All across the Metro, you'll hear the fresh sounds of live music with free live concerts for all ages! We have your complete guide to FREE Summer Concerts in Kansas City. Use our geographical guide to find the best music near you!
Johnson County
Summer Sounds at Park Place Every Thursday from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at Park Place. 4th annual Summer Sounds in the Park Concert Series presented by Ericsson kicks off on May 24. Local musicians will take the stage to provide entertainment as guests can relax in Barkley Square. This year, guests can look forward to mixing up their music tastes with a variety of music genres including pop, world, ensemble, and children’s music. The second Thursday of the month is especially for children and will feature bands and acts catered to children’s musical taste. http://parkplaceleawood.com/ The Summer Sounds in the Park Concert Series lineup includes:
- May 24 – Soca Jukebox
- May 31 – Cherry Bomb
- June 7 – On The Record
- June 14 – The Okee Dokee Brothers (children’s entertainment)
- June 21 – Cheap Dates
- June 28 – High Vibe
- July 5 – Dollar Fox
- July 12 – The Doo-Dads (children’s entertainment)
- July 19 – Jeremy Nichols Band
- July 26 – Serenade
- August 2 – Funk Syndicate
- August 9 – Mr. Stinky Feet (children’s entertainment)
Music in the Park: Overland Park Sundays at 7:00 PM at Santa Fe Commons Park (8045 Santa Fe Drive, OPKS). Bring your family. Bring a picnic. Bring a chair. But leave your wallet at home because all of the Music in the Park's concerts are always free! www.opkansas.org 2012 Season Schedule
- June 3 - July 1: Overland Park Civic Band's 75th Season
- July 8: Jim Cosgrove & the Hiccups
- July 15: Doug Talley Quartet
- July 22: The Rain Dogs
- July 29: The Heart of America Barbershop Chorus
- Aug. 5: The Kansas City Dixieland Band
- Aug. 12: The Thomas Delancey Band
FREE Summer Concert Series: Olathe Fridays at 7:00 PM at Frontier Park. http://www.olatheks.org/ParksRec/Events/SummerConcerts This year’s schedule features:
- June 8 - Royal Southern Brotherhood with Samantha Fish
- June 15 – Trampled Under Foot and Mark Selby
- July 6 – Sam Bush and Kelley Hunt
- July 20 – Phantom Blues Band with the Monophonics
- July 27 – Liverpool
Free Concerts under the Clock Tower OP Farmer's Market Every Wednesday, 10:30 AM Overland Park Farmer's Market. Come find her at the Clock Tower along Santa Fe Drive and 79th St. FREE and open to all! June 27 features Funky Mama, KC Kids' Favorite!
Merriam Marketplace Concert Series Spend an evening listening to the sounds of local musicians under Merriam’s beautiful covered marketplace pavilion. Bring a lawn chair, sit back and enjoy! Restrooms available. 913.322.5550 http://www.merriam.org/park/Marketplace/events.htm 2012 Concert Schedule (all start at 6:30pm):
- June 15: Dan Bliss & Rod Fleeman (Blues)
- June 22: Doug Talley (Jazz)
- June 29: Rex Hobart & the Honky Tonk Standards (Country)
- July 6: Toe Jam (Classic Rock)
- July 13: The Hatchlings (Blues)
- July 20: Calypso Bluz (Tropical/Steel Drum)
- July 27: The Rythmia (Bluegrass)
Downtown / Midtown / Plaza
Wagner and Tchaikovsky Side-by-Side June 5 at 7:00 PM at Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The Kansas City Symphony and Youth Symphony of Kansas City will present a side-by-side performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 and Wagner’s Tannhauser Overture. Side-by-side performances give students an opportunity to play with professional musicians, and it is a great experience for all 150 musicians involved. Tickets are free; however, reservations are required. Reserve online, or contact the Symphony Box Office at 816.471.0400 http://tickets.kauffmancenter.org/single/eventDetail.aspx?p=4477
Plaza Live! Courtyard Concerts The Plaza Live! Courtyard Concert series features Kansas City's favorite musicians rocking the streets of the Plaza all summer long. Check back with this page for the latest lineups. Plaza Live! will kick off on May 3, 2012, and run through September. Plaza Live! features concerts in two beautiful Plaza courtyards each Thursday 5-8pm, Friday 6-9pm, Saturday 2-5pm and Sunday noon-3pm. Concerts are held in Mermaid Courtyard (M) at Nichols & Broadway by Michael Kors, Penguin Courtyard (P) at Nichols & Pennsylvania near J.Crew, and Neptune Courtyard (N) on 47th & Wornall near The North Face. Play on the Plaza this summer… stroll, sip, shop and stay awhile. http://www.countryclubplaza.com/Events/Plaza-Live-Concerts
