Pitch Music Showcase wasn't enough late summer live concert mania, this Friday, July 24, we're holding our First Annual Pitch Block Party.

Jim Heath

The Heat is on this Friday at the Pitch Block Party.

A straight-up, no-bullshit concert featuring the one and only Reverend Horton Heat, plus former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, local heroes Split Lip Rayfield and the Rumblejetts, with Nekromantix and Dirtfoot. It's gonna be a rockabilly-roots-bluegrass-rockabilly-psychobilly-gypsy-punk smorgasbord for children of all ages (as long as all of those ages are 21 and over), going down at the Crossroads at Grinders.

Enter to win free tickets by becoming a Pitch Insider. It is neither difficult nor painful, unless while you're doing it a scorpion crawls up your pantleg and stings you. But that really wouldn't be our fault, would it? Anyway, it's worth the risk, because tickets are in the $20-$30 range for this sweet lineup.

Visit our Free Stuff page for chances to win tickets to Warped Tour, movie passes, theater tickets, scorpion arm-wrestling events and more.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

www.sambush.com

Olathe Parks & Recreation presents the 2009 Olathe FREE Summer Concert Series. Sam Bush plays with Jeff & Vida tonight at 7pm in Frontier Park, 15501 Indian Creek Parkway. It's family-friendly show of Americana, bluegrass, country, and folk. Bring a blanket or lawnchairs and enjoy this wonderful weather we've been graced with this weekend.

The Zeros play the Power and Light District for this week's installment of Friday Night Live, starting at 8pm. The new-wave show is 21 and up.

This weekend also offers what might best be described as scads of movies in Kansas City. Crown Center's Friday Night Flicks has The Karate Kid. Kansas City Parks and Recreation has two films this weekend. Tonight, The Goonies is at Observation Park, W. 20th and Holly and Kung Fu Panda is at Budd Park, St. John and Brighton tomorrow. For more adult fare, check out Fight Club at the Kansas City Central Library's rooftop terrace. All films start at or around 9pm.

Heading west, the Lawrence Public Library's "Artists on Film" series latest offering is the 1952 depiction of the life of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Moulin Rouge, with Toulouse-Lautrec played by José Ferrer. The film starts at 7pm. Further west in Topeka, the Kansas State Historical Society's Sundown Film Series kicks off this year's festival with Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. The movie starts at sundown and is projected on the Wall of the Kansas Museum of History, 6425 SW 6th Avenue. Show up early, because from 5-9pm there's free museum admission.

On Saturday NBC's the Biggest Loser will have a casting call at Nebraska Furniture Mart from 10am-6pm out by the Speedway. Even if you've got no weight to lose, it's sure to be an exceptional people-watching event, as are all of these reality show casting events.

I'd like to thank Kansas City On the Cheap for pointing me to a few things I wouldn't have otherwise discovered. It's a great site for cheap stuff to do in Kansas City and the surrounding areas, and is updated regularly with great material.

Gladstone's Theatre In the Park presents the musical comedy Once Upon A Mattress. Performances are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and begin at 8:30pm. You can claim a space with chairs and blankets after 3pm. The whole thing goes down at the Gladstone Amphitheatre, 76th and N. Troost.

Crown Center has Men in Black as part of their Friday Night Flicks series, and it starts at 9pm. This movie has remained surprisingly entertaining. Every time it pops up on TBS or something, I feel it absolutely necessary to sit and watch the whole thing. It's held up far better than other early Will Smith flicks (I'm looking at you, Independence Day), and it's probably the last thing Linda Fiorentino did before she got a reputation as a severely difficult actress to work with.

Also Friday night is the second Summer in the Park, presented by the Eudora Chamber of Commerce in CPA Park at 6pm. There will be an homemade ice cream making contest, live entertainment, food vendors and activities for children.

Power-pop-punkers Eve 6 play the Power and Light District at 8pm. The band's on a reunion tour right now (although who isn't these days?). I saw the band's Matt Bair speak on a panel at CMJ last year, and was consistently amazed at his stories of how screwed over Eve 6 seemed to have been, and how compromised their sound was by their label.

Saturday, you've three chances to see some art in downtown Lawrence. Lawrence's Wonder Fair Art Gallery and How presents Zaguar Collages, featuring the work of Range Life Records' head honcho Zach Hangauer. Read this piece on the man and see if you're not tempted. Wonder Fair's openings are great chance to hobnob with the Lawrence hipster community, and the gallery is in the basement of a grocery store. Seriously.

You can also pop over just half a block on 8th Street and hit up the opening reception for "Good Vibe Mountains" at Henry's coffee shop from 6-9pm. The opening features new mixed media and serigraph artworks by Sam Owen and Kelly Kearn.