Concert in the Park June 27, 6:00 PM Roanoke Park. http://www.kcmo.org/idc/groups/parksandrec/documents/parksrecreation/kcpr_spring2012.pdf
East
Every Friday Night in Lee’s Summit Head to Howard Park in Lee’s Summit for FREE concerts every Friday for live music 6:30-10:00pm Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Weekend! Bring a lawn chair and some friends to enjoy Music in the Park. http://www.downtownls.org/music-in-the-park
Sounds at Summit Fair Enjoy the third annual Sounds at Summit Fair Summer Concert Series! Bring the family and enjoy fun, music and shopping on Main Street. www.summitfairshopping.com This year’s schedule features:
- June 2 – Liverpool
- July 14 – Sellout
- August 4 - Mr. Stinky Feet and Funky Mama
FREE Concerts Downtown Lee’s Summit 7:00 PM, Lee's Summit City Hall Plaza http://cityofls.net Food and drink vendors on site. 2012 Summer Concert Series:
- June 15: Rock the Green
- July 20: Jamaican Jam
- August 3: Blues & Jazz Fest
FREE Music in the Park 6:30 PM Rotary Park at Railroad Lake in Blue Springs. Every Sunday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted). http://www.bluespringsgov.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2268 2012 Series:
- May 27: The Mighty Moe Joes! 4-6 p.m., then Top 40 Presented by Zuver Real Estate The Candymakers 6:30-8:30 p.m. Blues Presented by Cavanaugh Pet Hospital
- June 3: Tracy Allison & The Drive Country Presented by Fletcher’s J Bar S Western Wear
- June 10: BluzBenderz 4-6 p.m. - Blues Presented by Tandem Paving Southbound 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Variety
- June 17: Little Shell & The Blues Thang 4-6 p.m. - Blues Presented by Friends of St. Mary’s Medical Center Harper 6:30-8:30 p.m. - Blues Presented by Envirostar Waste Services
- June 24: Moats Brothers Band - Classic Rock Presented by Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce & Rotary Club of Blue Springs
- July 1: Cover Me Badd Alternative/Classic Rock Presented by Lunar Bowl
- July 8: Elsea Smith Band - Blues & Rock Presented by Blue Springs Pediatrics
- July 15: Albert Flasher - Classic Rock Presented by Lamar’s Donuts
- July 22: Rail Dogs - Blues/Classic Rock Presented by Cherry Creek Restoration
- July 29: Blue 88 - Blues/Classic Rock Presented by Adams Dairy Landing
- August 5: Vantage Point - Top 40 Presented by House of Heavilin Beauty College
- August 12: Johnny Rampage - Classic Rock Presented by Trouser Mouse Bar & Grill
- August 19: Loose Change - Variety Presented by Carondelet Health
- August 26: Loozin’ Sleep 3:30-5:30 p.m. - Variety Presented by The Big Biscuit Knuckle Busters 6-8
- September 2: Cold Blue Band 3:30-5:30 p.m. - Blues Presented by Edge of Town Driving Wheel 6-8pm, Blues/Rock
North of the River
Jazz on the Square Every Thursday, June 7th - August 30th from 7-9pm, Zona Rosa Town Square. Cool jazz makes those hot summer nights more enjoyable, and with the combination of amazing local groups (some returning favorites/some new) and a few hot shots flown in from the sunny shores of California, this year's talent cannot be missed! http://www.zonarosa.com
FREE Concert: KC All Stars June 8 at 7:00 PM, Downtown Liberty. Bring lawnchairs and blankets for a FREE Concert performance by the KC All Stars! 816.439.4360 http://www.ci.liberty.mo.us/calendar.aspx
Gladstone Amphitheatre Concerts 7:30 PM Gladstone Amphitheatre at Oak Grove Park. http://www.gladstone.mo.us/Recreation/documents/Amphitheatre_Schedule_2012.pdf 2012 Series:
- June 12: Corbin Jazzz Ensemble
- June 19: Northwinds Jazz Band
Southland
Funky Mama Concert July 16, 6:30 PM Cass County Library.Funky Mama performs live at the Cass County Public Library in Belton, MO! http://casscolibrary.org/NRC#NRC_events
Discover more family fun on our Kansas City Calendar of Events.
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