The 1109 Gallery, at 1109 Massachusetts, has the final opening reception of the evening, also from 6-9pm. "WALLPAPER" is a juried show of works on paper and with paper by area artists. The gallery is also featuring "Fundamental Images," prints by Michael Hager in the "garage gallery" and artwork by Charles B. Rogers in the small gallery. This will be the first showing of the Rogers works, which were given by an anonymous donor to support the Lawrence Art Guild Gallery.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

Obviously, it being the first Friday of July, First Fridays down in the Crossroads is your best bet to get your holiday weekend started. My choice for what to check out would be the Dr. Sketchy's exhibition at Pi Gallery, mainly because it makes figure drawing fun again, by rendering it a tad bit cheeky.

Since you're in the Crossroads looking at art, why not go to the Crossroads KC at Grinders and see yourself some free music from Carbon Leaf and Garrett Nordstrom Situation? The show starts at 7pm and is all ages. Just across the highway, in pretty much the exact opposite direction lies the Power & Light District, which also plays host to a free concert Friday night. Running from 7-10pm is a Dave Matthews Band tribute band (yes, I know that is both conceptually and grammatically awful, but it's happening). The show is 21 and up.

More music comes on Saturday. While we couldn't begin to list every free fireworks display in the area without exhausting ourselves, we can offer up the following as probably one of the best deals in town. See, the Gaslight Tavern in Lawrence reopens Saturday at noon with free music from Sky Smeed, Bryan Newbury, and the Border Band. As an added bonus, the city's fireworks display has moved back to downtown after a disastrous move out by Clinton Lake. The Gaslight's got free admission, and is probably one of the few places in town where you can park your ass in a chair with a legal beer. Get to their patio early--it's going to fill up fast.

You can find a good-sized list of Kansas City area fireworks displays About.com. Check your little slice of the area, too. Pretty much every burg from Iola to Atchison will play host to a series of thunderboomers.

Harper adds: And if you're looking for free live music during the day on Saturday, by all means swing by the Taste of Troost Festival at 7621 Troost, which, with performances by a plethora of talented artists and bands like the Good Foot, Making Movies, Ron Ron and Rich the Factor, will be a 4th-of-July-in-KC street party for the ages.

And once again, we bring you Friday Freebies, wherein we present things to do this weekend that won't cost you any more than the gas it takes to get to 'em.

Friday night, City Market Cinema presents Caddyshack at 9pm. This is for grownups only, as there's lots of naughty language and compromising situations. Besides, I'm pretty sure your 5 year-old doesn't want to listen to several dozen drunken twenty-somethings recite Bill Murray's "so I got that goin' for me" speech verbatim. They're also offering a mini putting green and a special prize will be awarded to the best costume for "creative golf attire," as voted by the crowd. The contest will take place at 8:45pm.

For more family-friendly cinema on Friday, 18th & Vine will have The Wiz, which is sure to be a sad situation, considering what happened yesterday. Coincidentally, there will be a showing of The Wizard of Oz (OG version) at the Prairie Village Shops, as well. Both movies get going around 9pm.

Friday through Sunday at the Power & Light District is The District Art Annual with more than 125 local and national artists. Friday, there's live music starting at 8pm with Brody Buster. The event is 5-9pm Friday, 10am-8pm Saturday, and noon-6pm on Sunday. With exhibitions from more than 125 artists, I'm sure you can find something you like, even if you don't know art.

Friday night begins Lecompton Territorial Days, with a carnival and food from 6-9pm. There's a slew of activites going on Saturday, starting with a pancake feed at 7am, and encompassing everything from frog and turtle races, a horseshoe contest, a parade, a play, and much more. Music starts at 5pm with the Ragtime Razzmatazz Band. A complete schedule of events (and there's lots to do) can be found at the event's website.

Lawrence's annual St. John's Mexican Fiesta happens from 6-11:30pm Friday and Saturday nights. The event takes place at St. John's Catholic Church on Kentucky Street between 12th and 13th Streets. It's a huge to-do, and if you want to eat, show up early. The line will go down the block, and I mean that seriously--last year, we got there at 6pm, and didn't eat until nearly 7. The pork burritos are worth the wait, however. There's plenty of live entertainment, too. Lawrence's go-to Latin dance band Son Venezuela plays Friday from 7:30-11:30pm, and Grupo Picante plays Saturday at the same time.

If two nights of Latin music isn't enough, Sunday brings the first annual Festival Internacional de Música Española y Latinoamericana (or, en inglés, International Festival of Spanish and Latin American Music). The event brings together internationally acclaimed Latin-American dancers, singers, and performers, including opera singer and recording artist, Teresa Berganza. The performence begins at 2pm at the Carlsen Center on the Johnson County Community College Campus.